Ma.K. 3000 Fledermaus

[superjedi]

Hi all,
Just wanted to show another recently completed model.
I've always thought the Nitto Maschinen Krieger designs were some of the most imaginative vehicles out there. I love the whole "alternate history" story behind them, and the models are just cool as hell! 8)
One of my favorites is the Fledermaus. I had never had one until I won one recently off eBay, and had a lot of fun building it.
I didn't use any of the "recommended" camo schemes, but painted it in a Splinter pattern based on WWII RLM Luftwaffe colors. I used Tamiya spray cans, which give a nice even finish.
Here's a couple of overall shots.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4567.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4568.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4569.jpg

I only made a couple of mods to the kit itself. I sliced the one-piece canopy to pose it opened, and scratchbuilt a little brace for it. Then I added some really cool pre-colored photoetched seat harnesses.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4571.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4570.jpg

I only used a couple of the decals that came with the kit. Most of the markings were aftermarket rub-on transfers made specifically for Ma.K. models. They're really well done, and add some nice stencil detail on various parts of the model.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4573.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4572.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4574.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4575.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4577.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4578.jpg

The bare metal areas were sprayed with a couple of shades of Testors Buffing Metalizer sprays, then weathered with powdered pigments in several rusty shades.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4579.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4580.jpg

The underside was painted pale RLM blue, then weathered by "chipping" with silver, and adding pastels to panel lines.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4581.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4582.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4583.jpg

Once the model was complete, I wanted a better way to display it than just plunking it down on a shelf, so I bought one of those cardstock airfield sets and a square black picture frame. I layered 2 pieces of foam core in the picture frame to make the base rigid, then cut up and rearranged the airfield blocks to fit the frame.
I also built a couple of accesories. I scratchbuilt a maintenance stand from plastruct tube, a pre-formed stair kit, and diamond plate.

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4584.jpg

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4585.jpg

I also found a resin generator made for large scale trains. I cut it up and added some more realistic detail parts and gave it a new paint job. It sits on the other side of the Fledermaus, waiting for the ground crew (who must be at lunch or something. . . lazy ground crew :D )

http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b20/superjedi/Maschinen%20Krieger/IMG_4586.jpg

So there's my little Ma.K. diorama. If you've never had a Ma.K. kit, I highly recommend them! They're really good quality, they were some of the first multi-media kits to hit the market, with a mix of injection molded, wire and screen, and photoetched parts, and they're really interesting subjects!
Hope you enjoyed the pics.
Eric

[REL]

Oh wow! I don't have a lot of knowledge on the subject matter, but I know good modeling when I see it. This is kick ass.

[Apophis]

WOW! :eek: that is real sharp fledermaus! i love Mak stuff, but I had to get out of it, too much competition for kits out there and they are really getting hard to find.

[superjedi]

Thanks!
Yeah, the kits are pretty scarce these days. I got lucky and got a pretty good bargain on the Fledermaus.
Rel, if you find any of these kits for a good price, you should pick one up! They're definitely worth playing around with. :)

[Raytheon]

Excellent build superjedi. Neat and clean dio, the fledermaus is one of my faves from that series of kits.

Mr Yokoyama knew what he was up to when he designed and buit the original S.F.3.D. models. A scratchbuilder/kit basher of the first order!
A couple of outer wing parts from a cylon raider, some engine blocks, sprinkle in a few Saturn V, scratch and various kit parts and what a pretty wee thing she be !

[PetarB]

Awesome build-up, simply awesome!!!

[Neb]

Nice work! I fell in love with the Fledermaus at WF this year and got a great deal on one at ebay as well. :D

I've noticed that it's horribly under-gunned, so I've been playing around with the idea of adding a couple of "cannons" under each wing---say a couple of 40mm's.... :twisted:

Yeah, I know----it's not "canon", but what the hell---I'm a Trek guy---what do I know about MAK stuff! :P

[superjedi]

These kits are so much fun! There was a site devoted to MaK, but for some reason it went under. :? There were some folks over there who offered aftermarket resin accessory kits and entirely new vehicles that had never been kitted before. . . it was really cool. :(

There are certainly a lot of possibilities for "enhancing" these little flying machines. I have another kit of a little hover-tank called the Nutrocker that I haven't even started building yet. Dunno when I'll get around to it. :?