iM's Frankenstein Returns. . .

To the front burner and our blog that is. . .

While the days are perceptibly getting no longer, there is definitely a taste of Fall in the air, and it is time to start getting serious with our 2013 project once again.

I have been preparing myself for this for the last few weeks, mostly in terms of re-familiarizing myself with the kit and reviewing my notes. To a lesser degree, I began fitting the mail fauld, which will be limited to the ventral/frontal aspect of the subject. This in turn, forced me to reassess the mounting of the crossed small swords.

If there is one criticism that could be leveled at the design/engineering of this kit, it is the fact that the mounting pegs (read: blocks!) that are present on virtually every piece are overdone! This is simply not necessary, and "dumbs" the kit down to insulting levels. To date, I have had to completely remove three of the quadrangular pegs; and I have had to modify at least a half-dozen to improve fit, etc.

Back to the swords. . . these are now pegged with Al rod, and have been fitted to the pelvic block. Not only can I now create a more realistic "hang", but I can thread the rod through the mail and avoid any unsightly drapery on the latter. It also distributes the weight of the mail across [at least] two fixed points, which should take care of any support problems down the road.

That about does it for now. Once I decide what my painting strategy will be, I can proceed with assembling the sub-assemblies. . .

More to follow! 

iM Frankestein: Second edition coming this Summer!

Michael has just announced that there has been sufficient demand, requests, etc. to warrant the ordering of a second edition of this hellacious kit! GREAT NEWS!!

You can see his announcement here. The second edition will be a limited run of 30-35 kits, so tarry not!

And to those of you who decide to take the plunge. . . ENJOY!!!

iM Frankenstein--INTERMEZZO: Detailing the Skulls

Even if I had decided to do this kit straight OOB, there is one enhancement I would make: detailing the skulls on "the monster's" girdle. Or, more accurately, add the suspension wires/cords to the top skull, especially as the suspension of the lower skull was provided!

And that is now done! Using .015" lead/tin solder as wire, I reproduced the design as in the 3D rendition. . . the ENTIRE design! While the lower skull's "wiring" was cast en suite, it would have been little more than trompe-l'œil once painted. So. . . in for a penny, in for a pound!

Check back soon: I will add an image of the reworked skull girdle as soon as I am able. . .

Back to the bench!

iM Frankenstein--Assembly - UPDATE

Just to bring everyone up to speed, there are now 10 pieces that have been permanently attached:

• Mandible
• Flail head (5 pieces)
• Heel spurs (2 pieces)
• R Poleyn strap (2 pieces)

That accounts for ~20% of the pieces in this kit. Of the remaining 38 pieces (not including the base), only 10 remain untouched and in the bags.

I hope to have the lower half of the body cleaned and assembled-for-priming within the fortnight...

Stay tuned!

iM Frankenstein--Assembly: Heel Spurs

Month-ends and productivity at whichever bench are, as a matter of course, mutually exclusive, but one must try to make the best of it. . . 

To this end, I decided to focus on the heel spurs (parts #44 & 48). These are an interesting accessory that, in all honesty, could just as easily be left off if they seem a bit "too much". I personally applaud the decision to include them! 

My reservation regards their orientation. As provided, they are "pointing" up, as one would expect with equestrian spurs. But our subject  is hardly evocative of a HEAVY cavalryman! Admittedly, he could be riding some fantastic steed, but I'm sticking to the canon of his name. Thus, I simply reversed the orientation of the spurs so that they now point downward, making them an effective tertiary weapon. Attaching the left spur was simply a matter flipping the part -- easy peasy. The right one will require a bit of trimming of the peg, and then subsequent filling, but nothing to fret over. 

Movin' right along. . . 

iM Frankenstein--Assembly Intermezzo/Update

By way of a brief update, the lower half of the body, save for the R poleyn straps and the tasset restraining strap (parts 39 & 40, and 49), is now completely dry-assembled.

Next step: fitting and finishing!

iM Frankenstein--Assembly 1: The Flail Head

I was fully expecting to spend the day painting, but best laid plans and all that. . . 

So, instead, assembly has begun on Frank! And I decided to start on the flail's head, if for no other reason than to reduce the number of loose parts. 

It's a fairly straightforward process: 

1. Dry fit the 4 barbs to select which goes where in order to maximize fit, and mark accordingly.
2. Clean and finish all the parts.
3. Assemble.
4. Putty any gaps and such.
5. Drill out the location slots on head of flail.
6. Cut one link form the supplied length of chain and fit to slots. DO NOT PERMANENTLY ATTACH AT THIS TIME! 

And that's it! Frank is now officially in-progress!!

FOLLOW-UP. . . The mandible is now fitted and tentatively attached.

iM Frankenstein – Project Notes/TD List

Q: With the workbench clean and as dustfree as it has been in over 8 years, what is the first order of business?
A: Get to work and start generating new dust!

And that is precisely what I have done. . . 

I started a speculative TD List last weekend when I was informed that the kit was en route. I had already downloaded all the hi-res images of the 3D sculpt that I could find on-line, so I had a modicum of familiarity with the piece. And my speculations have been vindicated. . .

• Delete arrow shafts - DONE ; fill in openings>>scarified - DONE
• Delete crossbones - DONE 
• Remove groin plate - DONE
• Detail top skull with wire as in 3D design - DONE

• Resurface plate as deemed necessary
• ??? – Add suspension ring to back of L scabbard 
• Add linings to poleyns - DONE
• ??? – Add buckle to L poleyn strap
• Undercut and thin edges of plates as warranted  IN PROGRESS
• Undercut/detail rivets as warranted  IN PROGRESS 
• Remove fabric overhang from left leg - DONE ; rebuild edge of greave - DONE  
• Define stitching around circumference of neck; extend where necessary

I will add to the TDL when warranted as the project unfolds. I don't believe there are too many mods remaining to be listed, but you never know.  

Back to the bench!

Spring Cleaning

The arrival of Frank has not only rekindled an ebbing ember for this passion of ours, but it has prompted something that has been L-O-N-G overdue: a thorough overhaul--and cleaning--of the workbench.

What does one have to do with the other, you ask? As I mentioned in the review, Frank is BIG! This is the largest FS I will have ever worked on. And while size/scale has never been--and is not--a concern, one must have the space to accommodate the work in progress. Hence, the clean-up.

Cleaning my workbench was like going through an archaeological dig of my hobby life over the last 8 years. Plans and dreams that were started, but never made it close to the finishing stages. Notes and sketches from projects finished as well as un-. And each layer of epoxy dust yielding new evidence of unrealized visions and detoured expectations.

Most of you probably will never let things get quite this bad. Admittedly, it's a consequence of having a rather generously-sized workspace that was the erstwhile base of operations of my business. And to paraphrase George Carlin, the more room you have, the more s**t you will fill it up with. George was certainly right, and it was time to clean the s**t up!

I'm a little over half way through the process. All the ip works have been carefully gathered and safely packaged away. Most of the assorted bits and pieces of hardware have been collected and now await sorting. I should be mostly done by the end of the weekend, but one does not undo 8 years in a couple of days. . .

Back to the dustbowl!

"It's Here. . . IT'S HERE. . . HERE!!!"

It has been an eventful week. . . First, I break out the oils on a piece that most thought probably would never see the light of day--or a full moon! And yesterday I received a kit that has been discontinued by the manufacturer, or rather, put on hiatus for the foreseeable future: Industria Mechanika's (hereafter iM) 1/8 scale (that's "monster scale": in human scale, it's approximately 1/6!) Frankenstein.

For those who want it short and sweet: if you like the subject matter, then don't hesitate. YOU WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED! MSRP is--was--US$190; it is available for US$200 at the one shop where the subject of this review was acquired. As I mentioned, it is no longer available from iM: the first edition of 50 issues is now closed. If you are seriously interested in acquiring this piece, and you've exhausted all options, please drop Michael Fichtenmayer a line (http://industriamechanika.com/blog/contact-us/) in the hopes that he receives enough commitments to warrant a second edition.

And now for the unabridged version. . .

I received issue 27/50, Edn 1, as inscribed on the label of the sturdy self-folding container. The box not only provides all the protection the contained gem might require, but it will be in use long after this kit is completed. One thing I will say for iM: the presentation is as thoughtful and professional as the marketed work. For those that might be familiar with BaneBeasts, it is very reminiscent of their presentation.

The moment of truth. . . the box is opened. . . and inside are the following:

• 53 exquisitely cast pieces (including the groundwork base) protected by bubble-wrap, self-sealing bubble-wrap envelopes, and zip-lock pouches, depending on the size of the item/s to be protected.
• a section of mail
• a length of brass chain
• color assembly guide--which was the source for the parts list I compiled. . .

The green highlighted pieces are what have been dry-assembled and currently on my bench. The greyed-out strikethroughs are pieces that I have elected not to incorporate in my rendition.
Piece no. 49 was omitted from the instructions as well as the itemized parts in the latter.  
Make no mistake about it. . . this is A BEAST!!! Helmeted, it stands approximately 12" tall, on a base that is approximately 9" in diameter--and there is very little dead space!

The quality of the castings is exceptional! No critical flaws anywhere, and the few air voids present are on the attachment pegs, not the pieces themselves. As an added bonus, the quality of the resin is superb! I don't know if there were options to be had, but Michael nailed it. While a LARGE kit, it is not uncomfortably heavy. I am guessing that if I had cast it in the resin I usually use, it would have been a pound (or more!) heavier. And the low density resin cleans up and takes to blades beautifully!!! In my experience, the closest analogy would be a fine soapstone (this kit) to marble (other kits). I got a seamless join between torso and hips with a few passes of the #12 blade.

It is really beautifully engineered: even a beginner could assemble this monster provided he/she follows the illustrated instructions! With the uncompromising fit, you can virtually dry assemble the entire kit without glue! I now have the the entire body on the base on the workbench without a drop of glue. Pretty impressive. . .

My only criticism is that the textured metal surfaces created by the 3D sculptor leave something to be desired (read: overdone!). It is neither rough from the forge, nor is it "finished". Rather, it is texture for the sake of avoiding an unbroken surface at all costs. While it might give the more intrepid modeler a reason to try different finishes, I feel it is potentially a source of confusion and distraction.  Regardless, it is easy enough to remedy if one is so inclined. I for one will invest the time.

So there you have it, my review of my "2013 Project". I am delighted that my patron was as enraptured by this compelling design as I was--and that we managed to find one! This may be my first iM kit, but it will not be my last. In fact, I will be receiving my second one in less than a month! Lots of exciting products in the works!!!

Industria Mechanika's Frankenstein!!!

This is Michael Fichtenmayer's, the man behind Industria Mechanika, 1/8th scale offering of Adrian Smith's take on Shelley's "quilt". The most impressive master was 3D sculpted by Rishikesh Nandlaskar . . .


This is just a teaser for what in all probability will become my "2013 Project". To whet your appetite, please see here. . .

More to follow soon!!!