DONE +++ 1:100 Regult Tactical Scout pod (Macross TV series)

Dizzyfugu · August 13, 2021, 01:28:08 AM

Now things will turn exotic, I found enough mojo to tackle one of these:

I had this kit stashed away for a couple of years, together with a bunch of other 1:100 Zentraedi pods of all kinds and the plan to build a full platoon some day...

'A Zentraedi platoon, waiting to materialze... by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

This is not the whole bunch, though - there's a(nother) 1st generation 1:100 Regult pod hidden somewhere else, as well as a Glaug commander pod. If I should ever feel bored...

This naturally has not happened so far, but the "Reconnaissance & Surveillance" group build is a good occasion and motivation to tackle the first of these models, as it perfectly fits the GB's theme and also adds an exotic science fiction/anime twist.
The kit is an original ARII boxing from 1983, AFAIK the only edition of this model so far, quite rare (and currently goes for insane prices of ~EUR 80,- in Japan!) and a variation of the 1982 standard Regult kit with extra parts.

BTW, here's some visual reference for this obscure vehicle, as it appears in episode #2 of the TV series (together with standard Regult pods and a medium missile launcher):

Zentraedi Regult Tactical Scout pod - stills from Macross, Ep. 2 by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dizzyfugu · August 14, 2021, 01:01:44 AM

I carefully started inspecting the sprues - this thing is quite simple, but delicate. The legs cause some headaches, because I remember their wobbly construction from the first time I built a (standard) Regult long ago. I expected this kit to be the original Regult pod with some extra parts, but apparently it is a totally new/different mold, with options for the missile carriers and apparently for a standard Regult, too. And it has some detail changes, e. g. the feet, which originally consisted of separate toe and heel sections (and these were hollow from behind/below!). These are now molded as left/right halves, much more solid - but not easier to mount onto the legs. To my surprise, the knees are now not held by flimsy vinyl caps (that have to carry the whole weight of the pod) - there are small metal screws(!) contained in the kit that might allow a more solid pose. Interesting.

One of the kit's innvations: the big vinyl rings, here inside of the hip section:

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dizzyfugu · August 15, 2021, 06:03:11 AM

Progress is good. Fit is mediocre at best, PSR on every seam, but the kit does not fight with you. The whole thing will be mostly built OOB, at 1:100 there's little that makes sense to add to the surface, and the kit comes with anything you'd expect on a Regult Scout pod. I just added some lenses and small stuff behind the large "eye", which is actually a clear part. It will be dyed, though, so that anything behind it might only appear in schemes - but that's better than leaving the area blank.

Here's a look at the major sub-assemblies:

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dizzyfugu · August 16, 2021, 11:29:26 PM

The only hardware mod: I added some lenses and small stuff behind the large "eye", which is a clear part. The stuff might later only appear in schemes, but that's IMHO better than leaving the area blank?

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Here's a look at the only critical area of the kit: the feet. They come as a traditional "onion layer" construction and can only be mounted once the lower legs have been finished. This makes construction, PSR and painting complicated - but its the only problematic area:

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dizzyfugu · August 17, 2021, 06:14:34 AM

News from the feet - here's a look at their impractical construction, and shoving the parts into place (and to match each other!) is not easy. It works, somehow. Basic paint has already been added, too, and since I am using glossy Humbrol enamels, waiting for the paint to cure takes hours instead of minutes...

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Dizzyfugu · August 18, 2021, 12:30:24 AM

Progress remains at glacial pace, but we get there... Basic painting finished, now a black ink washing for the recessed panel lines etc.

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Old Wombat · August 18, 2021, 02:45:35 AM

PR19_Kit · August 18, 2021, 05:26:57 AM

Of course 'Dizzy Glacial' is the equivalent of a 'Blitz Build' for the rest of us!

Dizzyfugu · August 18, 2021, 11:08:10 PM

A huge leap was achieved yesterday: ink washing was applied, as well as post-shading/dry-brushing and even the decals. These were still in perfect shape, after almost 40(!) years.

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Still some detail work and corrections to do, but varnish stage is approaching.

Dizzyfugu · August 20, 2021, 03:44:28 AM

Home stretch in sight, but the kit showed some problems. One concerns the side antennae on the booster "arms" - the material turned out to be very brittle, and they broke off half way. The only solution: cut the away and replace them (with heated sprue material).

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Here's also a look at the small screws that stiffen the knees; I am not certain if they have any effect? The blank metal of the screw heads will disappear under some grey paint.

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

However, while the knees appear to be a robust construction, the kit showed more material weakness: while handling the leg assembly, one leg suddenly came off under the knees - turned out that the locator that holds the knee joint above (which I expected to be the weak point) completely broke off of the lower leg! Weird damage, but I guess it's the same flaw that affected the antennae. I will probably try to glue the leg into place, inserting a replacement for the pin and its basis appears like an uncertain gamble. $:-\$

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Almost finished, though. Leg repair is still pending, and I will do some weathering to the feet with simple water colors - more makes IMHO no sense, due to the mecha's sheer size (around 18 m tall in real life) and the fact that it israther an expendable vehicle. Battle-worn regults would not make sense: they are either new and shiny, or total wrecks.

Dizzyfugu · August 21, 2021, 12:29:46 AM

The attempt to glue the leg directly together failed, due to the small contact area and the vinly that's still inside of the bearing that held everything together, so I implanted a simple styrene stick for more stability - and this seems to work.

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型) of the Zentraedi Armed Forces; South Ataria Island during Space War I, March 2009 (Arii kit) - WiP by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Photo session next.

Dizzyfugu · August 23, 2021, 04:44:54 AM

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia ,,Regult" Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型); unit "060101" of the Zentraedi Armed Forces 6th assault regiment, 2nd platoon; assault on South Ataria Island (Space War I), March 2009 (Arii kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Some background:
Simple, efficient and reliable, the Regult (リガード, Rigādo) was the standard mass production mecha of the Zentraedi forces. Produced by Esbeliben at the 4.432.369th Zentraedi Fully Automated Weaponry Development and Production Factory Satellite in staggering numbers to fill the need for an all-purpose mecha, this battle pod accommodated a single Zentraedi soldier in a compact cockpit and was capable of operating in space or on a planet's surface. The Regult saw much use during Space War I in repeated engagements against the forces of the SDF-1 Macross and the U.N. Spacy, but its lack of versatility against superior mecha often resulted in average effectiveness and heavy losses. The vehicle was regarded as expendable and was therefore cheap, simple, but also very effective when fielded in large numbers. Possessing minimal defensive features, the Regult was a simple weapon that performed best in large numbers and when supported by other mecha such as Gnerl Fighter Pods. Total production is said to have exceeded 300 million in total.

The cockpit could be accesses through a hatch on the back of the Regult's body, which was, however, extremely cramped, with poor habitability and means of survival. The giant Zentraedi that operated it often found themselves crouching, with some complaining that "It would have been easier had they just walked on their own feet". Many parts of the craft relied on being operated on manually, which increased the fatigue of the pilot. On the other hand, the overall structure was extremely simple, with relatively few failures, making operational rate high.

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia ,,Regult" Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型); unit "060101" of the Zentraedi Armed Forces 6th assault regiment, 2nd platoon; assault on South Ataria Island (Space War I), March 2009 (Arii kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia ,,Regult" Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型); unit "060101" of the Zentraedi Armed Forces 6th assault regiment, 2nd platoon; assault on South Ataria Island (Space War I), March 2009 (Arii kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia ,,Regult" Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型); unit "060101" of the Zentraedi Armed Forces 6th assault regiment, 2nd platoon; assault on South Ataria Island (Space War I), March 2009 (Arii kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

In space, the Regult made use of two booster engines and numerous vernier thrusters to propel itself at very high speeds, capable of engaging and maintaining pace with the U.N. Spacy's VF-1 Valkyrie variable fighter. Within an atmosphere, the Regult was largely limited to ground combat but retained high speed and maneuverability. On land, the Regult was surprisingly fast and agile, too, capable of closing with the VF-1 variable fighter in GERWALK flight (though likely unable to maintain pace at full GERWALK velocity). The Regult was not confined to land operations, though, it was also capable of operating underwater for extended periods of time. Thanks to its boosters, the Regult was capable of high leaping that allowed the pod to cover long distances, surprise enemies and even engage low-flying aircraft.

Armed with a variety of direct-fire energy weapons and anti-personnel/anti-aircraft guns, the Regult offered considerable firepower and was capable of engaging both air and ground units. It was also able to deliver powerful kicks. The armor of the body shell wasn't very strong, though, and could easily be penetrated by a Valkyrie's 55 mm Gatling gun pod. Even bare fist attacks of a VF-1 could crack the Regult's cockpit or immobilize it. The U.N. Spacy's MBR-07 Destroid Spartan was, after initial battel experience with the Regult, specifically designed to engage the Zentraedi forces' primary infantry weapon in close-combat.

The Regult was, despite general shortcomings, a highly successful design and it became the basis for a wide range of specialized versions, including advanced battle pods for commanders, heavy infantry weapon carriers and reconnaissance/command vehicles. The latter included the Regult Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型). manufactured by electronics specialist Ectromelia. The Tactical Scout variant was a deadly addition to the Zentraedi Regult mecha troops. Removing all weaponry, the Tactical Scout was equipped with many additional sensor clusters and long-range detection equipment. Always found operating among other Regult mecha or supporting Glaug command pods, the Scout was capable of early warning enemy detection as well as ECM/ECCM roles (Electronic Countermeasures/Electronic Counter-Countermeasures). In Space War I, the Tactical Scout was utilized to devastating effect, often providing radar jamming, communication relay and superior tactical positioning for the many Zentraedi mecha forces.

At the end of Space War I in January 2012, production of the Regult for potential Earth defensive combat continued when the seizure operation of the Factory Satellite was executed. After the war, Regults were used by both U.N. Spacy and Zentraedi insurgents. Many surviving units were incorporated into the New U.N. Forces and given new model numbers. The normal Regult became the "Zentraedi Battle Pod" ZBP-104 (often just called "Type 104") and was, for example, used by Al-Shahal's New U.N. Army's Zentraedi garrison. The related ZBP-106 was a modernized version for Zentraedi commanders, with built-in boosters, additional Queadluun-Rhea arms and extra armaments. These primarily replaced the Glaug battle pod, of which only a handful had survived. By 2067, Regult pods of all variants were still in operation among mixed human/Zentraedi units.

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia ,,Regult" Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型); unit "060101" of the Zentraedi Armed Forces 6th assault regiment, 2nd platoon; assault on South Ataria Island (Space War I), March 2009 (Arii kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia ,,Regult" Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型); unit "060101" of the Zentraedi Armed Forces 6th assault regiment, 2nd platoon; assault on South Ataria Island (Space War I), March 2009 (Arii kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia ,,Regult" Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型); unit "060101" of the Zentraedi Armed Forces 6th assault regiment, 2nd platoon; assault on South Ataria Island (Space War I), March 2009 (Arii kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

General characteristics:
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in main body
Overall Height: 18.2 meters
Overall Length: 7.6 meters
Overall Width: 12.6 meters
Max Weight: 39.8 metric tons

Powerplant & propulsion:
1x 1.3 GGV class Ectromelia thermonuclear reaction furnace, driving 2x main booster Thrusters and 12x vernier thrusters

Performance:
unknown

Armament:
None

Special Equipment and Features:
Standard all-frequency radar antenna
Standard laser long-range sensor
Ectromelia infrared, visible light and ultraviolet frequency sensor cluster
ECM/ECCM suite

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia ,,Regult" Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型); unit "060101" of the Zentraedi Armed Forces 6th assault regiment, 2nd platoon; assault on South Ataria Island (Space War I), March 2009 (Arii kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

Macross +++ 1:100 Ectromelia ,,Regult" Tactical Scout (リガード偵察型); unit "060101" of the Zentraedi Armed Forces 6th assault regiment, 2nd platoon; assault on South Ataria Island (Space War I), March 2009 (Arii kit) by Dizzyfugu, on Flickr

A "normal" build without much visible or invisible conversions, even though the model and the topic are exotic enough. This 2nd generation Regult kit went together easier than expected, even though it has its weak points, too. However, material ageing turned out to be the biggest challenge (after all, the kit is almost 40 years old!), but all problems could be overcome and the resulting model looks decent – and it has this certain Eighties flavor!

Old Wombat · August 23, 2021, 07:13:39 AM

Looks better than I thought it would. Good job, Dizzy!

Dizzyfugu · August 23, 2021, 07:16:41 AM

Thank you. This thing turned out difficult to take pictures of, and balance is also pretty mediocre, due to the high center of gravity. But unlike a 1st generation 1:100 Regult model, this one has solid legs that even allow a mildly dynamic pose...

zenrat · August 24, 2021, 05:08:55 AM

Excellent work.