APU Mecha

[Strode]

hi all. i am currently attempting to build the APU from the matrix revolutions. It is quite a complex model and frankly, i've never made anything this dense before. I am attempting to make it out of stuff lying around the house mostly and with what limited tools i have in my possession. I looked around on the web and came across this paper-model.

it looked awesome but far too flimsy. so i decided to use this as a reference and build my model entirely out of scratch. for those interested, the model can be found here:

A.P.U. Mecha MATRIX - Modelismo en papel

and the original creator's build thread here:

Maquetas y modelismo en papel - A.P.U. Mecha MATRIX - El rincón del diseñador

oh and a proper download link to the model is here:

http://www.mediafire.com/?74v65qpqac1xjma

I am making this with just a couple of x-acto knives, scissors, pliers, toothpicks, superglue and some form of foam board locally known as "sun-board" so my, erm...quality of the product might not be entirely upto scratch or at least the level of finish i see out here so please bear with me :rolleyes

 

[Strode]

i plan to make the model as best as i can. once complete, all the parts will be bondo'd (or puttied or whatever sandable thing i can find out here and sanded till i achieve a good finish. so please excuse the initial roughness. the board is only about 2mm thick so i have to cut each part individually and then stick it layer-by-layer till i finish the part. this has to be done twice for each part; the arms and the legs. so as you can imagine, the process is long and tedious. especially using cutters and glue.

this is the board i am using. came across it quite by accident when i was looking for balsa for another model:

cut into pieces and then stuck layer-by-layer:

 

[Strode]

started with the base of each foot:

the metal bits you see used are actually the metal jackets covering standard AA batteries. many many years ago i peeled these jackets off the batteries, intending to do something with them but never did. coming in useful now though...:lol

 

[Strode]

more leg bits. it's been quite a few days and yet i am nowhere near the end of the legs. it has many tiny pieces and many pistons and actuators. plus i epoxy the parts together and leave them to dry overnight as white glue it too weak to hold and superglue is too brittle. it'll hold initially but will come off under pressure.

 

[Strode]

 

[Dragontomb]

Great start, looks like a fun build.

 

[joewhite]

This is really cool! I can't wait to see more.

Joe

 

[Chaank]

Dude, this is going to be cool!. That paper model is amazing too!

 

[Strode]

thanks guys. i hope it turns out as good as i hoped it would be. never did anything as detailed before....by the way joe, loved your claptrap model. i envy you all :lol

 

[Wes R]

That's an insane paper model. For me those mecha were the best part of the movie.

 

[Strode]

some updates. work is going at a snail's pace...oh well...
hinges...

pistons...

test fit. all the parts are essentially test fit till i get it done properly puttied, sanded and primed. the excess will be trimmed to fit.

 

[Strode]

the "spring" is made of copper wire. a placeholder till i can find something better...

more later...

 

[Redfinger]

Sweet!! I am going to tuck this away for a future build. What scale are you doing it in? I would think 1/35 would be a great scale, with the abundance of military figures out there that could be used for the pilot.

Ashton

 

[Strode]

Sweet!! I am going to tuck this away for a future build. What scale are you doing it in? I would think 1/35 would be a great scale, with the abundance of military figures out there that could be used for the pilot.

Ashton

mate, i have no idea. essentially i am transposing the papermodel onto other materials just cause i have no interest in working with the paper one. you will note, the paper model, although good looking is structurally weak and flimsy at best with very fiddly bits. the parts themselves are roughly drawn and give a rough idea as to how to go about making it. plus with all the talent here i thought it deserved better, hence my attempt. i have no idea how it will turn out. all the materials i am working with are a new experiment so i hope everything goes as well as i hope...:$

 

[Strode]

repeated pictures. just noticed. sorry...

 

[Strode]

 

[Strode]

 

[Strode]

fiddly bits for the ends of the pistons/actuators

essentially translating ^ to these. the rods are to be made into pistons

 

[Strode]

more pistons...

 

[Strode]