10.10.2006 » Concepts / Intro

I had wanted to do an Academy/MRC 1/35 AH-1W Cobra as a practice project for eventually doing a 1/35 Hind from Trumpeter. So I ordered the Cobra and a Verlinden update set for it through the IPMS chapter "store". Well the sci-fi bug bit me of course so instead of doing it "realistic" as I originally intended, I decided to do it with an anti-gravity unit instead of the props. I'll be making a futuristic diorama of sorts from this with a bunch of various figures modified to look like a heavily armed assault force. Color-wise I've been considering painting this in light grays, greens and tans in a frozen grassland setting.

10.10.2006 » First Images

Here's a few images of the Anti-Gravity Pod (AGP) and where it would sit above the chopper. It was made from Styrene tubes with thin sheet covering them to get an upside down and rounded teardrop shape. The rounded ends are sanded down Bondo Premium Automotive Filler Putty. Currently I'm doing clean-up and scribing panel lines to match the Cobra. I need to either figure out really small raised rivets or just drill small holes.

10.10.2006 » Inspiration

DOH! I was in such a hurry to post up the in-prog pice that I forgot to post up my inspiration. I actually didn't look at these images for months so I forgot how big their "booms" were on top of the craft. I'm more than happy with the size of my boom. (heh) But here's some pics.

10.12.2006 » Mount and Rivets

The thing I hate about scratch-building is that you spend so much time on the same parts that it feels like you're not accomplishing much. But the progress is coming along. The AG Pod is almost done with just a little clean-up on the ends needed. I've nearly finished the mount between the Cobra and the AGP. I used M10 tank parts coupled with various leftover Gundam bits. This unit attaches to the AGP via 2 pins and 2 screws and when done this will be epoxied to the AGP. The lower portion of the mount is a wood-screw which has been epoxied on. This will screw (with epoxy)into some wood that will be secured inside the Cobra hull. I want to make sure that once this thing is on, it STAYS on. I still have a little detail to add.

I also started on the thousands of rivets needed to make the AGP match the Cobra hull. I decided to use the contents of an old Britta water filter for rivets. The contents consist of charcoal bits mixed with bazillions of tiny plastic spheres. Perfect for small rivets! Basically you drill teeny holes and insert the balls into them. Then add a drop of liquid glue to each to secure. See pics below. I also added Chaff dispensors (those "holes" on the rear of the AGP.) and mounts for the beacon lights made from Kotobukiya small round vernier. The blue arrows are for my reference and show an "oops". I pushed too hard with the pin vice and punched a gouge in the AGP hull. I'll cover it with a detail panel later. Stupid blue marker seeps through the primer, but thankfully not paint.

10.16.2006 » Rivets are DONE!

This past Saturday my local IPMS had a modeling retreat where we all got together and worked on models. Much fun has had by all. Even me who toiled away adding rivets to my AG pod. They're done though and look great! I also decided to use parts of the engine booms and cut-stubs of the wings of a 1/48 scale P-38 for bulking out the sides of this craft. Since they're already riveted, not much extra work needs done with more rivets. YAY! Here's a brief pic before gluing everything together.