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Many thanks for the contributions from everyone!

Just to clarify, as some posters seem to think I want a 'counts as' Riptide, this isn't my intention, I just found myself inspired to do some giant robot kits as a result.

I'm giving a Frame Arms type 38 a go too.

 Kilkrazy wrote:
The Border Break models are pretty big aren't they?

I considered buying one last time I was in Japan but decided against it because the wife would have blamed me.

According amazon they are 15cm high
some pics
http://www.google.co.jp/search?aq=&hl=ja&rlz=1T4PRFD_jaJP531JP531&q=border+break%E3%81%AE%E3%83%A2%E3%83%87%E3%83%AB%E3%82%AD%E3%83%83%E3%83%88%E3%81%AE%E3%82%B5%E3%82%A4%E3%82%BA&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=gwhmUeqHA-Gjige1h4GQDw&biw=1366&bih=619&sei=iQhmUdmJBeyRiQeA8ICABA

I think gundams are going to be great for my riptide counts-as. Already have plans for some of the gundam seed mechs. I also want to incorporate other mecha anime; so more planning to do.

Thanks for the descriptions of the grades and scaling. I didn't really understand what the grades were even after looking them up.

 Jehan-reznor wrote:

 Kilkrazy wrote:
The Border Break models are pretty big aren't they?

I considered buying one last time I was in Japan but decided against it because the wife would have blamed me.

According amazon they are 15cm high

That sounds about right, give or take a few centimeters depending on which model you're building.

I wish there were Macross Frontier 1/144 scale models. If there was, it could be fielded as a Riptide or a Sun Shark Bomber depending on the configuration. Speaking of which, imagine if there was a Tau model that could switch between walker mode, flyer mode, and jump pack walker mode.

Actually, there are a couple of Macross Frontier 1/100 kits, but they're fighter mode only.
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN967079/Sci

This might work for a Tau flier...

http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist?SaleGroup=Darius_sale

 azreal13 wrote:
Many thanks for the contributions from everyone!

Just to clarify, as some posters seem to think I want a 'counts as' Riptide, this isn't my intention, I just found myself inspired to do some giant robot kits as a result.

I'm giving a Frame Arms type 38 a go too.

What is this robot and how can I get this into my life?

Concerning Tau flyers, I have these a transporters (terrain or objective, not yet painted os pics borrowed):




... plus a Gundam Shuttle I can't find ATM.

The transporters are great for terrain and to field a themed game around.

 SabrX wrote:
I dug up some of my old 1/144 scale Gundam models from my childhood. Here's a few side by side comparisons with an incomplete Riptide model.

Spoiler:

If you do proxy Gundam Models as riptide, do note not all 1/144 scale models perfectly match Riptide's height.

Most of my 1/144 scale models is pretty cheap and not good quality. Anyone who's considering of using a 1/144 scale model as a stand-in for Riptide should consider Real or Master Grade.

Very disappointed in the riptide only being the size of a 1/144 kit. Especially since I've already picked up two of these: http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN961417/Gun

I should have been suspicious when the 1/100 kits' feet barely fit on the oval base. They really went out of their way in the photos of the riptide to make it look larger than it really is.

I have the MG GN-X Cool little model kit.

By the way I have a gundam blog. Not updated in a while but am going to start back soon. job is settled, move is complete, and ready to Gunpla my buttocks off

http://gundamgouf.blogspot.com/

The MG GN-X is cool. I'll definitely check out the blog when it is updated.

 heartserenade wrote:

 azreal13 wrote:
Many thanks for the contributions from everyone!

Just to clarify, as some posters seem to think I want a 'counts as' Riptide, this isn't my intention, I just found myself inspired to do some giant robot kits as a result.

I'm giving a Frame Arms type 38 a go too.

What is this robot and how can I get this into my life?

Ask these good people to send it to you in exchange for currency.

http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYFA006

Any advice on Railgun-like weapons that would look good on a gundam?

 Kroothawk wrote:
Concerning Tau flyers, I have these a transporters (terrain or objective, not yet painted os pics borrowed):




... plus a Gundam Shuttle I can't find ATM.

That first picture is a battle tech drop pod leopard

 Ironwill13791 wrote:
Any advice on Railgun-like weapons that would look good on a gundam?

I'd recommend you search through Kotobukiya's Armored Core line since there's some nice looking weapons with the ACs themselves and they sell a number of them separately.
I mentioned the Tellus from Armored Core before. http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYVI-040/Sci It has a very nice underslung cannon that looks like it would work well as a railgun
If you don't mind doing some customizing to get it to fit, there's always this beauty http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYAW-18/Sci

This one is a good big Rail Gun kind of weapon.

http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYAW-14/Sci

Thanks for the suggestions.

This new kit could be good for a Tau Commander.

http://www.hlj.com/product/ban981447

 Kilkrazy wrote:
This new kit could be good for a Tau Commander.

http://www.hlj.com/product/ban981447

Possible, but I believe that line of gundam figures is actually somewhere between 1/144 and 1/100, meaning it would likely be too large for a riptide, let alone a commander.

The Riptide seems to be around the size of a 1/144, so the size issue might not be that bad. I think the problem would be in actually trying to repaint a Robot Damashii action figure. The materials Bandai uses on them doesn't take too kindly to paints for some reason. I wouldn't recommend it.

That being said, Wohoo! The Aries is OUT! I just got my payment notice from HLJ. That's one of the designs from Wing I always wanted. Now if they'd just do a Robot Damashii of the Taurus and not make it a web exclusive, we're set.

The riptide looks like it is about comparable to 1/144 scale to me too.

And here I was looking for something amazing to use for my Broadsides and possibly the stealth suits. . . Armored Core esque would be GREAT. . . thoughts? (Yes I did see the pictures of the 1/72 models. . . )

On a side note some of these weapons look great for some weapon conversions. . .




Automatically Appended Next Post:
I also like the look of Frame Arms. . .

I am amazed that the Gundam Wing Custom Serpent stands exactly the same size as the Riptide. It amazes me that they charge that much for the model. Here are some Gundams that I think work well for Tau proxies.

Found this on amazon. Nice weapon load out:



This one has the look of a riptide, especailly the legs in my opinion.



I have a Tieren Ground Type that could make a nice riptide. I have the Space version as well, needs more work but could work.



I just bought this guy for 20 bucks and I think he would make a killer broadside with some added tau armor plates and a crisis suit head slapped on. he stands the size of a dreadnought and his feet can be reversed to put toes in front.



Lastly, i got this Iron Man Drone at target and i think with the right leg surgury and tweaks he could make a good riptide type mech. He stands the exact height of a dreadknight and even has two swappable heads.

Eeeh. I'd stay away from the SD kits as proxies. They really won't look right. I'd also remind you all that those old Wing kits are based on a smaller sized MS. Universal Century Suits, such as the Heavy Arms Jesta up at the top of the previous post is actually going to be bigger.

I'm going to make a suggestion here for another line that Kotobukiya did that is sadly no longer in production. Any of you familiar with Linebarrels of Iron? Stupid name, I know. But, the designs were very cool and very much in line with the likes of Zone of the Enders.
http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYKP-56/Sci
http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYKP-097/Sci
http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYKP-58/Sci
http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYKP-66/Sci
http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYKP-112/Sci
http://www.hlj.com/product/KBYKP-57/Sci
I have the Linebarrel, the winged Vardant, and the Arma Idaten. All are very nice kits and have a very cool, sleek and high tech look to them. The pics don't show it for some reason, but that Mid-range support variant of Vardant also came with a pair of huge cannons that attached to the back of Hind-Kind. It's a pretty impressive model once it has those attached.

For general reference, can anyone measure the actual height and width in centimetres of the Crisis suit, new Broadside and Riptide and post them here?

My source

Crisis is 3" Old Broadside is 3.5"

Kroothawk mentioned earlier in this thread that a 1/48 scale VOTOMS toy/kit would be too small. I dunno. I just got the Chaos Space diorama set in the mail today from HLJ and snapped a pic of the Scope Dog against one of my Space Marines. Does it look too small? I don't have any Tau mechs to compare it against.

For OP, you can get gundam models in the UK from www.gundammad.co.uk

Right now I'm looking into getting something I can use as a base to model crisis suits and broadsides from. Tau suits just look terrible.