Gunpla Australia 2014 - The Models
There were quite a lot of entries for Gunpla in Australia this year, in particular in the form of dioramas.
Here's a selection that (a) didn't have tonnes of people around them and (b) caught my eye!
Here's a selection that (a) didn't have tonnes of people around them and (b) caught my eye!
Again., the cabinets were sufficient to have nicely spaced kits. The variety was interesting. From HG to MG and the odd RG
As I said - dioramas!
There were also some really cool single figures too in various scales
But Master Grade and Perfect Grade kits ruled the day. There was quite a bit of LED light-up action and some really superb work!
But this was the winner! 5 months work went into this baby! The base revolved and there were LEDs aplenty! Oh, and it was HUGE!
There were also a range of newer kits to perve at...
... including from the new Gundam Reconguista in G anime. I really like this one (above) and the Burning Gundam is really cool!
Tentative release is October
Tentative release is October
August 2014
Gunpla 2014 Entry Complete and In For Judging
August 2014
It WOuldn't Be Gunpla Without drama and mind-changing... Hello Zephyranthes!
The newly white Zaku seemed to be going well, until I really looked at it and realised what an absolutely shit-house job i'd done!
It was time, yet again, to change tack!
It was time, yet again, to change tack!
Now I've never built an actual Gundam before - I usually go for the enemy mobile suits; the Zakus and their kin, but a change is as good as a holiday and the Real Grade Bandai kits had been calling to me for a while now.
Luckily it turns out this is considered one of, if not the, best of the Real Grade kits.
Luckily it turns out this is considered one of, if not the, best of the Real Grade kits.
Like the Master Grade and Perfect Grade kits, the Real Grade kits come with a fully articulated skeleton to which you attach the armour and weapons.
I chose to paint my skeleton, after the disaster of not painting the skeleton of the Master Grade Zaku, which did restrict the movement a bit but certainly made it look better! Next it was time to paint and detail the armour. This may seem like as simple task - but not so! So the best way to do this is to gloss spray the armour pieces. I chose Tamiya's TS13 Clear Spray which is by far the nicest clear gloss I have ever used. It's thin, very clear and glossy. Just brilliant! Then it comes time for the decals.. Unfortunately Real Grade kits come with stickers, so it was to the Bandai after-market decals I went. Hours later the decals were all done and once dry it was time for a second gloss coat. This unites the matte declas and the gloss finish and protects the model further. Once that was dry I applied a coat of the Tamiya TS80 Clear Flat. As Testors Dullcote is no longer around, this is all that seems to do that trick these days! It did an okay job, but would have loved to use Dullcote instead! It did dry very quickly, so then it was on to construction... If you've made a Gundam kit before you will be blown away with how clever these kits are; from articulated arms and legs as one part on the sprue, to super detailed little pieces of armour. This particular Gundam has a Core Fighter (right) which is just so cute! It's a shame you can't build the kit without it as I'd like both... None the less, the way these tiny little pieces all go together is just so impressive. Where previously you would have one shin piece, for example, there are now 2 or 3 pieces in there making it more like a scale model of a huge mecha. Until you try one out you won't really understand the masterful job Bandai have done with these! |
The work in progress shot - such an impressive looking kit even with my small amount of skill.
So Gunpla is on this weekend - lets see how we go... TBC
So Gunpla is on this weekend - lets see how we go... TBC
August 2014
Time To Turn The Pink Into... Well Something Other Than Pink!
You know, as much as I really wanted to make this Zaku, pink is a colour that's really hard to get passed when planning out a colour scheme! It's just so... pink!
So I decided to cover it up. A can of Tamiya primer and then two coats of Tamiya XF-2 Flat White later, we have success!
Now I can finally move onto planning this Zaku ace!
So I decided to cover it up. A can of Tamiya primer and then two coats of Tamiya XF-2 Flat White later, we have success!
Now I can finally move onto planning this Zaku ace!
July 2014
Time For a Bit of Super Detailing
Alrighty, time to start some detailing no one in their right mind will ever see - the cockpit!
In the Zaku II Version 2 (Command Type) the cockpit is all but hidden. I however want to include the open cockpit in the scene I envisage - why not just make it hard for myself, right? I used to do a lot of super-detailing in the cockpits of fighter planes back in the day, so how hard can it be? Well being remarkably smaller than 1/48 scale, it's actually quite fiddly, thanks for asking. Anyway - this is the start of it - there's some neatening up to be done and some pipe to be put in, but once that is done it should be good to paint. The reference I found online shows quite a different cockpit to the one in the model, so I'm going to have to go with the shape and di my best to make it look real-ish. The model itself can't be built until this section is done, so this is the first step, then onto the rest of it. I always start with the cockpit and chest, then head - there's just something about making those bits that bring it to life quicker. |
March 2014
gUNPLA 2014 - THE nEW pLAN!
Okay so the Geara Doga is a totally sweet model - but it wasn't going to fit into the plan for Gunpla this year... so in it's place I present to you...
The Master Grade 1/100 MG MS-06S Char's Zaku II Ver. 2.0
March 2014
Let's Build the AMS-119 Geara Doga
After some thought and pondering on a theme, it's the AMS-119 Geara Doga for Gunpla 2014.
This is my first Master Grade kit and my first 1/100 kit, so I'm pretty excited.
Geez there's a lot of pieces!
This is my first Master Grade kit and my first 1/100 kit, so I'm pretty excited.
Geez there's a lot of pieces!