Fleacon 11 - 04/25/15

Pictures of all the models from our local IPMS hobby show back in April, there quite a lot of kits on display this year from modelers all over the area.  A lot of really cool models this year, especially in the sci fi catagory!

Update

Hey guys, sorry for the lack of updates I've really been bad about making posts on my projects.  In fact looking at my last post I had no idea it was that far behind, last July really...!  Anyway, so to recap on what I was doing, my custom HG 00 (the Ascalon) got finished by the end of last July, overall I was ok with how it turned out however I wasn't too happy with some of the colors I went with and how they turned out, I'll get picks up sometime.  That MG RX-78 is still in the same point it was then, as is that HG Wing Fenice.  the MG Gundam X is finished, got done around Feb. and it turned out amazing!  In fact it got me a silver place medal at the local hobby show back in April (a post of photos from that even to follow this)

I'm currently working on something I teased last year, my custom project of an MG Wing Gundam EW that I like to call the Independence Gundam!  After I finish that one, which had better be done by July, I'm going to go off the Gunpla route and build an old model of the first Enterprise from the original Star Trek series, something different and it holds a special place in what I bought it for last year.  From about this time last year I've had a lot going on in my life that has caused me to not be able to focus on this hobby that I love so much, but I'm trying to focus on it more now.

I will still try to post on here but lately most of my Gunpla work has been on my Twitter account and just recently, like 3 days ago my Instagram accounts, which I will put up links to on the side bar.

Multi Project Progress Report

What's up Gunpla lovers, so....I've been on hiatus once again, due to various personal reasons the hobby has been the last thing on my mind.  This past week I've been attempting to work my way back into it and have been working on 3 different kits at once...

The primary focus is still my custom HG 00 Gundam but I'm also working on panel lining my MG Dark Hound and I just got the MG RX-78-2 3.0 and built its head tonight!  Earlier this week I also built the torso for my MG X Gundam (had was already assembled).  I also randomly built the HG Wing Gundam Fenice from Gundam Build Fighters, this will be part of a future project but I just couldn't wait!  I'm trying to get the first 3 projects done...or at least one done by the local anime convention at the end of this month, where my friends and I will be hosting a Gunpla panel!

My goal is to have the RX-78-2 assembled by then and the 00 complete for the show, we'll see...  And as usual, to update more...see ya soon!

HG Ascalon Gundam (Custom 00) WIP: Part 1

Images only tonight, too tired to write about it all...

New Project: HG 1/144 Ascalon Gundam (custom 00)

This post is long past due as I've been working on this for the last month or so.  This is a kitbash that I've been semi-planning in the background for the last few years, and it's changed a lot over that time.  Originally supposed to be based of the Destiny Gundam with the DX's backpack strapped to it, I then changed it to the 00 Gundam with the funnel layout of the Hi-Nu Gundam.  Ultimately I've finally made my decision on what it will be and it's a combination of most of my ideas.  It's going to be the 00 Gundam with the DX backpack on it and 2 to 4 funnels from the Nu Gundam; with the Nu's beam saber attached to the side armor of the 00.  It wasn't until I built the HG DX Gundam that I came to the final design for this build.  Here are some of the preliminary images from the project, however I'm already done with all modifications and am at the painting stage, so expect only 1 or 2 WIP's before that painting WIP.

1/100 Zaku Warrior Custom

This is an old kit, I believe I built it in 2005 or so...  Anyways I've decided to do some touch ups on it and then I'm going to give it a gloss top coat to seal it away.  This was the Lunamaria Gunner Zaku Warrior that I repainted in red.  I was originally planning to just repaint the entire kit with an airbrush this time, however the original paint job has held up fairly well, and since it was one of my better brush paint jobs I've decided to just preserve that work.  I will most likely attempt to make a new one sometime in the near future and try to make a 1/100 Slash pack for it, as that's what I always wanted on it but Bandai never made on in that scale.

I've repainted over some of the red that had other colors rubbed onto it over the years.  I've also repainted all the gold parts and added grey under the side skirts.

HG Masurao: Review

Tonight I will be giving my thoughts on the High Grade Masurao from Gundam 00!  The first completely unique suit that pilot Graham Aker piloted in the anime, the Masurao was very samurai inspired and I have always loved this design.  Now, giving that the pilot is one of my favorites and I enjoy the look of this mobile suit so much, then you'd likely conclude that I would love the model of it right....well in the end that's only partially accurate.  Lets go over this more.

RG Destiny Gundam: Review

The Real Grade Destiny Gundam is the second RG kit that I've gotten around to building, and I really don't have a lot of complaints to say about it.  Design wise, it is a very good update to the Destiny model, even more detailed than the MG.  The only complaint I have in this department, and is the common one, is that the feet are way bigger than they should be...and I can't really see a reason why they are so huge.  It's something that could be easily modified with some sanding or perhaps the use of a rotary tool, but it didn't bother me enough to go that far.  These are my thoughts on this kit.  All painting was done with an airbrush.

HGAW Gundam Double X

Greetings, so it's been some time since my last post I noticed...well I've been back and forth working on the MG Dark Hound and HG Masurao since then.  HG Masurao is "done" as off last weekend, however several pieces broke while putting it back together after painting and I became very frustrated with it and haven't touched it since then.  I'll fix it, eventually, but in the meantime I needed something to build and just refresh.  Enter HGAW Gundam Double X!  I've built about 75% of it thus far and just from the build to this point it's a very well done high grade (much better than certain aspects of the Masurao, though I love that mobile suit it's HG kit is not very good)  Anyways, this will basically be a straight OOB paint job on this guy, however building has reignited my thoughts of using it's satellite cannons on the 00 gundam for that custom I've wanted to make, so I'll be having to get another one of these guys here pretty soon!  And, hopefully, now that we have a MG Gundam X (that I'll be getting soon also) a MG Double X will happen this year sometime...*fingers crossed*

HG Masurao

At long last, I present the HG Masurao.  Released in 2009, I've wanted this kit ever since, can't believe it took me this long to get it.  This is one of my top 10 favorite mobile suits, so this is going to be a straight build, and is going to need a lot of painting...  Should be really fun though, pretty excited about it!

MG Gundam Age-2 Dark Hound

Well this is long overdue, this is my Master Grade Gundam Age-2 Dark Hound I bought at the local anime convention in August.  I'm building this in tandem with my friend who is building the MG Crossbone X2, so I'll probably make separate posts with both kits.  Assembly is complete, next we'll be taking them apart and painting them up!

HG Gundam Age FX

Quick side project, this came in yesterday and I opened it up and snapped it all together in about 2 hours.  Overall, not too impressed with this build, especially the legs and parts of the arms, but once I paint it that'll probably clear up.  There are a couple clear parts that should've been on the clear green runner, like the "A" in the cest....but other than that and the strange use of purple in some spots it has good separation.  The main reason I got this was to do a kitbash with the 00 Quanta and 00 Gundam for a future custom suit, I'll probably be working on that this weekend (and hopefully some MG Dark Hound...)

MG 1/100 Gundam X Announcement!

I don't normally post about new kit releases but for this one I can't help it.  Master Grade Gundam X, to be released this coming January!  Now I'm not a huge X fan, but I love the Double X Gundam and getting this means there's a good chance of the DX coming sometime.  The biggest thing here is, this was the only Gundam series left that didn't have any Master Grade kits at all (excluding the new Build Fighters...) and it's a line that a very large amount of people have wanted for quite some time now.  So on this night, we thank you Bandai for finally releasing a brand new MG that we can all enjoy!

RG Destiny: WIP Part 4

Alright, this will be the final work in progress for the RG Destiny Gundam.  All I've got left to do is flat coating the weapons, which was going to happen tonight but I spent most of the night assembling the body and wings.  I'll be doing that tomorrow though and will finish the kit tomorrow night/Saturday morning.

RG Destiny: WIP Part 3

Been awhile since the last post it seems, the Destiny is coming along nicely thus far.  I spent most of the night working on decals on the wings and weapons and I am now officially in love with water slides, I don't want to use stickers or dry transfers unless I need to from now on. 

Also, I was able to assemble the get, legs, and 90% of the waist tonight.  Yes, Destiny can finally stand partially!  So far, my concerns about all the layers of paint have been cleared, no problems with the parts I put together tonight.  I'm going to credit that to the alclad aqua gloss, because it makes such a strong layer of protection, and adds a really nice shine to pieces you want glossy.  On that subject, I am very pleased with the effect the painted frame has under the armor and I've only gotten through a couple areas so far.  Tomorrow I'll be paneling and flat coating parts of the arms and wings, while I assemble the torso.  I hope to finish the model by Thursday, for sure by the weeks end.

RG Destiny: WIP Part 2

As of tonight I've painted all the red and blue parts, given them a gloss coat, and started panel lining them.  I've also got most of the rest or the parts gloss coated and they are curing atm.  Should just be one more round of prep glossing to go.  I had to paint the blue parts because the nub marks were way too noticeable on this guy, plus I made a stress fracture in the plastic on the chest so that needed fixed.  I painted the red with a mixture of Mr. Color reds, because I found the standard red too bland.  I used Mr. Color on both and this was my first time using that brand.  I must say I really liked it, being a lacquer based paint it should bond better with the plastic.  Not much else to say about it this time other than I got some decals for the kit from SamuelDecal, all water slides do looking forward to trying those out.  At this point I'm very pleased with the kit, albeit a bit nervous about how well it will fit together with all these layers on it, we shall see.

RG Destiny: WIP Part 1

Well this post is about a week late...anyways Destiny was completely assembled (no paint except the eyes) and had since been taken apart.  I painted the frame parts using a mixture of Tamiya silver and gun metal, was pretty nervous about painting the preassembled frame of the real grade but it came out perfectly.  As I said in the opening part, trying to simulate the silver frame from the MG Extreme Blast but toned a lot darker (expecting a RG I Justice that will need a silver frame).  After that I gave it a light coat of Aqua Gloss Alclad to help protect the paint.