Mini Copper WIP 1

I started assembling the mini copper engine this past weekend. Very tiny parts here. I still need to install the distributor cap and filter(i think)...

I'm thinking of making some spark plug cables running from the distributor cap to where the plugs would be. Need to find some very thin gauge wire for the job.

Painting was pretty simple. still have many spots to touch up and I'm planning grime layer after all pieces are finally assembled.

For paint I used Vallejo model air camo green and some liquitex Hookers green for the engine and some Vallejo black mixed with some satin varnish , Vallejo Aluminium and Tamiya Mettalic grey.

Gundam Eclipse motor vehicle build

So they are having a motor vehicle build over at Gundam Eclipse and decided to enter.

Here's my entry in the build. I've had this kit for years and actually bought it as reference for a 3d model i was building back in '06 or '07.

http://williamrosado.blogspot.com/2008/05/morris-mini-cooper-1275s-rally.html

Anyway, I guess I've finally have a reason to assemble the kit now.

here's a few pics of the internals and of the tiny body. The plastic has yellowed over the years from the constant handling while using it as my main reference piece for my project.

SD Wing EW Progess...or lack of progress...

It's been going very slow on the paint for this kit. Since it's an SD there is no parts/color separation and I've had to mask all this tiny pits. I've learned a lot about workflow and airbrush to paint thinning to air pressure ratios. seems to be a very delicate formula and getting it right means making lots of mistakes.

Each section presents it own challenges and I've gone back and forth on how to handle them. I've hand painted some parts only to strip them and start over and i've had paint come off after pulling up the low tack tamiya masking tape. Very frustrating.

Anyway, I am making a bit of progress and hope to have this finished in the next few weeks if the weather stays warm and dry.

MSM-07E 'Z'gok Experiment' W.I.P part 2

Finished up snap fitting the Z'gok. Lots of trouble areas with seams and the scale armor is turning out to be a bit of a pain. And as usual, polycaps like to popout at the shoulders/ hips.

Originally, I wanted to do a straight build/paint job on this kit but i've been sketching some ideas for minor mods/ tweaks/ pla-plating to give it some more visual interest. Overall I like the proportions and the general color scheme. I might tweak it down a few shades and add some blue somewhere. This is mainly an underwater suit and think blue would be a nice addition.

I have a bit of a backlog of kits at the moment. First on the list is the SD Wing then HGUC Jesta, then maybe this kit will get some love. I'm going to take advantage of the light workload recently to get as much done as possible before the work tsunami(drawing GI JOE comics) hits me in the next few weeks.

Feet with polycapped thruster

And Done! Not a lot of pose-ability.

I like the backpack.

I'd say total build time was a few hours. And yes, the waist skirts are backwards...

MSM-07E 'Z'gok Experiment'W.I.P part 1

I love this little HG kit of the Z'Gok. I think this mech was featured in the opening episode of 'War in the Pocket' which featured the Kampfer which is another favorite.

Below is a brief W.I.P. -

Clawed hand needs some putty filled in the gaps..

I'm planning to put an LED in this one. There's more than enough room inside for a switch+battery.

I like the segmented scale armor on the arms. Adds some visual interest to that area but they tend to flop around.

Gundam Age - Genoace 1/144 scale Part 2

Finished this kit. Pretty nice. I like it. Other than the polycap at the waist it feels pretty solid. I think I will eventually paint it but i'm in no rush to do that.

And yes, the waist is backwards... looks good either way...

Gundam Age - Genoace 1/144 scale Part 1

So I started building the Genoace model I picked up at comicon. So far it's a pretty simple, enjoyable build. Arms feel very solid in the sockets at the shoulder and seem to have a decent amount of mobility. Not sure about paint yet. I have done some sanding of the nubs so will have to clean that all up.

I love the clear blue visor. Would be a nice spot for an LED to illuminate the entire visor.

I only count three manipulators in this kit- two closed hands made to grip the sabers and gun and one open hand for effect.

Arms can rotate straight out from the shoulder pretty much parallel to the ground.

Arms rotate at the shoulder, bend at the elbow and have a tiny bit(5 degrees) of anterior wrist flex.

Sprayed the blue parts today. I mixed Angel Blue and with a little Insignia Blue with a little white. I'm using Vallejo model air paints. I like that they don't smell and seems to spray one pretty smooth without much thinning. I might spray a lighter blue for some highlights but still undecided. The blue I sprayed ended up a little darker than it looked in the cup...

This blue is basically the same blue as the original bare plastic minus the red. The original blue for this kit seems to lean toward purple...

While I'm working on the Jesta I'm also priming and painting an SD Wing EW. Here's the face all primed and ready for a base coat.

NY Comic Con Haul

These are the kits I picked up at the 2011 NY Comic-Con. the Bandai booth was a mad-house with rabid gundam fans grabbing everything they could get their hands on. I grabbed the two new Gundam AGE kits. I like the Gafran design.

NY Comic Con haul - HGUC Jesta

I was at the NY comic-con last week and picked up a few kits to keep me busy. the kits I picked up are the HGUC Jesta, HGUC Kshatriya, HG Gafran and Genoace from the new Gundam Age anime.

Here's a shot of the kit almost fully snapped. I left out some of the trim/vent/lens pieces since I just want to get a look at it snapped. The only mod so far was to the front skirt. It was originally molded as one piece so I cut them apart and reattached them using a trimmed piece of paper clip. I'm planning to do a few more mods as I go along and will eventually prime and paint using a combo of Tamiya and Vallejo model air acrylics.

Here I made an extra magazinze for the rifle which I will attach to the other magazine with a clip similar to this-

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31NTuTKOcJL._SS500_.jpg

Starting it off...

Hey! I'm starting this blog as a place to post up W.I.Ps of gunpla modeling along with any other kits I build such as the Tamiya car kits I have in my closet...