Strike Freedom vs. Hi-Nu Gundam

Main Event! Who wins?!

Hi-Nu Gundam

52 (50%)

Strike Freedom

52 (50%)


DRAW!

Unicorn Movie Promo 3 - Proper Video

Someone finally uploaded a decent version. Watch this one instead of the crap version I posted earlier.

Airbrush Set for Beginners

This is another question from one of my readers, so once again I'm relying on all of you out there to fill in the gaps. I am, by no means, an airbrush expert but I did manage to get my hands on a relatively cheap one that did the job for me.

* * *

hi my name is kojak and i have just recently started to read your blog. i find it very interesting and i am glad that you are able to update so frequently. like a mentioned before i have just frequently started reading your blog as well i have only recently started to take gunpla seriously. basically i was just wondering if you could answer a question for me. i have been looking into buying an air brush ever since i got my mg rx 78-5.i thought if i were to take it completely seriously that spray cans wouldn't be enough. so basically i was just wondering what a good starter set would be and also maybe what a super cheap super beginner alternative for an air compressor would be. i say super cheap and super beginner because i have looked into getting canned air and starter air brush set from testors. thank you for taking the time to read this.

-Kojak, Thanks for you E-Mail.

Well I can say that after doing a considerable amount of shopping for an airbrush myself I went for the cheapest, simplest, and quietest airbrush that I could find. Check out these posts. Preface and Beginnings. I also advise you to take a thorough look at the comments section because the other readers give a lot of good advice.

In short this is the one I bought and it's perfect for the type of work I want to do (Re colours, custom colours, shading and I can save on paint!).

It basically works like a spray can except with a different trigger. The trigger is pressure sensitive so the more you pull, the more paint you get. This can also be adjusted by the "paint limiter" on the top of the brush making it impossible for you to spray too much, if that's what you want.

The paint area can't be narrowed that much as far as I can tell. I managed to get it to just over 1 cm but I haven't really experimented with this at all. Never had a reason as I've only used it for blanket re-colours. I spent around 15 000 yen for the whole thing (AC adapter was seperate) but generally I have to say that I'm glad I have it, even though I don't use it that often (Currently. That will change soon I think.)

However I'd like you to remember that having an airbrush doesn't eliminate can usage forever. Sometimes it's just easier and quicker to give your parts a quick spray from a can and get it over and done with, without have to worry about mixing, thinning and then cleaning the paint from your airbrush. I hope that answers your question and good luck with the G05. My G04 is never far from my mind and I've enjoyed working on it. I'll finish it someday! I promise!

So does anyone out there use an airbrush? If so, which one and why did you choose it? Most importantly... How much did it cost?! Thanks in advance for your help.

Sinanju - Repair Log 2

Supplemental images to go along with this post. I know I'm super late posting this but better late than never (finally managed to get some free time).

Here he waits. I can almost here him saying "Will you hurry up and fix my goddamned arm already?!"

It's been long fixed, as much as I had the patience to manage at least. Pics to come soon.

New Unicorn Movie Promo Video - Watch it here

It's crap quality but it's enough to see and hear what's going on. I used some shareware software to capture it for all of you but didn't take a lot of time to mess around with the settings to make it nice. Not sure if that's even an option or not (I checked and tried but it didn't work) .

A lot of people outside of Japan said that they couldn't watch it. This will solve that problem at the very least. No one gets left behind! Especially my readers!

I accidentally uploaded the f'ed up version where my window re-sized automatically (don't ask why why) so I had to restart the video (sorry didn't edit that out. Forgot.). You can start watching from 1:16.

It really pains me as a perfectionist to post such low quality stuff but it's better than nothing (which is what a lot of you saw). Forgive me. Hopefully a better version will appear somewhere else soon. The quality is much better (smoother animation, better sound) at the official site mentioned in the previous post.

If you feel like downloading the file I made for yourself (not sure why but I'm putting the option out there anyways) you can do that here.

(whoo lotta brackets in this post!)

New Unicorn Movie Promo Video

Ngee said he couldn't watch it. Probably because of him not being in Japan (JP programmers are shady like that, banning non JP IP addresses. Legal reasons I think.)

Video can be viewed here and here.

The above pic is a screen shot I took of it. This movie is shaping up to be pretty good but why can't we see even one shot of the Sinanju in it?! Surely they'll put it in the movie! Right?!

Anyway my favourite parts of this clip were seeing the Stark Jegan get destroyed, the ReZel launching and fighting and the Loto transforming.

Did anyone notice the link between the Loto design and the F-50D Guntank R-44 used in F91? Fits the time line and the design tree... Different colour scheme though. I only saw F91 a couple of weeks ago and I noticed the connection right away.

Generally I don't watch JP movies in the theater (even the Zeta re-releases) but I'll make an exception for this one.

My Models

I plan on updating this page slowly over time. I'd like to have a concise catalog of what I have.

Master Grades

RX-78-2 Ver. OYW

MSN-06S Sinanju

ZGMF-X56S/α Force Impulse Gundam

GN-001 Gundam Exia

MSZ-006C1 Z Plus C1

High Grade

RX-0 Unicorn Gundam
RMS-106 Hi-Zack
GN-000 0 Gundam
RX-78-2 Gundam Ver.G 30th
RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 Advanced Hazel

MSZ-006 C1 - Zplus C1

Done. Gotta say I really like this model. It's way more complex than the Exia with a decent inner frame. The inner frame plastic (black) is a bit harder than the armour. This took a lot more time to build and clean but it fits together like a dream and is an impressive feat of engineering in it's own right. Katoki! You've done it again!

The beam smart gun is huge and... awesome! It's longer than the Sinanju Bazooka! Not to mention it's a fair bit taller than the mech itself.

With the beam smart gun equipped you don't have many options as far as poses go. This is about as good as it gets for this machine but what more do you need really? I'll save some of the more detailed shots for when I finish it up but here's a couple pics now.

Good points:

-Fits together amazingly
-Great transforming mechanism
-Bad ass beam smart gun
-Stable / Snug joints
-Fabric parts for a bit of extra detail
-Good proportions
-Decent articulation
-Clever beam saber placement (back of the hip beam cannons)

Bad points:

Fingers can't be separated (typical of older MG's and forgivable for a transforming suit. See MG Victory Gundam)
-Not a great amount of range in motion in the ankles and hips because of extra armour, transforming mechanisms, backpack and hip cannons. That said, the hip joints can be loosened courtesy of the transforming mechanism for increased range of movement but you'll have to trade that for a loss of stability. See the last pic. It has a wider stance because I unlocked the "crotch".
-Relatively bland colour scheme.
-Overly complicated with excessive parts (perhaps this couldn't be avoided but it seemed a bit much to me. Later MG's have had their build process and parts simplified considerably it seems.)
-A LOT of PC parts particularly in the legs.
-Limited poses possible

Overall I'd have to say that I recommend it if you're a Zeta/Sentinel fan. Or even if you're into transforming suits. As a MS alone it doesn't have much to recommend it besides it's one cool pose with the beam smart gun. There are much better MS out there if you're into posing and playing with your models, but if you just want it to stand there and look cool and transform it occasionally (if it all) then it's good. It's pretty cool and I like it a lot. It's going to look even better after I paint it. Like I mentioned before, It's a bit complicated but that has to be forgiven before of the nature of the suit and it's age.

Rating: 4/5

Robot Damashi Cherudim Gundam Saga

I don't have a Robot Damashi toy but this is going to be my first one. No question.

From Cyber Gundam

Main Event! Round 3!

VS.

&

Infinite Justice VS. Sword Calamity AND Sword Impulse

All CE suits so I don't want to hear any whining over technology from different universes. All suits have their base pilots. Ed Harrelson in SC and Shin Asuka in SI. You will recall that Althun defeated Shin in his Destiny suit using Infinite Justice. I think this is fair melee combat match.

Yeah it's two on one but Althun is a superior pilot with a superior MS that can seperate into 2 forms.

I love Infinite Justice the most so I'm going for that on principle. Opinions?!

Polls

Changed some of the polls. I've decided on doing the Infinite Justice next (which unfortunately won't start up until March as there's just too much stuff lined up between now and then.)

I also consolidated the lists, plus added in some other things I forgot, plus my new purchase XD

Best U.C. Fed MS is going the way I'm thinking it's going to go so I changed that one too. After nearly 100 votes, the latter half of U.C. ran away with around 80% of the vote.

The Main Event topic was hotly contested and was an EXTREMELY close race but ended up with the 00 Gundam (w/o 0 Rasier w/GN Sword III) narrowly defeating Unicorn Gundam.

After thinking about it more... I think I've come down on the Unicorn Gundam side simply because of the technology. If the Unicorn could disable any of the numerous GN Condensers the 00 has scattered on the OUTSIDE of its body/armour that should, in theory, lower the 00's power supplies. The Unicorn, having 4 beam sabers, a high powered beam magnum, and hyper bazooka would be able to do that I think.

I predict a battle of attrition with Unicorn slowly dismantling the 00 until the finishing blow can be delivered. One lucky strike at either GN Drive or it's condensers and the 00 is sunk imo. Whereas the Unicorn can probably fight at high efficiency while taking high damage.

Unicorn, on the defensive, absorbs a lot of the damage with that I-field generating shield, lures the 00 in. Insane melee combat with 4 beam sabers at once plus head vulcans...

Yeah. I thought 00 but I don't anymore.

And for the record all battles are considered with the suits natural pilot in mind. So for the next poll (Hi-Nu vs. Strike Freedom) it's adult Amuro vs. Kira.

Has it been 2 Terran orbits already?!

The earth has gone around the sun 2x since I started this blog (yeah I could just say years but... I guess I'm just dramatic like that XD) and the day passed without me really noticing it. I didn't plan anything special for the 2nd Anniversary of this blog. Not like last year. There are a couple reasons for that. 1) I've been ****ing busy this month. 2) Is your 2nd year anniversary really that big a deal?! Not to me really.

Recently I've been thinking about what I actually accomplished with Gundam in 2009. Outside of my Sinanju... not much. But that certainly didn't stop me from buying stuff.

Which leads me to my next problem. My ever growing backlog.

I decided long ago that I wouldn't think of it as a backlog. Even if I were to miraculously find the time and willpower to finish all of these models... I wouldn't even have a place to display them all. I decided that my models would be something I'd do over time no matter how long it takes... But with 20 plus models and with me finishing about 1 a year... Even if I don't buy ANOTHER gundam kit EVER I won't finish until I'm about 60! No joke. Those are the numbers.

But you know what... I don't really care. Even if I were to buy them and then throw them away, destroy them (heaven forbid) or even give them away I wouldn't be losing that much money. Under 10000 yen and God knows I've wasted more than that on worse things. So I don't really care that much about things piling up.

I'm tempted to just take an unfinished model outside somewhere, pose it, take a couple of pictures and just leave it there for fate and destiny to take care of.

Still though... I'm very motivated now to finish a model and I'm sure it's going to be Infinite Justice next (based upon the poll. Thanks to all who voted!).

I want to make something really solid this year. Hopefully before mid April. That's the goal I've set for myself and I think I can do it. I'm hoping I'm going to have a bit more free time in the first half of this year. Before the fall. I want to make something like this

A couple after market parts here and there, maybe even some custom decals. A bit of shading, light weathering. Nothing THAT crazy. Just some good clean modelling, you know what I mean?

However, I have set a new rule for myself and that's to not buy Gunpla unless it's from a special shop or if I'm using "points" and am not paying in cash.

For example I bought the Hazel when I was at Fuji Q Highlands in Yamanashi. It's like a souvenir of the trip and I have memories associated with it. Exia, Zeta Plus C1, G04, RX-78 OYW and many others are like that too. I bought them at special places or they were given to me as presents. That I can justify. Each one of them kind of has their own story.

But a lot of models I just bought at my local shop on a whim or just because I wanted them. That's going to stop. So I'm going to have to wait until the opportunity presents itself to get the metallic coating Nu-Gundam, but I'm going to use my "points" to get the Red Frame ver.2.0.

Hopefully that will help.

Now I would like to take this time to thank all 50 subscribers and the 100 facebook fans who are reading this blog regularly. I appreciate your support and all of your comments. I really do like hearing peoples opinions about this hobby that I love so much. I am continually amazed at the growth of this blog and I like what it's become. I have big plans for it this year but I won't say anything about it now. You'll see the changes unfold gradually.

Starting the 3rd orbit. I wonder where I'll be come 2011?

Recap of the things that happened in the 2nd orbit. Blue for get, Orange for assembled/completed.

Jan - Sinanju work, giveaways, blog problems and falling in love with the Jesta

Feb - Picked up Mass produced Guncannon (assembled and started painting), GM Command, GM Cold Climate (which I gave away), Capsule Arios. More Sinanju work

March - In Tokyo for Tamashi Nation, PG Red Frame acquired, Sinaju work continues.

April - Mostly concerning PG Red Frame and Sinanju is finally finished. Get it's Rocket Bazooka

May - Almost all about the PG Red Frame

June - Various tutorials posted, HG comparisons (Nu vs. Hi Nu - Exia R2 vs. 0 Gundam) First stage of PG Strike Frame project finished.

July - Gouf Flight Type, 0 Gundam, Odaiba Gundam, XN Raiser acquired. Back to Canada where I can see the "Old Guard" again. They all get their pictures taken.

August - Introduced the "Old Guard". Working without flash. Odaiba/O Gundam simultaneous build. Working with the XN Raiser

Sept - Pimp My Gundam #1, Physics and the Nu Gundam, Mark Setter/Softer use. Odaiba 1/1 Gundam statue comes down. Tragedy

Oct - Gouf Flight Type built, entered the airbrush era, working on Sinanju rocket bazooka, lots of experimenting.

Nov - A lot shopping for random supplies, Unicorn Display Base acquired and assembled finished the Rocket Bazooka.

Dec - Repairing Sinanju and upgrading the eye, best Zeon MS design, HGUC Unicorn (I didn't mention this. Sorry.) GM Command and Unicorn assembled. Exia and Zplus C1 both assembled the following month. C1 not yet but practically!

Some year!

But 2010... this is going to be a year for Justice. Infinite Justice.

I cannot be stopped!

It's called plamo ADDICTION for a reason!

Posted from my cellphone.

What should I do next?

00rizer
Originally uploaded by sandrum

I'm really quite undecided as to what model/project I should do next. I have the main ideas done for all of them but it's just... doing it to completion. Right now I have over 20 kits built (most of them are just disassembled in boxes) but it's been a long time since I've FINISHED a kit (including photoshoot) so I'm going to ask all of you out there which one/s you'd be most interested in seeing.

Please vote in the poll on the right. You can vote more than once if you have a couple of preferences.

My goal is to finish my next model with photos before the 1st year anniversary of the last time I did that (Sinanju - April 9, 2009)

This 00 Raiser pic is here just to complain about something totally OT and that is... If the PG 00 Raiser had the proportions of the one in this pic I would have bought it.

Opinions about either topic? If you're wondering what I'm going to do with my models it probably goes without saying that I'm doing custom colour schemes and minor mods for all of them. No straight anime colours for me!

Edit - Added a 2nd section. I forgot 3 1/144's!

And now it's time for our Main Event...

1263107016223
Originally uploaded by sandrum

I'm taking bets. Even odds. Who are you choosing to win?

I really don't know what the Unicorn can do but from what I understand of the NT-D system... I don't think it matches the Twin GN Drive w/Trans Am.

Inner frame - To paint or not to paint

That is the question. And here is the letter from one of my readers.

Hello there, my name is Min. I've been following your blog for some time now and I am finally starting my first painted piece. I have one question that I wanted to ask an experienced modeler like you which I couldn't find in any tutorials or videos.I don't know if I'm supposed to paint the inner frame of a MG model or not. I have a Strike Noir Gundam and seems that in this model a lot of the inner frame shows through all the armor pieces.I'm afraid that if I paint the inner frame, it will reduce mobility and make the paint chip off whenever I move it. Am I supposed to paint the inner frame or am I not?

Thank you in advance. I love your work!

***

Well Min, thank you for your letter and I hope you don't mind that I've decided to answer it publicly because I think that we could all benefit from opening up the dialogue to everyone out there and get some other opinions and perhaps help each other in the process.

First... your concerns are valid but on a case by case basis. Paint chipping will happen unless you top coat adequately. Paint, not to mention top coat on top of it, will reduce mobility in the frame.

Speaking personally, I've painted the inner frame of a model more than a couple times and have occasionally experienced some problems. This was either caused from the enamel paint I was using melting/weakening the plastic or from the paint itself causing parts to stick together and upon trying to move those parts breakage would occur. A combination of both of these things happened with my Impulse thus causing me to actually SEW the parts together to keep some stability in articulation not to mention the sliding armour parts.

Of course painting the inner frame also has the not insubstantial benefit of increased bad assedness.

...which often is reward unto itself.

But lets be honest... You're going to spend all that time painting the frame and it's just going to be covered up with armour anyways. What's the point really? Especially considering that the joints and moving paints may stick together or break in the process.

I decided to take a different approach with my Sinanju and just paint the joints and other exposed areas. This was less time consuming and the result was satisfactory.

So on a whole I'd say that painting the frame might not be worthwhile unless you are the perfectionist/completionist type or are planning on leaving some of the armour off OR you are planning on using clear armour parts.

If you insist on painting the frame for whatever reason I'd suggest you just paint the exposed parts (usually the joints and ankle pistons) but be wary of:

1.The type of paint you're using. Lacquer is the most corrosive, then enamel, the acrylic. (If I recall correctly.)

2.How complicated the joint mechanism is .

3.How much of it you're actually going to paint.

4.If the painting will interfere with joint movement or parts sticking together.

It worked out with the knee of my Sinanju but not the elbow or the wing joints. The knee joint was sturdy and thick enough to deal with the enamel paint I was using (no primer) but the elbow and wing joints weakened significantly.

I did a light frame paint job on my PG Red Frame/Strike Frame project to give it more of a metallic look but that was a 'conceptual' project and I painted the frame on principle. The PG frame was easily sturdy enough to stand up to the relatively light paint job I applied to it. There were no problems as all.

So I've had both good and bad experiences with frame painting from full paint jobs to partial. While it's troublesome at times I can say concretely that I've never been disappointed with the end result and have no regrets about doing it at any time. In my opinion frame painting can be that one detail that separates a good model from a great one

So I hope that answers your question! Thanks for taking the time to write and for your kind compliments.

What do the rest of you think about frame painting? Worth while? Not? Do you do it? Personally I just can't leave the frame completely alone if I'm planning on finishing a MG. The knee/elbow joints and ankle pistons at the very least.

Qan

srwhotnews_nt2_00m1
Originally uploaded by Busterbeam

Yes we Qan. I am Busterbeam and I approve of this Gundam.

Super Blast Impulse

I was going to post something else today but when I saw this... I knew there was nothing else I could post about. This takes priority. You need to see this if you haven't already.

You need to see it now.

Here is the source.

When I look at something like this... I wonder how can people say that this hobby is for kids?!

And even though I'm well into my adult years... will my skills EVER reach this level?! My goodness...

Gundam Funk Vol.2

aka Pimp My Gundam. I had to do it. Just too much funky stuff out there! 250 pics with a couple "guest" appearances. Not all Gundam but mostly. It's a bit long but that's just because it's a live track where James is pretty much going off. I don't know what album it's from or where it came from at all actually. I just happened to come across it and couldn't let it slip through my hands.

I don't recommend "listening" to this track. You really have to FEEL it. Some funky music for some funky Gundams. I changed the pic refresh rate to match the beat somewhat. Now I know that funk music isn't everyone's cup of tea but... you can't hate on a guy for trying to combine the 2 (or 3 or 4 or 5) things that he loves! Also this is a great song to play when you're cleaning up. Just try it and see!

And now ladies and gentlemen I give you Mr. Dynamite! The Godfather of Soul! James Brown! (RIP)

Dig it!

Post #300! Whoo!

So... did you see your model in there somewhere?! XD

Women and Gunpura - Round 2

Perhaps a re-occuring topic at this blog.

Thanks to everyone who commented in that last post. I read my gf some of your comments and she was very surprised at a lot of your reactions because she thought that it was something normal to do. You give the people you care about something that they like for Christmas. It's really that simple to her. And I suppose it is to me too.

But some of you mentioned how your gf or mother dislikes the fact that you are into gunpura. And I started to wonder... what makes it such a bad hobby to begin with?

Is it too otaku? Would it be better if we built tanks or airplanes instead? Would that be more acceptable?

Even though I live in Japan I rarely outright tell people that I'm into Gunpura even though many people know what it is. I tell some of the men because I automatically become more 'Japanese' and thus more approachable. That works with women sometimes too because I usually get an automatic reference to their father or ex-bf or something.

I tend not to talk about it in public unless someone asks me directly. It seems as if there's a stigma attached to it at times?

Anyone else our there feel that way? One final question out there to all of you and I really want to hear your opinions on this.

Why on earth do so many women (regardless of race, culture or ethnicity) hate Gunpura so much?!

Finally a couple of up to date pics of my progress on my X-Mas models. Exia is finished. Just need two more LR41 batteries to finish off the GN Drive. Zplus C1 is getting there. Lotta pieces for that guy. Way more difficult build than the Exia but that should be expected considering it transforms.