This is the write up of the mono-eye modification that I've done with this 1/144 Gogg kit.
This particular Gogg is inspired by the Cyclops platoon featured in the0080 War in the Pocket. In one of what if situation I imaged thatbefore they gotthe Hi-Gogg units assigned they would've used the Goggmodified for the cold climate...
Here is the close up shot of the stock standard HGUC Gogg kit snap assembled plus the mono eye sticker applied. Given the quality of recent HGUC kits Bandai is producing it's quite disappointed that they opted for the sticker instead of working piece like in HGUC Dom. This sticker look makes the whole kit the toy-like appearance no matter how well the rest of the kit is put together...
This kit was built for MMC June competition but unfortunately the family life meant I wouldn't be able to submit this one on time. The main work of assembling and painting was pretty straight forward however the sticker kept bugging me and after the initial painting and decaling were done I've decided to bite the bullet and go ahead with the modification. That was back in April...
The method I used was called Thermoforming where the thin clear plastic - i.e. PET - was heated and put on the existing mould to form the certain shape. I used the piece of slice cheese container over the small candle flame. It took me about five attempts before I had the suitable one.
In the mean time I also saw away the front section of the inner partwhere the mono eye sticker is applied and cobble together therudimentary mono eye mechanism using bits and pieces from the junk box.
Fortunately I had the scrap HGUC Dom head parts and I used it as the basis of the mod.
However I encountered one slight problem.
The mono eye sits way too high and interfered with the clear cover.
I tried few ways to lower the mono eye but to make it swing around under the cover proved to be too time consuming and it's the time that I hadn't have.
At the end I simply glued the mono eye parts at the lowest position and substituted with the small pink H-eye from my usual supply.
Oh~ Alsmost forgot.
I sanded away the opening as the frame around was too thick.
After scrapping off bulk of it using the art knife and few swipes of sanding stick remedied it. ^ ^
And here's the result.
I think the effort was well worth the trouble, don't you think?
people living in glass colonies shouldn't throw nuclear stones.