Rocast Models

Hello everyone,

It has probably been the longest time without me writing anything new, so I apologize for the lack of updates. This post has lots of information, so please I kindly ask you to be patient.

Back at the beginning of August I decided to take a short break to build a model, it was meant to be a B737-700, unfortunately, things were getting a bit complex with the model and so I switched back to work for fear of spending too much time on this model.

However, I may continue with this build in the future and to me it has already been worth it because I have learned a lot thanks to my friend Gustavo whom has given me lots of tips, also, an issue I had with the cockpit windows has given me a final solution to the clear parts, more on that later.

So what has been going on? A lot. I have been updating molds for ease of production (they are still the same parts) and less waste of time with a big reduction of dust that I used to deal with while preparing those models, so it is safer for me now.

Here are the newest projects that I’ve been working on for the past weeks:

• Schopf F59 in 1/72 scale:

I have been finishing the Schopf F59 in 1/72 scale, something that was requested to me, which I thought would be just a “scale up” model, it turned out to be a completely and remodeled new project, but finally, here it is:

This model kit will include resin parts, photo etched parts, a clear resin part for the beacon lights, acetate windows, wires and decals of which a part of them are also for the RAF livery. The model features two different types of airbox, civil/militar, as well as shackles and the photo etch includes the rear windshield grid as well as the grid for the headlights and tail lights. Driver figure is also included.

Here is a comparison of size between the models and a couple of paint bottles.

• 1/144 Schopf F396:

I have been working with this model for a very long time. It was nearly finished production but I never got the chance to actually build an example model and make the proper initial stock units of it.

This model, as you can see from the photos below, is quite special because you can build it with a rear platform, just like the real model. This F396 truck is the biggest of the Schopf family and some of them are built with a rear platform which can include cabin and GPU.

In this case, the kit is ready to have all of these options, so you can build it however you like. Some of them have the body covers as featured in the photos above, and some of them simply don’t.

This kit, similar to the previous Schopf pushbacks also include photo etch for the wipers as well as braided wire for the GPU and two figures and the needed decals for a base/generic model.

If you already own any of the previous Schopf pushback trucks, you can compare the size of the F396 from the photos below:

• Schopf F110 in 1/200 scale:

I have been asked about the 1/200 GSE models, which is a scale that takes me back to my beginnings and I am happy to finally share a bit of this scale. This model was quite difficult to build because of its size, very small. It is hard for me to photograph it in a way so that you can see how small it really is, but believe me, it is quite small, yet that is what the scale demands.

I want to be able to set a 1/200 scale category at the shop, but these models in particular will be sold already built by me.
During the building process I was really wondering if it was really worth it. There is a lot of time invested and some people may say “that is too expensive”, but one has to realize the amount of work that it takes not just to produce it, but also to assemble it.

I believe that if I do like chain work, it can be easier because the work can be better organized, but that does not save me from having to paint 10 little driver figures if I build 10 at a time.

I am excited about it though, so now that I build those example models, I have to look at times, preparations and a special packaging because it is different shipping a complete model than their packaged parts.

Also, I may give an option to the customer to have his/her model in a specific color/livery.

Here is the full family, 1/200 scale, 1/144 scale and 1/72 scale:

• Scenery items:

During my “break” I have been working on a couple of new items, because I am trying to make scenery assets in the future so that a full detailed ramp could be built. This would be a completely different series, and I really have big plans for it, as you know, the aircraft needed GSE, and now this combo needs a proper detailed scene.

So this item has been created in mind to help my friend Frank with his project, so I had the idea of making the so-called “Solid State Ground Power Units”.

I won’t get too much into describing what is this thing in real life, as this I plan to do once I present this item at the shop in the future, but I was inspired by those double solid states GPU seen at Amsterdam Schiphol which are actually a custom build from AXA Power for the specific airport.

There is going to be a single Solid State GPU made in the future but at first, I plan to release this double version as I finish the first units soon.

Another item I’ve been working on are this 3 meter concrete barriers which I think can be useful to separate certain parts of the airport:

The set will include 8 “concrete” barriers.

• Change on the towbars:

Currently we are leaving behind the very hot temperatures of summer and I have to say I had to deal with certain things that this temperature change caused, from having to laminate the box covers (they were turning pink) to having to change a specific part for the towbars.

I decided to use brass for the main shaft of the towbar, this will simplify things for me in a way, but will also help me to produce these as they should, because making units of these was becoming not so great to the point to simply backorder them.

The rest of the towbar parts are exactly the same, only that the both ends had to be adapted to the brass tube, which is from the same size as the original resin shaft. I will add this update once the new photos are added to each product.

• B747-8F/-400F progress:

I have made a big step with this project. I am very happy to see that this is now a reality, when I started it, I wasn’t sure 100% if everything could be properly done, I just kept going, and now I can say that yes, it will definitely be completed.

At the beginning of the post, I mentioned an issue I had with my B737-700 build, and that is that I had a crack on the clear plastic for the cockpit windows. Fortunately, I had a spare and decided to duplicate it, taking a chance to try again the clear resin, the result you can see below:

Which one is the original plastic part from the kit? Well, it is obvious since my duplicated part is seen with the support attached to it.
The results were 100% successful. I had fears of the part not being rigid enough but it is actually an exact same duplicate even in strength from the original plastic part, high transparency thanks to this high quality clear resin which also includes an anti UV additive in it.

What does this mean for my projects? I will be able to make more complex things such as buses which have a larger window area, not to mention I will be able to make my own cockpit windows which will come in handy in the future…

But, for this 747, you can see how I plan to make this part from the photos below:

I have also opened the upper deck windows, and this time I was careful to keep the windows as thin as I could, since most of the plastic kits come with a very thick clear part which results in a “glass bottom” kind of effect once introduced in the window holes.

You can also see that I completed the cockpit as well as the crew area:

During the design process, I also have to keep in mind how the parts will join with each other, so I thought about this for the nose for casting purposes:

The next renders show the work I have been doing lately. There is very important news and that is that I have managed to reduce the 40 optic fiber wires to just four. There is not going to be a need to connect a wire to every single light place, but the same wire will take care of all.
I do not want to get too much into detail about this, but the test that I’ve done worked nicely, the light for the crew/cockpit and cargo holds will also be done in a similar way and the kit will include all needed for this purpose.

This new change of plans has made me fill back the different “routes” that I set for each light point.

Although I said that I would not be making the bulk cargo, I just decided that since everything was to be open, why leave the bulk closed? It will also be open.

There is still quite a lot of work to do, but I am on my way. I have found some difficulties with the cargo holds, but I will explain them later in a dedicated entry since this one is getting too long.

I have learned a lot with this model, and this has given me the possibility to do more freighter stuff in the near future, being those at first, the B767F and B777F. These are not going to have a different fuselage at first, but making the fuselage on this B747 has given me a lot more knowledge that I will surely be putting into practice again on a project next year.

• B737 cockpit 1/12 scale:

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to advance much with this, as you can see, there has been a lot of work going on, and to be fairly honest, I need certain items which are medium/short-term projects to keep things running. At the end of the day, everything costs money, material isn’t cheap, I don’t just use “3D printing resin”, I use polyurethane resin, silicone, acid, metal, decal material etc, and although prices of things rises, I maintain mines and that is what I plan to keep doing.

I hope, however, that these new items can do well, because I want to purchase other equipment as soon as I can since I specially need it for the master parts of the B747 cargo project. Technology is advancing quickly, and there are certain things that certain equipment is better on a specific feature that I need, so my plan is to purchase a new one for practice while making the master parts of the B747 cargo and then replace the rest of the printers.

I am aware of the lack and in some cases short stock at the store, so now that I’ve finished those example models, I am going to make new units again, also, since the temperatures are now better, I will finally be able to produce sharklets again.

In part 2 I will be writing and sharing with you the new baggage carts as well as give release date for these new items.

For me, it has been weeks of exhausting work, then during the last two to make 6 trucks at the same time all in different scales, yet I am still working on a Pulsar 7D in a 1/87 scale which was another request, so hopefully in my next update I can share this transporter with you.

That is all for now, I promise my next update will not take that long.

Best wishes,
Guillem

Hello everyone

The reason for this post today is to say that, in face of this very hot days which result in a feeling of being beaten up day after day with sometimes difficulties to even breathe, as well as being beaten up morally when you feel things aren’t as one had hoped, I am going to take some days off to “rest”.

I will continue working and shipping orders as usual, but this time I will take work (production) at an ease, take the chance to organize because I still haven’t been able to have everything 100% in the order I would like to and will take the chance to do some more tests on the upcoming GSE models.

Just to put things in perspective, I had to coat with a clear adhesive paper all the labels I had put on the item’s boxes because the heat of the room burned the ink from black to pink in a matter of 5-6 days.

Also, I want to build a model. It has been four years since my last A350 China Airlines build, and I am tired of not being able to enjoy this hobby. I need something that could give me the motivation for which it all began in the first place.

I will also not take any more requests, I often do it because of two things; one, help out a fellow modeler and two, because I always think things are easy, well it turns out they are not for the most part. Time goes by and not only do I disappoint others with my delays but at the same time I disappoint myself.

When I am back, I hope to present some finished things. I still have the wish, but I don’t know if it is a combination of things that make one’s spirits to sometimes be a little down.

Till then, best wishes,
Guillem

Hello everyone,

Just a very quick update to say that the new items were released and that I will increase quantities in the next few days. I also restocked some other items, but I expect to restock and make more units of the current out of stock products.

I also wanted to share a new video I uploaded in which I show how I cut the plastic doors, this technique works to open cargo and passenger doors as well as cutting the plastic in general.

I am also working on another video, this time related to LED lights and general lighting for the models, some few tips that hopefully will help for your projects.

Work continues with the ongoing projects.

Best wishes,
Guillem

Hello everyone,

Some time has passed since my last update. These days have been quite difficult because of the temperatures and the heatwave we have here.

Although it seems that higher temperatures, as opposed to colder ones, don’t affect the printing much, resin casting is always very hard to do when the room temperature is so high.

Working in an environment that feels more like an oven or a sauna is complex and with that said, there will be some limitations on the new items that I will be releasing on Friday meaning that there won’t be as many quantities as I had hoped. Needless to say, I will continue with the production and add more quantities as soon as I progress and in a quicker way once the heatwave is gone.

You may notice the webshop already has some of the new products in it (not yet available); the radomes, pitot tubes, antennas, sharklets, winglets… I will soon update the product page for the B787-9 cargo holds and change the front page a bit on the 29th.

During all this time I have been working on other subjects, such as the F59 in 1/72 scale which is nearly completed. All the parts were done and I am currently working on the body, leaving it ready for casting. Details are sharper than what can be seen below, I think this heat is starting to melt my cellphone.

On the other hand, I am also progressing with the B747-8F/-400F. The main deck has been completed and also, the bulkhead. I may detail the bulked some more, but that is mainly how it will be.

After finishing the basic shape of the fuselage/wingroot, the main deck, the nose area and the main shape of the cargo holds, it is time to work on the cockpit.

I am not planning to detail it much further than this, mainly because 85% of it will probably not be visible from the outside, so currently my focus is on the cockpit itself.

After some issues with the delivery, I was finally able to test by myself the 0,5mm optic fiber wire. It is very good for point lights, with a certain degree of ambiance, they will be perfect for the cargo deck sidewalls, but alternatively, I am studying the possibility to add a series of small LED lights as a general lighting. Wires are the main issue, where to run them through, but I will come up with something.

That is all for now, I want to go on working on the other projects as well, the 1/12 B737 cabin, and other of the GSE which are also quite advanced such as the Pulsar 7D and the new baggage carts.

Take good care everyone,
Guillem

Hello everyone,

Today I am sharing some more progress about the two main projects that I have this year.

The radio panel on the 1/12 B737 cabin has been finished. I did an initial test on all the radio panel sections and I like the result. Something to keep in mind when viewing these images is the size of these parts, they are much smaller than what you can feel from the photo.

I still have to test the fitting of the various knobs and switches. Basically each radio module will be added one by one by the modeler, on top of the radio pedestal which will have three columns separated by a panel line to perfectly align each module.

For my own test, I did not sand any edge, so they were simply cut off the base to check the overall result of them together.

The main panel has also been completed, but before I test it, I would like to have the main structure done (the main panel was remade again), that will be the next step.

On the other subject, the B747-8F/400F, it is progressing well, most of the nose section is completed, there are some smaller details I still need to add, and I am also considering making the padding that is located inside the nose cone.

Sometimes you need to make some sacrifices regarding fitting/dimensions/realism. This was the case for the hinges and rods (rods will be made out of metal or plastic), also, details in the renders may be “exaggerated” in some cases but because later on, these will be very subtle once printed.

The electric motor and the gearboxes were made and there will be some wiring inside the nose.

While the nose area is almost done, work has continued with the main deck. Currently working on the rear section and the side door platform area.

This set, which I finally called it “Transdetail kit” (because it transforms the detail from an original kit and it is a kit itself, not quite like a transkit that changes the original model kit), will also include decals; the anti slippery marks on the main deck made as a decal will be a nice addition solving the difficulty that would be having to paint each little rectangle perfectly.

Finally, the restock of the B787-8 galleys and some other currently out of stock items and the release of the new items will be on July 29th. These new items will be:

– 1/144 B787-9 Forward cargo hold module.
– 1/144 B787-9 Rear cargo hold module.
– 1/144 Antenna set “A”.
– 1/144 Satcom antenna set.
– 1/144 Pitot tubes assortment.
– 1/144 Radomes; Viasat, Gogo 2KU, Arinc 791, Inmarsat GX and Boeing factory.
– 1/144 Airbus narrowbody sharklets.
– 1/144 Airbus A350 sharklets.
– 1/144 B747-400 Winglets.

Some out of stock items like the baggage carts will take a bit more time since I am making the new movable towbar version. I am also progressing with the work of the rest of the projects; the 1/72 Schopf F59, the 1/144 Pulsar 7D etc.

That is all for now, I hope to share more finished things soon.
Take good care everyone.

Best wishes,
Guillem