posted 10-20-2011 03:12 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by JWoytach:
Here is the model I was referring to.

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posted 10-27-2011 03:03 AM               

The LUT Kits:

• The 1/144 Version: This was my first kit I got and it is very good. I was impressed by the Photo realism of the Swing Arms, They are easily assembled boxes with an image over laid on them to simulate the details and look of the actual item. In the 1/144 scale it does work quite well and is genuinely impressive when looked at from many different angles and distances. As said my kit is one of the earlier and I was not too fond of the paper chosen, it was a bit weak and too glossy.

• The 1/96 Version: I also picked this one up and I am disappointed with it. It is a very basic enlargement of the 1/144 kit and so the image can be quite blurry and pixilated, there was no apparent tidying up of the details post enlargement. This was a pity as it is still quite a nice piece of work and certainly more impressive in a bigger scale. Again this was a very early release purchase and so I felt the paper was still a bit soft. I attempted this particular kit but that was when I lived in Ireland and moving here was not easy so I have had to abandon it. The seller does offer replacement sheets for individual sale and I hope that I will at some point purchase the ones I used up in the 1st attempt.

• The 1/70 Version. I was hesitant to get this but the eBay listing did state that there were additional details etc so I did purchase it. This is a great kit and is genuinely a first rate model. Obviously at this scale it is not for everyone but if you have the room for it you will not be disappointed. It is indeed full of details and the images are crisper and clearer than expected. Again it's a massive undertaking but with the Dragon 1:72 kit about to be released this might be a fitting platform to display the model.

I have not purchased any of these kits; I do not have any interest in the crawlers and I also feel that the weathering (dirtying up the model to simulate use) is excessive. They look like they have been through a swamp. If modeled for the Apollo era they were not that dirty, even nowadays they are not this dirty.

I have only purchased the 1/44 MLP for the shuttle era but I can advise it is a great kit and I will be getting the 1/72 version at some point. I just hope the 1/72 is not a simple scale up and that a bit more effort in tidying up the pixels has been done. The physical and the image detail on the 1/144 version is amazing and really captures the MLP well, obviously being one of the newest kits he has developed he is getting better with the process. This is also the 1st component of a full RSS structure like the old Revell Kit that he is offering, I can't wait for that kit.

Well it is paper so you have to be extra careful with it. I do not know what the current paper type is for all the kits but they have been improved on from the original 1/144 LUT to the 1/72 LUT and 1/144 MLP I received. The printing is by Laser and so the image is adhered to the surface, rather than ink where it soaks in a bit. This means that when you fold a corner a piece you end up with the pigment flaking off and giving you very white edges. This can be remedied by using an appropriately coloured pencil and running over the white edge. The kits are also advised to keep out of strong sunlight, they will eventually fade as printed items do, I do not know how long this might take but I also know there are sprays that offer UV filter protection etc. I would recommend them to protect your work.

The assembly is straight forward but there is a certain lack of alignment or matching points for the members so I end upI would advise that you treat it like an assembly line. You have more than 120 of the Bracing Tube sections and so I would sit down with a copy of Apollo 13 or from The Earth to the Moon and build them all in one go, just create a little box of them and separate boxes for all the other repeat members and get them all done in one roll. It will make it so much easier if you can reach for a pre assembled member to add to a larger section rather than cutting, folding and gluing one as required. I would also recommend starting with small repeat members as final vertical assembly will progress quicker and more rewarding rather than getting the larger overall structure done and then spending ages filling in the smaller members. By planning the assembly path out correctly the over all accomplishment for time spent will be a lot more rewarding if you. It is possible to get the base and the overall tower done in one week or less but when you are cutting and assembling repetitive members for 3 or 4 weeks the sense of accomplishment will wane.

posted 06-01-2012 06:37 PM            

I am waiting until I can devote some concentrated time to this project. I believe attention to detail, and careful assembly will produce a worthy display piece.

I think the earlier caution of UV protection is warranted - I will look into some form of UV blocking clearcoat, as I do not have UV blocking glass in my display cases yet.

Please keep the thread updated with your progress. I don't foresee getting to mine in the near future.

posted 06-05-2012 01:24 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by PeterO:
The parts are simply printed on heavy card stock. They must be individually cut out and scored before folding.

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