Gunpla This GM Quel New Arm Workshop

I finally went to restock the stolen tools last month and this week too from the local top shop in KB. But bad news guys, the price of the spray paints now cost extra 50 cent! I think the tools follow so I just choose those that needed first for the work. The remaining stuffs had to buy separately every each month onward for the sake of budget control.

Ever since my spray paints went dry at the same time unable to continue the current work. I decided to take times and play around with the Bandai Builder Arms Arm. Many of you know the movable joints are very useful parts that can help many older HG/HGUC kit arms breathing new life. I pretty sure there are guides already out in the internet teaching how to implement. But not all kits are the same and my challenge was HGUC RGM-79Q GM Quel.

I completed four Advance of Zeta Gunpla kit previously and all gave me same headache on the painting in the arms. I couldn’t figure other way rather using masking tape method during painting. Unlike the revised GM Kai and GM Custom arm moving part, they are more flexible and can be separate for easy painting. In order to solve the problem, the Builder Arms Arm had to come in. You can check out the photos below to see how I modify allowing inserting new movable joint. Note: the top is final and below is using plastic plate creating L shape.

Not as good as the original movable joints found in the newer Gunpla. Still, it turns out pretty good and now able to paints separately. But wait! How about the shoulder part connection to it? Did I drill, insert plastic pipe and glue? The answer is no.

I find the method risky and higher chance damaging the kits itself if not careful. This is where the Wave Pla-Support option parts come to play safe. The photo below is the 3mm T pipe version I put on shoulder part (compatible to all existing HGUC AOZ series). Perfect fit, just cut the right length and your new rotating arm is good to go.

The Wave Pla-Support option parts come with different size from 2mm to 5mm and only cost 240YEN. You really can’t beat the price and amazed how usefulness its option parts can do. The below is another Wave sample picture in case you having hard time looking in the online shops. Happy Gunpla!

Seed VS Astray Gunpla Work Continue

After a long hiatus on Gundam kits, I finally able to continue my pending work for Seed VS Astray series. Working on model scale 1/100 size really consumes a lot of time compare to 1/144. I don’t intend to sell it because we all know people nowadays are more interested building MG version. Even Bandai no longer molded HG 1/100 version after Seed VS Astray series, so better off finish it before I can continue Hizack High Mobility work.

My first completed Gunpla work for Seed VS Astray was Nix Providence 2nd Issue back in 2012. The second was Regen Duel Gundam E from beginning last year and abandon afterward I got stuck (photo above) with ideas all the time. This is why I hate HG 1/100 scale so much. Don’t get me wrong, I personally like the Seed VS Astray series. It just that squeezing in more for room improvement is the hardest part.

The Regen Duel Gundam E actually already 70% complete. Yesterday I spent few hours on the 30% remaining revising on the weaponry and sees if possible further tweak making good use on the existing left over Nix Providence parts. Everything is now ready and next week will be final paint spraying. Hopefully the existing spray paint in stocks is enough to complete my work. One of my Frame Arms misses one black paint and had to put on hold until the new stock arrive at the local shop. =_=;;

RMS-106CB Hi-Zack Boost Custom - Work-In-Progress #1

After getting the wrong spray paint color for the Rebawoo, I decided to put on hold and start working on Hi-Zack until next month. If it wasn't when I found out my car front tires are damage, I would have already bought on my next trip back to KB town. For the sake of my safety, I have to control my budget spending and replace it. Well, May is coming very soon so do the salary next week.

As the name implies, I am working on Hi-Zack high mobility type build. I am still reviewing the parts require working on. Thanks to the recent teasing photos of the A.O.Z Reboot Hi-Zack. The design inspires me again to improve further. For now, I will concentrate improving the articulations of the body which you can find in the photos below.

The putty are getting bad (three years already), this is why I applied so much into the kit to make sure it won't felt loose. The pla-plate also serve as balance for both roll swing joints and the ball mount point positions. It helps a lot rather applying only putty.

The next one are applying putty for the MS Vernier into the Hi-Zack leg. Actually I do have second thought doing that. In the end, you just have to go for it until you know if it was mistake or not. Let's see how it goes.

Build Forever Gundam – W.I.P #1

Gunpla have been evolved quite unexpectedly fast after the announcement Gundam Build Fighters animation. Bandai feature even more upgrades and add-on choice for modelers to expand their ideas. Thanks to them I was able to continue most of my piling backlog collections starting with Forever Gundam.

I got it two years ago through the promotion and have no idea why bother to buy when you got plan for this kit in the first place. The release Booster packs change the entire High Grade kits combination laws. However, only three were released last year and Build Booster was my best choice.

Build Booster

The Build Booster has a flaw in the design because it no longer using rubber pieces for some parts. Everything is plastic which easily wear out the parts especially both the side thruster rotating area. To counter this issue, I use the existing Gunpla convertor joints combine with rubber pieces.

At first I did think about using poly joints over the convertor joints. Since I don't have any stocks or suitable size, the idea was abandon. But I would like to try it next time. Poly joints allow more movable   area compared to only just fixed rotating joint.

New Custom Weapons

Building a custom weapon is a tricky idea especially dealing with funnels weapon. I already use two replacing the pair beam cannon for the Build Booster. The remaining does given me some headache for hours. Once I think about the MSV Full Armor Gundam and also Gundam Age Assault Jacket weaponry. It caught my attention making into 2-Barrel Funnel Beam Gun.

Building GM Using GM Sniper II Resin kit

The Amuro Ray GM Custom built can be consider my experiment and study project. Both plastic kits are cheap so I don't have to worried about breaking and damaging while working half way. So far everything working out fine except during an accident from the wind blow into the ground scratching the whole kits paints.

GNX III Reboot

Hehe...well, I just finished up Ahead Shogun and proceed with the next kit. I did originally planning to work on Gundam OO, somehow everything ended up working GNX III kit after finding way to fix the broken parts.

If you ever sees my EA CON GNX Gladius build. I did ended up destroying 10% of the parts taken from the brand new GNX III box. The left over 90% going to be a long waste if I don't do something. Yeah, I did spend quite a lot of time sitting there thinking and play around left over parts in the box while letting Ahead Shogun sun bathing. Happily, I hit the right part and everything turns out good.

This is just an early build because the theme is about creating variant ESF special GNX-III MS. I decided continuing messed around more finding out more possible way adding into the ideas.

End of April 2012

Considering this is a late last minute shopping in the local store. I decided to grab some paints but instead just two Lego Mini Figure series 6 and a Tamiya primer. My stuffs are currently on the way so I need this primer to do some work for me. I didn’t buy much since today the last day of April. I best save a bit and begin my shop fest tomorrow.

Yesterday I also done some old Gunpla stock that I left over. Well, it’s Mr Bushido actually. Since I got Smultron cheap at HLJ last order, I plan to rebuilt and do some mixing into Shogun. It is still in progress so I decided did some blurry image until final mixing phase. BTW, the Kotobukiya claw sword does suit well with Shogun.

Anyway, before I head off. The two series 6 I got from inside are Alien san and mechanic.

Nix Providence Gundam 2nd - Work Log

How should I begin? Hmm…okay, this is my first New Year 2012 project! Since the start of Gundam Seed HD anime too, I decided to start working on Seed VS Astray kit. Having idea modifying and upgrading the 1/100 are hard when it comes to the size. Not only time consuming, more effort and takes more resources for painting. I already stop buying any 1/100 and choose 1/144 in the future as they are the best and building ideas.

HG Powered Zaku II F2 – W.I.P

This one is a bit quite a challenging kit to work on and first time merging with the old MG 1/100 Zaku parts. Lots of drilling works need to be done, also require different size of the poly parts ready if you plan to fits in with HG1/144.

As you can see, it’s not really perfect hand works so I fill some putty to repair, at the same time make it look better. I’m not using 2 hour fast dry putty since I still got half of the Tamiya 10 hours putty around. Better off not wasting, it just the problem needed to wait longer to dry. The rest of the kit sanding is nearly 100% complete so next month I can start coloring.

The photo here shows how it going to looks like in the final stage. Although I did have problem solving the energy pipes linking to the backpack and to the booster legs. Somehow I manage to find useless electrical wire to do the jobs. Not quite liking it much but it does solved my problem.

RGM79C Wagtail ‘EFSF Demonstration Type’ W.I.P

The sanding and panel lining were done yesterday. Only few more parts left to go before spraying prime this week. I am right to have a straight built GM Wagtail sample (photo above) for backup. It really does help me a lot on learning during the work progress and assembling. Yeah, I busted few parts again for experiment because the beam swords storage is the most challenging to work on.

Gundam TR-1 Hazel II Sniper Custom–W.I.P

This is the Hazel Sniper Custom I am working on this month. There won’t be any modifications since most of the Advance of Zeta Gunpla lines are mix and match. I am expecting to finish this Sunday and jump start working on Federation Wagtail demonstration unit.

Gunpla – Gundam Competition Work-In-Progress 2

Another change has been done to the Gunpla yesterday. This time I had done many numerous changes by destroying most of the parts after trying to mix them. Sad to see that happen but it’s worth the risk and luckily turn out to be a good one compare to the previous version I built.

Right now, the trickiest parts are choosing a right weapon. I have many Kotobukiya and exclusive magazine weapons lying around. But somehow most of them don’t fit into the current categories. Not until I find 1/144 HG GN Sword IV and browse through the magazine again for further tips. The reason I choose this one because it can use better on independent Gunpla kits like how Beginner Gundam done in Gunpla Love.

Hopefully by this week I can start doing the painting. Man, I really wish to have more time but well one week at a time really suck so probably I might sacrifice some of the hours on Saturday until the work is complete.

Gunpla - GX AXXXX FXXX 2 Work-In-Progress

Both the whole Gunpla kits mixing and final revising has been done which took me two days working on that. I decided to approach the method after the inspiration work from every Hobby Japan Gunpla Love. Still, I feel there are lacks of something or missing in the idea. Originally, I did plan on working AOZ GM Wagtail. Damn that one is simply a bit too hard for me when it comes to painting and modding.

Well, I won’t be revealing any of my work and title before the deadline submission. Whether or not I can finish painting the kit is another question right now. I already prepare almost everything even the display action base. The only problem left are figuring out which color is the best for it. That was challenging moment and requires more time solving.

Gundam Striker Done!

Finally got the Gundam Striker finished yesterday. Luckily the final result turn out good and able to completed without much problem. Well, except losing a GM Len so the head is just kept for spare part. I will begin taking the photos soon once the new DIY setup photo booth is done.

The next Gunpla work will be either AOZ Wagtail upgrade or Gundam OO XN kit which both already started working yesterday. But most likely going to focus on Wagtail side, one will maintain as original EFSF demonstrations GM Wagtail and another with Gundam head type with few modifications. The Wagtail kit is a bit challenging and still figure how to put the beam sword on both shoulder. It was sad that Dengeki Hobby May 2011 issue didn’t cover that technique. All else I wouldn’t be that headache.

Astray Blue Frame 2nd Revise + I.W.S.P – WIP #1

I simply can’t argue the new year holiday days is boring until I decided to plan things ahead early with MG Blue Frame 2nd Revise + I.W.S.P project. Same as usual, it will be done in straight build and spray painting.

The inner frame has already completed yesterday including the head and movable hands. As you can see, the body armors color has been replace rather than white. I decided to approach a bit first version Astray color while the rest go for gray. When I look at the completed head, damn it was good. I definitely can’t wait to see how it going to turn out after completing. This is a good opportunity to reduced the used of white spray paints since it hard to stock up these days.

The rest will continue hopefully this week if there aren’t any activities. I also did a stock check on my Gunpla collections. Looks like I clear some and beginning to show less occupy in the big box. Thanks to the recent popular Transformers and the 3rd party toys keeps me company. Nonetheless, Dengeki Hobby just announced last month magazine that there will be new Advance of Z upgrade add-on for HGUC GM Type C release end of March. I am going mad on this one for sure.

HM Birthday Day on Gunpla Works

Just another boring day for me, I was supposed to work on side business fixing the laptop. Somehow the hard disk drive dies on me and has to send for warranty. My friend couldn’t replace immediately because of out of stock issue. Now, things were totally knock on the side the whole morning. After spending few minute thinking, I decided go ahead continuing my work on Gunpla started last two weeks.

The current project model is HG 1/144 Gundam O (Type A.C.D) and at the same time, HG 1/144 AEU Enact Custom (Ali Al-Saachez's). Both of them were half done because I applied epoxy putty which requires six hours fully dry and also waiting for restock on the plastic option parts. It’s on the way now from Japan, just order few days ago from Hobby Search during the promotion. Hopefully by next weeks, I can get it. Here is the tease photo of my current idea work.

Gundam O modification is progressing well at the moment, but still figuring out if the left over FG Rasiel parts allow me to squeeze in more. It would be a big waste scraping all of them apart and left as junk. Before doing that, I have to make sure the GN Sefer kits won’t get in the way so has to be done a straight build ‘Form Three’ first and study it. To my surprise, even a single GN Sefer unable to fit or even reach properly on the GN particle tank backpack. It seems like I need to figure out ways and solutions to fix that problem.

AEU Enact Custom is done on straight build and spray painting. This plastic kit is simple to assemble which will be finished on this weekend. After that, hover tank upgrades for this guy. I planning to get my own version design. However, at this moment will be later project as this is challenging because the whole things going to be done on scratch build.

Anyway, check back for more update coming this Monday.

April 2010 – Weekend #2

As promised to myself, after finishing MG Blue Frame 2^nd Revise. I am now beginning assemble and sanding the kits. The HG 1/100 Gundam OO has been kept in the storage for two years so I think it’s better to build this one up before I moved to another kit next month.

This is really frustrating also because I am still having lack of plastic parts to work on the HG kits. Currently, I am trying to look for an angle plastic plate online. No luck in my finding, no, an Evergreen product does not fit into the description due to weak and soft material. I actually brought one to see it myself and was rather disappointment after seeing it. No idea if the local hardware shops are selling it but I will go to have a look this weekend. I was thinking about using the PVC stuffs used for the home and building electrical because it does work also. Not to mention its cheaper.

Anyway, the HG 1/100 Gundam OO was really easy to build. If you are not doing any painting, the estimate time finishing is less than 3 hours. As for me, I might require three days (BTW once per week) to finish it. Well, maybe less also since there is some old Gundam spray paint lying around and haven’t finished using yet. I guess it’s best to clear out the old cans before getting the new one.

MG Blue Frame 2nd Revise – WIP #2

Finally done spray painting today! I haven’t starts coating it yet until I applied decals tomorrow night. The MG Blue Frame 2^nd revise really looks great after finishing building it. I learned quite a lot during my time building it. There are some flaws requiring attentions and I manage to fix it after noticing the mistakes I made. Next time if I build MG Blue Frame variation, it shouldn’t be any problem for me.

The posing is kinda hard when using the big sword. Anyway, next week I am going to start building HG 1/100 Gundam OO. I got three lying in the box so I need to get it build first!

MG Blue Frame 2nd Revise – WIP #1

I have been working on it since the fourth weeks of March (don’t get confused, was doing once a week). It was almost 80% done and currently working on the armors shoulders, swords and later decals. Building MG Blue Frame was quite straight forward and easy. But I am not impressed with the improvement done on the kits. The plastic was weak compared to the past and lots of fixing (applying putty) is requiring for the Gunpla builder if you want your Gundam last longer.

Don’t get me wrong, I like MG Blue Frame and had two projects in mind doing variations. It just the time I needed to build them. Hopefully able to finished up this coming Sunday and starts Gundam OO kits on next weeks. I still got lots of them inside the boxes to get them build up.

Coolest Free-Style Gunpla #2

Phew! My gunpla is progressing well especially the color matching. At first I was quite worried about the Tamiya colors I brought in the town. Most of them are finished or not even restock. The white color was the most concern in my list. I got a pure white spray and it doesn’t turn out really good for me. Not to mention that was the last one. That was a big mistake I shouldn’t be committing as a modeler during the contest period.  

The Tamiya pure white was used almost half from it and little worry for use in remaining arms and leg. The main head and body were fully assembled and extra details upgrade. I will begin my work on the legs this week and revise the colors again if I could reduce the use of pure white. This is going to be very challenging for me. My decals are on the way and should be arriving this week using register mail. Hopefully able to used the flat clear coating to see how the pure white turns out. Man, I still love using Gunzo and My Hobby spray paints as they are really the best for Gundam kits.

Picture? Not yet at the moment until I finish it.  

On the side note, Dalong.net is now reviewing the HG1/100 Gale Strike Gundam (Hail Buster Gundam coming soon) and I am impressing with the kits. It evens a bit larger than the original HG Aile Strike. This is going to be on my next year buy lists.