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!

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.

Nu Gundam ver.ka - 5 - Section 1 Complete

The build process has been evolving as I go. I get new ideas on the fly and take inspiration from my fellow modelers and those who have built this kit before me. I'm being very fluid and am living in the moment when it comes to this. This build may be my best one to date. There is an overall plan and theme... but I'm being very flexible in how I reach that goal. This will be the last week so it's time to kick it up a notch and try to blast this out.

I am very excited about this Gundam.

I feel like I've done some good work so far and that I've become a better modeler, blogger and artist through the process of making this "Bloody Machine". Some of you may already know what I mean by that but if you missed it... my blood is on the ankle, hip and shoulder ball joints. Unintentional accident because intentional design mechanic.

 But enough digressions, we move ever onward!

This is as close as he'll get to being OOB.  Remember this shot for posterity.  He'll never be the same again.

Time to get serious!

Strategic speaker placement so I can groove while I work!

Broken down into the main parts.  I'm attacking this build with a modified technique.  Component focus.

Nu Gundam ver.ka - 4 - Assembly

Slowing coming together. I may be able to finish this on time.

I am realizing something about this Gauntlet though.  With the first one we were all already familiar with the kit and were just going through the last final push to actually finish the PGSF.

With this one all of us were coming in cold and had no idea what the Nu was going to be like.  As such I may have miscalculated with assembly and production procedures in order to produce a quality build in the required time frame.

This Nu Gundam is very advanced and innovative and I've really enjoyed taking my time building it.  I'd hate to rush through this thing... but deadlines are deadlines.  I wonder what it will become by April?

Nu Gundam ver.ka - 3 - Painting

Moving along with more tales from the Nu Gundam Gauntlet! I decided that the orb joint features introduced in this kit would get some special attention. I tried to match the colour to the that of the psycho frame parts... Because this Gundam is going to be really "psycho". That will be discussed later. For now take a look at these pics. I mixed a clear green and blue on a silver. Lacquers. The paint selection can be seen here. And then enamel silver lining. And then my blood on ankles, hips and shoulders. Those are the extra psycho parts to relay more information back to the pilot creating a more complete bond between man and machine... reducing reaction time and improving awareness of all mechanical functions and battlefield situational enhancement functions. The Psycho Joints. An additional component introduced into this Nu Gundam design by yours truly.

Nu Gundam ver.ka - 2 - Frame

Ready to paint!

Nu Gundam ver.ka - 1 - Panel Spraying

I'll let the pictures do the talking.

My weapon.

Before I start a new project I disassemble the whole thing and clean it top to bottom.

Thinking of using these.  May change my mind mid way through though.  We'll see.

Before and after, frame panels

Kinda hard to see the difference but it's enough for me.  I don't want much to be stock colours

Blue parts, before

Will use this for the blue for now.  It's a good base for whatever colour I decide to go with later.  The lacquer thinning agent is unnecessary for this paint but I use it to clean my airbrush.

Gloss black turned out well

I decided to use the remainder of my Krylon hybrid black spray can.  It's always produced a rough finish like this...  I sprayed the Alclad black on it after but it didn't change the finish much.  Oh well.  Will worry about that later.  Glad that can is finally done though.  This is what happens when you experiment.

Blah.

Oh well.  I just did it so I could get a better idea of the colours when the snap fit is done.  The real painting will come later.