Studio Ghibli Mystery Project(s)!

[nighthunter]

strobez, any plans for the Half-track?

Nope... well, besides "leave it in the box until some future time where I find I need it". 

Well, I was going to offer to relieve you of it, but since you do have a "plan" for it, I won't bother.

[strobez]

Well, it's not much of a plan... and I am running out of room in my stash.  I'll PM you.

[strobez]

Ever have one of those days?

I gleefully ripped the masking tape of Jiro's Bird Plane only to find my masking job wasn't nearly thorough enough.  Sigh... I suppose that's not bad because I also think the paint call out (which I followed from the FineMolds 1/48 kit) was too dark.


I don't know how I missed all these spots.  The whole plane was covered in tape!

L
I didn't have the heart to try again yet, but I suppose I need to re touch the white first. Maybe that will also help lighten the blue for another attempt.


In the meantime, I'm working on my Fiat 500. I got the chassis more or less set and did a dry run placement of the seats.  I also cut up a Kubblewagon soft-top to fit the Fiat.


Seems like a pretty decent fit all around.  I put down the floor over the chassis top and the soft-top seems to work.  Once I get all the pieces crafted, I'm going to try to resin cast the shell.  I want to try to open the roof, the engine hach and maybe the doors... might be handy to have a back up for do-overs. 

[nighthunter]

Why is there a Ma Deuce on the Cinquecento?

[strobez]

Why is there a Ma Deuce on the Cinquecento?

That's all part of the Lupin III charm...

[strobez]

Apologies for double posting these pics from my resin casting thread... but I wanted to keep the results chronological...

After getting the negative side of my two-part Mold in place, I started in on the resin and did a recreation of the 3 bears story... too hot, too cold, just right.  My first cast I was so worried about the quick set I failed to mix it properly.  It came out sticky and partially clear... oops.

The second cast I was more nonchalant and ended up trying to shove the top of the Mold into a puddle of suddenly (and very quickly) clear goo turning white.  Hence the giant blob squished out the side.  The third time I mixed thoroughly and poured quickly... and you can see the results for yourself.

[jalles]

Wow, that's a great result.  Resin casting is something that still mystifies me.  I have all the materials to do it but still can't build up the courage to try.

I've been really enjoying these builds, I can't wait to see the Fiat finished! 

[nighthunter]

Well done!

[strobez]

Resin casting is something that still mystifies me.  I have all the materials to do it but still can't build up the courage to try.

...says the guy who has mystified me with 3-d printing and vacuum forming... 

Anyway, one nice thing about having a resin mold is that I don't have to try and separate parts with a surgeon's scalpel.  I can cut holes in one and cut out parts from the other.  So, with reckless abandon, I opened up the roof and the engine hatch.  It really helped to get the interior fit right.  I also ran a very thin coat of putty over the whole car, mainly to pick out "problem bubbles" from just the ones I could see through.



As some bright sparks have informed me, this car is actually a Fiat 600 shell, not a 500... but I'm really not in the neighbourhood of being able to be too choosey.  I think a bit of putty to add a bump between the wheel wells, and a bit of reshaping of them (and the rear passenger window) will get me closer.


One nice thing about having the engine hatch open is that I can fudge the 500 cover a bit more without having a direct line of sight comparison with the rest of the body.


Meanwhile, I got some more paint down on the Ponyo submarine.  There's a few tiny masking errors, but I think i can either touch them up or live with them.


Still some more details to paint up, but it's starting to look like something, so I'm happy.


I'm glad I got the height of the stand correct.  I was worried the flippers would drag on the ground.


I was also able to re-touch Jiro's birdplane. White to cover up the previous masking mistakes and then remasked... this time seriously.


I'm much happier with this shade of blue. It's a lot closer to the original I think and by redoing the white, it was easier to apply over the darker blue.


The wings aren't quite straight, but it's an organic fantasy dream plane... I think there's wiggle room.

[ericr]

thank you again for your very beautiful and impressive models !

here is a (quite relevant I think) glass I just received as a present from family coming back from a travel in Japan

cheers 

[zenrat]

Cool.  Looks a bit empty though...

[ericr]

Cool.  Looks a bit empty though...

oh yes, right

[strobez]

Now THAT is cool.  I agree though... it looks better in the second pic. What a great gift!

[zenrat]

Cool.  Looks a bit empty though...

oh yes, right

Much better.  Cheers!

[strobez]

Ok. So I'm calling Jiro's birdplane "done."  I had a little trouble with the masking around the cockpit... which started to escalate as I tried to "fix" it.  After that experience I decided to leave the wheels well enough alone, even though they're a bit off as well.

They can't all be perfect... right?















I also finished off the stand for the Nausicaa Mehve glider...











Next up is to finish the submarine.