Gunpla Building Community

Still have a few more decals to throw on and some cleaning up but this was really fun to build. So many parts.

MG Char's Zaku II 2.0 (with a Sony α7 IV)

First of all, apologies to ohai for the filesize on this post.

I love the Zaku II. Probably my favorite mobile suit design, besides maybe the Barbatos Lupus. The MG Zaku II 2.0 is a fantastic rendition of the suit, and definitely worth getting.

I borrowed my friend's Sony α7 IV mirrorless camera and took some (unfortunately not bright enough) pictures in a lightbox.

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[30MM] AC6 Generic Balam Melander with Weapon Set 02

More (poorly color balanced) images of an Armored Core 6 build. Well, two actually, since the last two images include my generic Orbiter with the Weapon Set 05 I put together for it.

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[30MM] Armored Core VI Nachtreiher / V.IV Rusty

This is one of my 3 ACs from Bandai, and the only non-generic one I have. Pictures of the others will come soon enough, although I didn't have the lighting quite right for them, either.

Fun note: right after this, one of its feet broke in 3 places. Some wire and glue has it back mostly right.

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Having some fun with heavy weathering

MG Blitz Gundam

Brief story time: my first articulated "model kit" was the G-Frame Blitz Gundam. I was amazed at the simplicity and aesthetic for <10 USD, and it inspired me to get into the hobby.

Late last year I got the MG Blitz Gundam, and it is everything I liked about the G-Frame times 20.

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This is probably my most involved project so far. I liked the Nether Emperor ever since it was first announced, but the color scheme did not say "nether" to me, so I changed that. I learned a lot, especially in regards to shading. I applied some orange fluorescent paint as a wash to the inner frame to give it a molten look.

Build this time is another custom 30MS combining the spotter costume and float unit. Once again, the HGAC Leo FWS provides accessories, in this case the long- and short-type beam rifles and the space-type backpack.

HGRfV RX-78(G)E Gundam EX

Finally got some pictures of the EX with decals.

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Aider Costume + Dash Unit = rollerblading nurse. I tried to emulate, as much as possible, an action pose that professional speed skaters often take during a race. I think it turned out well enough, even if the left hip ended up kinda goofy looking, since there's no skirt to hide the joint. Also, the bazooka is originally from the HGAC Leo FWS, but I guess it's now a potion launcher or something, I dunno.

HG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn (Destroy Mode)

(that's a mouthfull)

I went into this kit expecting extra work, but the result was worth it. It even came with an extra shield (from the Unicorn mode?). I do wish it came with some basic beams for the sabers and tonfas, though.

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Or perhaps Rydira is streetpunk? Nah, I'm gonna say that the sci-fi looking weapon (actually the mega beam cannon from the HGAC Leo Full Weapon Set) makes it cyberpunk. Helmet on, though, because you gotta protect your noggin.

EG Build Strike Exceed Galaxy

This was a surprisingly fun build, especially since I have never done a Strike Gundam before.

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MGSD Gundam Aerial

Finally figured something out for pictures, just in time to finish another Aerial.

This kit is super fun. The strange proportions highlight a lot of what I like about the original design, and the eyes are absolutely wild. The permet could stand out more, but I appreciate that I can swap between red and blue.

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Aerial is not a Gundam! There was an inquest and everything!

First build of the new year is MGSD Aerial, with the WfM Action Base and WfM weapon display. Sadly, the weapon display does not actually come with enough arms and adapters for all of the Aerial's 11(!) GUND bits, so I improvised using some of the unused arms and adapters from my other Action Base 5s and the God Gundam expansion set. I also didn't use the weapon display arm that actually came with the WfM Action Base, because it's purple and that doesn't go with the clear arms of the WfM weapon display.

P-Bandai variant of the Spinatia, distinguished by a new color palette and a set of wings. Interestingly, the wings attach to the waist and not the back. Also, the "default" configuration for this kit, judging by the box and manual, appears to be as a swordswoman, but I like the visual of using the staff to fire off a spell circle more.

Incidentally, I was quite surprised by how simple the torso was compared to 30MS kits. I guess when you're not constrained by the need to try to replicate an actual human torso you can get away with simple ball joints.

Nothing too fancy with this one, just panel lining, G-Rework decals, and matte topcoat.

This is a special edition of MG Freedom 2.0 with Cross Contrast and clear colors. It also came with unique water slide decals and a clear Action Base 1 instead of the crappy stand that other MG Seed kits get. I panel lined with silver enamel paint and sprayed matte topcoat to give the clear parts a frosty look.

Unlike some other model kits, this one has an English accent!

Anyway, my first foray into 30MF. The line has some sort of lore about the world getting wrecked by meteors and the human survivors creating robots to reclaim the world, but honestly no one really cares about that. The core of this kit is the gray silhouette body, over which you stick all the armor pieces. The archer line doesn't appear to have any upgrade kits, although you can swap out the armor with any other humanoid 30MF kit.

The bowstring is a strip of PET, which was an unexpected choice (I was half-expecting wire or something), but it makes sense in practice, since the string needs to keep tension to look good, and the PET works in that regard. Also, the quiver is technically supposed to attach to the back, but as someone who actually dabbled with archery in the past I always found hip quivers to be way better, so onto the side skirt it goes.

I wasn’t the most happy with my Jigabachi paint job. I airbrushed but kept getting a rough texture. I was using 15-18psi with pre thinned lacquer paints but especially on larger pieces something wasn’t working right. Took a break then figured that the mini tachikoma that came with that same model would be perfect for some trial and error.

This time I used a can of primer instead of the Mr surfacer bottle. I used all the same paints but decided to build up the color more gradually. This is where I had the problem I think. I read that with gloss and metallics you want to put on a nice wet coat but I know that orange peel/ rough texture can come from putting the paint on too thick/fast.

I started with a super fine misting of the color before setting it down and getting to other pieces. Once done, say 5-10mins I’d go back to the first piece with about the same type of coating. 5 or 6 passes latter and the color was basically where I wanted. I then did a wetter coat, wet enough that I could see a glossy sheen, and that was my last coat for the paint. Let dry for 24hrs and hit it with a gloss, let dry another 24, then did the detail paints by hand. Red enamel for the lights, black for the “eyes” and other dark marks, and silver for the bare metal.

I’m super happy with the result. I think I found my airbrush problem and I did decently well with the hand painting. I have two more of these mini Tachikoma so I think I’ll try to get the colors for the others from the episode where the three Tachikoma break out to save Batou. Yellow/black construction type and I think the other was like a rnd style grey. Or maybe a red one like the Arise model

Just finished installing the under frame. I'm so reluctant to add on the armor and have been taking weeks having the figure sit in the back of the kitchen table while admiring the details when eating.