Mark's Aoshima Satellite Selene

[Mark]

My entry, the Satellite kit, Selene from Aoshima. This is a 1/72 scale kit, and is a relatively new tooling.



We get three sprues, one black, one grey and one clear blue. There are also some metal rods.





The instructions are pretty much standard. There are only about half a dozen colours needed and these are marked on the instructions. No final painting guide, and no decals.



It should be a relatively easy build, with a bit of a challenge to get the solar panels looking realistic. I think I'll probably use the same technique I used on the Chinese space craft as those came out quite

[number1]

Nice choice Mark, should be a little cracker when finished. I notice 1 of the paints is called 'character blue' unusual name for a blue

[royjess]

A really great choice, nice to see something different than your usual air planes, tanks and cars kits etc...

I look forward to seeing how you are going to finally display this

Roy

[casper]

great looking kit Mark and interesting subject
I was watching a Hubble documentary this morning and it was fascinating. Are there any good Hubble kits
casp

[Mark]

Thanks guys, I'm looking forward to it.

I can only guess that the 'character blue' is a mis-translation of a blue from one of the Japanese cartoon series ?

Hadn't given much thought to display yet. It's a lunar satellite, but I'm not sure I can manage a lunar base using every day objects....

I've seen a paper Hubble kit I think, but haven't seen a plastic one. I'd buy it in a flash if I ever find one !!

[casper]

found a card model on Hubble site, looks pretty good
http://hubblesite.org/the_telescope/han ... expert.pdf

[Mark]

I've made a start..... The main body is glued together. I was expecting an easy ride with this kit, but not to be.... the fit isn't great



It's going to be a case of every corner needs filling..... I'm using Mr Surfacer 500, carefully applied with a cocktail stick.

[corelki2005]

@ Casper

Hasegawa do a hubble telescope with a space shuttle but its in 1/200 so not very big

kit no. 10676

Anyone know where one could get hold of selene as I haven't been able to

[Mark]

I've finally filled and sanded the dodgy joints around the corners...... I used Mr Surfacer 500 applied with a cocktail stick, then wet sanded with sanding sticks.



Next up is a quick squirt of primer to see how good a job i've done of the filling and sanding....

[royjess]

Coming along nicely, Jess said that I could do with a bit of that filler for my face

[morrigan]

Intereseting subject, I like it!
Even though I keep envisioning the body painted in in blue, with the words Police Box at one end!

[royjess]

How is your build coming along Mark? This is one of the builds that I'm looking forward to seeing completed

Roy

[Mark]

I've made a little more progress. I've got some photos on Photobucket, but I'm in Shanghai at the moment and Photobucket is blocked
Still going to have my work cut out to finish it in time, but it's getting there.

[morrigan]

So your photobuckets been Shanghai'd?

[Mark]

Groan.....

[Mark]

Here's the latest progress. The ring round the main propulsion motor. This was a right pain. It's supplied in 8 parts, each one fitted with a round pin in a round hole, so aligning the parts, which don't fit particularly well, is tricky.
Then all the joints needed filling as they don't fit particularly well....... I used Mr Surfacer 500, applied with a cocktail stick. My pot is getting a little old and going a bit viscous, which is a good thing !! It sticks to the cocktail stick better !!
Just noticed that this is the pre-filled photo. The post filler photo will follow later (Haven't taken it yet )

There are a few other details added as well, but there are quite a few more still to go.



Photobucket has improved now. It's going at the speed of a snail on Valium !! Still, it's an improvement over being completely blocked !!

[royjess]

Coming along nicely , I can't wait to see the solar panels added...

[morrigan]

Photobucket has improved now. It's going at the speed of a snail on Valium !! Still, it's an improvement over being completely blocked !!

Ahh, so ops normal for Photobucket then!

[Mark]

Onwards and upwards !! Here is the promised shot of the post filled ring at the bottom. At least, it seems to have the engine int he middle (not yet fitted) so I'm calling it the bottom. The Mr Surfacer 500 is really good and filling small gaps, and sands easily with a wet sanding stick.



A few more details are added.





The two daughter satellites are assembled. All easy stuff. These are made from clear blue plastic as the body is completely covered in solar panels as far as I can tell.



Now it's time for a lick of paint. A squirt of black for the main body



The solar panels were painted Tamiya Chrome. Not a paint I like as the 'chrome' flakes are quite coarse and unrealistic looking. However, I think the effect works quite well for a solar panel. Then they were given a coat of clear blue. Needs another couple of coats to darken the blue, or perhaps a coat of 'Smoke' might give a good effect ? or risk mixing a drop of black white clear blue ? What do you think ?

If I've got time, a coat of gloss varnish will finish the job.



Pretty much an out of the box build. The real satellite has what looks like a black plastic covering, although I'm guessing it's a bit more high tech than a bin liner !! I haven't managed to come up with a good way of simulating that at a small scale. The main antenna looks wrong as well, although photos on the web (there aren't many) seem to suggest it is right. The only ones I could find showing the antenna are CGI, but they are from the manufacturer.

[royjess]

That is really beginning to take shape now. Can't wait to see it completed.