{"id":1090,"date":"2019-07-18T05:45:36","date_gmt":"2019-07-18T10:45:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/scope-eye.net\/?p=1090"},"modified":"2019-07-18T05:45:36","modified_gmt":"2019-07-18T10:45:36","slug":"eating-a-whale-eating-the-horse-and-the-elephant-in-the-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/scope-eye.net\/?p=1090","title":{"rendered":"Eating a Whale, Eating the Horse, and the Elephant in the Room"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><p>My hobby pursuits have been in an extended slump. My last progress update on my Zaku Kai build was seven years ago. Stagnation in the hobby and an unfortunate encounter with Plamo King Jackass and his League of Pretentious Shitbags sent my self-confidence through the floor, and a horrible destructive mishap in my workspace destroyed my gear, making it even harder to get that groove back. In short, as far as my relationship with the hobby has been concerned, things have mostly sucked in recent years.<br>But when you fall off the horse, you have to get right back up and eat that horse.<\/p>\n<a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_overview_1.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_overview_1_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"In some respects not much has changed in all this time\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_overview_2.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_overview_2_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"As my original head sculpt is currently broken, here is a 3D printed head I made a while back\"><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Because there has been such a long-ass time since I&#8217;ve updated anything on here, there is some work I&#8217;ve done on this project but never really shared. Back in 2014 I made a push to fix up the shoulder armor, make it more symmetrical:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_1.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_1_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"using the caliper as a guide it seemed as though the front spike might be a bit low (but I may have been wrong as it looks a bit off-axis)\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_2.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_2_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"I removed the front spike mount to realign it\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_3.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_3_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"I added some epoxy putty to bulk up the area a bit and try to re-seat it\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_4.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_4_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"I attempted to check the symmetry of the part photographically\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_6.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_6_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"Alas, it's a bit hard to read the situation like this\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_7.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_7_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"I also tried to align the two spikes by making their axes meet on the center line. In retrospect I think this was kind of a poor way to try to do this. There's just too many variables.\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_8.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_shoulder_work_8_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"After fiddling with it some more, still not confident that I've got it.\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;ve also been experimenting with 3D printing, using my Blender model as a starting point. It&#8217;s a bit difficult as the Blender model wasn&#8217;t really designed to be 3D printed, so it needs some clean-up to be well-suited to printing. It&#8217;s also helpful to design in certain structural bits to make it easier to assemble the printed parts. Ultimately I&#8217;d like to have the Blender Zaku model be entirely printable.<br>\n<a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_3dprint_1.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_3dprint_1_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"This is the shoulder armor being printed at 1:60 scale\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_3dprint_2.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_3dprint_2_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"A bit further in the printing process\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_3dprint_3.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_3dprint_3_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"Printing complete\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_3dprint_4.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_3dprint_4_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"And the completed part. It's very gratifying to have a part come together like this, especially as I struggle with the scratch build version.\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In the last month or so I&#8217;ve been working on the project more regularly again. I know I can&#8217;t rush this kind of work, but I absolutely want to finish it. The key, as with any big project I think, is to take it one step at a time, and just keep taking more steps. During a stream with <a href=\"http:\/\/thosegundamguys.org\">Those Gundam Guys<\/a> I sculpted a new head. When I initially created my design drawings for this project I made the head pretty small, about 17mm wide. This is true to the line art I think, but over time I became concerned that I&#8217;d gone too far with it, so I experimented in Blender with scaling the head up by 5% or 10% (from 17mm wide to 18mm wide or 19mm wide). This kind of change might sound insignificant but in my opinion seemingly minor distinctions like this can have a big impact on the effect of the model. However, after sculpting this 19mm-wide head I&#8217;m pretty sure I don&#8217;t like it, so I&#8217;ll probably return to the smaller size from my original plans.<br>\n<a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_head_test.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_head_test_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"This head sculpt turned out rather well for such a rush job - but it's scaled up too large I think.\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Most of my time on the project lately has been spent on refining the lower leg parts. When I last worked on these parts I had them separated so I could take the &#8220;common&#8221; bits (the front and top of the lower leg) and pair them with parts for the left or right leg. The plan was that this would make the two legs match up better, but I was having trouble getting the parts fitted to one another. So in the current effort I&#8217;ve created a simple guide to help line up the parts in a consistent manner, and locator slots so the parts will maintain that same arrangement as I work with them.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_1.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_1_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"This is how I left things in late 2012: the leg front and knee area on the left separated from the leg pods and skirts on the right\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_2.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_2_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"There are two legs which are asymmetrical but mirror-images of one another, so the challenge is to match up all four leg halves properly to the common parts\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_3.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_3_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"This was a first attempt at creating a locator peg system to keep the parts aligned. I later replaced these channels with new ones\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_4.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_4_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"This is a difficulty with working with these parts: because they are built around these styrene cross-sections the epoxy putty can sometimes detach from them, splitting the part.\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_5.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_5_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"To create my guide plate I started with a printout of my design.\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_6.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_6_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"I used spray adhesive to attach the printout to styrene plate\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_7.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_7_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"Because the design has grid lines from the original graph paper, it's relatively easy to mark out areas for locator pegs\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_8.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_8_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"I used 2mm x 2mm square rod for the locator pegs, which made it pretty simple\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_9.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_9_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"After cutting out channels on the mating surface of the parts, I aligned them on the guide plate and added putty to give the parts a tighter grip around the peg\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_10.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_10_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"The left half of the left leg, and the left half of the right leg\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_11.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_11_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"When all the parts were properly aligned to the pegs on the plate, I created this structure so I could stick the parts to each other without the plate\"><\/a><a href=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_12.jpeg\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"model-data\/1_100_Zaku_Kai\/zakufz_20190717_leg_work_12_thumb.jpeg\" title=\"This gives you an idea of how the leg will look when it's truly finished\"><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Of course, there is one outstanding issue here that ought to be addressed: Why this sudden return to the Zaku project after so much time away? Well, naturally, the fact that Bandai is finally releasing a 1:100 Zaku Kai model kit has certainly helped to motivate me. Of course I really would have preferred to have mine finished before theirs came out, but that train has sailed; my copy of the RE\/100 Zaku Kai is already on its way. That said, mine is better. Like, a lot better. I think there&#8217;s some fine work in the RE\/100 kit but ultimately, it&#8217;s not everything I would want it to be. There are some weird creative choices in it that are actually quite fun, and there are also some weird creative choices that are just really weird. I kind of feel like Bandai stole my thunder, but on the other hand, it&#8217;s not their fault I got nothing done for the last 7 years. Such is life.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My hobby pursuits have been in an extended slump. My last progress update on my Zaku Kai build was seven years ago. Stagnation in the hobby and an unfortunate encounter with Plamo King Jackass and his League of Pretentious Shitbags sent my self-confidence through the floor, and a horrible destructive mishap in my workspace destroyed [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[8],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/scope-eye.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1090"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/scope-eye.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/scope-eye.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scope-eye.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scope-eye.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1090"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/scope-eye.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1090\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1101,"href":"https:\/\/scope-eye.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1090\/revisions\/1101"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/scope-eye.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1090"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scope-eye.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1090"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/scope-eye.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1090"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}