Beyond The Sprues

Current and Finished Projects => Physical Models => Scifi and Fantasy => Topic started by: Dr. YoKai on July 31, 2026, 11:39:41 PM

Title: another Dracoon
Post by: Dr. YoKai on July 31, 2026, 11:39:41 PM
This time, a Gundamesque conversion. Once again, this was started ages ago, and finally started advancing. The inspiration comes from a transport aircraft from the second Gundam series, Zeta Gundam (1985-86) the Garuda class. https://www.mahq.net/sudori/ (https://www.mahq.net/sudori/)
Mine comes in a bit smaller, for reasons I'll detail below. The progress to date:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55433452280_6b0c074de3_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2sssW6f)DSCF1349 (https://flic.kr/p/2sssW6f) by VileDr.Yo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46965833@N07/), on Flickr
The interior will be open at both ends, so I did a bit of detailing there, and painting will be done before sealing it up.

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55433452290_8d4d383765_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2sssW6q)DSCF1350 (https://flic.kr/p/2sssW6q) by VileDr.Yo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46965833@N07/), on Flickr
Wings in place. Originally, I was going to put the rudders on short booms off the wings, but decided later to extend the fuselage.
pictures of the aspect shortly.

I had started on landing gear, but a stumble on the way to primering snapped off one of the gear assemblies, sending it flying...somewhere,
and I wasn't really confident that it would balance on just the fuselage wheels anyway. The current plan is to build up some 'hover sponsons',
akin to those found on an earlier Gundam transport, the Medea. https://www.mahq.net/medea/ (https://www.mahq.net/medea/)
Prier has been applied, and I should be able to wrap this over this weekend or next.
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Frank3k on August 01, 2026, 12:54:10 AM
Wow - looks great with the wings and the interior! This kit is like a blank canvas.
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: apophenia on August 01, 2026, 06:20:35 AM
Wow - looks great with the wings and the interior! This kit is like a blank canvas.

Indeed. Those long-span wings totally change the feel ... Doc's variant is much more elegant than the original  :smiley:
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Buzzbomb on August 01, 2026, 01:20:10 PM
Oohh  Nice concept.. wings will work
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Frank3k on August 02, 2026, 02:40:06 AM
...so tempted to buy a third kit. Canards might look good, too.
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Dr. YoKai on August 10, 2026, 06:15:45 AM
Thanks for the views and comments! It is looking better than I expected when I started this god knows how many years ago.

  Progress continues, and I'm pretty close to done. The last major construction hurdle was building a pair of 'hover sponsons' in keeping with the original design aesthetic. I'll get the interior painted, then glue the fuselage together and do some painting.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55453483598_b2045330c9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2sueAGN)DSCF1352 (https://flic.kr/p/2sueAGN) by VileDr.Yo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46965833@N07/), on Flickr

(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55452387307_a899be5bc9_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2su8YPe)DSCF1353 (https://flic.kr/p/2su8YPe) by VileDr.Yo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46965833@N07/), on Flickr
Going by the anime, Drag isn't much of an issue in that universe...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55452387302_3a76a1beee_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2su8YP9)DSCF1356 (https://flic.kr/p/2su8YP9) by VileDr.Yo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46965833@N07/), on Flickr
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Buzzbomb on August 10, 2026, 06:56:13 AM
Super nice work on that  :smiley:
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Old Wombat on August 10, 2026, 10:21:37 AM
Coming together well, Doc!  :smiley:
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: raafif on August 10, 2026, 10:53:12 AM
Lookin' great so far :smiley:
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Dr. YoKai on August 20, 2026, 09:29:39 PM
 Just about there-basic paint is applied-
 (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55473388979_9c613b8111_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2svZBT2)DSCF1360 (https://flic.kr/p/2svZBT2) by VileDr.Yo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46965833@N07/), on Flickr

 and I modified the two "Magella Attack" tanks into a couple of heavy SPGs.
 (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55472221027_7a7285e779_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2svTCFV)DSCF1363 (https://flic.kr/p/2svTCFV) by VileDr.Yo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46965833@N07/), on Flickr

 While I wanted to use them in their original form, I discovered that they were too tall to fit through the doors. :-[
 (https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55476685135_e2fdd81c1f_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2swhvHi)Magella attack detail (https://flic.kr/p/2swhvHi) by VileDr.Yo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46965833@N07/), on Flickr

 I've done a little detail painting since, and will post the completion shots over the weekend ahead. Thanks for the views and comments!

 
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Old Wombat on August 21, 2026, 02:38:54 PM
I think they look better as SPGs, but that's me.  ;) :smiley:
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Dr. YoKai on August 24, 2026, 11:01:05 PM
I think they look better as SPGs, but that's me.  ;) :smiley:

 The Magella Attack tanks aren't the goofiest machines in the original Gundam series, but they are near the top of the list.   :smiley: Anyhow, the Roc is finished.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55485504380_c86efeafe1_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2sx4Hnf)DSCF1369 (https://flic.kr/p/2sx4Hnf) by VileDr.Yo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46965833@N07/), on Flickr

I couldn't quite let it go with two jet engines a little larger than modern PT boats, so I borrowed a page from mid-fifties design and and
clustered a quartet of engines in each nacelle...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55485504505_58be2e1f36_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2sx4Hpp)DSCF1367 (https://flic.kr/p/2sx4Hpp) by VileDr.Yo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46965833@N07/), on Flickr

The panel detail isn't showing up too well in these shots, but I didn't do a lot, either. Thanks for looking! Now I'm off to the Great White North!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/55485288564_87893646a2_z.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2sx3Bdh)DSCF1370 (https://flic.kr/p/2sx3Bdh) by VileDr.Yo (https://www.flickr.com/photos/46965833@N07/), on Flickr
 
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Jeffry Fontaine on August 25, 2026, 02:17:05 AM
Exo-Atmospheric Assault! 
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: raafif on August 25, 2026, 05:50:10 AM
Fantastic build - love the trailing pods on the wings :-*
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Buzzbomb on August 25, 2026, 07:06:34 AM
Well that is great. Nice Stuff Doc.
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: apophenia on August 25, 2026, 07:48:55 AM
Very nice! And that '50s concept of clustering jet engines is put to good use here  :smiley:
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Old Wombat on August 25, 2026, 10:31:53 AM
Agree with all the above! Great job, Doc!  8)  :smiley:
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Frank3k on August 25, 2026, 12:08:22 PM
It came out great! The color is very good, and I like the engines. What are the little white bits sticking out from the top of the nacelles? Anti-aircraft missiles?
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Dr. YoKai on August 25, 2026, 10:20:08 PM
Frank-those are BGPAMs- Big General Purpose Anime Missiles.  :D When I decided to change up the vertical control surfaces, I still had the big slots where the rudder fins were supposed to mount to the nacelles, and in scale, they reminded me a little of missile bays on one of the old Soviet Cruise missile subs. I added Tomahawks from an old Dragon Los Angeles class in 1/350, snipped off the wings and added a tiny little launch rail.  Each of the bulges represents a bay with three fairly large missiles, (I'd have to measure, but they're about the same length as the tanks)

My old Paasche H continues to soldier on-the paint is a mix of Vallejo crimson, yellow, and a dash of burnt umber-I was going for some thing like the tone shown in the Garuda illustration linked in the first post.

Thanks again, friends!
Title: Re: another Dracoon
Post by: Frank3k on August 26, 2026, 02:19:07 AM
Craig, check your yahoo email...