MG Wing Zero Custom - 2 - Concept

I was thinking of what I wanted to do with the Wing Gundam but then I realized that it isn't really for me.  It’s a model that I’m building for another person. In fact I didn't even build this one.  It is my friend’s first Gundam.  She’s never made one before but she’s seen me do it many times and has helped me on more than one occasion.  

Looking back I realize how much she has helped me with this hobby.  Around the first time I met her was when I’d first gotten the PGSF and had just sprayed the frame gold.  She was really interested in that.  Since then she has brought me many Gundams. Two HG Jestas, HG Zee Zulu, two Phantasy Star models (one for my sister), MG Shenlong, MG Nu Gundam, HG Strike Freedom (her choice), MG Wing Zero (her choice) plus two more models that I haven’t mentioned yet (upcoming projects for 2013).

She brought me extra parts and helped me to get new hands for the MG Nu Gundam that I thought that I’d lost.  But it turns out that I actually didn't so I have an extra pair of emotion hands. I customized the HG Strike Freedom based on her colour choices and this Wing will be no exception.

She built this one herself and I helped her with some minor things.  Really glaring nub marks and making sure the moving parts were set up right.  Some things with the mask that can be tricky (if you even care about them). But not really that much.

Before I could continue with the work on this suit I wanted to get her input on the colours to use.  I'm really painting it for her so I guess it’s kind of like a commission.  What I want doesn't really matter. So there was a bit of back and forth about what colours to use.  What the options were, how things could be changed etc.  What should go were…  A lot of negotiating but in the end we've come to an agreement.  I wonder if doing real commissions is anything like this? 

Maybe you can detect some similarities between the design of the Wing and Strike Freedom.  The question I asked her was; “Imagine you are the pilot of any Gundam.  Which one would you choose?|  And without even realizing it she chose the first Gundam that she’d ever seen.  The gold PGSF frame that she saw when we’d first met.  She’d just picked the smaller version of it.  This Wing Gundam is the one that she really fell in love with but when she went back to pick it up it was sold out.  So she got the HGSF instead.  When she had the chance to get this Wing again she didn't hesitate.

Her favourite colour is purple so it is a colour that she always wants in there.  But because it’s spring and the Wing is kind of a light and airy mech she wanted something lighter and not something that uses dark tones so we've settled on a kind of pastel type of scheme that doesn't deviate much from the regular design.

The next stage is to separate the parts into sections for sanding and painting.  I’m going to try and stream line the painting process this time as I noticed that I have a lot of inefficiencies from when I was building the Nu Gundam.  I’m going to try and do this one more “by the book”.

Which means priming and sanding, hopefully I've be able to get a good layer of paint down and will have a good finish.  That’s what I’m going for this time.  I’m going to try and not do anything too overly complicated.  I don’t want to get caught up in my own mind and be stuck in the procrastination zone.  As always my biggest obstacle is myself.

I aim to finish this before the first day of summer.  Spring project.  Hopefully this project will go a little bit faster because I’ll be using her as my assistant whenever I can.

I probably would never have bought this for myself.  But it sure is awesome...

Good movie!

Still don't know what to do with this...

Ah well.  Time to get to work.

MG Wing Zero Custom - 1

Well it's been over 3 weeks since the Gauntlet finished and I think I'm ready to go back to Gundaming again. The MG Nu kind of burnt me out a bit because of all the failures and troubles I had with it... After I finished the Gauntlet I was thinking of going back to it and finishing it the way that I wanted to but I have nearly 100 models that need attention too... I'll be coming back to the Nu later on but for now I want to try something a bit simpler.

Enter the MG Wing Zero Custom.

Actually I didn't build this one. My friend built it by herself and it is her first Gundam. She wanted to get it a while ago but ended up getting the HG Strike Freedom instead when she found out that it was sold out. That one I made and painted for her. This one she made herself and I helped fix up a bit. Some work on the nubs, sanding and getting the moving parts to fit right. Work on the head. Nothing too crazy. She did most of the work... But now that the model is done and has been sitting around for a while I think it's time to kick it up a notch.

I've had a lot of time to mull over what I'm going to do with this thing but for now take a look at the test shots.

Gotta clean up the desk before I start a new project.

He waits.  His time will come.

Heavyarms - 1

Going back a bit to a different time... I had saved this as a draft and never published it. This may also be happening more often as I try to "get my house in order" so to speak. This is from some time ago... I can't remember when. Anyway it goes into the archives for what I'm doing with this project. I'll explain as I go and probably provide a bit of details into my modeling technique.

I somehow lost both face plates for my 1/100 Heavyarms.  The clown one disappeared years ago and the regular one just fell off in transit sometime and was never seen again.  I tried using a replacement 1/100 F91 face but it didn't quite fit right.  Close.  I decided I'd try some customizing myself.  The type of putty that I use is the one shown above.  Mix the two types when you're ready, mold it into place, wait until it hardens and then do what you want from there.   Here I'm thinking of designing another face plate.

This is after I've applied the putty to the helmet.  I decided to do away with the V-Fin too.  No re-sculpting this time.  Just going for a straight helmet.  I also had problems with the backpack, as in I didn't want the Gatling guns to be facing upwards in their mounted positions.  I preferred the look of them pointing downwards.  Like a cloak or something.  A cloak of giant guns.

There is no way have it that way with the way the pieces are in any configuration so I have to change that configuration by turning the mounts upside down and then re-connect them back to the joints.

While I was at it I decided to re-do the back pack.  I'd tried to fix it years ago in my beginning days with  a different type of modelling glue.  It was messy.

Now on to the arms.  The problem I had with these arms is the fact that they twisted on the elbows.  The elbows are REALLY important on a mech like this since they are being called upon to hold up those huge gats.  The elbows are the only place in the arm that can twist and that just makes the whole situation there terrible when you include the cheap abs plastic that's used in the area.  Just a bad idea all around.

So I decided to make another point of rotation on the arms and strengthen the elbows up.  I really need them to be tight.  I'll customize this part later but for now I'm sure this is what needs to be done.  Probably use some pla plate and piping like I did in the legs of this suit.

I did some seam work on the arms years ago so it's just a question of sanding and painting now.  I really wanted to do something about the hip missiles to make them pop a bit more but I found out that the things are molded incompletely.  There is a slight straight edge on the inside edge.  They are not completely round and don't extend all the way in.  I expected them to be completely round with a bit of free space at the end in the case of full extension.  It was the opposite.  They made a shortcut here and I'm not impressed.  Just do it right!

I had some problems with the joints years ago and tried to stiffen them up with glue.  It may have worked in the beginning but that effect didn't last and just left a mess.

So I decided to crack it open, clean it up and do it right with the tools and skills that I have today.

After I removed the putty you can see the slot that fits into the helmet.  Now it's just a matter of shaping it.

Just a shot of the missile racks on the legs.  Took them apart, re-organized  them (because I think I did them wrong when first built it) and glued.  Ready to be sanded and painted.

Enjoying some Fireball while I work.

Gauntleteers 2013

Musketeers?  Noooooooo.  Privatateers? Noooooooo.  Volunteers?  Well kinda yeah but we're really the Gauntleteers, those of us that survived the trials!  Of the nearly 20 people that entered only 7 survived to the end.

Here are the survivors.

First, the Captain and leader of this charge.  Lupes.

He started his kit right away and by the time the Gauntlet had officially started he was well ahead of the rest of us.  He put in a lot of work and he finished way ahead of schedule.  He was already deep into his next mission when I barely squeezed in 2 minutes before the deadline and even that was an effort.  Lupes has a pretty disciplined build approach and isn't afraid to put the time or money into a project to make it right.  He often repaints, tweaking things that don't seem quite right.  I've worked with him on every Gauntlet so far (Sinaju ver.ka, PG Strike Freedom, Nu Gundam ver.ka) and he puts out quality work every time and has been getting better over time.  and bolder.  Which is a good progression. Just never know what that guy is going to do next.  Very unpredictable and consistently puts out good stuff.

Next is Syd, who has also participated in all Gauntlets and some other group builds that I sat out (MG Unicorn and ReZel I think).  Syd can occasionally do some pretty radical things to his Gundams but for me one of his trade marks is his ridiculous decal work.  A very solid effort and you can tell that he spent a lot of time to make his work solid and consistent with a lot of attention paid to small details.  I personally really like the black and silver theme.  It's very classy and really helps to draw attention the trademark red ver.ka decals.

Next we have a veteran of the GAF forums, Falldog who has never failed to impress me with his work.  With his Nu he went for a more muted theme using flat blues and greys which I think looks excellent.  I love the contrast and he used the right colours in the right areas.  I also like how he used the Sazabi cockpit in some of his pics.  Very cool stuff and very clean, solid work.  I liked his lining work... but what will did it for me was the flat finish.  It works superbly with the colours he chose.

Wolfman X decided to go with a darker scheme that most people would think is Titan's style but I think he was going more for a Delta Plus inspired scheme with blacks, greys and silvers as opposed to the black and navy Titans scheme.  I really liked the finish he got on his paint job and his decal work.  I think it all really worked here and is a good example of how versatile this kit can be when it comes to colour options.

Shaid did a version of the Nu that was very close to my heart personally for a few reasons.  1) He used the Zeta Plus A1 scheme.  2) He somehow attached ReZel wings to the back of it WITH funnels.  3)That metallic paint job!  Oh man.  When I saw his frame I was shocked.  Chromed out and if there's one thing I love it's a chromed out Gundam!  Damn dude.  Frame's so good that he had to leave some of the armour off.  Which is fine I did the same too.  But just fyi I wasn't copying him.  I thought of doing that on my own before I saw his suit.  One very fine piece of work and a fantastic finish all around.  Great outdoor photos.

Khai's work is very unique.  When I saw his initial WIP I was pretty stunned.  Custom weapons right across the board.  Special beam rifle, special rail gun arm, special shield, shoulder mounted bazooka plus all the funnels... his mech is probably the FA unit of lot.  Khai's paint scheme is closer to the Titans look than Wolfman X's is.  He used the navy, black, red and yellow in Titan's areas and proportions and I think we can all agree that almost any suit looks good in Titan's colours, this one being no exception.  My fondness for that scheme goes back to my first days with Gundam because my first MG was a Mark 2 ver.1 Titan's and I loved it because it was the only black Gundam I'd ever seen.  Even now it is known as "The Black Gundam" because of the title of the first Zeta Gundam episode where it made it's debut.  Which I always felt was a bit of misnomer because it's actually a lot more navy then black... but I guess "The Navy Gundam" just doesn't have the same gravitas.

And last is me...  But there will be plenty of time to talk about what I did.  I largely decided on going for something that could bookend my Sinanju so... I went dark as well.

Looking at these guys I know that my work doesn't compare to theirs but I learned a lot and was inspired by them in many ways and for me that's what a group build is really about.  While I did finish the Gauntlet this still more work that I want to do on this kit but I don't think I'm doing it justice like this.  I will finish it properly... up to my own standards... and in my own time.  Which as a lot of you know can be a while... hehe

Thanks to everyone who participated, GAF for hosting for all the readers who followed our journey!

For me it was:
2009 - Sinanju
2011 - Strike Freedom
2013 - Nu Gundam
2015 - ?????

Until then!

SD Gundam Capsule Fighter Online

Well the Gauntlet is done now so I can start to work on some other things...

Honestly that's been Farcry 3 (just got the Shredder... which is a fictional weapon in the game but was still used by the mecha soldiers in the new Total Recall remake? hm...), Marvel Avenger's Alliance (the new Spec Ops is great!  More mecha action with the Vision and Ultron) and this...

Recently I've been in contact with a company called OGPlanet and through them Bandai Korea and through them back to why you and I are all here. We love the mecha. Some of us also love video games. I'm a gamer too and that's what this post is going to talk about.

Plamo Addiction will be going into a slightly different mode from now on as I've just opened up a new partnership with the two companies mentioned above. Someone from OGPlanet's Vancouver office contacted me and asked if I'd be interested in doing some affiliate work for them. They heard about me through Gundam Guy and I was really pleased about that. I've gotten a lot of new subscribers from him and if you didn't know I actually had the chance to meet him and some other fellow bloggers a few years back at the mecca of mecha.

OGPlanet has made a game with Bandai Korea called SD Gundam Capsule Fighter and it's a MMORPG that's all about Gundam and I'm pretty sure it's the ONLY one of its kind! It's free to play and I've already started so I hope some of you gamer/gundam types out there will join me.

Full disclosure - I do get some compensation for anyone who signs up through my tracking link so if you're going to join, join through me and my link! Tell them Plamo Addiction sent you! And then all the Plamo Addicts can kick butt in this game together! I'm telling you I can't wait until I get the Blue Destiny. Just for personal reasons. I know there are better but that's the beauty of it. We can all just do what we want because there are SO many options! Anyway here's the link!

 

I'm still going to be doing my regular (or irregular as the case may be >_<) blog stuff but the Capsule Fighter stuff will be mixed in there too so here's your heads up!

If you're interested I hope you'll join!

Gauntlet 2.0 Completed!

Well I barely made it on time. Only 2 minutes to spare. It's not my best work and I couldn't do everything that I wanted to but I could get the suit up and ready for combat. I didn't have time to finish his weapons so he's in melee mode right now. I tend to do this with most of my suits.

Here is his back story:

Nu Gundam ver.4.20 Prototype Psycho Frame MS - Experimental 

The project started immediately after the development of the Nu-Gundam in U.C. 93 and was finalized in late U.C. 94. This unit is the 'missing link' between the Nu-Gundam and the Unicorn Gundam. This Nu Gundam was never intended for battlefield use and was instead used to test out different theories on psycho frame technology and the controversial “Psycho Joint” tech which uses the actual genetic material from the pilot to create a more cohesive man/machine unit. While the experiment was a startling success the fact that after the procedure the suit could never be used by another pilot was deemed to inefficient to see itself into final production. Later the design would be finalized in the Unicorn and Banshee models which didn't require direct DNA from the pilots but instead used the principle of syncing brain wave patterns with the psycho frame which produced a more efficient and somewhat less problematic system than that used in the 4.20. 

One of the key design features of the 4.20 was the reshaped V-fin to an inline double antennae. This antennae works similar to those of earth insects, “sensing” the ambient energy in the area and relaying it through the modified helmet camera-turned-receiver to the pilot giving an unparalleled amount of environmental data. Psycho frame receiver modules are placed in relatively equal sections around the suit providing the pilot with previously unseen information over all aspects of suit integrity. 

The specially designed psycho joints of the 4.20 complete the BASIS System (Battlefield Area and Situational Information Suite), enhancing maneuverability and suit awareness to all new levels. The exact making of the psycho joints is a classified process but it involved treating the Nu-Type pilot's blood with nano-machines and mixing that blood into the special psych frame "paint", which is really more of a nano-machine packed 'gel' that works in conjunction with inner suit technology) The frame’s power had to be adjusted very specifically and meticulously in order not to overload the pilot with too much sensory information. After prolonged tests and exposure to the system the pilot and suit developed a symbiotic relationship. The pilot would experience anxiety and panic attacks if he was away from the suit for too long and the suit itself would not respond to any other pilot. 

Through meditative practices the pilot was eventually able to overcome this but the suit remains one that can only be piloted by him. Through extensive training and adequate power supplies, the pilot exceeding all expectations by being able to control the suit through the power of his mind, even outside of the cockpit. After this became apparent all research into this field of psycho frame technology was prohibited, deemed by the executive directing board to be too dangerous for field applications. Upon witnessing this exhibition, the lead scientist and architect of the psycho joint theory and design, famously exclaimed, “What manner of monster have I unleashed upon this world?” 

One of the few sorties this mobile suit would have would come 3 years later alongside its predecessor, the Ebon Enforcer Sinanju aka the Anti-Gundam for a top secret mission the details of which are still kept under extremely tight security. Special note - the 4.20 was issued a stock shield and beam rifle of the regular Nu Gundam but the pilot preferred to use the suit with as little weight as possible using a double funnel configuration for proper weight distribution. The pilot felt that the multirole funnels, forearm mounted beam sabre and head vulcans were enough firepower for the mission specs and position required of the suit. Preferring speed and control over power and defence the pilot would often sortie which sections of the suit unarmoured reducing weight and enhancing the effectiveness of the BASIS system. If the pilot had his way he'd sortie in just the frame but the engineers wouldn't have it. As such the suit is often used without the right shoulder and leg armour. 

The pilot was notorious for acquiring weapons on the field and adapting them into his own system and fighting technique. The funnels have been upgraded to produce individual I-fields when fully opened in addition to being able to absorb ambient energy while partially opened and expel that energy has force blasts in it’s conventional U configuration. The frame of the 4.20 Nu Gundam is made of an experimental composite material to reduces the overall weight of the suit, increasing maneuverability, agility and speed and thus conversely, power. The leg thrusters has also been upgraded and redesigned for increased range of motion and output. When not participating in top secret missions the pilot works as a hover cab driver on side 7. No one knows about his real job.