After testing out various ways to make a Companion Cube design, I've finally found a method that I'm satisfied with. These are a bit more expensive than the Rubik's Cube ones since I need PE foil. The pattern is created using cutout PE decals and should not fade for many years! If you'd like one of these, please head to our shop.

 I believe this must be the most complex kit I've worked on yet. These two girls are really heavy chunks of resin given the scale (1/6). They're only held together by a pin where their arms are interlocked (not glued) and I'm glad that it's sufficient. I've taken many pictures from it's progress so when I have time, I hope I can finish the GK building guide I'm working on.

There were many troubles with this kit and I've wrote the longest negative feedback at E2064. But now the kit's done and all I can do is try better next time. I like the colors very much though, so enjoy the pictures!

 I like how T's System always releases GKs in 1/6 scale so they're usually really big. This Penguin girl however is only around 13 cm in height so she looks pretty good beside smaller scale figures. This kit was a pleasure to work with and that's why I finished her so fast. I also got to use Mr. Crystal Colors for the first time and I'm really impressed about the slight pearl shine that were applied on her jacket and the penguin (but these effects are hard to photograph).

No it's not the PVC from ALTER I actually always cry a little inside when a GK I've painted is released as a PVC figure. But this time it was because I couldn't afford the exclusive (and elusive) PVC so I decided to paint the GK version. Now she's being rereleased but oh well. I think mine didn't turn out that bad either

I like Snow Mikus color scheme so much that I wanted to own a scaled figure of her. Even though Miku has thousands of figures and multiple Snow versions as Nendoroids, there's no decent scaled figure. She was quite a challenge to paint, I've never used that much metallic color on a figure before and I've learned a lot in the process.

I entered the E2046 GK Contest 2012 with her since I finished her roughly around the time.

Apparently there are two releases from Kotobukiya, one is a painted resin kit and one is the PVC version. I am not quite sure how to classify this one here because I painted it myself. However, it's safe to say that it's a recast from E2046 (from the painted resin kit, probably). She's still preorderable but I haven't seen her actually being released for the last two years or so. I bought her from an user who got one from her earlier batches. This kit caused me a lot of headache because her skirt parts just didn't want to fit together at all, among other things like thousands of micro-bubbles on her coat. I was also forced to remodel her glasses because I lost those that came with it. It doesn't make a big difference though, the included ones were also just printed on plastic (and not laser etched metal). Despite all the difficulties, I think she came out nice (especially her base fits her so well!). More pictures under the cut! =w=

This is one of the kits I've always wanted (even before picking up painting GKs as a hobby). The sculptor Abira is really talented and has produced a bunch of Toradora (among others) figures that I all love to have. So more are bound to follow if I can ever get my hands on some kits of his!

Taiga here was painted using Mr. Hobby Colors and I especially like how her dress turned out. The many layers of frills have a little purple shading on them. I'm happy that it seems like I'm rally improving. Usually I stick to round acrylic transparent bases but this time I sort of copied the background colors of the original artwork that belongs to this kit.

sadly after playing with some plugins it seemed that somehow a bit of potentially malicious code entered the blog. It was appended on all themese footer.php and i'm currently trying to investigate (and asking the wordpress guys over at WordPress-Support) which plugin it was and how it injected the code.

Upon a quick analysis of the code it seemed that no harm was done - it connected to a site transmitting no data whatsoever. !So it didn't actually harm anything! (as far as i could see...).

The matter is now resolved, and even the google Malicious-Code-Check doesn't raise a alarm anymore ...

Sorry for any inconvenience caused!

So why all this? When casting resin in a (RTV) silicone mould at room pressure it seems you're up against mainly one problem: Bubbles. You'd do anything to get rid of them. From complicated vent systems in the molds that i've seen to the nice thingy below: A vibration table that will shake out the dreaded little bubbles.

The LEGO construction you see on the table is there as a test object - it will be used as a box to pour the silicone in (THIS WILL NO HAPPEN ON THE VIBRATION TABLE! ITS REALLY ONLY MERELY A PLACEHOLDER THERE). After the silicone mold has vulcanized(?) and is ready to be filled with liquid resin to cast it is placed on the table, the resin is poured and then the table is switched on.

I've tried to put a little work in the construction of the table, yet still keep it a quick hack. I have not yet acquired a jack for the power, so currently i'm holding the wires on my power connector manually ;>. This WILL be changed ;P.

As for the construction, its a simple rectangular frame which is miter-joint for extra stability and better looks ;P. The wood used is some cheap three-layer composite material sourced in the waste-bin of the local DIY-store.

 Additionally i have mitered the top edge and the edge of the "floating" table plate.

This allows for more play for the table and thus a larger range of weights that can be put on it without restricting the vibrational ability...

 The "Floating" construction is made using pull-springs in each edge:

 On the frame side they're simply hung on simple wood-screws...

 On the table-plate side they're mounted using a long screw driven through the plate itself. The mouting ring of the spring is then fastened between two hexnuts.

For the vibration mechanism itself we went for a old computer fan that has been stripped of ... nearly everything. I've preserved a few struts to mount the motor on. To create a imbalance large enough to vibrate a big block of silicone i've glued a large screw to the outer runner of the motor and added weights (hexnuts) until i was satisfied. The position and weight of the nuts can be used to adjust amplitude and frequency of the vibration.

 It has been fastened using regular 2-Components Epoxy glue...

For fastening the motor on the table i've gone the simple way and clamped the struts of the frame between two screws.

 Nice jack and switch to come ;P.

So, how good does it work? To be honest - I DONT KNOW! We haven't got the resin and silicone yet, so i can't test. But the basic principle is there, and it vibrates nicely. Check out this bad, crappy, short video for a functional test using ~1L of water ;P.

[jwplayer mediaid="2931"]

I'm really looking forward for the rest of the equipment to arrive so i can test the construction ... and hopefully report back with more ;P.

But we didn't give up and started investigating new, cheaper methods of batch-building those nifty little tissue-cubes. Lucky for us we found a way using a well manufactured premade tissue box made from sturdy cardboard. The results can be seen here:

And now for the important things: We've done this and made this prototype to be able to offer you a bunch of those thingies. When making them in batch, using the premade boxes, spray-mount, quality adhesive plastic-sheet and colored paper sheets we could press the price as low as 18Eur. That is if we get at least 10 "orders". Shipping would be europe-wide (and maybe others too, if not too pricey) for the standard "DHL Päckchen International" rates.

For those interested: The cube measures 12.5x12.5x12.5cm. Subtracting maybe 2-3mm wall thickness it still fits our originally used saubär tissue boxes. I do hope that similar designed (and sized) tissue boxes can be found anywhere...

To make things less messy, we have a dedicated shop page here now:

Click me!