Real Grade 1/144 - RX-178 Gundam Mk.II - AEUG - WiP 4 - Decaled

Just recently finished decaling this beauty and damn i think its looking good. Decaled following the instructions but also referancing the 1/1 Gundam with alot of the little markings.

Give it a couple of weeks to completion.
Ian

Real Grade - MS-06FS Zaku II "Garma Zabi Custom" - WiP - Vulcan cannons

This the only major mod for Garma's Zaku II, the 4 Vulcan cannons. Took quite a bit of patience and more than enough time to drill each one in these correct position, had to walk away from it a few times knowing that if i rushed this i'd end up with a failure.

This is the original Char Zaku head with the paint striped off with the extra antenna which comes with the MS-06F. Really nifty looking antenna, for such a small piece its got alot of detail and something only ever seen on MSV.



Originally only going to drill out the holes and leave it at that but then found this holo tubing in the bit stash. Cut to about 2mm long, cut ALOT of pieces because i lost alot trying to fit them in each hole.

Patience is a virtue.
Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06S Zaku II "Char Aznable Custom" - Completed -

Completed the "Red Comet" Char Aznables Custom MS-06S Zaku II, very quick build this one with the only mods done being sharpening off the antenna and the spikes on the shoulder guard.

All weathered which i think tones down the pink somewhat, tried adding oil drips from screw holes and the like. The more i look at this the more i think its my favourite RG so far.



Wanted a bigger Char logo than the one supplied with the RG decals on the shield, going to use this same decal pattern on all my future zakus which is only a little different from the instructions but i think more formal.



Only real red on the "Red Comet" is the backpack.



RED COMET KICK!



Here comes Char!



Bazooka action.



Sights locked in!



This is my 3rd Zaku, 5th RG and second time modelling the this Chars Zaku II, originally went with a very red paint scheme but was not happy with it so repainted it in a more anime accurate colours (man salmon).
Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06S Zaku II "Char Aznable Custom" - On Parade

My latest Real Grade Zaku II, the "Red Comet" on parade and ready to sortie. This is the 5th RG completed and the 3rd Zaku. Really like doing the first completed photo in the "on parade" type shot with all the weapons laid out it front

All weathered last weekend which was really satisfying darking up the pink to tone it down a little and because its a real light colour really looks quite nice. Might do another MS-06S in the future, the black recon Zaku from MS Igloo which i really like but a long way off yet.

Got more completed photo coming next.
Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - RX-178 Gundam Mk.II - AEUG - WiP 3 - All painted

Got a very white finish up against anything ive painted white before, used a white primer instead of the usual grey which really makes it super white.

Got all the white parts painted on Saturday and the assembled yesterday ready to be decaled.
Ian

Next Real Grade - MS-06FS Zaku II "Garma Zabi Custom" -

Bought this HGUC kit purely for the custom giant heat hawk to model my next RG, Garma Zabi's personal MS-06FS Zaku II. A cross between the MS-06F + MS-06S for commanders.

Plan to model this using the green RG MS-06F as the main body with the backpack from Chars MS-06S. The head needs to have 4 vulcan cannons added which i know will be the trickiest part to achieve and i need to acquire a decal of the Zabi family emblem to display on the shield which i think ive tracked down on a old 1/144 Zaku Minelayer. (which i will then also model as a RG)

This what i hope to be the first of many MSV zakus to be modelled, looking forward to the new HGUC MS-06R High Maneuver Zaku II coming out soon which should be alot easier to adapt to the RG than the old versions from the 80's

Ian

Revell 1/144 - BAe Harrier GR7 - WiP - Repainted cockpit -

Repainted my last very rough attempt at the cockpit and pilot after priming the entire model to check the fit of the RetroWings open intakes (which fitted like a charm)

Got the pilot looking slightly to the right as if he's watching a crew member of HMS Ark Royal guiding him into position for take-off.

Have decided to do the Royal Navy harrier, just a real lack of decal option available.
Ian

Variable Fighter Master File - VF-25 MESSIAH -

Another awesome new Valkyrie master file magazine/book = Mook added to the collection, this one is a real beauty filled up with plenty of gorgeous photo realistic pics of the VF-25.

Both pages for the sweet low-viz Messiah, nice addition of the shark teeth.



These photo-file pages are my favourite pages from the mook, page of space valks.



All that Valkyrie!

VF1, VF-11. VF-19, VF-17, VF-171 and VF-25, all low-viz and maybe all the same squadron, VF-1 even has the NUNS markings.



Battroid and Gerwalk sporting fast packs.



Macross Frontier!



Cannon Fodder or Mass Produced brown Messiah, think it must be the first Valkyrie since the VF-1 to have that livery and it looks good.



All the various monitors or heads, you can see the antenna following the same pattern as the VF-1, 1 for A, 4 for F, no J?



Gorgeous!



VF-171 gets it own little section, the AWAC is damn cool.



YF-25 prototype, thought it was great the bandai released it as a plamo first.



Like a classic paint scheme inspired by the VF-1's from Do you remember love?



Few pages for Macross Galaxy's VF-27 Lucifer, looks like it was mass-produced for NUN SPACY.



Last few pages of the Master File always has the Squadron Markings, this is my favourite pages from these because of Macross 7 Emerald Force's blue messiah and even the low-viz SMS Skull Leader.



Inspired staff pages, using the warning marking from the VF-25 for each contributor.



Still got plenty more master file to buy and look forward to browsing through these mechafests
Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - RX-178 Gundam Mk.II - AEUG - WiP 2 - No white!

So last week when i had plenty of time off to do a bit of painting, starting on Mk.II i opened one tamiya white, empty, "OK i got a second" opened the second and only dregs, you fool So got everything painted on the RX-178 except the main bulk, the white.

Got given some ModelZone gift voucher for Christmas so this weekend im off to buy supplies and whatever 1/144 that strike my fancy, Airfix Saturn 5 maybe but where would i display that beast.

Got everything detailed and decaled that's not white so when i do get the rest painted should be smooth sailing.
Ian

Happy New Year! - Model Review -

4 Mobile Suits from Gundam, 4 Valkyries from Macross and 4 real word aircraft from the previous year, 2012,

Nice selection of models i think from last year, which seems to equal one a month, have i modelled alot more aircraft but so many on the workbench unfinished.

This time next year i reckon i will have twice as many mobile suits with most being RG Zakus, got alot of ideas for them.

To another great year collecting, modelling and living!
Ian