My Gunpla Adventure

[oldskul]

Gallery Index / Finished Models:

HGUC SINANJU: greattoysonline.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gundamtoys&action=display&thread=9198&page=2
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March 23, 2011:

i never thought i'll be building kits again, but i am now. i was inspired by the new Gundam Unicorn anime, set in the Universal Century era. because i'm mainly a UC gundam fan for as long as i can remember. i already built tank and gunpla models way back in the late 90s, and i used to paint everything. i used to believe there is an unwritten rule modellers adhere to: everything should be painted. sadly today, being a weekend modeller, i don't have the option to fully paint my models because of work and family time. and i'll be building gunpla for play and display, so fully painting them is not preferable, specially the ABS joints and moving parts. it's just too heart-breaking to see a fully painted gunpla ruined by scratches and chipped paint as a result from posing them, and moving parts fused by paint build up. fortunately with partial painting, application of weathering techniques, and topcoating can improve the appearance of the model tremendously without limiting it's articulation. just get rid of that lousy plastic sheen that gives the model a toy-like feel, and make the gunpla good enough for play, and look cool enough for display

to kick start this thread, my first build would be HGUC Sinanju (i got from GT GH of course, tnx to arlene). assembly and test fitting stage-



build is smooth, no problems encountered. just the cleaning and sanding of excess plastic from the trees took most of the time in the assembly.

after assembly, next step will be to paint the details present on the finish model pictured on the manual, but lacking on the out-of-the-box model. specially that black & gold trim detail sinanju is famous for. i'm looking forward on hand painting or reverse washing that, whichever method works, a sure pain in the arm pits hehehe.

that's all for now, hope to update this thread when i am able. and thanks for looking.

[oldskul]

WIP: HGUC Sinanju. i'm not really good on using gundam markers, so did some panel lines with a wash (MR Color black):





painted the cables:



and more detail painting on the legs:

[Løcust]

more ! more!

[oldskul]

i have to admit HGUC Sinanju is like a testbed for me. i've already forgotten some of the tips and tricks on painting and weathering gunpla. it's been so long since my last gunpla/tank project (back in 1997, yeah that long). and modellers then were using a hardware stuff called Future, glad to know something similar to Future is already available on local DYI stores. well the product isn't actually new in the market, i just did not know it's the local version of Future (now i know, kudos to the other gunpla forum where i got the info).



just Php 185 for the big plastic bottle. they say it's durable. el cheapo me can use it for intermediate clear coats, final coating will still be the expensive semi-gloss Mr Topcoat though. and now a bit late for sinanju, i remember my wash recipes back then. sinanju's wash above is just too dark for my taste. because i just did with what i have when i washed sinanju, using thinned straight Mr Color black. well it's been done, i'll just pick up from there and finish sinanju.

also would like to try those industrial acrylic epoxy lacquer spray paints (which are cheaper- like Bosny, RJ London and Pylox paints) i've been reading about on the forum(s). maybe on my next project. no fault in trying other paints, specially if they're cheaper than gunze and tamiya.

[Gane]

Been there, done that... Wipe and Shine is the local version of Future Acrylic Floor Polish

I used it on Gundpla Builders Beginning G 002 RX-93-V2 Hi-V Gundam (V=Nu), but only to secure the gold paint which I was afraid might have a bad reaction to RJ London Clears.

greattoysonline.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=gundamtoys&action=display&thread=8680&page=2#ixzz1HlX6gFWP


A few tips though:
- Make sure the plastic is free of oils because this affects the area where Wipe & Shine needs to adhere to,
- Tinting a clear plastic needs attention because the color gets concentrated on corners,
- Use paper towel or tissue to suck out extra W&S before it dries completely and keep away from alcohol,
- Wipe & Shine is acrylic thus you may also want to avoid using Gundam Marker or any marker that smells of alcohol as this may dissolve slowly.

I use enamel paint on my panel lines that's why I can top coat it with W&S.

The best thing about W&S is you can use it to tighten loose joints.

[oldskul]

thanks for the tip, will definitely try it's toughness on an enamel wash. if i mess up, i'll use my artist acrylic sludge wash instead. well here's my first Future coat (well Pledge actually)-

[Gane]

Nice... it does help to have clear plastic containers to cover them while drying. W&S eats the top layer of your first coat, so don't keep a heavy coat in contact, this is evident when you're tinting clear plastic.

For additional reference:

www.swannysmodels.com/TheCompleteFuture.html

[oldskul]

i'm having a break with HGUC Sinanju, i think all that paint and thinner fumes is affecting my nasal cavity, need to accustom myself again with the fumes hehehe. but would like to share you this time with my last non-gunpla related modelling project way way back in 1997 (yeah that long), one of my three surviving 1/35 scale WW2 panzer tank. just like i dig Zeon MS, i like modelling Panzer armor.













these survived 3 "lipat bahay", my growing kids (4 playful boys), and my loving wife who don't really appreciate this hobby. and regarding my gunpla projects back then, all are MIA (missing-in-action).

thanks for looking (",)

[raps]

Your panzer tank looks awesome... you work like a pro...

[oldskul]

Mar 28, 2011 4:51:19 GMT 8 raps said:

Your panzer tank looks awesome... you work like a pro...

thanks sir, your MG collection is an inspiration to me. would love to have all my fave Zeon MS in MG format too someday.

thanks for dropping by, best regards.

[oldskul]

WIP: HGUC Sinanju. it's day 9, working on sinanju on my spare time. coated everything with gloss coat-







the gloss coat is the best surface for water slide decals, wish i had them. the last parts waiting to be detail painted-

[Gane]

Bro that's one awesome tank weathering, (I'm trimming my language a bit somebody's reading and not liking my posts... LOL)

I once had Tanks and Planes but all went to model hell (garbage) when termite struck our house in the province including the boxes where my kits were, affected some Gundams as well. Their poop ruined everything... all I got left are the ones I brought back to Manila.

Btw, nice gloss. If you're tinting with W&S use the acrylics and not food coloring because acrylics have additional adhesive properties over food coloring.

[oldskul]

hi bro genji, yes same thing happened to me. stockpiled boxes of unbuilt Dragon/Tamiya kits on one closet cabinet, then the termites ate the boxes. i think boxes in closed and humid cabinet attract termites. i was planning on reselling the kits cause i wasn't anymore interested with modelling at that time, but they're ruined so my wife decided to throw everything away. unknowingly including my Tamiya airbrush with compressor stored in a small box tsk tsk.

WIP: HGUC Sinanju. painted the detail inside the shield and the small vents on the propellant tanks.



a few things learned at this point about topcoating and W&S:

1. on unpainted parts, spraying with acrylic based topcoat is preferable after sanding, to remove/hide the unsightly sanding marks.

2. handbrushed W&S will not hide the sanding marks, but i can't say the same on airbrushing W&S (because don't have an AB yet).

3. the 1st W&S coat is somewhere in between semi-gloss and gloss. nicer than semi-gloss, but a little tone down than gloss coat. the second W&S coat has a deeper shine.

[Lady Commander]

Mar 27, 2011 17:06:43 GMT 8 oldskul said:

i'm having a break with HGUC Sinanju, i think all that paint and thinner fumes is affecting my nasal cavity, need to accustom myself again with the fumes hehehe. but would like to share you this time with my last non-gunpla related modelling project way way back in 1997 (yeah that long), one of my three surviving 1/35 scale WW2 panzer tank. just like i dig Zeon MS, i like modelling Panzer armor.

very nice 1944 PANTHER G equipped with the very 1st night vision scope.. =)

[oldskul]

hi ma'am, yes its a nightfighting Panther tank, outfitted with infrared searchlights and scope.

WIP: HGUC Sinanju. after a buttload of gold painting this afternoon, finished the gold trim on the shield.



there are some minor brushstroke impurities here and there but it's good enough, rather than using the foil stickers that makes the model look extremely cheap. a little tired from work, i didn't finish all the gold in one sitting, i might foul up on handbrushing them.

also weathered sinanju's base-



just a simple enamel wash, will let it set overnight. then a single top coat of semigloss, followed by a single coat of W&S for that nice sheen.