An update to the build....
I assembled the drive motor and had no real interest in modifying it as it is quite hidden underneath but then a couple of details stood out to me I wanted to address. First the front motor. I have left it predominantly as Revell intended... there should be more detail as in ribs/ corrugations around the front circumference but as there is some serious work in me creating those and they're quite fine on the studio model I opted not to worry about them. However right on front of the drive motor is an oval shaped greeblie. Revell got this round.
Revell:
Studio:
So I made a new one, an improvement:
The rear drive motor bothered me for Revell missing the oval shaped vents on the side and an extension off the back. The very rear center should also have a grille but as it is totally covered on the Revell model by the rear oval and greeblies I have not bothered correcting something you don't see. On the studio model things sit a bit less tight around the back there.
The studio model:
Revells offering:
My altered rear drive motor with side oval grilles and rear extension:
Those side oval grilles were really kicking my arse. I made them once (took hours) and ended up too big so I ripped them off and started again.
I got the shape better, primed it, double checked the reference and realised I made a mistake. I looked at pictures showing the top of the oval and there's a flat section without grille slats. I assumed this mirrored the bottom but it doesn't... the grille slats should run all the way to the bottom of the oval. I'm not doing it a third time. You really only see a hint of it through the leg mechanisms anyway but looks a bit wrong without those grilles there at all so even a bit under detailed it is a big improvement.
The rear extension I made from a cut down zip tie.
Onto the legs next. I will address the extensions on the inside of the body center lower 3 slots as they're seen from the outside but I'm never looking under the walker so I'm not concerned here. Revell have some detail so it's not sparse although a lot is missing. The effort the model builders at ILM went to is really outstanding when you look at the reference pictures. On that note thought I would throw up photo's for those that haven't seen them of the walkers in their skeleton and the 4ft behemoth, photo must have been taken after the tow cable fall as the doors are still hanging off. Theresin casting may have been a bit sloppy as it generally is but boy these were really quality built puppets, machined metal and all.
Cheers,
Josh