Gunpla

Gunpla Build - High Grade Zaku III Custom (Build) 2024-10-14

Let’s take a look at what’s in the box:

I have two initial observations. First, some of these parts are massive, which … yeah. It’s the Zaku III after all.

My second observation is that this kit is built out of the same extra hard, extra shiny plastic that most old HGUC kits seem to be made out of. I know from past experience that that it still looks perfectly fine after some topcoat, so I’m not really worried about that. What I do find interesting is just how rough this plastic looks under the surface.

Gunpla Build - High Grade Zaku III Custom 2024-10-13

You know, in all my years doing this hobby, I don’t think I’ve ever built a mobile suit from ZZ Gundam. Let’s change that!

I can’t not quote Gundam Youtuber Kakarot197 here - it’s time to build the Always Bulky Zaku III.

Oh, and a disclaimer:

Spoiler Preface!!!

This post contains some mild spoilers for the final episodes of ZZ Gundam. You may want to skip it if you haven’t watched the show.

Gunpla Build - High Grade Gundam Aerial (Photos) 2024-09-16

One of the things I love about this hobby is that sometimes it can change my opinion of a mobile suit for the better. Perhaps the most notable example of this is when I built all of the modern High Grade/Real Grade Gundam Wing kits, which finally made me a fan of those designs after all these decades.

And it’s happened once again with Aerial. I never really disliked her design, but I also didn’t care much for it either. But all that’s changed now.

Gunpla Build - High Grade Gundam Aerial (Build) 2024-09-15

By my eye, this kit looks like it has slightly fewer parts than Lfrith (look here if you want to compare for yourself), despite the two mobile suits being so similar:

But I don’t really think this tells us anything about Aerial’s complexity (or lack thereof) in comparison. Lfrith has a much bigger backpack, and despite being less visually complex, its shield is made out of more parts. These two things seem to account for most Lfrith’s extra plastic.

Now let’s dive right into the build …

Gunpla Build - High Grade Gundam Aerial 2024-09-14

F#%k it - it’s time to build my final Witch from Mercury kit. Ironically, it just so happens to be the Witch from Mercury kit, the one everyone knows and loves (and seemingly owns):

Yes, I’m building Aerial last, which is kind of funny considering is appears at the start of the show. But that’s just the way things played out.

Spoiler Preface!!!

This post contains CRAZY MEGA spoilers for Witch from Mercury. You may want to skip it if you haven’t watched the show.

Gunpla Build - High Grade Saturnix Gundam (Photos) 2024-09-11

Let’s take a look at how the Saturn Armor turned out. Right off the bad, we run into an issue. I’ll let Vizzini here explain:

For reasons I don’t understand, the plastics Bandai tend to use for orange mobile suits almost never look as bright and punchy as that same armor looks on screen. The result is that a lot of these kinds of models end up looking like a big hunk of cheese. Sadly the Saturn Armor is no different.