Dengeki Hobby Japan - Aug 2010

This has got to be one of the most beautiful dioramas I've ever seen. Autumn has always been my favourite time in Japan. Truly a work of art.

I've decided that I'm going to take some of my favourite pics from each months hobby magazine (Dengeki Hobby and Hobby Japan specifically thus the hybrid title) and upload them in their fully scanned format (large file size) so you can zoom in and see the details if you're inclined to do so. This months selections can be found here.

As usual the complete scans of the magazines can be found at SRW Hotnews.

You're putting limits on your greatness

Post #400!

Advice from my mom. This is how I'm going to remember it. I'm going to keep him close so I'm constantly reminded of the things that need to be done. I choose the unfinished 'GF Build' Zaku to remind me of all the things I have yet to do and what I've lost because I didn't do them in a timely way, didn't do properly, or just didn't do at all yet.

The message in short means to be less reactive and more proactive.

Easier said than done but... it can't hurt to try. Actually the opposite of that. It'll make you feel good in the end just knowing that you've been active about achieving your goals.
Just something to think about.

Anyway, best of you luck to all of you in achieving your own goals, whatever they may be.

HGUC Zeong

Another one down. Didn't do anything to it. Check out the gallery here. Of course it will be updated over time. I intend on doing the write up for the kit in the comments section of the pictures.

Notes: 
-Articulation isn't that great.  Newer kits have spoiled me. 
-no extra weapons at all. 
-lots of PC parts. 
-decent amount of movement in the waist, chest and neck.
-expected more range of movement in the wrist and elbows.  There isn't much at all
-the hands are great for an HG!
-comes with it's own stand which is a plus
-lots of mecha detail under the skirt
-has great potentional for extra panel line work
-a new color scheme, plus panel lines, plus thruster work could make this thing look pretty cool I think!
-the supplied wires were less than useless for the extended arm options.  They don't fit into the holes well and they can barely support the weight of the arm without spinning down into some wierd position.  Not worth the effort.

From Zeong

Recommended only if you're a UC / One Year War fan.  It's a menacing kit.  Looks like a zombie coming after you almost all of the time time.  It's not really my thing.  I got it as a birthday present 2 years ago.  It's about time that I build it.  It's nice though.  I wouldn't have bought it for myself but I'm kinda glad I have it.  It'll go well with my G30 Gundam.

Planning on doing some heavy panel line work, and painting in metallics to bring out the mechanical details.  I will probably do a more elaborate paint design on that large skirt surface area.  Just to broad to waste on a single colour.  Might add a couple of over lapping paint lines with some kanji characters or something.  As usual I'm thinking monochrome right now so it can pair up with the G30 Gundam.

00 Movie Mecha Designs

Just one question, I'm hoping someone can help me with.

wtf were they thinking? QanT is the only one that looks even semi-normal.  The add ons for these suits are just ridiculous.  Why even bother?  Just make them mobile armours.  Crazy.

PG Zaku Custom Panel lines

Here is the suit in question.

First let me just state the obvious to get it out of the way.  Wow.

I've been thinking a lot recently about getting into etching extra panel lines on some of my upcoming projects.  I know there are a variety of ways and tools to go about this but my actual problem is deciding where the lines should go and what kind of lines should go there.  I really don't know how people do it sometimes.  I mean I consider myself a relatively creative person but when it comes to this kind of stuff a draw a blank 9/10 times.

Do you do custom panel lines?  If so how?  Do you draw out the design first and see how it looks or do you just go for it?  Pencil them onto the suit itself?  How do you know when to stop?  How much is too much?  This suit has a lot and I have to say it seems like the answer is "the more the better".

My secret weapon has arrived!

Lupes suggested it to me and I immediately thought "I must have it."
Now I do.

To prepare for it and the upcoming projects I decided to organize my room a bit better to make a dedicated paint/work station.

Take a look. Before. What I call "Mecha Hell"

After.  Mecha Paradise.

The thing on the floor beside the chair half painted black is my air filter.  I just cleaned it.  The paint sticks on the outside frame and accumulates as dust on the inner filter.  Easy to vacuum off.  But even with this I don't paint indoors.  Too dangerous.  Behind the purple curtain is my balcony and air conditioner and I place the air filter on top of it out there and spray into it.  It sucks air into the front panel and blows air out through the top.  I use it so that the paint all flows in one controlled direction and doesn't go all over the place.

My airbrush is on the white short bookcase beside it.

I moved the portable desk over to the side so I could prep and mix my paints faster and get the parts ready near to the painting area.  This whole thing should speed up my painting process considerably.  I'm hoping at least!

Now... I have to figure out how to actually use my secret weapon! haha

April Gundam Pics

Working backwards. Now that I've decide on using Picasa for the time being I'm going to start uploading the mass amount of pics I've accumulated over the past couple months. Gallery link here.

1.5 Gundam - Assembly Complete

Finally decided to power through this and just build the damn thing. 

Originally I was planning on colouring each piece as I cut them from the runner but that didn't work out as I still haven't perfected my lining technique yet. I'm still planning on colouring this kit with only Gundam markers though. Still not sure how I'm going to do the lining. Maybe just got back to using the Gundam pen like I used to.

About this kit; I love it. It is SO good. I love the huge rifle, the huge shield and the CLEAR beam saber. I like the use of all the clear parts and the options you have with the wing binders (which can basically be put in any direction configuration you can think of. So many joints.)

The legs have a little bit of an unusual construction as it shares parts with Reborns Gundam. A kind of design you'd usually see in MG's to keep the knee armour in place. There are a little bit of extra parts left over from this kit (two extra GN drives/plus the cannons for the backside of Reborns Gundam) but you can't really use them for anything, unlike the Astraea F and it's Exia parts.

The waist has a bit more flexibility than other HG's as it can bend back and forth which was a nice surprise and you can make this a flat footed Gundam if you want to.

I can't wait to finish this. I've go to say... the 00F/P/I HG's are really impressing me. Great kits all around.

More photos here.

HLJ Competition Time!!!

I'm going to enter this Hobby Link Japan "Playing with Plastic" competition.

I'm probably the last one to post about this but here it is. If you don't know now you know!

All the info you need to know is here but let's talk about the main prizes!  Deadline is August 16, 2010.

MG "The O"

MG V-Dash Gundam

RG 1/144 RX 78-2

That's actually the one I want but of course I'd take any!  Now what model should I enter...?

Blog changes

Well since both Gaigun and ASM went and changed their layouts I figured I'd follow suit. It's a bit over due I guess.  Went with green because it will be the featured colour of my next completed Gundam which will be the MGIJ.  Changed the header pic as I'm sure most of you noticed and a couple of the colours here and there.  I've tweaked the layout on this thing so much that I don't want to mess with it anymore so the basic design is still the same and that isn't likely to change anytime soon.  But who knows!

That said I'd like to make a small mention about the size of the pics that I use on this blog.  I tend to post large pics because it looks good on MY monitor.  It may not look so great on smaller monitors (overlapping images/text etc.)  Remember you can always get around this by pressing ctrl - or ctrl + to resize whats happening in your browser.  That can help to make things look how they should on your monitor.

No pics for this post?  Never!!!  Not on my blog.  Here is some Yoko Maki for your time.

Best Fed UC Mobile Suit

Best Federation MS from 0096!

D-50C Loto
4 (2%)

MSN-001A1 Delta Plus
22 (15%)

RAS-96 Ankusha
4 (2%)

RGM-89S Stark Jegan
21 (14%)

RGM-96X Jesta
10 (6%)

RGZ-95 ReZEL
27 (18%)

RX-0 Unicorn Gundam

57 (39%)

Was that really a surprise?

And so it comes to this; the final battle for the title of best UC Mobile Suit.  Unicorn vs. Sinanju.  It's only right.

Musha MK II WIP 5 - Assembly Complete

And now for the hard part...

May Gundam Pics

Not sure what to do with all my pics so I'm just using Picasa for now. I only have 1 gig of space but I'll guess I'll just use it up and figure something out after. What to do...

Anyway here are some pics that I gathered last month. There might be some strays here and there.  Click here to get to the album.

From May Gundam

Best Sinanju Ever

Sinanju FWS (Full Weapon System).  Look for yourself.

Just when I thought this thing couldn't look ANY cooler, someone has to go and prove me wrong. Damn. You need two Sinanju's to make this + 4 extra limited edition parts but still... My goodness. I am just blown away.

Musha MK II WIP 4 - Torso

Surprisingly simple. Two overlapping parts for the front armour with is very unusual. I thought there must have been some mistake or that it was an extra part from the original Mk-II but it's there for a reason. Gave me some great ideas for when I paint this. 

As I've been assembling it my painting ideas have changed with each step. Truly a work in progress physically and mentally.

Musha MK II WIP 3 - G-Panel Armour Parts

Exactly what it says in the title plus tachi, saya head and feet. Props to Gaigun for letting us all know that it is NOT a katana technically.  I cut out all the G-panel armour parts and sanded the nubs down. I added a couple extra gold parts from D-panel to use up all the armour parts I cut from G-panel.

Not using the knife as much for this.  During my MGIJ WIP I noticed that some of the edges didn't look that great where I used the knife (too much of a distinction between nub removal area and the rest of the plastic) but I should have a better result using my sanding file.  Because I'm going to be painting it, it should come out more smoothly in the end.  The knife is good when you aren't going to be painting and you can just use your thumbnail to blend the colour in.  Ghetto way I know but that's how I roll.  Trying to keep costs down.

Was originally thinking to paint before assembly but... I want to get a feel for what it looks like assembled and then make the colour call then.  Part separation, and then on with the painting!

MGIJ WIP 10 - Backpack finished

Little bit of a crossover with my Musha MKII WIP as I just assembled the swords for it but since it's still in the frame stage I let my Infinite Justice play with them for bit. Infinite Justice is loaded with beam blades but has only one conventional blade in the "grapple stinger" housed in the shield.

I don't think the Japanese style blade really fits the suit itself but I just liked the idea of it having another melee weapon.

The back pack is totally painted but still needs to be lined. I still need to do the head, torso and some touch ups on the legs. Also I'll probably need another coat of white on the arms as well. Sad to say this kit is still a ways from being completed but... one step at a time!

The parts here were painting with my airbrush.  Metallic black and silver.  I thinned the paint considerably but it seemed to work out OK.  Better to err on that side I realize.  Better to have it too thin than too thick and have it jam your brush up.  I'm happy with the end process.  Even if airbrushing takes a bit longer and is messier you can't argue with the results.

Yeah sorry I'm posting these through imageshack because it's way faster than the blogger interface. I doubt I'll keep it like this but I'm just experimenting. Trying to stream line my posting process as well as my modeling process. Let me if any problems arise please.

Musha MK II WIP 2 - Frame Painting

I'll let the pics speak for themselves. You can probably guess what I did.

Musha MK II WIP 1 - Frame

Done with the basic frame.  Will probably disassemble and prime tomorrow.  Yes I'm painting the frame first before armour application.  Love this ver.2 frame.  Even in comparison to other frames it's good and I think the Musha version has a simpler torso than the regular Mark 2 and the ver 2.  More details on this later.  Here it is pictured wth the 1/100 F-91 helmet that I'm currently modding.

This is as far as I've gotten so far.  There actually aren't that many parts.  If I continue at this pace, I suspect I'll be done with the full assembly by this time next week if not sooner.  There's more stuff to post about between now and then however but that's for another time.

Gundam Blogger's Meeting

About 2 weeks back I went to Tokyo to visit some old friends and took the time to also meet up with fellow bloggers ASM and Gaigun. First time to meet them and I hope it won't be the last. Nice guys! It was cool to be able to talk about our hobby with each other in person over a couple of drinks. Not just Gundam related topics but life ones too. We aren't one-dimensional!

ASM started off by letting me sign Lupes Sinanju shield which is making it's way around the planet now. It's hit up all 3 of us in Japan plus Z in the States and it's already made it's way to Australia!

After that we decided to take a walk around Akiba a bit.  As it turns out the Gundam Cafe was right across from where we were drinking.

I couldn't believe this line!  wtf?  I guess I shouldn't be surprised that there were that many Gundam fans in Akihabara that want to drink there too.  It was Saturday night after all.

Total weakness for female military uniform cosplay especially Feds.  Very cute!  I wonder what type of bottoms they wear?  Can't see because of that counter!

Oh!  I see...  I would have prefered a skirt and black knee highs but hey... this is certainly nothing to be angry at!

I don't drink coffee actually.  I am a bit curious about this blend though!

Cafe in the day, bar at night.  I'm kinda sad that I didn't get a chance to go in but I got a good idea of what it's like just from looking through the windows.  Probably over priced anyways.  We had a better time drinking on the street and hanging out with the maids.

Damn that's a lot of people.  I'll get my revenge someday!