OP's Gunpla

[GLRunba Manhunter Repairman Find all posts View Profile Close GLRunba]

You'd also be surprised what you could do with some Gundam Markers.

Fixed that for ya.

those pens are usually for touch ups.

I was interested in getting the new AGE gundam markers



You should get back into Gunpla.

[Darth_Andrea Owned by Natu Find all posts View Profile Close Darth_Andrea]

7 Minute preview of Gundam Unicorn episode 4 (English Dub)

+ YouTube Video

Darth_Andrea

[Darth_Andrea Owned by Natu Find all posts View Profile Close Darth_Andrea]

Well I have gotten a few questions about where to start with Gunpla. So many different scales different series and different Grades of kits to wade through.

So first and foremost you need to look at your budget Gunpla is a generally expensive hobby. There can be other costs involved depending on how far into it you wish to get.

Painting

If your going to paint your kits you have 4 options. Hand brushing, Spray painting with masking and Airbrushing (also with masking very often) and finally using Gundam Paint markers.

Given the totality of the various materials you will need for painting a cash sink of at least $100+ in brushes, dowels, a large hard foam block and bottles and cans of paint as well as gator clips and masking tape is to be expected.

Airbrushing supplies can be even more expensive. The average airbrush unit (Top Bottle Gravity Feed) can run anywhere from $150 to $350 depending on brand and unit complexity. A suction feed (bottom paint bottle) are generally cheaper and can be used with cans of compressed air with a adapter and can be bought for usually between $25 to $50 again depending on complexity.

Also since most people don't have a dedicated and ventilated room for painting most spray painting including applying primer will need to be done Outside.

Airbrushing can be done indoors but you will need to either buy a paint booth ranging between $200-$500 depending on model. Or build one which is cheaper. To build a paint booth you need the following supplies.

A Ventilation Fan, the type you would find in the ceiling of your bathroom for example. It's a Ducted vent so it's a fan enclosed in a box with a port for a tube ducting to attach to. These can be bought at most home improvement stores and range in price from $20 to $150 depending on Brand and complexity. Along with this you will need to a long section of flexible ducting like is usually attached to a clothes dryer again usually around $25-$35 depending on length and tube diameter.

You will need a large box either self built or something like a old entertainment center modified with a sturdy plywood backing (the method I used)

Finally you need a replacement air filter like used in home heating and air conditioning units. These range widely in price but generally go for the cheapest you can find in at least a 12 to 24 inch wide design.

Assembly is simple cut a hole in the back of your Box large enough for the vent fan to fit though and be attached, Note the side with the ducting port should be on the outside of the box, attach the vent fan with screws to the box and here you have a choice, you can hard wire the vent to a switch or simply use a extension cord and plug it into the wall when used, most have a plug already installed so no wiring will be required for this options. Then attach the flexible ducting to the port on the back and run that pipe out a window. Place the filter in front of the fan inside the box and your done.

Now lets talk about the kits.

Models

For beginners I would not recommend the larger more complex kits. Generally with a few exceptions Gunplay runs in these scales.

1/200 (2 to 3 inch tall) 1/144 (generally 4 to 5 inch tall) 1/100 (6 to 8 inch tall) 1/60 (9 to 10 inch tall) 1/48 (11 to 13 inch tall) Now these vary based on the size of the Gundam their based on.

Here is a pic of 1 design the Rx-78-2 the original Gundam from the 1979 cartoon in each of these scales.



Now this unit is a 18 meter tall mobile suit. To give you a idea of what that means look at the following picture.



That is a adult male standing next to the 1/1 scale RX-78-2 Bandai built in japan a couple of years ago. Now given statistics show Japanese adult range 5 feet 5 inches tall as a general so notice the top of his head just barely reaches the top of the ankle joint.

But some other kits are larger even though they are in the same scale. The Unicorn Gundam for example in 1/144 scale is a head and shoulder taller.



And these are the kits I do recommend for starters. Generally kits in this size in High Grade or HG as is labeled on the box have little to no inner robotic frame have generally easy assembly and poseability.

Real Grade kits which are a fairly new line, Marked RG on their boxes, are basically 1/144 scaled Master Grades. Master Grades are 1/100 scale kits and have partial to full inner robotic frames to build. The RG kits are those in miniature.



These kits while very highly detailed for their size are not recommended for the beginner. with lots of very small parts and complex assemblies I don't think the beginner would be able to cope given the ease parts can break being this small.

Now if you are a beginner or someone just interested in seeing if you would like to get into Gunpla there are various outlets online to buy kits at really good prices.

If you would like some links feel free to PM me and I'll point you in the right direction.

I hope my ramblings help a bit and might tempt someone into the hobby








Darth_Andrea

[Darth_Andrea Owned by Natu Find all posts View Profile Close Darth_Andrea]

Well Sunday being my birthday I got a couple kits one of which I have just finished. This kit looks so good right out of the box I don't think it needs any real painting beyond some hand brushing on the interior detail on the joint parts. Which I will do in a day or so. Though I have taken a panel line marker to it because it's as far as I am concerned the only highlighting it needs.



This was a rather straight forward build most of it felt familiar from other HG's I had done and the general results were great.





I also like the fact that the gun is transformable which allows it to be used 3 ways.

Pistol



Beam Machine Gun



Beam Rifle



I also love the detail on the head it looks very sleek and race car like.



This kit just screams a need for Glamor Shots!!



The most interesting thing I found in the build was the feet, well the ankle to be specific. It has a weird way of connecting the ankle armor.



Because of this the Ankle armor is really loose on the foot and must be hand positioned when posing the figure's feet. Because it's connected on only one side it would also lend it's self to breaking if your not careful.

Over all though I love this design. It rings enough of the RX-78-2 to make me happy, while keeping enough of a altered design to be it's own unit and have it's own identity.

Every thing combined I HIGHLY recommend this kit both for it's ease of build it's interesting weapon and over all design.

Final Score from me

5 Celestial Being's out of 5

[GLRunba Manhunter Repairman Find all posts View Profile Close GLRunba]

You should watch AGE, it's only 3 episodes in.

[Darth_Andrea Owned by Natu Find all posts View Profile Close Darth_Andrea]

You should watch AGE, it's only 3 episodes in.

I have been haven't you seen my thread a little way down about the series ?




Darth_Andrea

[GLRunba Manhunter Repairman Find all posts View Profile Close GLRunba]

I have been haven't you seen my thread a little way down about the series ?




Darth_Andrea

Nope. I rarely frequent this board, i just visit this topic.

[Darth_Andrea Owned by Natu Find all posts View Profile Close Darth_Andrea]

I just ordered some more HG's

RX-79[G] Gundam EZ8 1/144 HG


TallGeese III 1/144 HG


Zaku II 1/144 HG


Zaku II Char's Custom 1/144 HGUC


All of which I had back in the day but over time lost or broken so these will be replacement kits

Also I got them on sale at http://robot4less.com/ which is having a 50% off sale on a large number of HG's NG's and some non-Gundam kits and products.







Darth_Andrea

[Darth_Andrea Owned by Natu Find all posts View Profile Close Darth_Andrea]

Another hobby show is currently ongoing in japan this weekend and Bandai has made a few announcements.

Gunpla Expo World Tour Japan 2011

First a new Master Grade Announcement.

A Line of Gundam Seed Master Grades starting with

MG 1/100 Duel Gundam Assaultshroud (Release Date: Feb 2012, Price: TBA)






And from the display around this prototype kit more Seed Master Grades are on the way.



It was Also Announced that Master Grade Age-1 Normal would be released in early 2012.

MG 1/100 Gundam AGE-1 Normal (Release Date: Feb 2012, Price: TBA)











Also while not shown release dates for other Master Grade AGE Kits have been released.

MG 1/100 Gundam AGE-1T Titus (Mar. 2012)
MG 1/100 Gundam AGE-1S Spallow (Apr. 2012)
MG 1/100 Gafram (May 2012)




Darth_Andrea

[The_Mad_Dragon Captain Pervert Find all posts View Profile Close The_Mad_Dragon]

MASTER GRADE DUEL?! WITH THE ASSAULT SHROUD?!

MUST. HAVE.

[Darth_Andrea Owned by Natu Find all posts View Profile Close Darth_Andrea]

Here is a link to a article on one of the Gunpla blogs I watch that has updated images of the Gunpla world tour show including the recolor Seed HG's that are coming out as part of the Remastered series release.

http://gundamguy.blogspot.com/2011/1...011-photo.html






Darth_Andrea

[GLRunba Manhunter Repairman Find all posts View Profile Close GLRunba]

50% off of old kits that are below the standard of kits even to 2005? No Thanks

[Darth_Andrea Owned by Natu Find all posts View Profile Close Darth_Andrea]

50% off of old kits that are below the standard of kits even to 2005? No Thanks

I'll admit the older HG's aren't mechanical masterpieces but their still nice as display pieces. Hell even some of the Seed No Grades look nice on a shelf. Besides some units can only be gotten as a older No Grade or High Grade from the late 80's and though the 90's. So if you want those units you have to get those kits.

Either that or attempt to scratch built your own.




Darth_Andrea

[Darth_Andrea Owned by Natu Find all posts View Profile Close Darth_Andrea]

Bandai releases images of the Gundam Age 2 Normal





These images confirm the images that had been leaked earlier in the year.

This is the leaked image of the Age 3 Normal.



They both look like Exia from 00 and Aile Strike from Seed had babies together




Darth_Andrea

[GLRunba Manhunter Repairman Find all posts View Profile Close GLRunba]

Birthday Wishlist

all 1/144 HG btw

Titus
Custom Genoace
RX-79G Gundam The Ground War Set
Gouf Custom
Ball Twin Set