SRG 1/144 Alteisen Complete

So, the end result of the project SRG 1/144 Alteisein reboot is finally here. It can be said as my first completed kotobukiya kit.

Since this is the first kotobukiya kit, there are lot of thing for me to test and check whether how should i modified the kit. I'm using some simple concept as usual such as adding pla-plate, scribing panel line and re-paint the entire kit. One of the techniques that i test on this kit is adding "metal pin" by using normal paper clip into the kit (you may find it on the legs and shoulder) through some drilling process. Another modification was done on the waist which i cut off the lower torso from the waist unit and add a joint in between it so it can have turn-able waist. Since it is the first time on adding "metal pin" and adding joint for the waist, it can be said as a test and i didn't take any photo on it as WIP because i don't know will it work out or not. Before we go into the next paragraph, here is the check list for paint:

-Mr.Surfacer 1000 as the base (prime)

-White (Mr.Color White)

-Red (Mr.Color red combine with Mr.Color Metallic red)

-Black (Mr.Color Black)

-Gold (Mr.Color Gold)

-Panel line (Enamel wash from Tamiya dark blue) and (the Mitsubishi 0.1 pen)

The painting process for this kit is quite simple since the original color scheme of this kit is not that complicated. Most of the part are separately and only minimal masking require legs left arm's canon. I was lazy to mix out the yellow or orange so i replace it with gold color. The enamel wash technique really helps a lot on reducing the masking process.

In terms of posing this kit for photo, this is the process that make me headache. First, i thought the paint will tighten the joints because the joint was too loose but i think the original design is like this. I should say this is the design flaw for the joint even though this kit does came with polycaps. This is the reason why only 20 photos with few poses are made. The worst part is, the articulations for this kit is extremely limited and the oversize shoulders make things even worse. Good thing is this kit come with great proportion and all i need to do is get the right angle for those shots.

Enough for the words, lets check the photos.

Blog Maintenance

New year, new beginning. You might found some of the old post from the page gone or some post without pictures because my picasa album overload. I need to delete some old photos which i will retake and resize to post it here again later. 

The first thing that you will see are the background and header change. Pictures and post for Sd gundam is deleting. Since most of my Sd were use for practicing and testing before i start painting or using airbrush, most of it are done with pretty bad result. So i decided to remove it and may add on back after i re-paint them again. Some of the non-grade 1/100 post will be delete too because it was just some snap and fit build with large size photos. Last thing that you might found missing are those post with news or hobby magazines.

After few years, my picasa album quota finally give up. I realize there is limitation on the upload size when it reach about 60% of space use. Since then, i resize most of my photos to 200kb. This time its not just re-organizing blog but also the picasa album which serve as the backbone of the blog as well. I think i should buy the extra space from picasa album but i always having problem with my debit card (damn.. ).

1/144 Alteisen (restarting)

I bought this kit almost one year ago and i got it pre-assemble few weeks after i bought it. As for now, since the next review kit is on its way, i guess this is the best time for me to clear my backlog a bit. So, here we have this SRG 1/144 Alteisen. Every time i saw it, it keep on telling me "buy my variation, buy my variation".. and every time i visit local hobby shop and saw his brother, it keep on whispering "get me, get me". Haha. I'm really wish to get the 1/144 Alteisen Riesen and the progressive version. If i'm not wrong, the progressive version should have better articulation than this normal version. Whatever it is, get this done before the next review kit arrive.

What i'm trying to do on this kit was adding more panel line and pla-plate but the mood is just not there for me to make the right shape. Second thing that i want to do on this kit was add waist joint so the entire waist unit is turn-able. Well, i actually made it but feels like the joint a bit fragile. Hope it will stay as long as possible.

This is what you get after getting the waist joint. I do remember i pointed out some problem of this kit which is the joints for most of its parts are very fragile in its WIP post. Parts are keep on falling down when i try to put pla-plate and draw panel line.

Well, that's all for now. My boss called me and ask me to bring him for buying model kits few days ago. It was the largest loots i ever see (in real) in front of me and he ask me to build all for him within 4 months. Its crazy and i'm very exciting now. Maybe i should put on a list of those items here. So, stay tune.. kekekeke

MG Hyakushiki Complete

Yes.. Yes.. Yes.. I'm not just complete the model kit but also the collection of Zeta A.E.U.G unit that i wanted. I know there are more MS in that team such as Mk II titan color unit 2 and 3 as well as Rick Dias but these are not the prior model kit that i want to collect from that series. So, here we have the MG Hyakushiki completed by me. 

Since part one and part two already discuss from box art to the detail and articulation of this kit, maybe i should wrap up the modification description here. From the first photo, it doesn't show much different on the modified but may be the second photo will. The painting process for this time was quite easy but it still require two painting session for me to complete the entire painting process due to the heat from the compressor. Here is the paint list used on this kit:

-Mr.Surfacer 1000 as the base

-Dark blue (combination of Mr.Color Character blue, Mr.Color Metallic Blue and Mr.Color Metallic Black)

-Blood red (Mr.Color Metallic red)

-Silver (Mr.Metal Silver Chrome)

-Black (Mr.Color Metallic Black)

-Panel line on the pipe ( Tamiya Enamel Dark Blue)

These are the paint i need to complete this project, quite simple isn't it. The color scheme that i used was almost same from the manual. The only part i changed was the hydraulic pipe in the legs which i painted with red and silver and the thrusters on the back pack with silver. I'm using Tamiya enamel dark blue this time as for panel in those red color pipe. For me, it was a new method since i use airbrush spray directly to those pipe and use wash method to achieve the result show in the picture (number 8 from top). I learn this method from Youtube which show modelers from Japan which their work also features in Dengeki Magazine and Hobby Magazine (there are lot of techniques that i finally have the tools to learn and practice about it). I will try to show as much video as i can into here later.

I do mentioned that this kit is hard to pose or create dynamic shots for photos and yes it is (for me). The solution i have by not putting on heavy modification to make this model kit look dynamic in the photo is by using a wide-angle with close distance focus lens but not only that, the waist joint plays important role to make it look the action look more dynamic. Wide angle with close distance focus lens can stretch the object in the photo look longer if you have camera with wide-angle lens and the effect will be more stronger with wider angle lens. It also will help for making the object posing in the photos look more dynamic. Too bad i only have the  18-55mm wide angle lens which have the film format equivalent to 28mm focal length and the closest range for the lens to focus is about 25cm away. My only solution (other than changing the lens) is to crop the photos.  

Alright, enough for the words and let pictures tell the rest:

MG Hyakushiki Modification part 1

So, this is the modification part I'm talking about in the previous post. I never thought of using this way to modify the abdomen part until i check because i'm lazy to check the WIP post in different forum, I will only check the end result normally but patience is a must for studying gunpla modification tutorial. As for this modification, I learn it from the modeler-g website. The author of the kit did this modification using a HGUC 1/144 Hyakushiki and he posted few WIP photos in that post which provide sufficient information for me to get what i want but i still can't get it to the perfect measurement i want at the end. What i'm not satisfy with the end result is the shape of the pla-plate was not perfect enough for me and the end result can be better if i add another 1 or 2mm of pla-plate into it. Nothing i can change since i have paint everything now. So, have a look on the this WIP process and i'm really hope you guys can give some comments for me to improve my future modification.

 This is what it looks like before the modification begin.

MG Hyakushiki Review Part 3

It seems that i'm trying to rush everything here. This review should be done last year on December and that's why i need to complete it as soon as possible but most important thing is i must cover everything that i should for the review even though i try to rush everything.

I always saw lots of great video review of model kit in Youtube and number of viewers were a lot too. I'm not sure why that i have some weird feeling here. I do sell video camcorder and study something about video recording. When i saw their review, the good thing is those video come with lots of information but some basic requirements of video recording was not there such as steadiness, focusing and scenes duration (One scene for the entire video). I do have problems with these basic but i try to minimize it as much as possible. On top of that,  i feel my video is very boring too ( i guess most of you will notice it) because lack of information within the video. Until now, i'm still thinking of improve it and i'm seriously want to know what you want and your comments. Thanks.

MG Hyakushiki Review part 2

So, here we have the part 2 of the review for MG Hyakushiki. As what you see from, this snap and fit version was almost same as the complete version if you decide not to do anything on the golden plate armor. 

So, first check on the proportion of the kit. I mentioned about the abdomen or lower torso area was a bit too short, then i feel it was quite acceptable after i complete it but again my first feeling came back to haunt me after slot in the palm unit. I think i'm really need to do something on it. Other than the lower torso, the second proportion flaw that i complain was the feet. It can be better if it slimmer a but it will require either cutting or sanding which will damage the gold plate part. Therefore, i'm not planning to do anything on it. These are the only flaws that i complain. 

In terms of articulation, we can't expect much from a old kit. There is one pictures in this post show how much i can bend its knees, feet and arms. If we check from side way, i can say the articulation is good enough for this kit but what make it look bad is the two proportion flaws that i mentioned (in my opinion). Although refining or repairing the proportion flaws can't help on articulation but sharpening the shape of certain part will make the whole kit loo more dynamic even the kit has limitation on the articulations.So, can it pose? yes but... depends.. 

In terms of detail of this kit, not much but sufficient. Although most of the snap and fit procedures were simple since this kit doesn't come with lot of parts but most of the area are cover properly. For example, the back of the skirt armors was cover which not like what we have from MG Strike gundam. Pipes at arms were molded separately and this kit should only require very few masking process for painting. If you think of adding panel line or plate armors, there are still lot of empty space around the torso (don't mess with the gold plate armors!!! i just feel its a waste if someone sand it off for mod. Haha).

MG Hyakushiki Review Part 1

I'm back with MG Hyakushiki review here this time. If you remember the poll that i made few months ago, this was the kit that have the highest vote and therefore i choose this kit as the review kit this time. This project should have start and done on November but due too many of things happened in November and December, i had to postpone this review. I think i has mentioned before that i always wanted to get this kit and today i finally get it and doing a review for it. There is one thing always haunted me for not getting this kit especially this version because as what we can for other version were either come in yellow beige color or the brown gold color for the HD version. This is the only version that i feel best suit for this MS because the anime want to show it really in gold color but of course the gold color in the anime was not like what we saw from Akatsuki in Gundam Seed Destiny. And the curse of the gold plated kit, Bandai always like to make plated kit in limited edition which make us difficult to get one of it. In my country here, the normal version and the HD version were cost around RM 140- RM 150 ++ but this cost about RM 169 and most shop only carry.. very very few units. So if you think of making money from gunpla for limited item, this might be a good consideration. Although this gold plated version was so special, some people don't like it actually. One of the reason that people don't like the kit might due to difficulty of handling those gold plated part on the cutting process from the runners. Once you screw up, it is extremely hard to recover (there are some solutions such as applying gold trim "paper") and since this gold plated version is more expensive due to it's "gold plated part", those who think to re-paint or re-mod this kit might not favor to this version. As for me, some of you know my style on modding (low level or simple type mod... XD) my model kit and that is the reason i pick this version. 

Not like most of the UC fans, I only saw it from the ZZ series but not the Z series anime but the action from the ZZ series is good enough for me to think of what pose should made in part 2 of the review. Unfortunately, ZZ series was more kiddy type as compare to the Z series in my opinion although i haven't watch the Z series (it just my own feelings after watching some short clip of Z series). As for the design on this MS, it look great in the anime (the real kit seems a bit out in terms of its proportion). Weapons come with this MS is simple as it only come with one beam rifle, bazooka and two beam saber. I was wondering why this MS doesn't come with any defense equipment or mechanism such as shield. Does it share the same defense system with the Akatsuki (from GSD series) beam reflector armor from its gold plated armor? or it has the fastest agility to avoid all incoming attack (but i don't see it got lot of vernier or thruster)? I think i should check it out from the Z series. Maybe i should let you guys to check out the photos before i continue...

 Some how the color from the boxart for this MS look even better (IMO) than the real kit or the MS in the anime.

First post for new year (updates again)

First post of this 2012, what should i post? Well, i think i have to say these few lame words "happy new year" as the beginning of this post. I keep on asking myself, should i make a round up post or summary of what happen to this blog for year 2011? Lazy has been always my answer but i think i will make it soon since Chinese New Year coming soon and there will be lots of free time. 

What am i up to now? Rushing the review for MG Hyakushiki, i always wanted to start this project and finally i'm to start it. Things goes pretty well now and hope nothing bad will happen. Extra caution have take for this project. I will talk more about this in its first WIP post.

As what are the new thing will come into this blog? Some renovation will begin soon. I already start planning what to add, change and the concept the entire layout. i felt a bit boring with the new space background and i guess its time to have it back on earth. There will be better navigation and more functional side bar which relate to GK and iShop2go. The last contest i did was not that successful, i know what are the reasons actually and i hope i can do better next time to convince my sponsor to improve more on the prize but one important thing.. i need support from you all.

Lastly, new chapter of my life should begin soon but no matter what... Gundam and Gunpla forever!!!

So, stay tune for the coming review, changes of this blog and contest....

MG Destiny EBM Review link

http://seven6398.blogspot.com/2012/02/mg-destiny-review-part-1-my-boss-first.html


http://seven6398.blogspot.com/2012/02/mg-destiny-ebm-review-part-2-parts-and.html


http://seven6398.blogspot.com/2012/02/mg-destiny-ebm-review-part-3.html#more