PG Strike Freedom - Frame Painting Details

Backtracking a bit as I'm trying to get the files on my computer a bit more organized.  I did take some more detailed pics of the frame earlier and it's about time to show them.  Unfortunately I didn't take proper before and after pics but you can kind of get an idea of what the original frame looks like here and here.  This blog also did something similar to myself with a good comparison of colours.  I did basically the same thing but I didn't learn about that blog until today for the record. I thought of painting the frame this colour on my own.  Just saying.

First off, I didn't paint everything because I thought it was unnecessary.  I left the plated parts as is, along with some of the gold parts. ASM took some great photos and he hasn't done anything to his frame yet so I'll be using him as a point of comparison.  These are his unpainted legs.  I elected to only paint the section below the knees because it was the most blatant offender (to my eyes).  I didn't go "all in" on the frame because I thought about ease of painting and the amount of time it would take.  I balance these considerations to get an acceptable effort/effect ratio.  The lower leg seperates easily below the knee.  I masked the feet and just sprayed it with Tamiya Acrylic X-12 Gold Leaf.

The arms were a little bit special.  I disassembled them, removed the plated parts, re-assembled and then painted as one piece.  I didn't paint the pieces individually.  I painted them as a whole.

Helmet, shoulders and torso were done.  I didn't do the chest vents.  I left that as is.  Yeah I'm burning candles in the background.  Don't you like to put on some incense, burn some candles and have a romantic evening with your Gundams?!  Haha jk I'm burning them up because I was moving out and wanted to use them before I left.

Entire waist/hip area + upper leg joints were done.  You can see I left a bit of the yellow on the knee caps.  Too small to be fussy about + I wanted to leave a bit of the yellow in just to break up the colours and add some separation to the parts.

I didn't bother with the feet.  Too much of pain to disassemble plus there isn't that much of that yellow to warrant me going through the effort.  There's enough plated gold there to balance it out.  Gotta think about the E/E ratio!

Rail guns turned out better than I'd hoped.  You can see a bit of yellow at the muzzle section.  That's where I held the part for painting.  Not being a perfectionist for this.  Just want to get the basic frame gold on principle.  Most of it is going to be covered up so I'm taking some short cuts.

Shiny gold body and flat light grey boots.  I like the contrast!

People have asked me "Why paint the frame?" and I can't really give a good answer.  It's just a compulsion to finish something that is unfinished.  And I believe the stock kit, fully assembled and finished is, indeed actually unfinished.  Yes, most of it will be covered up later but some of it will be exposed between cracks in the armour and I can tell you now, with the current paint scheme, the painted gold frame really paid off.  It's shiny in the places where I wanted it to be so I'm happy I did it... AND it didn't really take that much time or effort to do.

If you're the type of person that cares about that stuff I'd highly recommended doing it the way I outlined here.  It's low cost, low risk, low effort but high return.  I DO recommended using acrylics because you don't want to risk enamels or lacquers eating away the plastic (if you're not priming).  Trust me.

PG Strike Freedom - 5th Stage Complete

1st stage was frame assembly.  2nd stage was frame painting.  3rd stage was wing assembly.  4th stage was basic painting and priming.  5th stage was armour application.

6th stage will be dis-assembly and painting.  7th stage will be decal/line work and I think that should be it.

This is my Perfect Grade Strike Freedom fully equipped.  There is nothing left in the box except for the stickers and decals.

I did do some custom painting on the head.  Couldn't just leave it as is.  Metallic grey, flat aluminum, gunmetal and the same gold I used on the frame.

I'm going to pack everything up except for the core suit itself, so that he looks just like this. He will be the Gundam that stays with me until the end and will be the first to enter into the next era of "Plamo Addiction".

A very enjoyable build experience! I was hoping for a bit more but it didn't disappoint me. Unfortunately... my wing fix couldn't support the full weight of the wings with the dragoons attached. It'll stay in place and not fall but it's not secure. Oh well. May have to do that ring fix after all. Even still the suit by itself is quite nice even if some of the proportions still throw me off a bit. I'm going to wait to try some different poses for it until I get back to Canada.  Last Gundam built in Japan.  Thank you PG Strike Freedom!

PG Strike Freedom - Progress thus far: 5 - Armour Application

Because I've cut almost everything off the sprues already, putting the armour on has been a relatively painless process.

I did spray the blue and red panels on runner with primer, thus the grey tone. Left hip rail gun is in grey and right (it's left) is in white. Just ran out of primer and that's what I had left so... I actually like how this is starting to look with just the primer colours! Of course I'm not going to keep it like that but it's starting to shape up! I finished the wings as in I primed the Dragoons and painted the frame armour black and have the whole system assembled... It's really touchy! Hard to keep them locked into place. Just a nudge and they'll spring open! Blah.

Anyway I'm aiming to have this guy COMPLETELY assembled before I launch out on Tuesday.  And yes he's going IN the suitcase and I'm taking him with me, along with my airbrush and paints (I don't want to wait for him to be shipped back with the others.) I should be able to do it. I might be pushing things (everything) down to the wire but I think I can have it all done in time.

PG Strike Freedom - Progress thus far: 4 - Completed Frame Work

I'm pleased with how it's turned out so far. The gold I sprayed on the body ended up being a bit pinkish but it's OK because it more than makes up for it in luster. The gold I used on the wing frame was actually gold leaf and it was very yellowish and required a different type of spray pattern. Not totally even but definitely acceptable.

All together there are about 5 different types of gold on this thing now so there are some nice contrasts even though it's one type of colour. I like it. This is basically how I wanted the frame to look and there isn't anything else to do. I'm going to be working on the backpack and the rifles next. So far the wing repair job seems to be holding up. Very happy with this.

PG Strike Freedom - Progress thus far: 3 - Painting

Starting with these pieces.

Have to admit I'm a bit gun shy about painting considering some of the bad experiences I've had.  I don't really want to prime as I'm just going from navy blue to black...  Maybe I'll just lay off the enamels this time.  That said... none of these parts will really suffer from the plastic weakening a bit as they aren't joints.

I gotta think about time.  If I'm really going to finish this thing in a reasonable amount of time and still maintain certain standards that I hold myself to I'm really going to have to get cracking on this.  I can't afford to get caught up in large obstacles and lose my motivation.

Wish me luck.

PG Strike Freedom - Wing Breakage

I can't say I'm surprised this happened considering how crappily this part was designed.  All that weight from the wings supported but a part that is basically a 1cm/2mm piece of plastic.  Impossible to tell what a piece of junk this is from the outside.  You have to wiggle the part in with a bit of pressure to get it placed correctly.  Unfortunately doing that will cause this piece to break.  Naturally.

Complete and utter CRAP.  How could an incompetent design like this pass quality control?!

Actually when I saw the break I was pretty angry.  They put all this work into making the wings beautiful and have movement and springs and auto extend capabilities and then they attach it to the back pack like this.  It just typifies some of the ridiculous things and policies I've seen since I've been here in Japan.  Like... you're going to do all of THIS but you aren't going to do something simple like this?!  Ugh.  But this isn't a Japan bashing topic.  This is a PGSF bashing topic now.

Maybe I could have avoided this if I was more careful (I did get the other one in without an issue) but I'm not the only one who's had this problem!  Thanks to Lupes for hooking me up with the link.  Apparently it's such a common problem that there is a dedicated fix for it out already!  Thus the reason why I'm not posting my own pictures.  Others have already had the problem.

I don't know where the hell I'm going to get my hands on aluminum pipes that size never mind finding a way to cut them.

Man it's frustrating... I was at the final stage of this section of my build process and then THIS happens!

Why design it like that?!  Pointless design detail that serves no purpose except serving to make a part that needs to be much stronger, much weaker.  Morons.

Anyways I'm pissed off if you couldn't tell.  I'm going to work on my own fix because I don't have aluminum pipes hanging about (probably going to do something similar to the RG RX-78-2 leg fix.)

Wish me luck.  Pics to come.

Times like this I need to just calm down and look at something beautiful.

Thank you for being there when I need you Nozomi.

PG Strike Freedom - Progress thus far

We all occasionally wonder where we came from.

Regardless of the what the end result may be... I'm glad I bought this model.

PG Strike Freedom Gundam - Commentary 2

Here's the info and for reference here is a link to Commentary 1 and some detailed design shots.  Both Z and Lupes said that I'm probably going to be right about this thing and it is shaping up to be that way.  Take a look.

Translated Detail from Ngee Khiong:
- Will be the largest PG release in terms of volume when the Super Dragoon is expanded.

- Customized display base is included.
- Dynamic poses are possible using the base with adjustable angle of display.
- Extra finish enhancement for the golden interior that will be exposed in High Maneuver mode and Full Burst mode. Gimmicks are incorporated for the exposure of the parts.

3 major design points:
- Gimmick for the release of the Super Dragoon
* Sliding action of the Super Dragoon is linked to various mechanism of the wing when it's released
- Complete new mold for the movable frame
* Movable joints combine with expandable golden parts
* Further improvement of the slide mechanism of the interior and exterior parts as compared to PG Strike Gundam, which will effectively expose the golden finish parts.

- New mechanism for the joint design
* New joint design for the waist and leg to handle the weight and stress of the model. Durability of the joints is improved while posing capability is retained.
Weapons and accessories: beam shield, beam rifle x2, "Xiphias 3" railgun x2, Super Dragoon x8, display base.
Content: 55 runners in total, construction manual, commentary booklet, LED unit for the head, foil sticker, screw for LED lighting unit, spring x8, PET part for shield, clear sticker.

Packaging size is 600mm (width) x 400mm (height) x 180mm (depth).

(Release Date: Dec 2010, Price: 26250 Yen)
  
First, let me say that I feel for you guys overseas who are going to pick this up.  That's a steep price by itself but combined with shipping costs + mark ups from local dealers... oh and how about that yen eh?! 85 to the $. 

Sorry my friends it's not going to be cheap so just mentally prepare yourself for that now. I don't want to imagine what the end cost is going to be for you.  Hopefully there will be some deals out there but I don't think this is going to go the route of the PG 00 which started at the same price but eventually got pushed down to nearly 15000 yen!  I expect that the price will be reduced for us in Japan (it always is.  I've paid the listed full price for my Gundam about... uh... never.)  So I might be able to get away with this for about 21000 yen.  That may sound like a lot of money and it is... but it's basically what I paid for the PG Zeta Gundam.  I've done it before and I'm willing to do it again.  Plus I'm living a lifestyle right now where 21000 yen for a model like this is something I can definitely manage.  

It may not be the best decision I ever make but... I won't be kicking myself.  Especially If I can complete it by years end.  Which is my goal.  Running through re-colour ideas as we speak and yes it will probably be something similar to what you think I'm going to do.  Busterbeam専用機!  All ace pilots have their own colour scheme!  Why should I be the exception?  And all of us modelers have own on styles and personalities that come out in our work.  Most of you have a feel for mine by now I think.  And I daresay that some of you actually like it. Just don't get on my case right now about how I haven't finished anything recently.  I'm working on that!

I expect that the kit will be very popular, especially since it taps into the younger Seed/Destiny generation of Gundam fans who have more of an international presence not to mention more of a pronounced gender balance as opposed to any U.C. stuff.  And of course... it is the... flagsuit (?!) of the series!  Can't really go wrong there.

Anyway, because of these reasons I'm not expecting a significant drop in price anytime soon.  Sorry.  I think this kit will stay popular and won't see the relatively sharp tapering off in demand that the PG 00 showed.  Time will tell if I'm right on this or not but it will get cheaper over time.  All PG kits do (except for extra finish versions).

haha I can't believe that I thought this might be sold for under 20000 and even went so low as 15000.  wtf was I thinking there?!  Dream on indeed. (check the comments of Commentary 1 if you want to see what I'm talking about)

I was right in saying that this kit would incorporate some new modeling technology that we haven't seen yet.  Studier joints and special gimmicks included to expose the frame.
AND! PLATED PARTS

I know from reading the comments from Com.1 that some of you were not really feeling this idea but you know that I AM!  Yeah!  I want to look at this Gundam in the right light and have it look so bright that it brings a tear to my eye.  Like the plated gold Musha Mk.II.  Yes. I love that stuff and I'm willing to pay for it.  ANA Gundam?  Don't get me started.

I figured they'd do a new mold because the Strike Freedom is just too different from the Strike/Red Frame.  You can kind of see that in the design shots I posted earlier.  Improving on the Strike frame is a tall order but it has been 6 years already.  The Red Frame proved to me that as great as the frame is, armour application can still ruin a lot of things, which is why I still refer to the Strike as the best PG out there and not the Red Frame.

In short; STOKED

This is a very large pic or the prototype so it's a good one to check out the details and proportions.

Impressions: Excellent. Love the proportions.  

I'm a bit concerned about the fragility of the dragoon frame.  There are some thin moving parts there which means they're going to be under some stress mean mean potential breakage if some of the joints there are too stiff.  And those parts way be plated because they're exposed.  Depends on the type of plastic they use.  
Older PG's have even been known to use die cast metal parts (only in the waist though really).  I wonder if this will have them anywhere?

Like Z said in his post I think the belly cannon should be extended/pushed down a bit more.  As you can see I obviously think of it as being in the stomach area but it's looking like its more in the chest.  

I like the shoulders and the head a lot.  I think the head is beautiful actually.

The final thing that I noticed about this suit is that it is totally symmetrical.  I don't think I have one Gundam that's like that because they usually have a shield on the left arm.  This one has beam shields on both.  Beam sabers, rail guns, beam rifles, vulcans, dragoons...  all mirror each other. 

Thus my love for this kit has just increased to another level.  This is going to be amazing.  I can't believe I'm going to say this but this really may be the perfect gundam model kit. For me at least.  I like almost EVERYTHING about it.  My gripes right now are minor and barely worth mentioning.

I suspect that the frame of the kit will done in yellow with plated parts here and there where they'll be exposed through the armour.

Looks like it will be a bit taller than the Red Frame but I doubt many people are going to be posing this thing standing on the ground.

I can taste it.  It's going to be good.  It's going to be very good...

PG Strike Freedom - Design details

There's a lot going on here.  Take a look and draw your own conclusions.

Found on figure.fm.

It's gonna be a helluva build from the looks of it.

PG Strike Freedom Gundam - Commentary

Everyone knows that this is coming out in December. The purpose of this post isn't to inform you of the release but to talk about how awesome it's going to be.  Those who frequent my Facebook page have had a preview of this already.

I believe personally that this is going to be the best PG ever. I had reserved that title for PG Strike but I believe that this will supplant it. The first PG designed by Katoki Hajime. And correct me if I'm wrong but I believe this is the first time he's even touched a MS from the Seed/Destiny line.

Katoki has NEVER let me down. As far as I'm concerned he's King Midas. And the fact the Strike Freedom is the successor to the Strike (and I use that term loosely) should hopefully indicate that the Strike Freedom should be a better model than the Strike considering how far modeling technology has come in just a few short years. 6 to be exact.

First let me say this outright. I'm not a big fan of the Strike Freedom. I think it's overpowered and unrealistic (if such a word can really be used when talking about 18 meter tall robots). I can't imagine any suit defeating it (in the Seed Universe) and it is, indeed, undefeated in battle.

There's just too much going on... I've never been a big fan of suits like that. I'm a grunt/mass production guy. But at the same time I recognize how popular (extremely in some cases) this suit is. It is quite majestic actually.

Combined that sense of glorious-ness , Katoki's design, new modeling tech (look no further than PG 00 if you want to know what I'm referring too) and all the possible additions for this kit (wings of light, display base for the dragoons, clear parts, plated parts, Oh God please let it have a gold plated frame!) and it has the potential to be something epic... Which I'm predicting it's going to be. Something the likes of which none of us have ever seen or will likely see in the near future because there are a scant number of kits that have this kind of potential. Actually I can think of only one and this is it.

There will no doubt be some extras for those who choose to pre-order and there may be some extra stuff in the box as well. Time will tell but I'm going on the record right now and saying that this will be a PG for the ages. Possibly one that sets a new standard, thus changing our definitions of what we think "Perfect" grade models are. This is going to be a best seller. Especially if they can keep the price reasonable (as in under 15000 yen). I, personally, am willing to go up to 20000 depending on how it looks and what it comes with. 

I'm predicting big things for this model.

Watch. You'll see.

MG Blue Frame vs. PG Red Frame: Proportions

Stolen from Sandrum.

The Red Frame looks like an old clunker next to the Blue Frame! What's with all that bulk!? At least the Blue Frame as the "anorexic" design we're used to seeing from CE suits. To be fair I'm not completely satisfied with either of them.

What does it say when the MG's have better proportions than the PG's? Hell I'd take the 1/100 proportions over the PG Red Frame's (I already have both of them though...)

And don't get me started on the PG 00 Raiser and how it's wing binders don't even move making it inferior in some ways to it's HG counterpart! Put the PERFECT back in Perfect Grade for goodness sakes. Are the day's of the quality of the PG Strike behind us? Is this the 'new' standard? I'm not impressed.

Strike Vermillion & Astray Strike Frame

A couple more shots of Strike Vermillion and Astray Strike Frame. Both models are incomplete. I still have a lot of work to do on both of them but for now this project is on hold and I'm moving back to my MG G04.

Tonzo mentioned in the last post that the katana on either side of the mech looks good as seen with the Astray Orange Frame and I'm starting to think that he's right on two points. One; in response to what I said about being a traditionalist and having two blades on one side of the warrior... He said that's true in the case of a Katana and Wakizashi but not necessarily a Katana and ANOTHER Katana. And I must agree. Two; there is the balance issue. The Katana/Wakizashi combination wouldn't look like how the Astray wears the double blades. It isn't that cumbersome and bulky (spoken with experience as I've done it myself on numerous occasions - don't ask.). I think it might be better if the Astray has a blade on either side... I mean it's not like robots are left or right handed right? And balance is more of an issue for machines... So... I can make the change and still maintain my principles haha

Without question the Astray is a bulky mech especially in comparison to conventional Seed designs like the Strike, Impulse, Freedom and so on. TheAastray looks like a football player next to a swimmer. But hey! We're all built differently right?! Just because he's bigger doesn't mean that he's not as effective or uglier! It's all perspective/opinion! I know a lot of guys out there who can't stand Seed's "anorexic" designs and like the Astray style a lot more.

That said... I like both of them. From the waist up I like the Astray but from the waist down I like the Strike... hey wait second... I wonder would it would look like if...

OK guys take a look at these pics, cause you won't be seeing these guys for while. In the meantime I'm going to try some 'experiments'.

Had to leave 'Afro Samurai Gundam Pilot Double B' in the pics for scale. These are some tall war machines!

PG Astray: Strike Frame

From all of these runners, he emerged. Seriously. This is all of them. I didn't throw any away.

Construction operations completed.

*but I still have a long way to go before I can say this project is done*

PG Astray: Strike Frame - Sub armour sections complete

I painted the figure just to show the scale. Yeah I know Lowe isn't black but I am! Where are all the black Gundam pilots?! Anyways I had no flesh tone paint so I just went with brown.