Gundam GB 2005 - To March 1, 2006

No problem. I'll make the change in the participant's list. How many polycaps are we talking about? What about using the red ones from the Astray in places where they'll be almost completely covered and the grey ones from the Freedom where they might be exposed? If they're similar to the point of being interchangable, you might be able to get by with the red caps.

Can I switch to 1/144 Freedom? I realized the red poly caps on the Astray aren't going to look good unless it's well, red -__- Why couldn't they be grey??......

I'm off to a slow start. My 7 year old daughter wants to help so that adds considerable time to the process. I clip a few pieces of the tree and then I let her assemble them with my guidence -it's tough trying to get her to stop guessing how they go together and use the pictures on the instructions.

Last night after getting a little to agressive with my kit (she wanted to complete it before her bed time) I got an old Gundam F-91 (the Dahgi Iris) kit from the basement I had gotten form my son 8 years ago. She was ecstatic, especially when she found out the pilot was a girl (Anna Marie Bourget). The fact many Mobil Suite pilots from various series were women definetly grabs her interest in making these kits.

We went from working on the legs of the kit to printing out a line drawing of Bourget from the internet so she could color it (It was sheer luck I found one the first time I looked up 'Anna Marie Bourget' in Google).

I better wait try to build my stuff until after her bed time.

Nice try, but I'm glad you're going to get that build done then move onto something a bit more detailed.

Today marks my first day off in a while, but I just got done with a 13 hour shift and an hour's worth of PT. Then I get to go to an optometry appt (hoping for good news). After that, I've got to finish up a Z06 Corvette that I'm building and then I can get started on the Wing Zero Custom.

*sigh* I'm so busy.

I'm definitely a huge fan of the site. I've even used the RGB levels to mix paint from scratch and it actually worked! I ended up rounding up and down as needed to get to the closest millilitre so I could mix it. It wasn't exactly the same as what was on the screen, but it was close. Most of the time I just hold a swatch that made made from some of my paint and then eye ball it.

I updated my WIP page. I added a page on the ankle modifications I made to the kit. Here's one very important thing I learned. There's no use spending time modifiy an ankle to get a few degrees of extra mobility if the kit's knees can't bend. Here's what I achieved:



The left is unmodified. It was a fun exercise, but essentially a waste of time given that the knees don't bend and I don't really want to spend the time making them bend.

The rest of my pictures can be found on the website in my signature.

Nathaniel

Oh, wow! That colorblender site is a godsend! I'm not too bright when it comes to getting colors to match, so this definately helps. Very cool.

I think that colour scheme would work well. I generaly haven't really been a fan of the classic gundam white, blue & red. While it is alright and can look great properly done, I've always favoured darker paint schemes. You may want to check out colorblender.com to see if you can come up with the grey and crimson you want and see what other colours work well with it. If you go with a darker grey, I think that a dark crimson with some parts a rust colour would look good.

I snipped and glued most of the parts for my kit. After sanding down some seem lines, I thought I would try see the range of motion the kit had. It was horrible! I ended up cutting apart the feet and modifiying the ankle to give it a little more motion. While I was still tempted to cut the knees and elbows and make it posable, I decided not to do so. Tommorow I'll take some pictures of the feet and ankle and show the before and after shots of the motion of the leg. I may still cut the knee and permanently repose it rather than putting in joint. We'll see. So far I'm disapointed with the non-grade 1/144 kits, but really, what should I expect for a no-paint, no-glue snap together?

Nathaniel

Alright, I was thinking about an alternate paint scheme for my Wing Zero Custom. I was thinking a grey/crimson colorscheme, in the vein of an "Evil Heero" or tainted Gundam... ideas?

hm, if I can get it done, count me in for the 1/144 Astray painted up in grey :D

Welcome Frosty -- glad to have you aboard!

I'm going to work on my kit again tonight-- I'm planning on getting all the pieces glued together and maybe some puttying done. I'm still shooting for doing 2 kits during this Group Build, complete with detailed Work In Progress pics/write up on my website.

i have some gundam kits in 1/144 that need building,
so i'm in....
will post kit choice asap !

frosty

Nathaniel,

The molding of the kit is pretty good. A little flash on the fron end of the truck but no air bubbles.

@ClumsyModeler - Thanks for the link. I knew I had seen that somewhere before. I guess if I cut it more at an angle, I could keep more of the pin. I've bookmarked that link.

@Akuma - A 1/144 Astray would be a very quick build. If you're looking to make sure you get something done, that would probably be the easiest thing to actually finish. Sure, 1/144 kits aren't very exciting (especially the non-grade kits like the one I'm starting with), but with 25-40 pieces, you can finish it in a couple of sittings. Let us know if you decide to join us.

Nathaniel

Hm... I might join in

I have a few kits I have that I want to do, but I'm finding it hard to finish anything -__-

I really want to work on my bootleg Hydra, but besides missing pieces that kit is hell so uh.... Maybe one of my Astrays (1/144 or 1/100 Red Frame... )

To make things easier on pulling the pieces apart after test fitting, check out Cody's tip at the bottom of this page:
http://www.codyscoop.com/ht-1.html

He's got some good weathering/battledamage info as well.

QUOTE: ClumsyModeler said I'm still trying to decide if I want to do the whole "Max Technique" on it, or just do some simple panel lines and shading. Hmm.

This will be my first attempt at the "Max Technique." It looks like it will be very difficult as the armour panels are not seperate in any way. I may have to do some simple masking (using Glad Press N Seal) just to do the shading properly. Especially on areas like the arms.

@Aurora-7: Compared to the quarter, it does look like it's about right. Most 1/100 armour I've seen (15mm scale miniature manufacturers being the primary source) are about the same size as the truck compared to a quarter. While it may be on the small side, I'm sure it'll look great next to an EZ8.

How are the mould lines on it? How's the casting? Air bubbles?

I cut a couple of the leg pieces off of the sprues/trees and did a test fit. I wanted to see how easily I could get them apart again given that it's a snap together kit. The answer was "not very easily." I manage to slowly pry it appart, thankfully without doing any damage. I promptly clipped the tabs much shorter. It still holds together but comes apart easily. I'll do that for the rest of the kit as well. Something to watch for when doing a snap together that you plan on gluing.



Nathaniel

Well I did get my 1/100 Hover Truck on Saturday and here is an image with a 1/100 Char Aznable figure from the Master Grade Zaku-II Custom kit and a quarter. The detail is nice (my 3.2 megapixel camera image does not due the kit justice). At first it seems a little small for it's stated scale, maybe closer to 1/144 than 1/100. After running through a few episodes of 8th MS Team it seems to be close enough. Being an animated series, consistency in the scaling between a Gundam and the truck seem to vary.

I've started looking over the Wing Zero and began putting together a plan of attack. Oh, and playing Ico. I haven't had time off in forever!

I'm still trying to decide if I want to do the whole "Max Technique" on it, or just do some simple panel lines and shading. Hmm.

Well, I've started my kit. But I haven't done too much. I pretty much just went through the ritual of opening up the box and examining the sprues.


I'm still undecided whether or not I should chop the elbows and knees and make them posable. I may just build the kit quickly and get onto a higher quality kit instead.


Nathaniel

Once I'm done with my Wing Zero Custom, I'll probably start working on my Ez8 as well. We'll see how my schedule looks!

I think I've figured it out-- I'm going to paint it with a camo scheme designed for fighting within the Debris Belt (a big belt of destroyed colonies, PLANTs, mechs, starships and general garbage that orbits the Earth from all the war in the SEED universe). The Zaku is going to get a dark red with brown camo designed for fighting in an asteroid field. I'm thinking the Duel's camo will be a bit like urban camo-- the debris belt is basically human built scrap.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Aurora-7 for my finish I plan on doing the EZ-8 in it's original colors. When I do the basic RX-79[G], I'm not sure. It does seem strange to have a mecha fighting in the jungle with the colors blue and white with some bright yellow trim.

i thought the same so when i started my GM-SPECOPS team i cammouflaged them and even gave the lead machine a Kevlar" Flack Vest " and an 8th MS team type machine pistol

The B-club kit looks a bit crisper in the details but it should be for $55.00 more that the CED kit. For $25.00, how could I pass up the CED?

Nathaniel,
for my finish I plan on doing the EZ-8 in it's original colors. When I do the basic RX-79[G], I'm not sure. It does seem strange to have a mecha fighting in the jungle with the colors blue and white with some bright yellow trim.

yea youre right mine is the 1/144 B-club kit oops my bad i got it because it was in scale with most of my gundam models BUT OOOOOOOOOH a 1/100 kit bigger is better must get must get lol

I see a theme bubbling up here. "The MS O8th Team"

I'm still undecided. I just got a few Master Grade and 3 Perfect Grade kits that my brother picked up for me in Japan. It only makes the decision even harder!

Right now I’m leaning towards starting with the Master Grade RB-79 Mobile Pod Ball Ver. Ka. It’s not the same as the same as the Master Grade RB-79K Pod Ball 08th Team Ver. that would fit in with our emerging theme, but it wasn’t in stock.

The main problem is the stickers and decals. Bandai only makes water slide decals for the Master Grade RB-79K Ball not the Ver. Ka Ball that I have now. Most of the stickers are white lettering or markings on a transparent backing. Not easy to reproduce with a regular printer. This is true for most of the Bandai Gundam kits. I’ll have to find someone with an Alps printer to print them for me.

That looks like the 1/144 B-Club version Hover Truck.
http://www.hlj.com/product/BCL2409

B-Club will also make a 1/100 version Hover Truck.
http://www.hlj.com/product/BCL2490

It looks different from Controlled Energy Designs version.
http://www.starshipmodeler.com/cfstore/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=486

hey heres a few pics of the type74 hover truck i have the kit and it's pretty nice


and as for non mecha i also have an unbuilt Dopp fighter kit as well as the smaller GP04 Dendrobium and Nieu Ziel

The EZ8 is a prime candidate for a camo job and gritty realistic weathering. I'd love to see that scan. You can email me if you want it hosted nheastvan@yahoo.com

My current debate is whether or not I should paint the Duel Gundam in a gritty semi-realistic way or stick with the colours from the cartoon. I think of the SEED Gundams, the Duel and the Buster are both well suited to a more realistic finish.

Duel:
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN913552

Buster:
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN914209
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN916403

I've already decided that I'm going to go for a darkened version of Lunamaria's Zaku Gunner for the second kit:
http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN932134
Like that only almost blood red

What's everyone else planning for finishing? Or are many of you not the type to think about it until it's time to paint? Anyone just panning on doing the panel lines and using the moulded plastic colour? Airbrushing/handpainting? Sticking with the original colour scheme or designing your own?

Nathaniel

PS - If you notice the info under Participants isn't accurate, please let me know and I'll edit it.

QUOTE: Originally posted by Aurora-7 RX-79[G] EZ-8 Gundam. I also have the basic RX-79[G] but my son suggested I do the EZ-8 because "it looks cooler". A good excuse to get a Norris's Gouf some time. Ah coolness, you've got the EZ8. Your boy's got good eyes. That is probably one of the closest to real life styled gundam there is. I picked up this Gundam Weapons book on my trip to china. (A knock-off chinese translated version from the japanese version) The book covered MSes from 08th MS Team and 0080. They have a version of the EZ8 with a ton of scratch built extra armors and PE accessaries with a single non-flashy-gundam-color dark grey paint scheme. It looked incredible. I will scan it in and share it with you guys upon requests. Norris's Gouf custom is almost a must have thing as well for 08th ms team kits just for that big bad gatling gun. n the fact it actually has normal fingers on the left hand!!!! -=Ryan=- Too many kits... so little free time. MadDocWorks Reply Aurora-7 Member since December 2002 From: Connecticut, USA Posted by Aurora-7 on Thursday, October 13, 2005 9:37 PM QUOTE: [i]Originally posted by archangel571 You meant the RX-79[G]... RX-178 is Gundam Mk.II !!! , I am not in anyways trying to be anal or nitpicking hee though. RX-79[G] EZ-8 Gundam. I also have the basic RX-79[G] but my son suggested I do the EZ-8 because "it looks cooler". A good excuse to get a Norris's Gouf some time. A Mejias, The hover truck kit was supposedly shipped yesterday. Soon as I get it (by Saturday if I'm lucky) I'll post the pictures of the parts here. Nathaniel, I've seen that 'Apocalypse' collection before. I think it was from one of the Gundam Expos.     Reply « First«9101112131415 JOIN OUR COMMUNITY! Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account. Login Register SEARCH FORUMS FREE NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. FORUMS PRODUCT REVIEWS READER GALLERY HOW TO VIDEOS SHOP ABOUT US FREE MONTHLY NEWSLETTER SIGN UP By signing up you may also receive reader surveys and occasional special offers. We do not sell, rent or trade our email lists. View our Privacy Policy. More great sites from Kalmbach Media Terms Of Use | Privacy Policy | Copyright Policy