New Stuff

I mentioned in a previous post I had gotten a few new Gunpla items.  I wanted to wait until I had all of the 'haul' before I posted about it (damn snail mail from China).

First thing I got was TT Hongli's MG Sinanju Ver. Ka.  This is my first knock off.  I have Bandai's Sinanju Ver. Ka, but, I had gotten it right when I got back into Gunpla a few years ago.  It has a lackluster spray can paint job and a mix-match of decals.  I have a set of the Bandai waterslides for Sinanju.  So I plan on basically doing a straight Ver. Ka build on this one.

I was actually really surprised at the plastic quality.  One thing to note is that TT Hongli (Gao Gao)'s plastic has this odd semi-matte finish to it.

Next thing was the Robot Damashii (Robot Spirits) Wing Gundam Zero.  I picked this guy up used for around $30.  Being my first RD figure I really didn't know what to expect.  I was pleasantly surprised however.

Oh yeah.  Since this guy was used it did have one issue.  Only one side skirt.

I used the leftover skirts from my HGAC Wing Zero.  They fit onto the ball joint kinda ok.  They are a bit loose and aren't quite as sharp looking as the RD skirts.  But they will do.

Not sure if its just my figure or if it's a common theme with these.  It has this weird tight looseness to it.  Like if you but it in a pose it stays just fine, but when you're handling it it just flops around.  

Next up is the HGUC Victory 2 Gundam.  I had some money left in my PayPal so I nabbed this guy.

Good solid kit but nothing really spectacular.  On that same note no real problems except... no wings of light.  I see no reason why Bandai didn't include these and just bump up the price a few hundred yen.  I think people would have no issue paying a bit more for it, especially since the wings of light are the signature thing of the V2.

So, with some help from my wife I made my own.  Took a beam shield from a Seed MG (I think it was Destiny) and chopped it up to get two even-ish wings of light.

It's not perfect by any means but it's better than nothing and looks good enough imho.

Side note: If you look inside the wing binders on back there's even what appears to be peg holes and a slot where the wings of light should go.  Seriously, what the hell Bandai.

Next up, a MG Zaku I Black Tri Stars I picked up used/built off of eBay.  It was really cheap so I figured it could just bulk up my collection.  Ugh, those nubmarks tho...

Last but not least, the Build Custom GP Base display stand.  I grabbed this for my Build Fighters custom Wing Zero.  Looks to be a decent little HG stand actually.

Well that's all the Gunpla stuff I've gotten in the past couple weeks.  Probably be the last stuff I get for bit.

You can expect to see my completed Wing Zero post up tomorrow morning.  I plan on taking pictures tonight and uploading/posting in the moring before work.

Til next time...

HGAC (HGBF) Wing Gundam Zero WIP 4 (Final)

Well here it is.. finally.  My last WISP for Wing Zero.  If you read my previous post you'll know I had some life issues that put a hamper on my Gunpla-ing.  The last couple days of working on this guy were... relieving.  Usually the last steps on a model are the most tedious to me but when I finally sat down to finish this one it was almost like a weight had been lifted.

Anyhoo, moving on.

Did a final putty layer and sanding session on the swords.  

Now, the binders.  I wanted the green piece to be an effect part.

But as you can see it's actually pegged in there and not easily removable.  Especially since I planned on removing the seam lines on the black parts.

Took a gamble and just snipped the part that 'grabs' onto the peg.  It's not perfect but they will slide in and out now.

The binders definitely don't look as cool without the green parts.  But I guess you could call this the normal mode.  In my head the binders act as normal verniers without the green pieces in.  So Zero not having it's wings won't hamper its mobility.

Next up was a random thing I did kind of last minute.  Took these little pieces off an old junk HG Deathscythe Hell's wing/cloak and cemented them to the arms.  Again, in my head these work as cooling vents so that when the Wing Zero fires the Twin Buster rifle at full output it doesn't wreck the arms.

I also just realized that aside from the back pack this is the only mod I've done to the Wing Zero itself. 

Clipped some plastic off the yellow pieces on the rifle so they could slide in after the two halves were together.  The seam lines on the Buster Rifles are probably the worst on the whole kit.  On that same note though, those are the only really noticeable ones.

I learned that Tamiya's Extra Thin Cement isn't the best for seam line removal.  As it's name suggests it is indeed really thin.  I had tons of issues with removing the seam lines on the rifle because of this.  It was just too much area to cover before the cement lost the gel like state that's great for seam removal.  You know, that point right when it starts to dry and is kinda like regular super glue.

Luckily the black parts went together without a hitch.  Above is my first attempt on the rifles.  It just refused to cooperate with me -_-.

Getting it all ready for priming.

One thing I forgot to mention.  On the white parts on the shoulders and chest there are tabs to help you get them open.  Although practical, they are unsightly.  Bye bye tabs.

I forgot to take pics after priming.  For those who are interested, I use Model Masters Acrylic Primer Gray and have for a while now.  My airbrush loves the stuff and it goes on in nice, thin, even coats.

Used regular Tamiya black acrylic for the black parts.

And regular Tamiya red acrylic for the red.

Kind of a last minute decision I made was to leave some parts in the primer light gray.  I thought the contrast of black, dark gray (joints), the light primer gray, and white would look cool.

This thing was a nightmare.  I dropped the v-fin as I was painting and of course.. it broke.  I quickly cemented it, used my airbrush as an air gun to quick dry the cement, and hit it with another coat of red.  Luckily it actually turned out pretty good.

Some random hand painting I did right at the end.  Being the big dummy that I am, it didn't click in my head that the clear green piece wasn't coming out of its collar.  Then again I wasn't originally planning on doing anything to this HG.  Anyway, just carefully hand painted the red around it.  Problem solved.

Looking back I really should have taken more pics for this WIP.  But alas, I was on a roll and wanted to get this thing done.  I have to say the hardest part was the hand painting.  And even as I look at the parts drying with top coat I can see my mistakes/brush strokes.  Oh well.  Here's hoping the second coat of flat lacquer helps hide my mistakes.

I'll have a photo review of this guy up shortly.  I really want to make sure all the paint is dry before I put it together again.  I've made that mistake before and don't plan to do it on this kit.

Til next time...

 

Been Gone a While...

So... I've haven't posted in a while.  In fact I haven't really done much with Gunpla (aside from yesterday) since my last post.  On that note I do have some good news, well good for me anyway.  Come March my wife and I will be welcoming our second child.  It wasn't exactly planned but our daughter is 2 and we decided around 2-3 is when we wanted a second so it all works out.  Well, personal life aside, this is what I've been up to Gunpla-wise.

Well I haven't been up to much honestly.  Yesterday I airbrushed my final color for the Wing Zero (which is taking too long >_<) and started hand painting some details and color apps I didn't feel like masking.

Got a few new things for my Gunpla collection.  A new HGUC, a RD figure, and a couple MG's that haven't been delivered yet.  I'll probably post an update with some pics later this week.  

I'll have the final WIP for the Wing Zero up as soon as I can.  There's still a bit of hand painting I need to do to it but I'm thinking I'll have it completely finished in the next couple days.

Until next time..