Off the beaten path for me...

No need to apologize for your opinion, we are all entitled to them.  As long as you don't go around harrasing people on the boards that have different interests I dont think anyone will have a problem with hearing an opinion.  I personally don't like armor kits because they are too realistic for me, though I know part of this is because I'm afraid I wouldn't be good enough too make it realistic. 

I actually think modelers that can take these anime kits and make them a little more realistic are very talented.  Your Ball looks great.  I like the colors and those little red lines, the wires, OMG.  What are you painting with, a fly hair?  This is looking very good.  I think he looks a little like R2D2 with those blue rectangles on top. 

Now, as for being true to the anime or doing it "wrong", there's no such thing.  Someone on here will probably tell you that a Ball would be destroyed long before it could actually take that much paint damage, but I want to see your weathering so don't listen.  There's no reason this couldn't be an ace Ball pilot that survives. 

Overall, your build is shaping up great.  I can't wait to see your progress and if you ever feel like putting the realistic touch on any of those other anime kits you go right ahead, and take lots of pictures. 

I am currently doing up one side to have some damaged panels. Not damaged as in bent up, damaged as in messed up paint, and primered replacement panels. I have done a base of aluminum, and will overspray with OD green after applying some salt.

Also, one of the arms has two broken pieces (there were broken in the box, and a couple of the broken bits are missing). I think I am going to either leave it off and make an end cap for the socket, or replace it with some sort of cannon.

More pics soon.

Good looking Ball! Really there's no 'wrong' way to fix up one of these, there were tons of them and they were adapted to all sorts of jobs during and after the war and are really open to unlimited customization.

 I look forward to seeing more!

You are correct, sir, 1/100 it is! Took me almost a half hour of searching the box and instructions to find any reference to scale. I was going by the size of the 'pilot'.

The Paints I am using for the cannon are Testors Metalizers. Titanium, Steel, aluminum, and Burnt Metal. I am thinking of using a salt technique, then covering it with the OD Green (Poly Scale) and the Sea Blue (also Poly Scale), then 'chipping' it off.

I am in the process of adding hydraulic lines to the arms, and may add some wiring and conduit to the cannon as well.

Hey... As long as you're having fun, that's the most important thing. While there are "canon" colors for these kits, the most interesting builds seem to be those that "stray off the beaten path", in terms of color schemes.

These Bandai kits are actually what got me back into modeling after a 15 year hiatus, so I have a soft spot for 'em, but--like seems to be the case with your "Ball" build--I usually only go back to them as a source of stress relief.

Your build looks like it's shaping up nicely--and that is a very sharp blue. What are you using for your silver on the big gun? Oh, and one very minor correction: The scale on this kit is 1/100.

Looking forward to seeing more!