Sgt. Verde Buster Gundam is coming along nicely, but we still have more work to do. Let’s get cracking.
Midsection
Here is the “inner” torso and the back piece. These were both originally grey in color:
These two parts make up the front of the chest:
The only part that I had to paint is the bit of gold in the top right corner. Everything else is decals.
Like with the shin armor, these two pieces are layered to create some extra depth and dimension:
Shoulders
The shoulder armor has a very different appearance in the front than it does in the back. On the back (seen below on the left), you have a lot of painted on details, while the front (seen to the right) is covered by a giant decal dotted with red and blue lights:
We then attach these two pieces to the front:
Notice the two gold decals. They look almost painted on, by virtue of the fact that there’s detailing etched into the plastic below. If you push down on the decals hard enough, you can get them to wrap around the detailing, to give them a 3d look.
Now we attach, and (again) we get some of that nice layering:
Arms
Here’s something I’ve never seen before - even the arms get in on the whole layering thing:
Granted, the effect only works if you paint everything, but it’s cool how you can simulate such a degree of part separation with only two pieces.
Head
By far the coolest part of the model, the head is like a cross between Robocop, and Isaac Clarke from Dead Space:
Here are all the parts:
First off, the head only uses four decals - the three white squares in the center, and the police badge at the top. Everything else is painted.
Second, the shape of the badge is molded into the plastic, so if you (again) rub down on it hard enough, you can give the decal a 3d, painted-on appearance.
Third, I’d like to point out that the “eyes” are actually a single piece of clear red plastic, upon which you’re supposed to apply a single blue sticker in the center. I decided to just paint the whole darn thing.
Fourth, the head has a lot of white paneling, and ultimately I decided to instead use a mix of white and grey paint. White paint is my nemesis, as it tends to dry very poorly compared to every other color (not named yellow). I wanted a smooth finish, and I was willing to sacrifice color accuracy to get it.
Interestingly enough, there is a set of normal looking eyes molded into the head. I wonder if some of these SD World Heroes are sharing parts:
Put it all together, and it looks extremely cool:
Even though the shape is not far off from the Verde Buster Gundam, the changes in color give it a very different feel.
Alright, let’s put it all together:
I know I complained about how the SD Gundam World Heroes models felt like a bait and switch. I know I complained about how much work they are. I still stand by those sentiments.
But it is also true that if you put in the work, and pay attention to the little details, you really can make this model look as good as it does in the promotional shots. I’m actually a bit stunned that it came out so well.
I just don’t know how much credit I should give to Bandai, and how much I should give to myself. One thing I didn’t mention yet is the fact that the model has a lot of groove and etchings that act as guidelines, so it’s obvious where to start (and stop) painting. That helps out quite a lot.
On the other hand, the lack of a color guide, and the lack of good guide photos work against the model, making it harder (or at least more frustrating) than it needs to be.
Not to mention that I keep going back to the question of “Who is this for?”. Is it really meant for kids, who may be too young to do all the detailing? Or is it actually meant for adults (specifically the kinds of adults who can and will put in the work)? Bandai’s model kits have trended towards having better and better out of the box builds, and these SD’s throw that notion out the window.
I guess I’ll put it this way - I don’t regret getting this kit, but I don’t think I’ll make a habit of building this kind of SD. There are so many opportunities for something to go wrong, and that puts a lot of unwelcome mental pressure on me. This one may have worked out, but the next one might not. The only way to ensure that it all goes well is to ensure that I give the build all the time and care it needs, and the only way I’ll be able to do that is if I choose not to indulge in them all too often.
Long story short, buyer beware I guess. Know what you’re getting yourself into, and decide if you’re up to it.
Other Thoughts
- I’m still planning on building my other SD World Heroes kit, the Benjamin V2 Gundam, some time this year. But I think I’ll take a break and do something else in between.