After a final push tonight i've finally finished the Terran Marine Cannon

It's much to late for a proper update so i'll leave it for now, but for the final tally of hours spent on it: 89 hours 55 minutes

It's been a long and tiring journey getting to where I am with this model, but i'm filled with a renewed sense of vigor now that the finishing line is in sight. By the end of this week the gun will be finished! And not a moment too soon.

I have enjoyed it, on the whole, but there's no chance of me doing another model this big in the future. If i'd known it would take this much time I might never have started it at all. I'd have definitely had it printed at a better quality with accurate colours and perhaps a satin finish. I've thought about lightly going over it with an ink fixitive but i'm afraid of ruining it completely.

So, with just a handful of hours work left, here's where it is now (click for hires images):

The running total so far is: 85 hours & 15 minutes

Firstly, the wasp is dead. It beat me, to be perfectly honest, and after a lot of time trying to work out how the pieces fitted together to a standard I was happy with I threw in the towel and chucked it in the bin.

So after many months away from the cutting mat a guy at work suggested we do some papercraft at work in lunch breaks, to make the brilliant weapons (pictured below) created by Jan Rükr (Here's a link to the GB version of Jan's Aliens Papercraft site so you can see the great models he's created).

Starcraft II Terran Marine Cannon

Aliens M41-A Pulse Rifle

I printed out all the sheets for both weapons although the colours aren't great (long story but my printer ink is suspect). About 60 sheets in total.

So far i've spent about 32 hours on it, and have these parts to show for my hard work:

I'm part way through making this great big wasp at the moment. It's tricky because the instructions are in Japanese and the pictures are, well, there could be a few more of them.

The plans can be found here: http://www.wombat.zaq.ne.jp/fare/vespa.html along with a rather appetising tenderloin steak

The translated instructions are worthy of a look, if only because it manages to use the word 'leprosy'

The knife and glue are out again and this weekend i've been working on a 1:700 scale model of the R100 airship (sister ship to the ill-fated R101 which crashed in France on her maiden voyage killing 48 of the 54 aboard in 1930).

It's about 75% finished and I intend to build the mooring mast and attach the airship to it, as if it was moored.

Ralph Currell's excellent models: http://www.currell.net/models/mod_free.htm

I had some time this weekend to finish the NSX and it's looking good I reckon. Not brilliant but pretty good.

Some parts didn't line up great but maybe that's because of the thickness of the paper (a bit too thick). It's not because of the design of the car which is totally spot on.

I'll try and post a pic or two at some point.

There's a model of the Titanic and some other good models, like Concorde, over at Currell Graphics (http://www.currell.net/models/mod_free.htm)

This is my next project, time to build a race car.

These Epson models are great quality with very good instructions, except they're in Japanese.

Finally finished after about 12 or so hours work...

Just the laser cannons and leg supports to go now.

I'll post a better picture when it's finished (phone camera, bad light etc).

Had time tonight to finish all four legs and build a foot. The bits fit together really nicely and have full movement.

Strike a pose

Next up...the AT-AT:

This was tricky, and I don't think i'll be making another.

My Lightcycle is well on its way now, and I think i've probably spent somewhere close to 8 hours on it so far!

Here's the Tie Interceptor and Sandcrawler from Star Wars - A New Hope.
I want to have a go at the AT-AT soon.

Oooh, this one is definitely on my to-do list!

http://aliens.humlak.cz/aliens/aliens_papirove_modely/bonus-tron-cycle_gb.html

This weekend I thought i'd have a go at building at least one of the papercraft Star Wars models, but I enjoyed it so much i've built the Tie Interceptor and the Sandcrawler

Next I may have a go at the mother of all paper models, the Yamaha MT-01:

Got a colour printer, a sharp knife and some free time?

http://toysrevil.blogspot.com/search/label/papercraft

Or make an X_Wing out of a train ticket:
http://www.cfsl.net/?forum=viewtopic.php%3Ft%3D22455

More advanced stuff:
http://www7a.biglobe.ne.jp/~sf-papercraft/Gallery/Gallery.html

More links to paper models:
http://www.ss42.com/toys.html
This is a must-see!

Old favourites - the Elite spaceships
- Link removed, no longer working -