This is what $300 will get you in Japan

[moffeaton]

Man, I don't know what the Japanese are keeping from us technologically, but good lord - their garage kits constantly floor me. This is a 1/20th MaK "Camel" which is a design from the mid-1980s, and happens to use a lot of the same donor kits we use for Star Wars and BSG studio scale vehicles. $300 retail. We need to find out what casting gear these guys have.

Here's more info on the Camel:
http://roboterkampf.com/roboterhtml/htmlmakvis/camel.htm

So check this out. The decals are REAL not alps, and the canopy is clear resin - cast... clear... resin. Also, these parts are all exactly how they come, out of the box - no flash, and no pour stubs - or seams.. These guys are Warlocks or something.

And thanks to Temponaut for the amazing trade hookup..

 

[MonsieurTox]

Damn that's impressive . And its not expensive for that quality .

 

[moffeaton]

Yeah, it's amazing. I paid more than retail, but only because it's a limited run kit that I missed from the Japanese Wonderfestival and had to get on the "secondary market". But still - I want to know how they DO this.

 

[CaptCBoard]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(moffeaton @ Mar 18 2007, 04:29 AM) [snapback]1442446[/snapback]</div>

Yeah, it's amazing. I paid more than retail, but only because it's a limited run kit that I missed from the Japanese Wonderfestival and had to get on the "secondary market". But still - I want to know how they DO this.
[/b]

CAD modeling and a resin injection system.

Scott

 

[moffeaton]

I know the guy that made the pattern, second-hand - no cad/computers were used - just a hands on study of the original scratchbuild.

 

[Apophis]

Impressive, most impressive.

 

[PHArchivist]

Wow..

 

[falcondesigns]

Nothing that cant be done here.Alexander

 

[cobywan]

I recall an article in an issue of the japanese "mook" Replicant about it. It's the same tech we use just everything is larger. There are indeed binary resin injector system that are available here too. But the term "garage kit" ususally does NOT apply to Japanese kits. They are resin cast in silicone molds, but they are difinately much larger operations with bigger equipment.

Some of the small parts may have been spin cast like gaming miniatures are/were. But the big stuff is still poured and vacuum/pressure cast.

If you haven't had a chance you should check out a Workshop Cast kit up close.

 

[Apophis]

the 1/20 camel is one of my grail kits, but still a little pricey, great steal on it Jason.

 

[falcondesigns]

We did pressure injection resin castings into silicone molds,then pressured to eliminate bubbles when I worked at Streamline Pictures about ten years ago.We used a modified aircraft lubrication system to pressure pour,clean w/acetone and bleed the nozzle for the next pour.Alexander

 

[GKvfx]

Yeah, they definately take their "garage" kit seriously. It's more like an industry than a hobby. "Garage" is probably a misnomer - like comparing my garage to, say.... Jay Leno's garage.

I remember going to Pony Toys here in LA in its heyday (early 90's) and being amazed at some of the stuff that was coming out of Japan then.

God, I feel old now............ Pony Toys.......early 90's.

Gene

 

[cobywan]

Whatever. I have the same kind of fond memories of the early '80's

 

[moshi]

ouch