No progress

Time really flies these days. Feels like I made my last post a week ago and now its Xmas 2 days later .
My Grand Mother passed away.
3 weeks ago.
Just last week we buried her ashes in my Grand Father's tomb and finally they are reunited .
I wasn't very close with my grand mother .
We don't live together and we had language barrier.
Yet her passing on is still a big deal to me. Enough to make me turn vegan for 2 weeks.
We all knew its inevitable. Stroke fell her 6 years ago.
She should have gone then. Yet her life force fights on.
Half the brain is dead . There is no way she could function as a normal human being any more .
Yet she lives on. Until 3 weeks ago.
Whether we like it , we bound to face death at some point .

For now, Gunpla might just not be important anymore .
I din even touch Starcraft 2 .
What exactly is a hobby that really free you of stress ?
May be I just don't have the mind set for anything at the moment.

Virtual On - Raiden - Phase 01

In my humble opinion, Virtual On is the best mecha vs mecha arcade video game to date. I believe it is my obsession with this game that my friends actually chip in together and bought me the twin joy stick meant solely for this game for my birthday. At that time it was a revolution for SEGA in this aspect of robot battle as the control actually make you feel like you are a Gundam pilot for awhile (mechwarrior just don't cut it as , hey , you don't see any pilot controlling Gundam using keyboard and mouse , do you ?)
Yet, Virtual On has only 1 measly follow up sequel and it certainly ended just there.
(Mech Warrior atleast made it till 4 ? This world is just NOT FAIR !)

I bought 3 VO kits a decade ago and only manage to complete 1 successfully ( VO - Viper ). VO - Temjin ended in utter disaster and some how it broke the continuity of completing the last kit, VO - Raiden .

From WIP - Virtual On Raiden

I have this kit assembled long long time ago but not painted, nor applied the decals. It is just standing there gathering dust in my previous cupboard.

This round, I decided to use it as a "test bed" for practicing a new paint sequence which I have not tried before.

I wanted to get a chrome metallic blue colour which is probably different from the stock metallic blue offered by the Mr Color series spray paint. This may be the combination which I would like to apply on my Gundam Astray Blue Frame in the end.
Behold, my blue Raiden !

From WIP - Virtual On Raiden

The paint consist of 4 layers sprayed in the order : Surfacer > gloss black > chrome silver > Clear blue . I have to wash the kit first , very very thoroughly.

From WIP - Virtual On Raiden

From WIP - Virtual On Raiden

From WIP - Virtual On Raiden

Now I am done with spray painting and the next step is to hand paint the rest . Crap! I ran out of Steel color spray ! I wish to get a air brush soon , but sigh , that will be a whole new challenge altogether .

MG Exia - Trans AM mode - Phase 03 Final

Holy crap, it's November already ! 2 month since I last entry about the MG Exia.Actually, Exia has been completed and putting on display for a few weeks already, just that I have been so lethargic to do anything these days.

I am a man with many hobby but only finite time. There are so many things that I wanted to do, so much I wanted to learn and so much more I wanted to achieve but there is only 24 hours a day and I can't do anything without sleep and energy. Sigh. May be I can only truly involve in Gunpla after I retire ?

Anyway back to Exia . . .

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

The "pink pearl"

The thing about buying special coated Gundam kit is that you probably think it saves you the trouble of painting it and achieving the effect yourself. And you are probably right. Assembly the kit , apply the labels , clear coats and its done !
Yet by not applying the manual paint job, there is no way hiding surface defects and the nip marks. Although I tried the water sanding technique, the result is not far from the original state. It is more of a technique to repair scratches than to really make it more shiny.

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

Why did I get a special coated kit?

The reason of getting this special coated kit is that I feel I can't get the right mix of color combination if I'm going to paint it myself. Yet after completing this kit, I can't help thinking I should probably get the normal kit instead.

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

GN Swords

Exia specializes close quarter melee combats. It is armed with 2 dagger GN swords, 2 beam sabers, 2 beam daggers and 1 gigantic GN sword ( prominent in the below pic ). That is the biggest design contrast in Exia design. The mecha is thin and slender yet its right armament seem to fell out of proportion. But that is the biggest allure in Exia's design. The depiction of small character wielding huge weaponry seem to be dominating Japanese pop culture. Unlike the American counter parts where heroes are normally muscle pack with or without multiple guns , Japanese prefer slick slender looking character wielding a huge sword , guns , whatever bad ass looking weird stuffs.
Seems to depict the notion of "strength is not seen from without , but within".

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

After thoughts:

This might be the first and last time I get a special coat kit.
I still have a titanium coated MG RX-78 Gundam in my cupboard but seeing how much they are selling locally, I decide to keep it as collector's item.
Time to move on with my other kits . So many more to do . So little time . Yet even more exciting kits are coming out !

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

MG Exia - Trans AM mode - Phase 02

A sneak peak at the almost completed Exia Project . . . .
.
.
.
.
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From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

Alas, only a "tiny" step away from full completion . . .

1) surface buffing

2) decaling

3) clear coat spray

MG Exia - Trans AM mode - Phase 01

"Marina... Ismail...
By the time you read this...
I'll already be gone.
Armed Interventions to put an end to war...
I'm unable to do anything but fight for Celestial Being...
You taught me what it means to fight.
Back then, just like Gundam.
I wanted to know..
Why our world is so terminally distorted?
Where did the distortion come from?
Why there are people who are unconsciously evil?
Why people don't know that their evil hurts others?
Why is humanity an existence that only conflicts with itself?
Why are there people to rule, and those who are ruled?
Why do we wound each other?
In spite of all this, why do people go on living like they do?
I wanted to ask you.
Please think of an answer, if we may meet again.
That being the case, I will seek out the same thing on a different path than yours.
Down the path towards mutual human understanding for the answer.
I'll keep looking for it, together with my Gundam.
Together with... My Gundam..."
- quoted by Setsuna F Seiei , pilot of Exia

This work is my most painful Gundam making experience, literally. Just as I started building this one, my back shoulder is hurting like hell the morning I woke up.
Seek TCM for help but . . . Nah, let's not talk about it .

Here I gave you , the inner frame.

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

This inner frame assembly does make me feel full of possibilities of the poses that the finish model can have .
Although the instructions seem complicated, the parts still comes together quite easily. Anyway like I mentioned in the previous post, the major challenge is not with the assembly. It is the nip marks which I still don't quite find a good solution for it . Probably has to make do and see how it goes.

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

The hand of Exia is at first glance, quite standard MG design: ball joint for the thumb and index finger while the other 3 fingers are formed as a piece. Below is a comparison of hands from my Strike Gundam IWSP.

From making of MG Strike Gundam IWSP

Both Gundam's hands design are 1 thumb , 1 index finger and a 3 finger piece.

Exia hand is bigger, there is an additional joint at the end of the palm to allow it to bend perpendicularly from the arm, but most notably,

the 3 joined fingers, there are ball joint for each of them ! That makes a simple mode here !

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

With a "simple" 2 cuts, I seperated the 3 fingers piece into 3 seperate fingers !! Just wondering why Bandai don't just seperate them in the first place but I'm really happy with this design as I finally have a Gundam with 5 seperate fingers ! WOOT !

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

There is a rectangular extension in the palm which I can attach the weapons to . This is good because it will not be having the grip problem of holding the weapons like Strike Gundam and the rest ! Brilliant !

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

The GN-drive unit! My first Gundam that comes with LED blink-blink! (Batteries sold separately)

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

From WIP - MG Exia - Trans AM

Stay Tune !!

Starting 2010 First Gundam Project ! - Master Grade : Exia Trans AM mode

I am finally starting my 2010 Gundam Project .
Gundam Exia - TransAM mode from the Mobile Suit Gundam 00 animation series.

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

Trans AM mode is a color variant from the original blue and white color scheme of the mecha.
It is to reflect the "hyper" mode in the animation series where the mech glows pinkish red.

Since all parts are pre-colored, I should be able to finish it in no time right ?
Wrong ! There is still the problem of the dreaded nip marks !
As I am not going to use the surfacer and paint technique to cover the marks up , I will have to research and try out new methods to get rid of them . Delays to be expected.

This is also my first Gundam kit with LEDs. The 2 LED units require 4 LR41 batteries not included in the kit.
They are part of the "GN drive" which is installed in the mecha's chest area.

I have also setup the "celestial being" display base which I bought in Japan.

The urge to complete this kit in the rush is as much as the urge to make it perfect.

Takashimaya Basement Toyfair - June 2010

The Quest For the Perfect Grade Red Frame Astray in the land of the rising sun

I went to the land of rising sun , the birth place of Gundam , with some determination of getting the Perfect Grade Gundam Astray Red Frame (Ok I'm obsessed with robots holding a Japanese samurai sword). Not so much it is rare nor I can't get it in Singapore, but I want to get it cheap ! I just feel since I'm into Gunpla , I should get most if not all the kits that I want from there, to justify the cost of the air ticket I paid to get there and back .

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

First encounter of Gundam in Kyoto Bic Camera department store.In Japan, there are these 2 huge Electronic Department store chains (Yodobashi Camera and Bic Camera) which sells Gundams . As electronics stores, they mostly occupy many storeys in 1 single building and sell any electronic stuff from household appliances to PC to mobiles and toys , thus enter gundams ! And of course they sell camera and lenses . I really love playing with their camera display sets as they show case almost all available camera models for customer to try on and set aside lens for them to swap and play with !

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

A layout plan of Bic Camera departmental store in its elevator

I did my research before I made this trip. I checked the online price of the Gundam kits and marked down the expected price of the kits that I may be getting.
And I was pleased when I saw that these 2 department store are actually having a major Gundam kit discount where all their kits' prices are lower than I had anticipated. BUT, they don't have Perfect Grade kit that I was looking for .

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

People fishing around the ponds

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

Cherry Blossom sightings

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

Latest Doremon movie cardboard poster

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

Mecha from Virtua On - A mecha battling video game by SEGA

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

It is like visiting a "Transformers from the 80's " museum

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

From Japan trip 2010 - gundam quest

In the end, my hunt is in vain. All the stores either had sold out or mark up its price to an absurd amount .

Turn out to be that the big offer the department stores throwing in causes the PG Red Frame to be sold out ? I can never know .

Sorry bout the photos quality . They are the products of my handphone camera instead of my D90 .

Spoil from my Japan trip

From My spoil from Japan

Year of the Tiger

35 minutes to the year of tiger . More new year resolutions to be made . Been a hot and stuffy day and brain is a bit daze from today's usage and the new record setting game play of the Devil May Cry 4 bloody palace run .
Still not starting on new Gundam project .
Preoccupied with work stuffs and programming stuffs . So many books to read and knowledge to acquire .
Anyway big plans coming up and will be getting more Gundam Kits !
I'm probably going to get the Perfect Grade Red Frame but now the Master Grade version is out , I'm not sure yet . Probably going to get even more kits that I probably cant complete in this year . GN-X , Trans-Am Exia , Zaku , Gouf etc etc .
Gonna be exciting year .

My new project corner

I am now happily updating this new blog entry on my very new "project corner" in my studies.
It only struck me this weekend that enough is enough and I want a new table in my study room for me to work on my new gundam project. Although my study table seems big already, but I kind of always have to expand my gundam project making "territory" on to the floor space next to the table, creating more obstacles and fire hazards at the same time .
With this corner, it will probably means faster gunpla process as I finally have a permanent place to leave the half done project. Before this I was always taking things out , packing things away and these routines waste time !
Looking forward to my next gunpla building !

MG Strike Gundam +IWSP - Final Phase

From strikeGundam

Behold! My Strike Gundam IWSP !

Finally after a long delay I'm putting everything together for this photoshot (This Kit is actually completed 1st Jan this year) . I'm the type who likes to do too many things and easily procastinate things, something which I wished to change, hopefully this year would be a good year.

From strikeGundam

Wonder how many of you have noticed that I did not follow exactly the color scheme that comes with this kit. Not that it is something new nor it matters much but I feel the reason of buying a model kit instead of manufactured fixation version, is the flexibility in customizing the kit to however you like, however you want, however you can dream of. Perhaps this is the real fun in Gunpla-ing .

From strikeGundam

Looking back,this is the biggest(box) and most expansive kit I've done so far. The construction is not much of an engineering challenge. The instructions is detailed, even if all the wordings is in japanese but a picture tells a thousand words. And like what I've been telling people, assembly the kit is not as challenging as compared to painting it. May be it's because there is no instruction manual for that?

From strikeGundam

From strikeGundam

From strikeGundam

I must say I quite like the flight pack. The wings are like the fighter jet one and looks really powerful. The only gripe I have for it is its weight. It could be better that if the pack provides a socket at the bottom of the pack so that the display stand can support the pack instead of the Gundam itself. Just a thought.

From strikeGundam

From strikeGundam

From strikeGundam

From strikeGundam

This is one of my best looking kit to date.
A fun kit to play with as there is a number of weapons.
The bad point is not all the weapons can be mounted on to the kit at 1 time.
Not really a difficult kit. Work is mostly wasted in trying to correct the previous mistake in painting.
The provided display stand is only basic. Due to its fixation nature, there is not many dynamic poses I can derive from it.

After thoughts : The Feeling of project completion is always good. A good sense of accomplishment and self worthiness. Or is it more like I'm sick and tired of facing the same thing and so glad that it can finally be put away ? Ironic.

MG Strike Gundam + IWSP - Phase 04

The Paneling and Decalling .

This is the last sprint of this project and its probably the most exciting phase .

But nonetheless this is not the easiest phase . Hence the procrastination .

First, I wanted to use the lighter fluid + black enamel wash panelling technique but I just can't seem to get it to work ! Cleaning up the mess more than getting any progress .

Switched back to 0.3 mechanical pencil + 0.05 drawing pen in the end . And wife criticized that I didn't get the thickness even for the 2 thigh plates ! Yes my dear , I know my panel lining skill sucks . Damn those youtube clips makes it look so easy !

Anyway , Not much panel lines to be drawn for this kit as compared to my Wing 0 Custom since I decide to skip the beneath armor panel lines . Who would give a damn on how it looks within the armor anyway ? Those are probably for the perfectionist with really too much free time . I'm definitely not one of them , and not aspire to be one .

Finally putting the rocket pack together. I know its gonna be big, I've seen a couple of displays. But it seems different when you put it together yourself.

Of course I can't resist the temptation of putting the pack on to the Strike Gundam when I first have it together. But soon I begin to realize the truth about what has already been written by other bloggers who wrote the review for this kit. The Pack is heavy, abit too heavy for the robot balance if it were to stand on its feet with the pack on. I put it on the stand that comes with the kit, but since the connector of the robot to the stand is behind the butt , I was really worried that the ball joint between the upper and lower torso is not going to hold up long ! Solution ? I took them apart and place a bit of blu-tac in the socket ;P The stand still seem abit wobbly, probably should get the proper Gundam Action Base ?

The second nightmare, Bandai scratch-on decals! I have read from others some of the blunders with these decals but I still must complaint about it . Why Why Why Bandai want us to use these ?? With wet transfer decals, modellers has the luxury of slowly "pulling" the decal from its base paper to the kit surface , slowly adjust the decal to the correct position ( as long as the surface is wet ) then finally dry the sticker. Scratch-on ? You accidentally asserted force on the sticker to the surface? bye bye. You scratch half way the sticker accidentally slip? bye bye.

I painted the little knuckles on the hands gold.

Ok, more or less done.

The kit provide a couple of choices of the decals for the wings of the IWSP pack.

Decals on the shields. This is where the major disaster happens.

A close up face shot.

At this point the kit is finally left with a top coat and off it go to a photo shooting session next !