My Finished HMM Lightning Saix Painted&Detailed&Custom Base

[shovelchop81]

Sorry took a while to take pics, been busy. Did loads of detailing, decaling, weathering (sandblasted due to high speed in desert) and a custom base made out of sand and wood with PVA glue to create ripples. I looked at a lot of Lynx and Cheetah photographs of them running, leaping, landing etc.. to get the poses, I hope you like him.

[shovelchop81]

Is there something wrong with him? I thought he turned out quite well. Going to try a couple of those knock off BT sets on eBay as it's the only way to get a Chaos Century Blade Liger now a days, might pick up a Panzer Liger too.

[Leon35]

I have had a lot of problems with the HMM Lightning Saix lately; what is your opinion on it?

[ProdigalDragon]

I always liked that the Lightning Saix was very fast and nimble moving in it's own way, but the fact it can only shoot forward and couldn't do sharp maneuvers always left it wanting. Always felt the Shadow Fox was a much better suit even if a little slower more than maybe up with all it's functionality.

[shovelchop81]

Dec 23, 2016 19:34:38 GMT -5 Leon35 said:

I have had a lot of problems with the HMM Lightning Saix lately; what is your opinion on it?

No problems at all to be honest, the middle hinge in the tail broke but that was my fault as I'd glued it together with clear by mistake but it still has plenty of articulation for poses despite that. I stupidly lost the neck armour during the build but it shows off the hoses now which is cool and it'll turn up someday right next to me in my mess of tools, materials and parts! Probably under the couch or something. I just need to be careful with the rear neck joint as I often forget it's a bit limited but it just pops off without breaking anything. Very solid model in my opinion but not designed to play with obviously like all HMM kits, just for posing and display.

[shovelchop81]

Dec 24, 2016 0:17:41 GMT -5 ProdigalDragon said:

I always liked that the Lightning Saix was very fast and nimble moving in it's own way, but the fact it can only shoot forward and couldn't do sharp maneuvers always left it wanting. Always felt the Shadow Fox was a much better suit even if a little slower more than maybe up with all it's functionality.

I'm not sure about that, it's based on a cheetah, the fastest mammal (animal?) on Earth, designed to take down gazelle, antelope etc.. so I'm pretty sure it can do tight turns, might slide a bit but that's what the claws are for. The upper canon turret can rotate backwards and there appears to be a camera on it's tail and on the turret. Besides it can out run anything! OK, not all weapons but all Zoids .

[Leon35]

Dec 24, 2016 1:41:09 GMT -5 shovelchop81 said:

Dec 23, 2016 19:34:38 GMT -5 Leon35 said:

I have had a lot of problems with the HMM Lightning Saix lately; what is your opinion on it?

No problems at all to be honest, the middle hinge in the tail broke but that was my fault as I'd glued it together with clear by mistake but it still has plenty of articulation for poses despite that. I stupidly lost the neck armour during the build but it shows off the hoses now which is cool and it'll turn up someday right next to me in my mess of tools, materials and parts! Probably under the couch or something. I just need to be careful with the rear neck joint as I often forget it's a bit limited but it just pops off without breaking anything. Very solid model in my opinion but not designed to play with obviously like all HMM kits, just for posing and display.

PM me if you need spare HMM Lightning Saix parts. I have a lot, and I have a spare neck piece for sure.

All of my hoses broke/wore down, and all my joints are pretty terrible and degraded too.

[Vig]

THERE IT IS!

Sandy weathered saix is so perfect! Love it. Looks right at home there in the desert. mirroring real animal running poses is definitely the way to go too.

[shovelchop81]

Dec 24, 2016 2:19:00 GMT -5 Leon35 said:

Dec 24, 2016 1:41:09 GMT -5 shovelchop81 said:

PM me if you need spare HMM Lightning Saix parts. I have a lot, and I have a spare neck piece for sure.

All of my hoses broke/wore down, and all my joints are pretty terrible and degraded too.

That's very kind of you, I'd better bother to check under the couch first though!

Sad to hear about your Saix, I only plan to display mine so not too worried.

Dec 24, 2016 3:12:11 GMT -5 Vig said:

THERE IT IS!

Sandy weathered saix is so perfect! Love it. Looks right at home there in the desert. mirroring real animal running poses is definitely the way to go too.

Thank you very much Vig! I do my best given Z doesn't have loads of interesting scenery!

[Light]

Love the weathering! How did you get that look? I've always felt that that's how a high-speed zoid would look after a day of running on Zi based on the anime, so much sand! XP

[shovelchop81]

Dec 24, 2016 11:03:36 GMT -5 Light said:

Love the weathering! How did you get that look? I've always felt that that's how a high-speed zoid would look after a day of running on Zi based on the anime, so much sand! XP

Thank you light! After doing the detailing I sprayed the whole thing with acrylic matte clear (removed the cockpit lens first), then lined the edges with metal markers (silver and bronze), then went over everything carefully with various fine grit sandpaper, paying particular attention to the edges facing the front and finally touched up any details or metallic weathering lost due to the sandpaper but leaving it slightly patchy to break it up a bit and look more random. I hope that helps. 

[Light]

Dec 25, 2016 1:56:12 GMT -5 shovelchop81 said:

Thank you light! After doing the detailing I sprayed the whole thing with acrylic matte clear (removed the cockpit lens first), then lined the edges with metal markers (silver and bronze), then went over everything carefully with various fine grit sandpaper, paying particular attention to the edges facing the front and finally touched up any details or metallic weathering lost due to the sandpaper but leaving it slightly patchy to break it up a bit and look more random. I hope that helps. 

Thank you for the insight! I've always wanted to do a weathered kit, and someday I'll pluck up the courage to do it, but I wasn't quite sure how. I had read some stuff about sandpapering but thought there must be a little more to it than that, looks like there is!

[shovelchop81]

Dec 25, 2016 11:36:20 GMT -5 Light said:

Dec 25, 2016 1:56:12 GMT -5 shovelchop81 said:

Thank you light! After doing the detailing I sprayed the whole thing with acrylic matte clear (removed the cockpit lens first), then lined the edges with metal markers (silver and bronze), then went over everything carefully with various fine grit sandpaper, paying particular attention to the edges facing the front and finally touched up any details or metallic weathering lost due to the sandpaper but leaving it slightly patchy to break it up a bit and look more random. I hope that helps. 

Thank you for the insight! I've always wanted to do a weathered kit, and someday I'll pluck up the courage to do it, but I wasn't quite sure how. I had read some stuff about sandpapering but thought there must be a little more to it than that, looks like there is!

Yes, you need to be able to make or at least be able to use inks and washes, dust and sand, coloured powders for mud, plaster powder for snow...it's an endless learning curve but fun!Oh yes and PRACTICE DRY BRUSH WORK! that's the most important skill to master for all kinds of weathering!