Apollo Astronaut

[RangerNeil]

So - my attempt at this build - Revells Apollo Astronaut figure.


Bought it off an auction to find most of the major pieces were already assembled - but the powers-that-be of the SIG have OK'd it for inclusion.

Instructions.








The parts.








It might be assembled - but this shows how poorly/how much remedial work is required.




Who on earth assemble's parts without removing the flash???








The build.
First job was going over every assembly with a fine toothcomb finding the faults and imperfections that will need remedial work before the rest of the build can be progressed.
After about 2 hours work I think I've got 90% of the filler in place. The left leg may need more once the sanding starts - and there is going to.be a LOT of sanding on this one!!

[digger303]

Black sun shield in the helmet and no skin tones to worry about

[Twokidsnosleep]

Let’s put that word “assembled” in asterisks
You have a ton of work to do, so no problem allowing this as a figure in the sig
Great project topic, watching with much interest

[RangerNeil]

Black sun shield in the helmet and no skin tones to worry about

Actually its a clear yellow face plate (the actual ones looked gold on the footage) so whilst colouring becomes a non-issue the fearures can still be seen so I'll need to crack the eye painting for starters!! I'm looking forwards to having a go at that. Will also need to master the art of shading for the creases in the suit.

Let’s put that word “assembled” in asterisks
You have a ton of work to do, so no problem allowing this as a figure in the sig
Great project topic, watching with much interest

I may need to lay in more sheets of various grades of sanding paper/wet 'n dry. It came as a BIG surprise to find out just how much sanding is going to be needed. Its all part of the challenge though and I think that little Dspiae sanding pen its going to prove its worth.

[digger303]

Black sun shield in the helmet and no skin tones to worry about

Actually its a clear yellow face plate (the actual ones looked gold on the footage) so whilst colouring becomes a non-issue the fearures can still be seen so I'll need to crack the eye painting for starters!! I'm looking forwards to having a go at that. Will also need to master the art of shading for the creases in the suit.

Let’s put that word “assembled” in asterisks
You have a ton of work to do, so no problem allowing this as a figure in the sig
Great project topic, watching with much interest

I may need to lay in more sheets of various grades of sanding paper/wet 'n dry. It came as a BIG surprise to find out just how much sanding is going to be needed. Its all part of the challenge though and I think that little Dspiae sanding pen its going to prove its worth.

Going to have another go at that myself now that I've actually finished the Camel.

[RangerNeil]

After a solid days sanding and filling and sanding - repeatedly - almost at the point a coat of primer can go on - probably grey - to highlight the bits I will have missed..










Don't know what the white filler the previous owner used was - but it had set like concrete. Luckily that sander with a 400 grit disk on it managed to cut it back!!

[RangerNeil]

Looking at photos of the actual LEM it looks like the leg and pad are wrapped in gold foil - yet another thing to study and attempt.....

[digger303]

[RangerNeil]

Progress report.

First off was a dry run to see how it all went together and to get a location for the raised arm.








The figure and base were primed last night to try and highlight missed areas needing filling. I was expecting to see a lot and was pleasantly surprised to find only a few.














Filler added






And first paint applied.




Chest camera is matt black overall with highlights and silver lens. Every thing else is satin white so I'm trying an experiment. I'll go over the figure with a brush picking out the upper surfaces leaving the creases in primer before spraying the white. On the back pack the theory is the whitestreaks from brushing will add highlights.
Fingers crossed!!

[digger303]

I'm all for new ways of doing things.

[Kevthemodeller]

An interesting kit looking forward to seeing this come together

[RangerNeil]

I'm all for new ways of doing things.

Not sure it worked that well - what do people think?
This has taken virtually an entire pot of XF2 Flat White so far....

[digger303]

I think it looks alright..

[Twokidsnosleep]

Yep, you are headed the right direction

[aur0ra145]

Looks good!

[RangerNeil]

I think it looks alright..

Cheers folks! Now for the big challenge - the face......

[RangerNeil]

And more progress!!









Got to go over the flesh tone mark on the helmet still. Having done this I realised most won't be visible behind the yellow visor.....

Suit "plumbed-in" to back-pack:

[aur0ra145]

Quite the progress!

[RangerNeil]

Quite the progress!

Joys of being retired and stuck indoors all day!!!
Heres a preview of how the set up will be when finished:


Can't get the visor glass to stay in place unaided and as I want to give the figure a coat of satin clearcoat once the decals are on I'm not sticking it in place yet. Landing leg and foot need to be primed in black and the sprayedgold. Ladder is silver. Still researching ways of doing the foil wrap around the leg and foot - as well.as sourcing some gold foil....

Lettering on the plaque needs picking out in silver - noticed when I painted it tonight someones sliced it with a sharp blade.... Sanded out what I could but it may need a bit of filler and more sanding!

[Stokesy44]

Nice work on all the seams. He should be pressurized nicely now!

Are you going to attempt the gold foil on the LM sections? Would be awesome of you can pull it off.

Also, is it me or is the face a really good likeness of Buzz?

[RangerNeil]

Decals went on this morning - all 5 of them. Took a bit of decal softener to get the shoulder flag to conform but I get there in the end.




On the down side - I think I've said before that somehow the plaque on the base had a bad cut/score across it that the dark grey paint actually accentuated. So thats been filled and will be rubbed down when dry then repainted. Once thats done the letters will need picking out in silver.


The OH is going craft-shopping at Hobbycraft tomorrow and will be picking up some good foil for me to play with the LEM leg on the base.
Mean time the ladder and leg sections have been primed in black and will be painted gold and silver respectively. Just in case the gold foil for the leg doesn't work out!!

[aur0ra145]

Wow, the decals really make the model come alive!

[RangerNeil]

Bought a pack of gold foil paper from Hobbycraft - only to find its not paper but card and totally unsuitable.
So -plan B - raid the OH's kitchen and nick her roll of aluminium foil.... She doesn't know - yet!!

Assembled with the pad painted gold - in case the lining didn't work.


Wrapping the leg. I used the two holes for ladder as a datum and so that I knew where the holes were once covered. It worked quite well. CA was used to secure the foil to the plastic and also to itself. Using those holes also meant the seam would be hidden when viewing the finished project.


End result:






Now letting everything dry before adding the figure permanently. I have to admit to not being happy with the lettering on the plaque - I used the finest brush I had but sadly at 67 the hands aren't as steady as they once were. There must be a better way of picking out the lettering.....

[digger303]

If the lettering is stands high enough, I have used hard foam. I paint it and just lightly press it on the letters. All done quick too.

[RangerNeil]

If the lettering is stands high enough, I have used hard foam. I paint it and just lightly press it on the letters. All done quick too.

Unfortunately its barely raised - at a gueses than a mm. I tried dry brushing but that blocked part too. I'm wondering if one of those Molotow chrome pens would work better?

[Twokidsnosleep]

Nice stuff
I had to take a little google trip to research the gold foil leg of the lander
Interesting

For the lettering, maybe paint the entire thing the lettering colour, then paint the sign colour and then try a wipe away the sign colour on the letters with solvent and a Q tip to expose the letter colour

[digger303]

Nice stuff
I had to take a little google trip to research the gold foil leg of the lander
Interesting

For the lettering, maybe paint the entire thing the lettering colour, then pant the sign colour and then try a wipe away the sign colour on the letters with solvent and a Q tip to expose the letter colour

Using this method and a combination of acrylic and Lacquer paint should be fool proof.

[RangerNeil]

I've had another go at the lettering - I think it looks better. A cople of bits to tidy where the raised height wasn't enough to keep the chrome pen off the base is all.

[Garion77]

Boy ! what a great job on a huge figure that seem to have gave you lots of problems !

[RangerNeil]

Boy ! what a great job on a huge figure that seem to have gave you lots of problems !

Thank you Almost finished now.