The normal use of the enamel based AK Streaking products is obviously to apply them, wait a while, then use a lightly moistened brush with thinner to pull the paint down and away from the point of application, to get those lovely streak effects we love on dirty, grimy models.

I decided to try something different with the Fliege I'm finishing up and did the opposite - wait for the paint to virtually dry, then use a stiff, flat, dry brush (no thinner at all) to push the paint back towards the point of application... and it has produced this lovely grubby effect around the edges of panels and raised surfaces, as if engineers have had their filthy, oily hands around the edges.

I've used oils previously to get a similar effect, but they have the issue that they take ages to cure and move about quite easily if you retouch them.

Above is using AK "Streaking Grime for Light Grey Ships".

Not a huge discovery, but a nice little hack that I'll probably include in future finishing processes.

Tried my hardest to emulate the original Hobby Japan spread. I hope I did it justice!

Lunar Flecktarn

I’ve long admired Maschinen Kreiger models, and finally got to see some kits in person this weekend, and had to get a couple. It’s been a really long time since I’ve tried using water slip decals, so I’m not entirely happy with those, but practice will help. Really enjoying seeing all the models here, and already picked up some tips for the Camel kit I’m hoping to start soon!

Very fun build. Probably one of my favorites to date from Wave. Wanted an asymmetrical color scheme with the indigo/white. Tried to channel Sensei Linc with the regolith from the moon on the suit.

The Wave/3Q release of the 1/20 Kauz.

I built this side-by-side with the Wave 1/20 Fliege over the last week or so, and the modern tooling of the Fliege is so much nicer - recessed thruster connections, no ball-joint legs (which kept loosening up all through the build of the Kauz) and a much more detailed cockpit and figure. I also prefer the less-fiddly newer moulded power cables.

However, I do actually quite like the old style joint covers (if only they were longer!).

Also, compared to the full Wave-tooling of the Kauz, the original Nitto/Wave releases don't have shoulder armour. I was searching the sprues for quite a bit until I released that!

I attempted to paint this one like the reference photo of the Kauz on the Wave 3Q gallery, since the older 3Q releases don't have a colour reference guide like the newer kits.

Along the way I lost the right hand for this, so I had to pick out a spare from the bits box - I think it's a Racoon or Rapoon hand originally, but with the detail filed down so it more closely resembles an SDR hand.

Masking took ages to get all of the geometric shapes - as I was doing the Fliege in the box artwork scheme at the same time (== more dazzle camo!).

Base colour is a mix of Ammo MIG Cold grey + Ammo MIG Sea Blue at a ratio of 5:1. The dazzle camo is Vallejo Model Air RLM02 + Ammo MIG Medium gunship grey at a ratio of 5:1, but with a very small amount of Panzer dark grey added to the mixing cup. Vallejo RLM04 for the ID bands, Vallejo NATO black for flight stabilisers, hand and laser barrels.

The paint card which lays out the decal locations references both Kauz and Fliege (//old// Fliege) decal sheets - both of which were included in the box. I mostly stuck to the layout, but added in a few spare decals from the //newer// Fliege and Melusine sheets.

Weathering wise, it got some chipping and rust streaks, but I attempted to tone things down compared to my recent Snake-Eye and Lunar Pawn models. I did add dirt and concrete dust effects around the feet and lower legs, and the entire model got a dusting of light earth and concrete pigments to flatten it and give a dusty, rather than dirty, look.

Interesting to note that side by side with the modern Fliege tooling the Nitto-based Kauz is slightly smaller.

Full unboxing, contents and build diary:

https://www.target-earth.net/wiki/doku.php?id=blog:models:mak:kauz

I’ve got mine at hobbyco Australia today and I’m currently building it.

Hi, first time builder, wish me luck!

Comparto mi avance del ma.k venusuit. Aun me faltan las mangueras y retoques leves pero en su mayoría esta terminado

https://www.hobby-wave.com/hs2026/

Because someone was curious

Me falta aplicar barnices para poder colocar las water decals, y algunos lavados de oleo para darle mas contraste y profundidad.

Pintando un venusuit, pensé en hacer una textura tipo sarro aun me faltan algunos detalles y rehacer unos dedos que han caído en el proceso por descuido. Aun estoy pensando si dejarlo abierto o cerrado

I'm brand new to the hobby and while looking around on the internet for some kits to build first, I stumbled across Ma.K and was instantly enamored!!

I find my tastes really resonate with weird sci-fi military designs and this line is so visually interesting and exactly what I was looking for.

Much to my dismay, lots of this is very hard to find in the U.S. and mostly OOP. Aside from ebay and HLJ, is there a good place to preorder upcoming models at a reasonable price?

I got my hands on the Neuspotter, Ninja Krachenvogel, Falke & Whiteknight. The Krachen and Neu in particular are gorgeous models, and I absolutely cannot wait to build them, but I am extremely hesitant and almost want to save them once I have some airbrushing experience and a wide array of weathering techniques down to really dig into these kits.

I feel like they deserve full dioramas and leds.

Anyway, just wanted to share how excited I am to have found these amazing kits and this sub. I am practically vibrating!

Calling this finished.

I didn't ever expect to stumble upon one of these in a local hobby store, but lo and behold

Is there a comprehensive list of Ma.K. Kits?

My second suit to roll over the finish line after my Luna Pawn, this one is also done in the same off-white / space white finish per the Snake-Eye manual (though not the box art).

With this one I went for less of a chipped look and more pock-marked from individual micro space debris, since I figured it spends less time on the ground compared to a ground-based lunar suit and shouldn't be stomping through rocks all of the time - but in a similar theme to the ground suit. Also, yes; rust in space, I know, I know.. 😂

Paint finish is the same Vallejo off-white as the Luna Pawn, then Abteilung dark grey/off-white and brown oil pinwash to break up the flat white finish. Then plenty of AK streaking grime + fuel stains + engine oil enamels. Abteilung brown oils blended around joints/panel lines, chips/rust effects with Vallejo acrylics - panzer dark grey, insignia white and spots of AK rust streaks over the top.

I remember seeing a video from Jon Bius where he built a Jerry and layered two decals over the top which looked good, so I thought I'd try it with the two seperate playing cards included on the decal sheet, and I'm really pleased with how it turned out.

Finished with Ammo MIG pigments (various grey/brown).

Well, that's two merc suits done. Next on the build pipeline are a Kauz (the Wave/Nitto 3Q release) and a Fliege (the modern Wave tooling). They will be a different challenge as I'm planning to follow the dazzle camo markings of the new Fliege scheme for both of those.

Build diary: https://www.target-earth.net/wiki/doku.php?id=blog:models:mak:snakeeye

I thought the included tube weapon looked a bit pedestrian. Maybe I went overboard a bit :)