The Build that Never Ends.

Geara Doga...

Stop being so difficult, please. Admittedly a lot of this is my fault for choosing such a complicated kit as my inaugural airbrush project but you haven't helped things either. You could've told me brown wasn't your color. You could've told me you were tired instead of falling over and ruining my hours of hard work, I would've listened I swear...

Damn you gravity!

Insane pleas aside, MG Geara Doga is coming along slowly. Someday it might even come so far as to be complete - hopefully doing so before I loose my mind. The switch to orange armor from a lighter brown seems a brilliant choice, I'm going to have to repaint that leg armor but for the most part the orange armor parts are done. Unfortunately that means it's time for masking as I've chosen (perhaps fooleshly) to employ a duel color scheme on certain parts. 

Goodbye Tan, perhaps next time.

Gundam chocolate? If only!

While the majority of it will be concealed by the armor, I'm really digging the sexy brown used for the frame. It almost looks like the frame is made of chocolate - but don't eat it or you'll die. This ain't my first paint job, nor is it my first brush with mistakes, what it has been however is deeply frustrating. However I can live with freshly painted parts randomly falling over, when the progress promises such a right sexy model kit.

Well that dear readers is all for now, till next time peeps. eL out!

Double X Orchid Divider

Halt and bask in my glory fiend!

Back when GunplAfrica came quietly screaming into the world one of the first posts was a custom kit from modeler Chris Mitchell - which you can see here. Now he hath returned to us with a lovely custom MG Gundam X. For those of you with an appreciation for beauty there are an abundance of pictures for your eyes and some words from the modeler that can be read by clicking the jump.

MG Geara Doga W.I.P.

Full disclosure, I'm not a big fan of W.I.P. posts, however since I've been highly inconsistent with blog content I've decided to begin the practice in hopes that it'll lead to more regular posts. I don't intend to post every bit of progress, rather I'll post milestones leading up to the Geara Doga's completion. After that it's review time!

While it's no Sazabi Ver. Ka the Geara Doga has a good number of parts and unlike my previous painted build - MG GN-X - there are very few pieces that can be put together and painted as a whole. This is owed to the orange energy cables that are integrated into nearly every limb. 

The energy cables are rubber as opposed to plastic, so I'm not sure how they'll take to my Tamiya Acrylics. To find out I've snipped part of the runner and primed it in preparation for test painting, which won't be happening for at least a week.

You may have notices all the bags in the previous picture and wondered what was going on? Well that's my method for organizing my parts. I use cheap sandwich bags and label them according to what's inside and what color they'll be painted. This one says "Waist Parts Thrusters Flat Earth II, this means this bag contains two waist thruster parts that will be painted with Tamiya's Flat Earth. Another example would be the shoulder armor (not pictured) which is labeled, "Shoulder Armor Parts White & Orange I". 

Frosted glass looking decidedly defrosted.

And here is the first batch of primer blasted parts. Technically this is the second batch of primered parts however, this is my first crack at applying primer via the airbrush and as is my habit this first attempt hasn't gone perfectly. My disappointment is tempered by the reality that I've already begun improving and expect my technique will become more refined as I continue along. 

Tsk! Tsk! Tsk! That shield is going to need a bit more work.

Alright so that's all for this W.I.P., unless something dramatic occurs the next installment likely won't come until the colors get applied. Till then keep them sprue bits flying folk!

Who Knew Ugly Could be so Beautiful

Usually a broken, scratched, incomplete thing is utterly abominable but this battle damaged MG Hyaku Shiki by Dunpeel is absolutely masterful. I mean look at it, that battle damage is something wonderful. I'm going to put it out there right now, this is beyond my current skill level and wll worth a looksee. Also that LED enabled I has quite the sinister air to it if I do say so myself.

Shout out to Gundam Guy blog for shining their light on this amazing peace, head over to the artists page for the full gallery of excellent images.

Highball

I'm sure I missed it because there's absolutely no way this mock up hasn' been a part of the Build Fighters series. Awesome in its simplicity this kitbash by Yamoto 24 would make for a great grunt suit in that universe, wonder how I could pull this off with a couple of MG's...

Shout out to Master File for giving this kit a landing pad.

Oh So Much Better

The G Lucifer is a fine suit any way you slice it but Sukesuke 72 has applied a custom paint job and taken that to an entirely different level. I'm really hoping we start seeing Master Grade kits from Reconguista in G soon, there are some awesome designs in that series.

Hop on over to Master File and take in the full gallery at your leisure.

Kawaii! Pt.2

While most SD/BB kits elicit little more than a "meh" from this blogger, there's something about those kits with the extra big heads that speaks to me. I'm reminded of children who decided their Halloween costume was semi-regular attire, those kids who wore their Superman, Football player or Cowboy costumes as often and as long as possible. This big-headed Guncannon has all the charms of a costumed child lost in backyard glory and mischief! Shout out to Ymsc66 and Modelers-g for triggering some nostalgia!

GN-X

While my Master Grade Sazabi is unquestionably my most enjoyed build to date, many of you may be surprised to learn that my MG GN-X was my second most enjoyed build. It was also the first MG kit I painted and the only kit I lust to paint a second time. While the 00 anime consigned the GN-X to the role of punching bag, I simply love this model kit, as it is a blank canvas simply begging to have it's drab grey paint job spruced up by a custom paint job. Apparently Danny de Ocampo thought the same and posted these lovely pics of his multi-colored grunt suit on Gundam Kits Collection.

More Grunt suits please!

As is my want I've posted but a few pictures, so click the link above to check out the full gallery. Till next post peeps!

Bare-chested Bad@ssery

Now here's something you don't see everyday, the Gundam Maxter in model kit form. Anyone putting together a kit this obscure must have a love of the source material and predictably this kit rocks. G-Gundam is the second Gundam anime I ever watched (right after Gundam Wing, my all time favorite) and while the show is notorious for it's creative laziness and cultural ignorance it holds a special place in my heart. To that end I'd really like to see a little more love shown to the less offensive mobile suits regardless of line. Anyways that's enough banter outta me, I'll leave you to the pretty now and for those of you who'd like a bit more info on G-Gundam's nonsense check the YouTube video after the break.

Caw Caw!!!

I realize that while I regularly profess my love for the Master Grade line, I very rarely show love to the HG line beloved as it is by many a modeler. I'd apologize but I don't wanna. Instead I'll simply treat you to a super sexy custom Gundam Fenice Rinascita dubbed "Apollo" by it's creator, modeler Nerav.

 
Additonal HG sexiness can be witnesses at Gundam Kits Collection. 

No It's Not a Gundam

But damned if it ain't cool! This all resin, all bad@ss Five Star Stories mecha plamodel comes to us courtesy of  Modelers Gallery. I'm not much for resin kits but damned if this doesn't tempt me to take the plunge! Click the link above or the break below for the full gallery.

RAWR!!!

Korean Plamodel Contest Exhibition photos! Your eyes are welcome.

Sate your Plamodel lust at Gundam Kits Collection. 

To Be Feared Indeed

While there a many Gunpla that a modeller can build and appreciate straight away, there are many that cannot be and the FAZZ is one of those kits that shines when treated with love. Modeler Kamm has done just this with this Master Grade FAZZ dubbed "The Feared One". 

I'm sure I've mentioned it before but purple man, I love that color. I also love that wicked looking axe. All images are courtesy of Gundam Model Kits Collection and can be viewed here.

Some Love for Ryu Jose

Don't see very many of these as I wander across the internets taking in various Gundam and non-Gundam related sites. However, while the design of the GunCannon has never really inspired I won't let that stop me from giving love to top flight modeling skills.

All images courtesy of Master File and Onesoul. Additionally pretties after the break

The Smoke is Real!

Here we have more Master File badassery, from modeler Yamakichi we have this masterful MG Dual Gundam - love those colors. The smoke effects are awesome, while I see a lot of custom and painted builds I don't often see effect details like those.

First thing I thought upon seeing the beam sabers was, how would they look with clear orange paint? My blind optimism thinks the answer would be freakin' awesome! Guess I'll have to wait until my Duel arrives from HLJ and my other Gundam projects are resolved.

All images courtesy of Gundam Guy and Master File.

Gundam's Come in Bunches (Apparently)

Wasn't long ago that Unicorn and Banshee were crowding my view, well that time is over it is now the season of the Astray. Fortunately the many versions of the Gundam Astray have all been stellar pieces and this MG by Kusganie is no exception.

Images courtesy of Gundam Guy and Master File. 

Banshee and the Amazing Technicolor Paintcoat

Seems everywhere I look either the Unicorn or it's sibling suit the Banshee are plucking my attention from it's casual wanderings. While I'm hardly a fan of the Unicorns candy cane color scheme - the white/green combo's another matter entirely - I've always loved the color combination of the Banshee. But what happens when someone alters that scheme?

This Banshee turned kaleidoscope answers that question emphatically. Honestly a paint job this fabulous doesn't need many words so I'll just credit the sources and shut up. Props to G-Farmer for pulling off some serious metallic coating and shout out to Gundam Family for sharing this with the world.

Better With Ninjas

Much like Pirates all things are made better with the inclusion of Ninjas, Gundam included. I defy you dear readers to gaze upon this Gold Frame and not see the awesome! Just go ahead I'll wait... See told you you couldn't do it.

This Gunpla modeled by Miniamp123 has been dubbed the "Astray Gold Frame Ninja Version" but I'm going to call it Konoha Gold Frame because much like the Shinobi from Naruto, this mobile suit don't give no damns about concealment (Ninjas were masters of camouflage).

Jokes aside this fantastic build highlights one of my favorite aspects of the Astray line, versatility. Parts swappable across Blue and Red frame mean anyone can easily kit bash one of their own and the nature of the design makes it easy to create some really awesome color combinations by changing the color of the armor, frame or both! Those of you interested in seeing the full gallery should head over to Gundam Guy post haste.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive!

It seems Karma has heard me and granted my wish! The master modeler hath returned with a Banshee Variant (BV) of his four legged Unicorn. Where the original kit was a frightening plastic beauty monster, the BV sports a more sombre look. Of course that could be my recollection of the last two Unicorn episodes coloring my opinion, but since they're my feelings I'm gonna own em!

Okay when I see the BV's naked frame somber isn't the word that comes to mind. That glistending gold frame is actually pretty freaky, gorgeous but freaky. Even still having this on my shelf wouldn't leave me wondering if toys only come to life in my imagination.  You can see the Unicorn that confuses my emotions here. If you wish to be further dazzled by this gold gilded Gundam visit Gundam Kits Collection for the full gallery.