Gundam

Gunpla Chronicles 4 - Part 3 2014-05-14

When it rains…

So as I mentioned previously, the Zeta’s beam rifle is now a patchy mess. Not the best scenario, but it could have been worse, right? After all, when constructing the Zaku II I almost damaged its leg beyond repair.

As luck would have it, the build did get worse. The Zeta suffered leg damage that made the Zaku’s break look like minimal in comparison.

Gunpla Chronicles 4 - Part 2 2014-05-02

Build Process

Previous models had fairly straightforward build processes. You assembled each limb independently, and attached them all to the torso at the end. The Zeta Gundam, however, is a transformable mobile suit, which has various implications for the build.

For example, the legs need to be able to swing out, so they are attached to the waist via a series of small hinges. Additionally, the head needs to be tucked away when in Wave Rider mode, so the model’s chest is hollow, and the head is attached to a sliding mechanism. As a result, the instructions require you to attach the head to the lower torso before anything for the upper body is constructed.

This unorthodox approach made me realize that I would have to change the way I painted the Zeta. Normally I finish all the parts, spray them each down, and then put together the finished model. However, waiting until the end with the Zeta would mean spraying down the finished mobile suit all in one go. Since I didn’t want to do that, I decided to put my work on the torso on hold, and switch to building accessories until I could get my hands on some paint.

Gunpla Chronicles 4 - Part 1 2014-04-25

Build

I bought no “new” tools for this build, but I did create some. I bought a fresh pack of cuticle care sticks, and glued strips of sandpaper to each of them. My hope was that they would give me a greater sense of control and precision when sanding. So far they are working, but they definitely require a gentle hand and a bit of patience, otherwise they are just as prone to oversanding as anything else.

Gunpla Chronicles ... 4? 2014-04-21

I know I just spent a ton of words complaining about my recent trip, but despite all the issues, crises, and calamaties we faced, there were still some fun moments and good memories. Just like my trip to Disney World for my honeymoon, I wanted a memento with which to remember it by, and because I lack creativity, I did so by getting the same thing. Remember how I just said that the Gundam Mk-II would be my last model kit or “a while”? Yeah, I was wrong about that.

Woopsie …

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Conclusion 2014-04-06

I’ve mentioned previously that the Gundam Mk. II is one of my top 3 favorites mobile suit designs. I’ve never been able to explain why in a quick and concise manner. Thankfully I no longer have to, because this test says it best - the suit’s proportions are wonderful. The individual components of the Mk. II are no different than those of the original RX78-2 Gundam, but the size and shape of each one is tweaked and improved upon. The end result is that the Mk. II removes the stiffness and boxiness inherent in even the best renditions of the RX78-2, while still remaining a simple, “pure” design, free of the ridiculous flourishes which tend to plague modern Gundam designs.

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Clearcoat 2014-02-02

This build was undertaken during a month of very rough weather, which is why, during an unusually warm Saturday in mid-January, I grabbed all of the Mk. II’s weapons - and its head - and took them outside to be clear coated.

This initial round of spraying led to so-so results. A slight breeze made application difficult, and some clumsiness on my part forced me to spray the shield multiple times just to get an even coat. It didn’t really work in the end: there’s a sort of “dark spot” where you can tell there was less paint applied. You can’t really notice it unless you examine it under just the right lighting, but this makes the second shield in the row which didn’t take well to being painted.

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Backpack 2014-01-28

Note - The weather really screwed up my schedule for the end of this build. As a result, the photos in this post were taken after I sprayed the backpack unit with clearcoat paint. Also, they were taken outside, so they look unusually sharp.

We come to the last part of the build - the Mk. II’s backpack. This piece is what most differentiates the Mk. II from its predecessor. The backpack is much bigger than Gundam’s small, boxy rocket booster, and adds a much needed sense of size and definition to the mobile suit.

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Torso 2014-01-24

Here’s a fun fact - the cockpit in the Gundam Mk. II gives its pilot a 360 degree view of the battlefield. Here’s another fun fact - according to the kit, this is achieved by making the cockpit a spherical chamber embedded within the suit’s chest. I never thought I’d learn about such a technical detail from building a model kit, but considering how many times I’ve praised it for its detail, I shouldn’t be surprised.

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Arms 2014-01-22

Like its parent, the Mk. II’s arms are short and blocky. They have a bit more detail to them, but perhaps the most important difference is that they are easier to assemble. OG Gundam’s arms contain a few pieces which are so small it can be difficult to determine which direction they’re supposed to face. Place them the wrong way, however, and it can be challenging to pry them apart and try again. The Mk. II sidesteps this issue; along with the shoulder armor, they may be the easiest section of the model.