something different - ABC Robot

Modeling Subjects Science Fiction
1

Got this little gem off eBay a little while ago for the princely sum off £19 (about $38). Vinyl kit made by ‘Elfin Corp’.

First vinyl kit I’ve even seen let alone started to build. Quality seems pretty good overall, a few bubbles and voids where the vent holes would have been. Detail on it is pretty darn good everywhere else. So I started to build it slowly, cutting and trimming out the peices which was easier than i thought. A lot of dipping into hot water to adjust the shape of parts (mainly the legs).

Managed to loose an armour shield for one of the arms so I made a resin copy of another, attached it then a week later I found the original one :slight_smile:

I’ve been using 5 minute epoxy glue and fiberglass resin and to join everything. This is working really well along with ‘bluetac’. I’ve been trimming a hole in the main parts where the attached bits go over, hold them in place with an elastic band. Then i used the Bluetac in little rolls which I sealed around the parts filling the gap slightly. This allowed me to insert the resin glues through the main part, through the access holes I made and let it seep in making a solid join. The bluetac stopped it covering the model and gave a lovely join that hardly needs any putty on it. Bluetac is simply dabbed off with more bluetac.

Been using a lot of mr hobby products & milliput which are most impressive. Going to prime when build is finished and paint with Tamiya & Vallejo acrylics. Overall I’m finding vinyl quite enjoyable to work with - certainly not like what I read about on various forums.

Whacha think?

Heres some wip pictures:

Heres where I build too:

Currently I spray in my garage at the end of the garden (i’m extending it atm to include a proper workshop)

2

Cool. I like the tip on the bluetac.

3

Hey, I remember that guy! Its Hammerstein! I read the comic-book strip when I was much younger. I’d love to see this one when its done. Are other versions availiable? There was another ABC robot that I’d like to build.

Great progress so far-keep us posted.

4

Thanks for the comments guys :slight_smile:

Another wip update.

Got the arms on and secure. I set these into the body with fiberglass resin & a pipette. Flows into the gaps and gives a smooth join negating the need for putty. I resin’d a metal tube inside to link the metal rod’s in each arm together - nice and rigid now. Filled with low expansion foam.

Head is going on atm, then I have to tweak the legs a bit to get them flat. I’ll fill them with plaster mixed with a little acrylic resin to make it stable. Pretty much ready for painting after that :slight_smile:

5

Coming along nicely! I like your idea with the fiberglass resin. Where do you get the stuff and how does it work?

6

Been busy today still - nearly ready for priming!

amcNOVA - I’m just using plain old resin for auto repair ‘Davids Fastglas’

7

It certainly looks impressive. I’m not at all familiar with vinyl kits as a medium, but this one makes me want one, too.