Gundam GB 2005 - To March 1, 2006

I had a bit too much to drink, so to avoid injury while modeling I'll sober up a bit before whipping out the X-Acto. I'll have some pics up tomorrow.

well sooped up the ZZZ again i have some pics up on my photo bucket again and would like some feedback and ideas as to what i could do to the dragons to make them look a little more zetaish.
well i am going to start on the stand tommarrow or wednsday. well wish me luck and i hope it can handle the massive weight. cause i am having to make it out of glued together spare tree parts. any and all suggestions on how i should build it are welcomed greatly.
i was looking at actually making a hanger style( like the perfect grade GP01.) but i was really looking at the ex-s sentinel style, but not sure how that will work.
well here i go

I think you may be on to something regarding the hanger... it'd provide support and look very cool as well. Just my two lincolns.

Alright, got some progress pics up of the kit.
http://public.fotki.com/ClumsyModeler/scale_models/gundam_wing_zero/

Poor kit's not going to know what hit it. So, I've got the leg assemblies mostly done including taking care of the seams. I used Tenax and a Touch 'n Flo applicator, then used two ratcheting clamp assemblies to apply pressure so the melted plastic left a nice "bead" along the seam and left the clamps in place until it dried. The "nubs" were clipped at an angle and slightly shorter to ease seperating them after test fitting.

For cleaning up the seams I've started using my files in a pin vise to rough the seam into shape, and finished with a nail sanding board. I'm pretty surprised at the results thus far and I'm glad it's turning out the way it is, as I hate using putty and will try anything to avoid using it. Remember, I'm still a novice modeler so I'm still getting my techniques sorted out.

ClumsyModeler: Cool. I've got the Limited Edition Coating version of that kit. I think it brings a figure too.

QUOTE: Originally posted by nathaniel @frosty - I love the SEED Mobile GINNs & GuAIZs. Excellent designs. That's what I'd do first. If you want something with more traditional Gundam stylings though, the Striker Dagger would be the way to go. Either way, I'm thinking you'll find the kits pretty simple given the content of your signature file! I love the roden fokker. I'm new to Gundam kits myself-- while I've always been a fan of big stompy robot cartoons and sci-fi In general, I've primarily worked with WW2 armour and a lot of scale historical figures. Nathaniel

nathaniel:
thanx 4 the input & the kind comments re: my work !
i am going 2 build the Mobile Suit GuAIZ based on ur comments,
4 some reason that kit really appealed 2 me.
so far the only Gundam i've worked on is the Bandai 1/144
TALLGEESE, i did it w/ my little brother so we didn't paint it
& used the stickers that came w/ the kit.
looking forward 2 stepping it up a notch or 2 on this one, LOL !

frosty

@ClumseyModeler: Excellent stuff. I couldn't see the seams at all. I'm still getting the hang of doing the whole, glue, squish and sand thing. My model is definitley going to need a touch of putty to make them go away. So far I've just been using a brush and squeezing it with my hands for a few seconds. I think the touch n flo and some clamps would probably be a great help. Thanks for mentioning those!

@frostygirl: I updated the participants list on the first page for the GuAIZ. Definitely let us know your first thoughts about the kit as you start working on it. I'm considering picking up a 1/144 GuAIZ or a Mobile GINN so I'm looking for opinions.

Nathaniel

nathaniel: Thanks for the kudos, I'm sure you'll get the hang of it pretty quick. Using a brush will net the same results as the touch 'n flo via capillary action. The clamps I use have a little release mechanism so it'll keep some pretty good pressure on a part until it's dry. They also have little swiveling pads that open approximately 2", so you can clamp on uneven surfaces. These pads are either soft plastic or hard rubber and I haven't noticed any marring from them. IIRC, they were about $.99 a piece at the local Super Walmart in the tools section. I think I'll pick up two more when I go out that way again.

A Mejias: I've seen the plated ones before, but I don't think I'd ever build one that way. Into the CSC with the parts if I were ever to buy one! I don't think I could handle my Tenax flaking the plating when I was trying to build it... HEADACHE! Although, I did just get a wicked idea about shooting a Gundam with a natural metal finish via Alclad II...

I know exactly the clamps you're talking about-- thanks!

A little while ago I saw some pieces of aluminum that had been sand blasted for decorative purposes. I though that would be the best finish for a natural metal robot. It was much darker than the surface of cast aluminium. I think Alcad 2 makes an aluminium colour that would be great (either their dark aluminium or duraluminium).

Another thing I'm considering is doing Lunamaria Hawke's Gunner Zaku Warriort in candy. But not the typical metal flake candy with big shiny chunks you can see. I'm thinking of using a more natural metal look and then putting a clear red over that. Like Alcad 2's stainless steel or maybe even chrome. Like this only a little shinier:

http://www.gamerabaenre.com/kampher.htm

Something like this perhaps:


The starting kit would be this one:
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN933915

Nathaniel

I'm a big fan of Alclad II, and that figure looks great. If you start working on that gunner Zaku, make sure you get my attention and keep me updated. Apparently when they upgrade the forum software, we'll be able to PM each-other, so make sure you do!

Maybe I should do up my Kaempfer in the natural metal? Just another thing to think about... LOL.

nathaniel: i actually have already built the mobile Ginn unit and it comes out pretty good i built it a while ago and done remember where but i do remember a spot or two that were a pain to get to gether because of how it was molded they fit so tight i had to do it little by little because it actually caused a little bit of an air pocket that i had to let leak out before it went together all the way but all in all it is a very nice kit

QUOTE: Originally posted by ClumsyModeler I'm a big fan of Alclad II,

It's starting to look more and more like a product I want to work with. I'll have to finish construction of my spraybooth. There sure is a lot of info on tips & tricks with Alclad II on these forums if you search. I wonder if any local hobby shop carries it.

QUOTE: and that figure looks great.

It was done by the sculptor of the kit. I'm not sure how he/she? does it but from start to finish, the sculptor produces a kit in less than a month from sculpting, casting masters for reproduction and painting the demo piece (which is what that was). The only problem is that he/she gives a lot of pictures but not a lot of description of what is done exactly.

QUOTE: If you start working on that gunner Zaku, make sure you get my attention and keep me updated. Apparently when they upgrade the forum software, we'll be able to PM each-other, so make sure you do!

Well, I'll be puttying my kit on Saturday and then if the primer doesn't show up in the mail, I'll have to put that kit on hold. So I may be starting the Zaku in a couple weeks. I'm going to try to get the sculptor of that kit to reveal exactly what paints/finish was used and how it was applied in the mean time.

QUOTE: Maybe I should do up my Kaempfer in the natural metal? Just another thing to think about... LOL.

I think it would work. I think the one on GameraBaenre's website looks great. I like the combination of dark shadows and the red metallic. I'd go that dark, but Lunamaria Hawke was a very colourful character - pink hair, bright red/pink mobile suit-- I guess ZAFT makes allowances for their red-jacket aces-- and I figured I'd want the Zaku looking a little cleaner and perhaps even a bit feminine. But for a Kaempfer-- you could have a great natural metal look that's either polished up or heavily weathered and rusted.

@mustangs102 - Thanks for the info on the GINN kit. I'm thinking I'll probably go for the HG 1/144 of that mobile suit. You just get so much more between the non-grade 1/144 and the high grade.

Nathaniel

QUOTE: Originally posted by nathaniel @frostygirl: I updated the participants list on the first page for the GuAIZ. Definitely let us know your first thoughts about the kit as you start working on it. I'm considering picking up a 1/144 GuAIZ or a Mobile GINN so I'm looking for opinions. Nathaniel

nathaniel:
having gotten as far as a quick peek in the box last nite, i have 2 say this kit
will b an interesting build, looks like a lot of parts 2 this one... i will take pix of
the sprues tonite & post them tomorrow so u can check out the parts breakdown.
of course, the whole fit issue is another matter, but i'll b sure 2 report any
problem areas as i bump into them !

frosty

So, I've got BIG plans for my weekend. They consist of working on my Daemon as much as possible... Shouldn't be too hard to make a real dent in the progress on this kit, seeing as how I've got 3 days off. Wheee!

Friday: Complete the feet, do some detail sanding to clean up a bit of the seams remaining on the back of one of the legs. Start working on the arm and torso assemblies, try to have the arms completed.

Saturday: Complete what's left of the arm and torso assemblies, start working on the head.

Sunday: Complete the head assembly, and any other minor assemblies still remaining such as weapons, etc. Start prepping to paint, cleaning and drying all pieces.

Hopefully my plans work out. If they do I should hopefully be painting around Wednesday/Thursday.

I was wondering, does anyone think I should do some weathering on the Daemon, or leave it clean and pristine? Since it's a space superiority Gundam, I don't see it getting too terribly dirty.

ClumsyModeler: The key to working on the "coating version" kits is not to use glue and use a really good flush cutter to reduce scarring. The main problem with these kits is that the paint over the chromed parts is not even.

Nathaniel: That's a great example of a candy finish! I picked up a couple of Master Grade Kampfer (See link #1) kits to do one each in a new candy finish and a battle damaged paint scheme. I also ordered a Master Grade Qubeley Mk. II Ple 2 (See link #2) to do in a candy finish, but there were problems with the vender so I'll have to reorder it from another vender. I've also got a Perfect Grade Wing Zero (See link #3) that I'd like to do with a pearl finish like the box art. I picked up some sample powdered pigments to try out.

I've been wanting to try Alclad II also. I don't mind the flaky type finish on some kits, but for the really small scale kits it looks really bad. I find that these paint have very fine flakes:
Model Masters - Enamel "Chrome Silver" # 1790 - FS17178
Testors - Enamel "Silver" # 1146
I think they are the same formula. They are very sensitive and must be coated with a clear acrylic not enamel or lacquers. They are also a very good match for the silver sections of the Gundam "coating version" kits. Bandai uses a much sturdier paint though. I'd like to find out what they use.

I haven't tested them yet, but it looks like a couple of the new Tamiya metallic colors have finer flakes.
Tamiya "Titanium Gold" # X-31
Tamiya "Titanium Silver" # X-32
They also seem brighter / lighter almost pearly luster. They might make a nice under coat for a candy finish.


My GB Progress:
I’ve been really busy with work this week so all I’ve done on my kit is open the box and look at the parts. It has some really fine detail, for being a non-grade kit. I hope it doesn’t get lost after a few coats of paint. I also have to clear some space for a permanent work area. The kitchen table just won’t cut it any longer.

Link #1
Kampfer
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN900366

Link #2
Qubeley Mk. II Ple 2
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN924122

Link #3
Wing Gundam Zero Custom
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN77659

well started on the stand yesterday and i think i have my initial building stand done all made out of spare gundam part trees.... Hurray for Packrats!!! a few pics are posted on my photo bucket as to the proccess i will probably test it tommarrow to see if it holds the entire weight of the newly remodified gundam. i found there really is no way to redo the dragons to make them fit well in the picture so i will be needing to try and find a nother item to put on the front of the legs . i may try to keep the dragons in the end but if anyone has any recomendations for that it would be greatly apprieciated.

QUOTE: @mustangs102 - Thanks for the info on the GINN kit. I'm thinking I'll probably go for the HG 1/144 of that mobile suit. You just get so much more between the non-grade 1/144 and the high grade.

well i agree with you on that you get so much more out of HG than you do of LG you have so many more posing capabiliies they are a lot better.

A Mejias: you know what i do for work space i use anywhere and everywhere it is so much easier....though it makes it easier to misplace parts.LOL

Mustangs102: LOL. I can't tell you how many hours I've lost on my hands and knees with a flash light looking for parts that I heard skittering across the tile floor. Those Zaku hose parts are the worst! They just roll and roll.

My first Gundam kit was a RX-78 GP-01Fb Coating Version. When I cut the clear eye piece (the smallest part on the kit) off the runner it went flying across the room! I thought I heard it bounce off a box about 10 feet. I gave up about an hour of searching every square inch of floor and emptying all the boxes on that side of the room. At that point I thought I'd have to custom make a part or hope that I could find a bash kit on ebay.

A few hours later I was putting everything that I had upturned back in it's place and noticed a tiny glint on the floor molding that was behind one of the boxes I had searched through. Apparently the part had bounced around back there and came to rest between some milled detail on the floor molding. It would probably have stayed there for years since the vacuum doesn't reach that unless you pull out the accessory attachments. LOL.

A couple of weeks ago when I was getting ready to start, I had the box on the kitchen table and I was looking over the instructions and the trees. The next evening when I was working with my daughter and her mecha, I noticed our dog chewing on something that sounded like plastic. I leaned over to see what was in his mouth and I saw it was a clear tree!

As I screamed his name and jumped for him (not a good idea, since his first reaction was to bolt). I chased him around the table about 3 or 4 times before he dropped it. It was the clear tree that held the Ez8 eye parts!

Fortunately, they were ok.

I've got the arms and legs snapped together and if I can get the torso together tonight I'll post images of the assembled, but as of yet unpainted, model.

Now that's great drama! I laughed I cried I'd see it again and again.

I made a work table about 20 years ago with corner molding all the way around to keep things from rolling off. But the last 10 years or so it's been used for my computer equipment. In fact most of our work shop has been taken up with my hardware and software. I'm slowly reclaiming it for other uses.

I'm also replacing all the regular fluorescent tubes with "full spectrum" fluorescent tubes. That helps with color mixing and matching. I think the ones I'm using are not as good as the "daylight corrected" type, but they are less than half the price and are available at my local HomeDepot. They are still a lot more expencive than regular fluorescent tube, but have the added benefit of being "healthier" for you.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Aurora-7 A couple of weeks ago when I was getting ready to start, I had the box on the kitchen table and I was looking over the instructions and the trees. The next evening when I was working with my daughter and her mecha, I noticed our dog chewing on something that sounded like plastic. I leaned over to see what was in his mouth and I saw it was a clear tree! As I screamed his name and jumped for him (not a good idea, since his first reaction was to bolt). I chased him around the table about 3 or 4 times before he dropped it. It was the clear tree that held the Ez8 eye parts! Fortunately, they were ok. I've got the arms and legs snapped together and if I can get the torso together tonight I'll post images of the assembled, but as of yet unpainted, model.

My GB Progress:
If all goes well, I should be able to start this weekend and post some photos. Let me know if there is anything in particular you all want me to shoot -- parts, instructions, tools, paints, workspace, etc.

In the mean time, here are a couple of links.

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN73324

http://www.1999.co.jp/asp/GoodsDetails_e.asp?Bno=&Typ1_c=109&Typ2_c=180&Typ3_c=685&SPage=1&SC=8&SN=Gundam+Turn+A+Gundam&It_c=10011141&andor=0&scope=0&scope2=0&thumb=1&sortID=1&urikire=1&sort_sort=0&ItKey=&app_url=shop_right_e.asp

http://www.hlj.com/hljlist2/?MacroType=HGrdGundam&SeriesID=1750&Dis=2&GenreCode=Gun

http://www.1999.co.jp/asp/shop_right_e.asp?Bno=&Typ1_c=109&Typ2_c=180&Typ3_c=685&sortID=1&thumb=1&Spage=1


I wish they made the Turn X in 1/100 scale.

as promised, pix of Bandai kit #17, Mobile Suit GuAIZ:

the box art

the parts breakdown...
sorry if the pix r dark, the box & unpainted styrene were really
hard 2 shoot w/o glare!
now it's time 2 get busy !

frosty

I would like to join in with Nantaku Gundam from Endless Waltz(if I an get one) or another gundam from Endless Waltz.

QUOTE: Originally posted by nathaniel .. Like this only a little shinier: http://www.gamerabaenre.com/kampher.htm Something like this perhaps: The starting kit would be this one: http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN933915 Nathaniel

Nathaniel:

that finish looks great, is that one of ur builds ?

frosty

Sadly, frosty, it's not. That actually the paint job done by the sculptor of the kit. I'm finding out exactly how it was achieved so I can duplicate it on a mecha. I think it's just Tamiya clear red over Tamiya chrome. I don't think it even involves using high end metallics like Alclad.

Thanks for posting pictures of the sprues. I find I really enjoy seeing the opening of a box and taking a look at the sprues.

@Zen_Builder: Welcome! Let me know what scale/grade the kit is and I'll add it to the participants list.

Nathaniel

Frostygirl: To avoid glare, shoot with the on-camera flash turned off. Use some bright room or desk or table lamp for lighting. Or even daylight from a window. Put the camera on a tripod or stand or lean it on some books or some other object to reduce motion blur.

Here's another great Gundam Kit site!

http://www.dalong.net/

Go to the link called "Special" at the top to see how he photographs his kits.

OOOW SHINY!

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN938861
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN938860

Not so shiny.
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN932135
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN929460

EX Archangel is discontinued though. I weep.

well the initial stand was a complete success i have already updated my photobucket with pics of it. now all i have to do is get parts for the covering of the legs(i was looking at using parts off of the Zeta MG. i also have upgraded the ZZZ i ended up using the Zeta's engines as side hipgaurds, all i am hoping for now is that they work in the cruiser mode. i will let you know if they do and i will have pics up of further detail tommarow. and if anyone has any ideas as to what i can use to tighten up the shoulder joint so it can actually hold the guns that would be great, i found that the bicycle tire glue only ends up being temporary and after once or twice of moving it i would have to remove the arms and redo it again.