Robotech: Quel-Quallie Model

[Elbows]

So...like many here, I'm waiting for the gigantic box from Palladium to show up at my doorstep.  Their Kickstarter is finally shipping (or that's what they say).  While many followed my short burst into the 1/200 world of Robotech about two years ago, that project was abandoned because of cost - and the unavailability of most models/mecha.

Back then I ordered an old out-of-print kit from IMAI, a 1/720 scale Quel-Quallie "Theatre Scout" ship.  I was unaware of the scale of the actual model, and it's the only model of the craft that I'm aware of.  I was pretty disappointed with the kit.  Shiny, brittle plastic, poorly molded.  Some areas are so thin you could almost see through them.  However, I wanted a Quel-Quallie.  When it arrived I determined it would be around 8-9" long...far too small for my 1/200 models.  Changing to 1/285th for Robotech the ship became more useful.  It's just big enough to serve as a slightly abstract flying craft for the games I hope.

Since I would not deploy the spindly and easily broken legs of the model, I decided I'd paint it up.  This will be the first of a potentially enormous Robotech project.  I don't plan on starting the project in earnest any time soon but this was sitting in a box and I wanted it out of the way.









When I was finished I realized I had assembled the whole thing without mounting a base-rod in the fuselage.  The kit is very thin and brittle so I was a little concerned about drilling a hole for a large post.  Solution?  Magnets.  I chopped up a worn out brush, glued a .25" magnet on it, and now I just toss a magnet int he back near the engines, let it rattle around and post it.  This allows me to pose the craft in a couple ways.

[Malebolgia]

Awesome work on this model. This is going to be an epic thread.
*Grabs the popcorn and an easy chair*

[Elbows]

Hah!  No sir...but I will have a Robotech thread in the future.  It's going to be a lot of planning and assembling...etc. before I even start to touch my Robotech stuff when it arrives.  Because my buddy decided he didn't want his, I have...(gulp) the equivalent of 4 starter boxes (and all the extras) coming.  I think it's in the neighboring of 500+ figures/models.  I will not start this project until I have a pretty serious game plan! 

[maxxon]

Very nice.

I like the green, looks very zentraedi. Which color is it?

[YPU]

When I was finished I realized I had assembled the whole thing without mounting a base-rod in the fuselage.  The kit is very thin and brittle so I was a little concerned about drilling a hole for a large post.  Solution?  Magnets.  I chopped up a worn out brush, glued a .25" magnet on it, and now I just toss a magnet int he back near the engines, let it rattle around and post it.  This allows me to pose the craft in a couple ways.

By the looks of your pictures that's a pretty effective and cool solution. Actually its your thoroughly explained posts on the subject that have gotten me interested in Robotech at all. 

[Elbows]

@Maxxon: I was fortunate enough to have three spray paints which gave me the base for the colours.  The fuselage is PSC Tank Spray: Russian (which I can't find at the moment...shame as I'd like more of it), the dark grey is PSC Tank Spray: Panzer Grey, and the lighter grey is simply Army Painter grey primer.

@YPU: Well, if the game succeeds and Palladium doesn't ruin it...there will now be an affordable way to buy into Robotech miniatures (even if you don't use their game).  Websites here in the states are already advertising the starting box at discount.  As much as I don't care for Palladium or the folks who run it...having a very reasonably priced and well-scaled line of miniatures has been something I've been waiting for...nigh on 20 years.

[OSHIROmodels]

Very good. I like the smooth colours 

cheers

James

[Elbows]

Gotta love spray paint...   I don't like big models because I don't know how to paint them.  Like most people, I paint merely using tricks (drybrushing and dip).  Luckily a big simple ship with simple colour scheme made it easy.  I'd have to get into airbrushing if I ever planned on painting more large model kits. 

[OSHIROmodels]

Ground pastels or weathering powders are great for beginners on bigger models. It's how I started and I still use them 

cheers

James

[warburton]

Very nice

[eilif]

Looks like your robotech project is off to a good start.  You certainly made the best of the kit. I wouldn't have thought it had any shortcomings based on the results you achieved if you hadn't told us. Nice work.

[joekano]

Well done!