Ant Sized Man

Revell 1/144 - F14A Tomcat and F-14D Super Tomcat - Just about done.

2012-02-11T23:01:00.001Z

Just over a year ago i finished these 2 Tomcats in the back before i got a little bit addicted to gunpla but today i started to finish these again. Used the dragon flight deck again with one of my first model i completed, the classic jolly rogers.

This WiP is a year old! http://www.flickr.com/photos/37164963@N06/6859007415/

Reason i worked on this today was the below zero weather here in the UK at the mo, too cold for me to go outside and use the rattle can to prime the eduard MiG-21's so started looking much like ive been doing this past month ive been finishing up a few models that ive basically forgot i ever started.

Ian

Eduard Super44 1/144 - MiG-21MF "Fishbed" - WiP assembled

2012-02-05T20:54:00.000Z

After almost 24 hours since i started building the fantastic kit im almost ready to prime and paint! Due to a snow day here, what i was going to do this weekend got cancelled so almost a weekend of modelling, sweet.

Is a beauty of a kit to put together, everything fit perfectly and ive never seen such a perfect fit with the wings and canards, only one seam line to sand when all those where glued.

Added some detail to the cockpit and will have one with the spine behind the cockpit open showing the avionics, both have flaps down with one tail flap off centre, added buckles to the cockpit and that was about it, this is the first model where i didn't have to add plasticard as panel in the cockpit, already there with a perfect dashboard too, incredible!

Halfway through the build i noticed that even though this is a MF MiG-21, one of the paint options is SM which means i can paint one up in the beautifully simple sliverbird with the red star.

Getting the correct cockpit colour was a big pain, soviets certainly choose one random colour for there pilots to be surrounded by.
Ian

Kit Review - eduard 1/144 - Super44 - MiG-21MF "Fishbed" -

2012-02-04T11:21:00.000Z

Eduard are back into 1/144 with the new amazing Super44 range starting out one of the most famous aircraft in the world the MiG-21 with 3 versions released BIS, SMF and the one i bought this MF each with schemes to choose from!

I plan on buying every new 1/144 aircraft released by eduard, hope maybe a Mig-29 or Su-27 next. I'll wait to see how many variations are released of each do some research and then pick which one i think coolest.

Get 2 of each sprue in the kit and extensive decals covering all the marking including warnings.

Check out the fantastic detail!

8 schemes to choose from, im liking the Vietnam People's Air Force and the 2003 Czech Republic schemes.

Unlike most kits i review you can expect to see this one started soon.
Ian

Bandai EX 1/144 - HT-01B Magella Attack - WiP 3 - Painted and decaled

2012-01-29T17:07:00.000Z

The Magella Attack is almost nearing completion, painted a bit too dark a green im now thinking but really happy with the weathering especially on the tracks. Added only 4 decals coping WW2 panzer markings, the tank number and the zeon insignia, really simple but just looks right.

Wondering what to do with the canopy, looks really unusual on a tank, in anime it is either clear purple or as in MS 08th Team is all metal except 3 small port holes which feels like what a tank commanders viewpoint should look like in the real.

Going to give it a nice matt coat then see if anymore weathering is needed.
Ian

Japan trip 2011 - Day 9, part Ichi - Ikebukuro

2012-01-28T23:45:00.000Z

Nearing the end of the holiday now, morning second to last full day i jump onto the Yamanote line and visited Ikebukuro with the express interest of visiting Sunshine City and Frank Lloyd Wright's Jiyu Gakuen Girls' School, like how next door to FLW building there is the very piratical Japanese flat, not really sure what to call it?

Sunshine City is Tokyo's second tallest building and amazing location to see the urban landscape stretch to the horizon from the 60th floor with. Ride a elevator going at 22.4 mph which is meant to be one of the fastest in the world and one of the smoothest ever taken. Shame about the smog but it expected. Glad i don't have vertigo but did feel wrong leaning against the window and seeing people as small as full spots.

Ian

Sweet 1/144 P-51B Pioneer Mustang "DING HAO!" - Completed

2012-01-24T22:13:00.000Z

Very nice Mustang from Sweet, which i completed over a year ago before the airbrush, i can now tell how much detail that's kept with the airbrush. Remember how i took time painting the white strips on top of the green which took quite some time.
Going to build another Mustang sometime, probable a red tail.

Ian

Climbing taster.

2012-01-21T21:56:00.000Z

Right now i feel muscles which i didn't realise i had after trying out a little indoor rock climbing today courtesy of a Christmas present voucher. Was great fun and it turns out where i live has quite a few great faculties

Going to keep at it and i signed up to get a qualification straight after, took this photo of the easier, smaller part of the climbing wall. On the right is a harder wall which i sucked at and why i want to do more and get better.

Ian

Sweet 1/144 P-51B Pioneer Mustang "DING HAO!" - WiP

2012-01-20T23:09:00.000Z

This is a old photo (check the date 08, 2010) of a build which i only recently finished.

Was sorting out the hard drive and found this in pic which then made me dig out the model and it was practically complete, really ready for a wee photo shoot.

I brushed painted this with Tamiya paints, even the white was brush painted.
Ian

Japan trip 2011 - Day 8, part Ni - Ginza

2012-01-15T21:19:00.000Z

Evening of day 8 was spent in Ginza, which is very plush. Even though im not the biggest fan of shopping in these department stores was a experience doing it here. Spent most of my time in Sony and Tokyo Hands.

Knew what to visit because in the morning when i turned on the TV to check out the weather, some presenter always seemed to be in a Ginza "depato", that or something about food is always on Japanese telly which i instantly wanted to try.

Ian

F-toys 1/144 remodel - Avia CS-92 - Completed

2012-01-11T22:02:00.000Z

Very easy and satisfying little build, wanted to make something quick and this worked out great. Just a f-toys Me 263 dual seater with a little detail added in the cockpit, undercarriage and gun barrels, repainted and decal to make a nice new model.

Looking at some other gasphons which ive amassed up in the loft, basically if it has a nice canopy i think i will model it.
Ian

Japan trip 2011 - Day 8, part Ichi - Kamakura

2012-01-10T21:23:00.000Z

Day 8 i visited the this ancient capital of Japan, Kamakura, this being the last day my JR Pass was valid for so went for a trip an hour outside Tokyo.
Main reason to go is the seriously impressive Giant Buddha or The Great Buddha, really impressive being around 800 years old and has survived tsunamis and earthquakes. Really old beautiful city with so many temple, i reckon every street i walked down had one. I walked a crescent route round the city, starting at all the old temple where the Buddha is then strolling on down to the beach.

Love the "Beware of Hawks" which where circling over head, in the UK we have just evil Seagulls and annoying Pigeons, looks like Japan wins the badass bird contest.

I think then i walked the entire length of the beach to the other side of the city, then up through thedeserted suburbs into the main town, had some tasty Sushi and visited some more temples before heading back to Tokyo for the evening in Ginza. One of the guides told me that quite a few of the temple are replicas, being in a country where natural disasters are nasty and the odd samurai brawl.

Ian

Old build, new photos - Revell 1/144 AV-8B Harrier II plus - "Ace of Spades"

2012-01-08T21:30:00.000Z

First model i painted with the airbrushed back in old May 10. Not are that bad looking at it now, canopy a bit rough where i poorly masked but an alright model.
Just wanted to take some photos of all the 1/144 crew i have now and the carrier deck i painted over the holidays. All the red-shirts are weapons guys, safety checks and other stuff i reckoned.

Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - RX-78-2 GUNDAM - WiP 1 -

2012-01-07T10:52:00.000Z

Time to start building this bad boy i brought back from Japan, bought in Yodobashi Camera Akihabara, "awesome shop!"
You can see the box got damaged on the flight back to the UK, looks like the crew played rugby with my suitcase.

Took me quite some time to prepare all these pieces, so many sprue to sand! And then just like with the Zaku every piece has to be prepare, primed and painted speciality, had to buy 200 kebab stick to hold all the pieces.

This is the first time instead of fixing any sprue marks with putty i used super glue, instead of waiting 24 hours for the putty to set i left the glue 30 minutes, result. Still will wait to see what it looks like once primed.

Off out today and plan on buying some Tamiya rattle cans for the white, have found painting white from the airbrush quite difficult using Vallejo only so far.

Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - Day 7, part San - Roppongi and Tokyo Tower

2012-01-06T21:08:00.000Z

Last part of my super busy day 7 was to go to Roppongi my now favourite Yamanote line during the rush hour! Check out the packed carriage full of salarymen, i use to have to dress like this.

Planed on visiting Tokyo Tower at night purely to see the amazing cityscape all aglow and it did not disappoint, was such a amazing sight, light filling up your view all the way to the horizon and all those red flashing night on the top of skyscraper's straight out of the 80's anime. Had some kick ass Yakitori on the way back, only time i had these and i eat alot after only eating deserts practically all day. One of my favourite photos at the top from the entire trip, Odiba and Rainbow bridge visible.

Ian

F-toys 1/144 Me 262 - Avia CS-92 WiP -

2012-01-05T21:59:00.000Z

Quite often when ive bought model from Japan im given a free gift and its usually an F-toys Me 262, ive got maybe 6 of them now, single and two-seater's. Modelled as the post war Czechoslovak built 263, the Avia S-92, two-seater CS-92. I wanted to model an aircraft as i feel like quite some time since i finished a model plane.

This is a quick remodel, adding detail to the cockpit and undercarriage and hiding the seam lines then hand painted using Citadel Foundation paint, first aircraft ive brush painted since i bought an airbrush. Got the decals from a lot of 1/144 decals i bought of eBay year ago and always come in handy.

This turned out to be a quick build and really have almost finished in no time, should have a look at remodelling more F-toys like i use to, just got to make sure that an f-toys gasphon i buy have nice clear canopy, never good making one with ugly murky clear plastic.

Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - Day 7, part Ni - Shibuya

2012-01-03T21:16:00.001Z

After spending the morning in Harajuku the rest of the daylight hours where spent in Shibuya, which made the busy Takashita Dori look like picnic on a warm summer day.

Really looking forward to Shibuya and it famous crossing which was just as cool and neon. Visited Tokyo Records, the cray looking Disney store, did karaoke, ate cake (which the Japanese adore from all the cake shop i saw) and enjoyed the how the streets have colour coded lampposts with number for tourist to easy navigate. Had to stay till dark to see what the crossing looked like and check out the skid marks from some Tokyo Drifting?

Next up Tokyo Tower
Ian

2011 - Model review.

2012-01-02T10:42:00.001Z

Every aircraft, mobile suit, space battleship and deck crew which ive finished over the past year. Seen a bunch of other modeller do the same thing yesterday and thought it was a cool idea.

If i did a 2011 Works in Progress review, it would be 3 times as many model!

Happy New Year!
Ian

Bandai EX 1/144 - HT-01B Magella Attack - WiP 1

2011-12-31T00:02:00.003Z

Hope everyone had lovely Christmas, i did myself and spent nearly a whole week of over indulgences, my bad.

One from the haul i brought back from Japan. This Magella Attack is based on the more realistic M.S. Igloo 2 version which must of had around a minute of screen time or less. Another awesome redesign from U.C. Hardgraph, which lately ive become a bit obsessed with modelling.

An excellent model and a proper model from Bandai this one, you need to glue quite a few parts together on this one instead of the usual snap-fit. Great thing about this model is no visible seam line, no freaking putty to sand, sweet! Still plenty of sprue snubs to sand and so many single pieces of tank tread, very fidley. Added a little detail to the rear, hollowed out the exhaust and a few bit gibblies, but really could have left it as was.

Realised i didn't do a review of this kit before i started to model it but 2 kits per box, one i will build as the Magella Attack and the other in the far future a Zaku Tank maybe.

Ian

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T08:44:00.000Z

Merry Christmas all! Enjoy and be merry!
Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06S Zaku II "Char Aznable Custom" - WiP 3 - Decaled, assembled.

2011-12-24T20:53:00.001Z

Wanted Char's Zaku to be less pink and more red and yeah it very red. Quite bling in the photo, always had trouble photographing red, always over saturated.

Painted the red differently to the green zaku, instead of following the RG instructions and have every panel a different shade, ive kept to the usual Zaku scheme and painted the body one whole colour and the limbs another. When looking at real military vehicles separate panel are very rarely painted different shades, i figure why noit with future weapons.

Got these 2 Rg Zaku up to the same stage right now, painted the metallic effects on the joints instead of the stickers which came with the kits.

Decaled the green MS-06F first some time ago and followed the instructions perfectly but after finishing it thought that maybe the decals made it look too busy so Char's Zaku ive decaled less tried only one decal perfect limb.

Next up weathering
Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - Day 7, part Ichi - Shinjuku and Harajuku

2011-12-22T22:25:00.000Z

Day 7 in Japan was super busy, after this day my feet where arching big time, did so much i split the photos in 2 batches.

Started off in the morning in Shinjuku, where i spent some time wondering around enjoying the amazing Technological Tokyo landscape before next moving on down to Harajuku. There i visited the Meiji shrine and Takashita Street, which is one of those unique places in the world which i only think could exist in Japan. Had a crepe which turns out everyone i talked to who also been id the same thing in Harajuku, Meiji Shrine, Takashita dori and a crepe. Adored all the cure girls in the sweet fashions, they where so lovely and truly unique.

Next up Shibuya and Roppongi.
Ian

Bandai Ex 1/44 - DFA-03 Dopp - Painted and decaled.

2011-12-18T10:31:00.000Z

Painted the Dopp copying the scheme from 08th MS Team and then decaled coping U.C. Hardgraph.

Little bit of weather and i think it will be finished. Been looking for a diorama bases to make dio of all my U.C. Hardgraph vehicles, but not luck yet.

Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06S Zaku II "Char Aznable Custom" - WiP 2 Paint

2011-12-13T21:47:00.000Z

Tried out the new airbrush which is a massive improvement over the predecessor and painted up all the red for the RG Char's Zaku and the Dopp which is the green in the background.

Much more red than your usual Char Zaku which is pink for some reason. Also added the panel line wash last night and will hope to decal soon.

Build is going very smooth at the mo.
Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - Day 6 - Akihabara

2011-12-11T20:40:00.001Z

So after visiting Project 144 i spent the rest of the day geeking out in Akihabara and lovin it! This is were i bought nearly everything i brought back home. Good thing i only had an entire day planed out here,t hanks to read lots of blogs before i went otherwise i would have missed so much.

Favourite shops to visit was Yellow Submarine which is split between different building, modellers paradise with a fantastic selection of 1/144 and where i got the Magella attack from. Yodobashi camera was quality shop too, since it was super close to my hotel i could visit it during the evening after a day out and just be amazed by all the electronics, seriously more than ive ever seen and will ever see under one roof and they had a model shop at the top which i didn't realise until late in my holiday.

Looking at the photos now i kinda forget where i bought what, all i know is that each shop had a jem which ive wanted or never knew i wanted and bought.

Sent this photo to friends and family halfway through my trip, walking past it near the end of my hols, notice that the green shop is a 8 storie "adult" shop.

I miss this place now, big time.
Ian

Macross 1/144 - VF-1S Valkyrie - "Dark Bird + Alaska Base" -WiP

2011-12-11T09:05:00.001Z

Here's 2 Valkyries which i started again over a year ago but have only recently started to model again. These 2 are what you you call 5 seconds Valkyries due to there screen time, which was probably even less than that.

"Dark Bird" is maybe a VF-1A/S from episode 5 of SDFM, must be some sort of low-viz space Valkyrie in midnight blue.

"Alaska Base" are the white and green Valkyries which guard UN SPACY headquarter and the Grand Cannon in Alaska from episode 15.

Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06S Zaku II "Char Aznable Custom" - WiP 1 primed.

2011-12-09T21:41:00.001Z

Bit of a boring update but had to wait for the weather here to calm down so i could go outside and prime every single piece of this kit. Almost used an entire can of primer spraying every piece and almost 2 packet of kebab sticks, only have 10 proper tweezers for airbrushing.

Going to have to get the right reds for Char's zaku mixed now, still unsure about he colour, i would prefer the "Red Comet" to have a purely red MS but i know it would be more accurate to have pink.

Ian

DML Dragon 1/144 - A-10 Thunderbolt - Wip 2

2011-12-07T21:57:00.001Z

Surprisingly to me it been over 3 months since ive touched the A-10, really excellent model despite what seems to me to be alot of bad fitting pieces..

Added the wings and started working on the undercarriage which both have great detail but really need quite alot of work to get fitting correctly, reckon it going to take quite alot of work getting the wings to seamlessly fit onto the undercarriage.

Been looking at camouflage schemes too, really liking the green European pattern but the light grey 2-tone also looks great, hard to decide.

Ian

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

2011-12-04T21:40:00.001Z

The next RG build. Going to paint up the "Red Comet" in more of a red livery as appears in M.S. Igloo rather than the pink from the TV series.

Going to be my first entry into the Zaku Group Build over at MAC forums.

Still got 2 RG builds on the go, but if i get this started now i reckon i can have Char's Zaku finished during Christmas holidays.

During this last weekend ive sanded down all the parts which took quite some time, these RG kits have alot of parts! Some ruddy tiny too!

Waiting for it to stop raining here in Blighty so i can prime these.
Ian

New airbrush! Precision AB-180

2011-12-03T11:37:00.001Z

My first airbrush has for some time been preforming badly, especially trying to paint 1/144 scale.

Upgraded to the next level, since the first one was defiantly a beginners brush, got lots to paint this weekend to try it out. Both airbrushes are the same brand and quite affordable, going to keep the other as a primer airbrush.

Ian

U.C Hardgraph 1/144 - Type 74 Hover Truck "The 08th MS Team" - WiP

2011-11-29T21:31:00.001Z

Working the Hover Truck a little bit here and there lately, the 08th MS Team modelled first of course.

Great little model, with some fantastic decals from Bandai. Really tried to weather up the truck using a black and dirt wash and adding alot of rust, especially rain effect rust, photos might be too bright to see the effect but im really happy with the way its looking.

Might adjust a view things, maybe open up the open a hatch or 2 and put the sonic sensor drill thing is active position.

Plan on making a little diorama with this, once i find a decent wooden diorama base at a good price.
Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - Day 6 - Project 144

2011-11-26T22:22:00.001Z

Back to Tokyo for day 6 and off to Project144, which is like the biggest 1/144 scale event in the world and possibly the only one devoted to the scale.

Lucky i happened to be in Tokyo at the right time for this great event, wish i could have stayed longer.

Got to meet Koz who invited me along to the the project which was a pleasure and so many other 1/144 scale modeller who blogs i follow, all very kind fellows. Made me double my effort with my Japanese, thought i was quite good until i actually tried to engage in real conversations and not knowing enough vocab, got quite good at buying and understanding number when i was there.

Going to try and link to each modeller i can, i you know any i don't please leave a link if possible.

Down to The 1/144 World / Koz
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/kozfc/MYBLOG/yblog.html

Yaskanba
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/yaskanba/MYBLOG/yblog.html

???

Tomytec Gimix
http://www.tomytec.co.jp

Fumi
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/fumi_bnr32

ZiMBaD
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/zimba_heavy%EF%BC%89

Uekisyokunin

IKE
http://ike.vivian.jp/wordpress/

Aniki (really not sure what the blog is called?)
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/y023023%EF%BC%89

I walked from my hotel Washingtion Akihabara to the Project 144, on the way i saw my first itasha,
Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha style, saw quite a few Miku Hatsune too.

Was a great event and i even got a freebie from Matuo-kasten which was incredibly kind. Surprised that a few of the modellers knew my work and most knew Bluedonkey

Wonder if such a thing would be possible in the UK?
Ian

Bandai Ex Model 1/44 - DFA-03 Dopp - WiP

2011-11-26T09:25:00.001Z

Dopp is massive up against the RG Core Fighter!

Very easy to assemble kit, its all snap-fit. Since this photo was taken ive added a little bit more detail, mostly to the rear engine parts which was very sparse and tried to add some more panel lines which im really bad at.

Was meant to buy a BMC chisel in Japan but forgot to buy one for the panel line and outside Japan there rare and twice the price and they were expensive in Japan.

Started updating the cockpit which i think could still do with some more work, it turns out this is the most exposed cockpit ive built, the Dopp canopy is large and give a great look inside.

Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06F Zaku II - WIP - Assembled!

2011-11-23T21:49:00.001Z

Finally put together this guy over the weekend, one amazing model this! How it pieces together and the way the joints move. Really happy with the way it looking at the moment., very clean though.

The weapons have been given a matt finish which really improves the way they look and the zaku a satin but i think i will go with matt effect soon.

Can't see the mono-eye once the head was put together, painted it a clear red which looked great until until i put in the eye socket might have to paint it pink.
Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - Day 5 - Osaka and then back to Tokyo

2011-11-22T20:27:00.001Z

Day 5 in Japan i decided to visit Osaka which is only a 30 minute train journey from Kyoto, saw a giant size chocolate bar on the side of the tracks, awesome advertising.

Got to Osaka and it was damn hot, really hot for this Englishmen who's use to cloudy skies, in Osaka i got super lost, everyday in Japan i got lost but this day i got seriously lost, was meant to got to the aquarium bit got ton the wrong train and when i got to the end of the line i could see where i wanted to be across the river and trouble was when i finally managed to figure out what happened it was a hour until the bullet train to
Tokyo left. So i played some awesome Gundam arcade game (which i sucked at) and generally moched around the Osaka station trying a few bit of foods of street vendors and wondering being amazed by Japan.

Got back to Tokyo in the evening after my last ride on the bullet train where i got to drink a coke in some sort of can/bottle combination and had a moch around Akihabara which i would be doing properly the next day. Not sure what the satellite crashed in the building was about, heard something to do with Stains;Gate but was getting alot of attention.

Last thing at night on TV was Danny Choo's Culture Japan which was a great watch and it was set in Osaka! Knew Danny was from the UK and only ever heard him speak Japanese so was really surprised to hear is his English in an London accent.

Ian

Kit Review - Bandai Ex Model 1/44 - DFA-03 Dopp -

2011-11-21T18:27:00.001Z

Time to start building some of the kits i brought back from Japan, first starting with the smallest easiet kit. This Dopp kit i knew existed but did'nt expect to find but it turns out that the Bandai Ex kits are easily available in all the model shops i visited which really surprised me. Been wanting some of them for years but the price i find them for on the net is way too expensive for what i think of as a just a kit, but of coruse Japan being awesome you get a great selection at a great price.

Dopp is a great little fighter and looks really unusally as an aircraft due to it being designed inside a colony, apprantly it can reach mach 5. Not going to model it as Garma's Dopp instead im going for a 08th MS Team or M.S. Igloo standard green.

Nice little kit, all snap fit and perfect detail up aginst the line art, im going to have ago at adding some detail especially to the cockpit, comes with a real wide range of MSV sticker, with some cool nose art for the MS-07 Gouf and lots of ofther Zeon symbols and icons ive never seen or have any idea what for.

Ian

Macross 1/144 - VF-1S Valkyrie - VFA-143 "Pukin Dogs"

2011-11-20T08:26:00.001Z

Been quite some time since ive finished one of the f-toys 1/144 scale VF-1 Valkyrie's. This one had been painted grey and gloss for over a year waiting for some to be done to it and while shifting through the spare decals ive amassed found the VFA-143 "Pukin Dogs" decals and though they would be perfect on the Valkyrie.

Copied the scheme that the F-14 use to have and the large pukin dogs griffin surprisingly fitted perfectly onto the tail wing.

Ian

Star War : The Clone Wars - The Umbara Arc

2011-11-19T08:43:00.001Z

Just finished watching all 4 episodes set on the Shadow World of Umbara, brilliant!!! These 4 basically clone center stories are the best ive seen in the Clone Wars fro some time and it always seems to be the stories from the clone point of view i like the most.

Really like how it showed the the clones are actually men instead of grown in tube soldiers, incredible dark set of episode not just visually which looked fantastic but emotionally and the echoes of Order 66 in the last episode really got me exited clone in Phase 2 armor hunting a Jedi, awesome!

Feel The Clone Wars improving every season, story and beauty of the animation. Looks like the animators are now almost able to full a screen with close for epic action.
Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - Day 4 - Cycling round Kyoto.

2011-11-16T19:43:00.001Z

The second and sadly only full day i spent in Kyoto i rented a bicycle and tried to see as much as i could in the single day.

Lots of temple, shines and beautiful old structures in Kyoto, maybe the equivalent of Oxford or Cambridge in the UK if Tokyo was London, sadly it no where near. From the station where i stashed my gear in the coin locker i headed towards the amazing Kinkaku-ji with the stunning Golden Pavilion visiitng any i could on the way, stop what i thought was a shrine but turned out to be a university on graduation day, standing there until realised that i was a uninvited guest, took a few photos and popped in the bike again. After that i got very lost and found my self at the Town Hall which was quite far away from where i wanted to be, saw the Movix theater thats appeared in alot of anime in some sport of roofed street. Once at the Kinakau-ji i headed towards the river to see the massive stepping stones, some stones carved as turtles, sting-rays and boats which i really like. Had to return the bike by nightfall, later on i went up Kyoto Tower, then spent hours in Yodobashi camera and played Pichinko, deafening! Cream crackered after that day and did sleep well.

Did not lock the bike up once! Ive never been to a country where you would leave your bike unlocked, Japan is so safe!

Ian

U.C Hardgraph 1/144 - Type 74 Hover Truck / M353A4 Bloodhound - WiP

2011-11-15T21:22:00.001Z

Time to get back to some modelling.

These neat little hover trucks came with the U.C Hardgraph 1/144 Ground War Set, not sure if this is called the Type 74 Hover Truck from 08th MS Team or M353A4 Bloodhound from MS Igloo?

Lately ive really been into modelling the One Year War U.C Hardgraph style and been wanting to add a bit more detail to some of the 1/144 vehicle ive got and brought back from Japan. RG Zaku II and Wappa where the first i started and this weekend i added some more detail the the Hover Truck.

Ive added new railing, antenna, opened up one of the hatches, some wiring and covered up the back ramp, is a very detail little model and almost perfect against the line art, ive been copy the detailing on the 1/35 scale model.

Just now primed it and cause it so small should take now time to paint.
Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - Day 3 - 9hour Capsule Hotel, Kyoto

2011-11-13T20:21:00.001Z

One of the "to do list Japan" was to stay in capsule hotel, Japanese capsule hotels are kind of famous in the UK. After some research stumbled upon the awesome looking one in Kyoto which is cooler than i imagined. Lots i looked into in Tokyo look quite old and ive heard to get alot of drunk salarymen in them which i would rather avoid, other guest where mostly tourists and young cool Japanese.

Premise of 9hour is one hour to clean and get ready to sleep, seven hours of sleep then the final hour to wake, clean and leave.

I freaking loved it, i mean i found it a bit strange in the pod and didn't sleep anywhere near 7 hours, its like Kubrick's 2001 made real.

Youtube video below is what sold me on this capsule hotel, explains whats its about better than i could.

Always a plus when yu check in and the lass behind the counter is super cute ;)
Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - The score, haul, loot, swag, mostly model kits

2011-11-13T09:26:00.001Z

Had to buy a new bag in Japan to get of the souvenirs home, i was worried that i over gone by baggage limit on the plane which is 23kg for each bag but both together weighed less than 20kg.

Most of this was bought in Akihabara, my new favorite place in the world! Got lots of photos of that place for later.

I bought alot of kits (at half the price i usually pay!) and got one of my top wants the Bandai Ex 1/144 Magella Attack, got a nice selection of Platz kit and some MSV zaku which i will in the far future use on the RG Zaku, a whole load of sundries or random supplys you just can't get in the UK and plenty of mecha mooks. Take me too long to list everything but will do some review on some individual items in the future.

Think ive got enough model to keep me building for years to come.
Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - Day 3 - Bullet Train and Kyoto

2011-11-12T07:30:00.001Z

Day 3 i utilized my JR Pass and poped on the awesome Shinkanzen / bullet train and visited Kyoto for a couple of days.

First day after arriving at the massive Kyoto Station which is like a miniature city inside, seeing Kyoto Tower and putting my stuff in the coin lockers i visited Arashiyama Disitrict.
Straight from the super clean station i walked to Togetsukyō bridge over the Katsura River, then walked through Bamboo woods, visited lots of shrines and temple and then like nearly everyday i was in Japan got lost, which is actually quite enjoyable, getting off the tourist trail and seeing suburban Kyoto.

Lots of photos from my time in Kyoto are straight out of an anime, 3 in this batch are a direct copy of whats on screen.
Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - Day 2 - Ueno, the park and museums.

2011-11-08T22:13:00.000Z

The second day in Japan i spent in Ueno, which has a lovely old park and lots of museums about Japanese history and culture as well as a few museums about art, technology. Trying to remember what i did on the super busy day included a stroll around Ameyoko market, amazing seeing this packed market under a railway line, then onto Ueno park where i visited the National Museum of Western art (The Thinker outside of that one), National Science Museum (full size whale, plesiosaurus skeleton and Mitsubishi Zero), Tokyo National Museum (Samurai armor) which are all with Ueno park. After i spent nearly the entire day there i walked up to Yanaka Cemetery walking along those small Tokyo streets with all the cable above just like you see in the anime which i really think is great. Cemetery was interesting, biggest ive ever seen with Crows squawking as you walk through like in a horror movie, amazing to look up and see skyscraper and the Sky Tree while in the center of it.

Was another perfect day weather wise for a Englishmen just like every other day of the holiday, for me it was summer weather and i seamed to be the only person only wearing shirt while the native Japanese wore jumper, coats etc.

After the first 2 day in Japan i spent doing old Tokyo stuff, next i moved on to Kyoto before coming back to Tokyo which was when i did noting but the modern, coming soon!
Ian

Japan Trip 2011 - Day 1 - The Imperial Palace

2011-11-06T07:24:00.000Z

Got back from my awesome trip to Japan late Friday night and spent yesterday recovery (sleeping).
Is an amazing country with fantastic people.
Got to do lots of the tourist stuff and a few things anime related.
Went Project 144, which was a blast, amazing models and great modeler i met, thank you to Koz letting me know about it so i could go.

Every so often i will post a few photos of what i did, i alternated the day between the old, new and geeky. First day i spent wandering around the Imperial Palace as i was closet to the hotel. Took an entire day to walk around and visst every inlcuding the Science Museum, Gardens, British Embassy, Budokan and so much more, after the first day i was knackered.

Just before landing decided to take a photo, by this time my butt was super numb after 12 hours of sitting in the same postion.

Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06F Zaku II - WiP - Starting to assemble

2011-10-18T22:06:00.001+01:00

Started to assemble the RG Zaku and its taking me more time than expected.

What i didn't count on was the paint on the connectors, mostly the male parts which ruins the fit so im have to scrape off the paint to get a accurate fit.

But so far even though ive only done the legs, it look damn good and very clean, which is what you'd expect from the Elite Guard (that's what i keep telling myself). Will have to wait until the end to see if i got the colours right.

Reckon i will have this finish or at least assembled by the time i go to Japan but no time to take photo of the end results.

Ian

U.C Hardgraph 1/144 - PVN.4/3 Wappa + Zeon Pilots - WiP Painted.

2011-10-16T17:14:00.001+01:00

The Wappa's all painted, decaled and waiting for a little weathering and adding the number plate on the front bubbles.

Made 5 Zeon Pilots from some Preiser 1/144 figures, might be a bit hard to see but the leader of the Wappa group is Sgt Sol whos meant to be looking at his watch checking the time till the bombs go off attached to the Gundam. Also a fellow leaning against on of the Wappas.

Have the intention of making a little diorama with these, once a find a suitable base.

Ian

Kit Review - Revell 1/144 - F-15 E Strike Eagle

2011-10-15T20:57:00.000+01:00

The new F-15 from Revell recently released, looking like a fine kit along the lines of Revell of Germany other quality 1/144 models and i think the best injection kit your going to see for a long time.

This review here is really in depth and it seems this a 1/48 scaled to 1/144, only gripe would be the decal option only one and tiger meet so too flashy for what i want a Strike Eagle to look like.

Usual amount of parts for a 1/144 Revell kit, comes as the 2-seater but should be quite easy to make a single seater and a excellent two-piece canopy always nice as a display option.

Strange lack of weapons but im most 1/144 modeller will have plenty of spares from DML Dragon kits, i like seeing a Strike Eagle armed to the teeth!.

Shame about the decals, most of the useful stencils are Incorporated in the tiger meet strips.

Lots of top quality panel lines, good wash should really bring out the detail.

Looks like more excellent detail, unlike most Revell kits the the landing panel are molded onto the sprue.

Looking forward to building this new kit, which i won't be starting for a while because new week im off to JAPAN!!! OH YEAH!!Ian

Macross 1/144 - VF-1S Valkyrie - VFA-143 "Pukin Dogs" - WiP

2011-10-14T22:18:00.001+01:00

Going through my blog i noticed a massive amount of gunpla lately compared to say a year ago when i only modelled aircraft.

Time to start modelling some VF-1 Valkyries, this is one of a batch of VF-1's which have been needing some attention for months, painted grey so long ago and can't remember using left over paint in the airbrush from something else.

Found some decals to use US Navy, VFA-143 "Pukin dogs" which have a cool dark blue on the tail tips and around the cockpit which i thought would be perfect on the VF-1. Used a VF-1S head because i think when a US. Navy jet has coloured marking instead of usual low-viz it means that its the leader and S head is always a leader.

Once glossed will be a nice easy model to decal which i reckon took about a year to complete.
Ian

Mobile Suit Gundam 1/144 - Wappa - WIP

2011-10-09T22:28:00.001+01:00

This is my second updated Wappa but this time remodelling it as it appeared in the TV series episode 14, Time, be Still instead of the U.C. Hardgraph / M.S. Igloo redesign.

Much more simple but really like the way the frame over the seat is curved backwards and then joins where the gun is mounted. The gun in the series is a bit different, instead of 2 smaller ammo cartridges on either side the TV version has one big clip underneath and no metal rings around the the fans domes.

Since these are so small, they can be brush painted in no time.
Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06F Zaku II - WIP - Elite Guard Shield -

2011-10-08T23:38:00.000+01:00

My shield design for my RG Zaku II, this is rough idea of what i think all the future shields will look like.

I would have prefer to have a larger Elite Guard logo and used decals for the numbers and rank insignia rather than the supplied sticker. Hoping that with a few clear coats that the stickers will b less visible.

Z for Zeon Elite, being the 3rd unit 03 and no idea what the actual rank unit, 2 stripes is usually a corporal, wanted a lower rank that Chars. Had no luck find translated rank and logo insignia.

Got the idea for the Zaku Elite Guard or Zeon Home Defense Force from The Plot to Assassinate Gihren, that's a MS-06F2 at the end of the OYW. Also read that it can be Royal Guard or Eric Mansfield (zeon's 4th top ace) personal emblem?

The badge on the shield is a decal i got form Samuel Decal.
Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06F Zaku II - WiP - Decaling...

2011-10-05T21:44:00.000+01:00

Spent the any free time ive had over the last week giving the panel lines a black wash and applying the decals.

Took quite some time to apply all the decals, when ever piece is separate and i really took the time to make sure each decal was in the correct place when there are 4 of the same parts but the decal needs to be in a separate place on each.

Panel lines came out great, deep and very fine perfect for a wash.

Still working on the shield...
Ian

U.C Hardgraph 1/144 - PVN.4/3 Wappa - WiP

2011-10-02T19:32:00.001+01:00

Upgrading the M.S. IGLOO 2 redesign of the Wappa.

Since i bought the U.C. Hardgraph "Ground War Set" (which is where the Zaku comes from in my dull header) ive thought about adding more detail to the vehicles that are supplied. All are great little model but can do with alot of detail added.

Out of the blue today i decided i was going to attempt making this 1/144 Wappa look more like the 1/35 one, surprised how it turned out. Most of the time spent was bending up the wire, bit frustrating at times.

Got the M.S. Igloo Wappa done and since its so small will take no time to paint, the other Wappa will be remodeled to look like the TV series line art, which is much simpler.

Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06F Zaku II - WiP - The weapons

2011-09-29T22:03:00.000+01:00

Originally i painted the zakus weapons the same colour as the plastic sprues and paint guide, black and grey. Once assembled i didn't really like the way the grey and black contrasted together and thinking about real world weaponry they tend to be all the same colour but i do like how these RG weapons have different shades so i kept the black and added another shade of black to separate up the pieces.

All the parts of the weapons on the black sprues ive kept black painted with Vallejo Air Black and the parts that are meant to be grey are 50/50 black and metallic black, tried out just metallic black first but thought it looked too silver.

Still glossed at the moment, will give them a matte coat when other parts are ready.

New hands are great, find the movable fingers a cool feature but ive had trouble trying to hold the weapons on the Gundam.
Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06F Zaku II - WiP - Shades of Green

2011-09-25T21:33:00.000+01:00

4 different greens needed to paint to paint up all the panels. Took me some time to get all the parts ready and then paint.
Ive never had to remove the sprues, sand, prime and paint so many individual parts before, took quite some time.
Hoping the i choose and mixed the correct colours, will have to wait and see how they mash once the zakus assembled.

Vallejo Air colours i used.
Torso, sprue A - 22 Camouflage Green.
Panels on torso, sprue A - 60% 93 Field Green, 40% 06 Camo Light Green.
Arms, Legs, Head, sprue F, G1+2 - 95 Pale Green
Arms, Legs, Head, sprue C - 50% 95 Pale Green, 50% 09 Duck Egg Green.

Mixed up enough for maybe another 2 green zakus for future builds if i like the way this one turns out.
Ian

Real Grade - RGM-79 GM conversion - Head / Monitor WIP - 3

2011-09-23T23:03:00.001+01:00

Except for a little tidying up of scratches and then adding panel line i think this GM head is complete.

Cut off the mohawk of the RX-78 and has taken quite some time to get it fitted correctly, not glued yet, think it will be easier to add that at the last moment when im completely satisfied with what ive got.

The vulcan cannon also which was super delicate, those little blighter are small and of course i dropped them a few times, the horror trying to find those again.

Took me quite some time trying to get the holes aligned correctly, also drilled out the barrel, which suddenly made them look better.

Except for the shin guards, i think that's nearly all the conversion is complete.
Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06F Zaku II - Inner Frame

2011-09-18T11:08:00.000+01:00

The amazing RG inner frame, increadible at this scale! Thought start the first Real Grade Zaku with the green F type, which i prefer over Chars slighty pink zak?

Instead of following the instructions, i went ahead and built and painted the inner frame and working first. All the ABS joints are Vallerjo Air Metallic Black and everything else that attaches to in in Dark Sea Grey.

Added a little detail to the cockpit with some straps on the chair and decals on the inside for electronics, Mono-eye is Tamiya Clear Red but think it might be too like, even though i prefer the mono red it seams the pink stands out more.

Was at first a big fan of the metallic sticker but after only a few days after being applied they have already start to chip, scratch and not look to good.

Painted the Hydraulic Pistons yellow and silver like a JCB, instead of the usual brass, sliver. Have a construction yard near my workplace and looking at all the work machinery noticed that none of the hydraulics are nice clean brass but are painted and when you look at other machinery are also paint instead of bare metal.

I also imagine all the machinery combining into Devastator? "Preare for annilation!"

Hoping i will have all the green painted by the end of next week, then all decaled by the end of the week after that.Ian

Usagi Drop

2011-09-17T09:37:00.001+01:00

Charming is about the best word i can come up to with to describe this sweet anime series, which i finished last night.

Usagi Drop is way off field for the usual anime i watch or practically all anime i watch, no mecha, no sci-fi, no action just a lovey slice of life story. if you want some short, sweet and genereally nice with a whole load of morality tales thrown in than this could be it.

Only 11 episodes, very short for an anime, so i hope that another season will be produced in the future.

Even like the girlie intro song which i downloaded to my phone, now share the same playlist as Iron Maiden and The Clash.

Real Grade 1/144 - MS-06 Zaku II - 2 and 2

2011-09-11T20:54:00.003+01:00

Got a plan for all 4 of these little beauty's, wanted to grab some since Chars custom Zaku was released but waited for the greenie came along and have a small platoon of zaks. Going to start of with the classic green MS-06F, first MS that appeared in Gundam!

Now that i got all 4 of these kits i reckon i should have only bought 1 S type, thinking about what i want to build the best model would be the F type.

Ian

Revell 1/144 - E-2C Hawkeye - WiP 1 -

2011-09-05T21:36:00.002+01:00

A 1/144 modellers favorite from Revell.

Bought this excellent little kit from Revell just after Christmas and recently built it easily. One of those model kit where everything fits correctly and caused me no problem, which is a rarity and a pleasure.

And to keep it easy, i kept this a straight build, no adjusting the flaps, having the wings folded or new 8 prop propellers, keeping the 4 prop for a 80's version or maybe 70,s, to go next to some F-14s. Have got a bunch of aftermarket bits to convert the model but decided against it.

Might be some time before i paint this, thinking about getting a new airbrush first.
Ian

Gundam 0083- HGUC 1/144 - RGM-79C GM Type C - Completed

2011-09-02T23:54:00.000+01:00

Completed this very nice HGUC kit last week and im very happy with it. Wil probable be a long time before a build a MS from Gundam outside of the One Year War, unless i get tempted by the Jesta.

What i went for with this is a Type C at the end of 0079, remember reading about the Type C being fielded right at the end of the OYW and that it lacked the antenna (Sentinel 0079?) which i really didn't like anyway and why i added a shield with the Earth Federation star. Not really a fan of antenna's on amazing pieces of future technology, you can make a giant mobile suit that moves faster than a human yet go can't make a decent radio?

Livery is meant to be some sort of real type low-viz scheme, did try out all grey at first but did not look right, in Gundam a coloured chest seams to be a visual rule.

Found a nice decal for the right shoulder, seams to be a swan in front of a planet as some sort of nose art.
And check out the fisted manipulators, a new standard from Bandai, nice one!

Beam saber came from the 30th anniversary HG Gundam, which of course when i completed this i found the lost one, think this one look better myself though.

Always like this parade ground / airshow type display, even added the little pilot i recently made.

This was about the most action pose i went with, kinda worried about ruining the paint at the joints.

Was mean to enter this into the Europe Gunpla Cup over at MAC forum but just couldn't figure out how to add the label which had to be added without a photo shop, next time, really enjoyed this build anyhow.

Ian

HGUC - Mobile Suit Gundam - RB-79 BALL - WiP 2 Painted -

2011-08-27T18:06:00.002+01:00

Airbrushed up last night, detailed this morning and now just gloss coated for the decal tomorrow which i think will be minimal.

Ian

HGUC - Mobile Suit Gundam - RB-79 BALL - WiP 1 -

2011-08-24T21:49:00.002+01:00

Started one of the Balls up during the weekend with the hope of adding to the European Gunpla Cup over at MAC forum.

This one im planing om completed by the weekend if the decals ive ordered from Samuel Decal arrive by then. Going to paint this in pure anime colours in that light blue grey with only a little improvement detail wise with decals and the verniers and engines painted metal instead of the red.

Really simple kit to glue and putty, only major seam line are on the weapon, going to give them a wash now and prime later on this evening.

Ian

Space Battleship Yamato - 1/144 Black Tiger -

2011-08-21T21:32:00.001+01:00

Recently found this on eBay, not something i knew about at all amd no idea when these where released. Looks like a selection of 1/144 scale figther including the Cosmo Zero and Black Tiger from Iscandar season and the Cosmo Tiger II both single and double seater that turn in nearly every anime after season 1.

Has a little pilot in the cockpit which is basically a blob of a helmet but its painted in the right colours. Check out those wings/fins, very 70's. After the Black Tiger i can't remember seeing the arrow on any other fighter or ship.

Your standard size Gasphon box, must a generic vending machine size.

Perfect compared to the line art and really dig that colour scheme with the light blue grey underbelly coping a bunch of sea creatures.

Going to try and get some Cosmo Tiger II next and repaint them.
Ian

Gundam 0083- HGUC 1/144 - RGM-79C GM Type C - Weapons WiP -

2011-08-21T14:03:00.002+01:00

Got all the weapons and shield done in time for the Euro Gunpla Cup over at MAC forums, only a handful of days until the finish at the end of this month,

Never realised until i painted the bazooka that its the same one the Gundam Mk.2 has and i had to replace the Beam Saber with one from the 30th Gundam, lost the original and cannot find it at all.

Going to start taking picture later on today with hopefully some decent light.
Ian

1/144 - US Navy Carrier Tow Tractors and Fire Engines -

2011-08-18T22:54:00.002+01:00

As i was painting the carrier crew, i decaled up these Tractors and Fire Engines from DML Dragon and Century Wings .

I built the Dragon kits and painted them quite some time ago but never got around to finishing them, ive got alot of WiPs. The metal Century Wing tractor i decaled and weathered at the same time, used Starfighter decals and Dragon own to decal them all.

Should look good on some dio once i finish up some US Navy jets. Think that on that during the 80's Tractor were yellow while now the seem to be white.

Ian

Kit Reveiw - HGUC - Mobile Suit Gundam - RB-79 BALL

2011-08-14T19:25:00.001+01:00

Grab life by the RB-79 Ball!

New get of what has to be the most feasible weapon in the Universal Century, can't be that difficult to get one of these made to work on the ISS?
Really great little duel kit of the ball, nearly all the seams are hidden as well as the the bit where the sprues where attached.

Really like the Ball with this cannon below.

The 08th Team Ball, with the weapon duel machine gun or cannon not to sure?

I plan on building one Real Grade style to go with GM, which i hope to improve a little and other in a straight build in the simple anime colour, that strange blue/grey.

Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion - WIP Legs / Kneeguards -

2011-08-12T23:56:00.002+01:00

Real Grade 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion - WIP Legs / Kneeguards - 1, a photo by AntSizedMan on Flickr.

This is my rough idea of what i want the knee guards to look like. I cut up the existing guards from the RX-78-2 reducing the height above the knee and flattening it down to look like the more simeple GM design.
Still very rough and got to piut in some time making sure the the join between the shin guard and knee will be flush when stand upright.

It is starting to look like what i had in mind, so all is good at the moment.
Ian

Century Wings + DML Dragon 1/144 - US Navy Aircraft Crew - Painted Wip

2011-08-11T20:18:00.002+01:00

This is what i thought was all the 1/144 US Navy carrier crew i had painted but just found about 3 i missed, always something i miss. I think it a great improvement from the original paint on the metal Century Wings figures and after a new paint app those look really good. Also got 3 sprues of the Dragon crew, which are also quite nice. Manged to paint them like a factory to, all the jersey, then all the trouser, then gloves etc, think it might have been about 3 hours total.

Here's a guide to what each colour on the carrier deck means if your interested.
www.navy.mil/navydata/ships/carriers/rainbow.asp

Guess only the grapes have nicknames?
Ian

DML Dragon 1/144 - A-10 Thunderbolt - Wip 1

2011-08-07T21:30:00.001+01:00

Started the warthog last week, starting with the amazing cockpit and the engines. Cockpit was a pleasure to paint, only plasticard i used was to widen the ejection seat and add some buckle with masking tape.

Used the turbine from the Revell kit inside the the Dragon engines, for some reason the dragon engines lacked detail so used the best part from the Revell kit.

Also cut out the panel under the canopy to add the ladder, stopped at the moment because of the difficulty with the front landing gear, cannot get the parts to fit yet.

Ian

Century Wings + Pro-Hobby 1/144 - Aircraft crew and vehicles

2011-08-06T12:05:00.000+01:00

Bought all these metal Modern US Navy and WW2 crew or 2 years ago and have never got round to really using them.
Decided to paint up all the US Navy carrier crew in from Century Wings and with the DML Dragon figures i also have from there various aircraft carrier model kits. With the metal Pro-Hobby and Dragon plastic tractor i will have 5 total, which should look good on a dio.

All the Pro Hobby 1/144 figures are WW2 Axis crews, which will probable use some time in the future, the Kubelwagon is going to be Der Stern von Afrika, Hans-Joachim Marseille personal ride.

I can tell the detail in there with these figures and recon that if a repaint them after some primer i can get some nice little figures for diorama. Even got some space worker in normal suits for gundam dio maybe?

Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion - WIP - Progress so far...

2011-08-04T21:58:00.001+01:00

This is where im up to right now, really happy with the progress. Was going to enter into the Europe Gunpla Cup, but really now doubt i will make the deadline, not going to rush this one.

From the top.
Monitor/Head, Still adjusting the ridge to fit as i want it, with a MS Pilot
Cockpit - Complete, first thing done.
Waist - Is basically complete, changed a few bit, have cut up the center groin part to fit under the guards, have no idea how i should panel line up the guards?
Legs/Shins- Lower part of the shins i have added plasticard to fill in the gaps where the gundam has some vents and have yet to start what i think it the most difficult part, the knees.
Backpack - All done, liking the single beamsaber there.

Also on the feet, i fill in the front panel line running straight through the center of each, not a fan of that, looks to me to be too much of a bad seam as most gunpla don't have that.

Ian

Kit Review - Revell Vs DML Dragon - 1/144 - A-10 Thunderbolt

2011-07-31T17:49:00.002+01:00

Bought both these A-10 Thunderbolt to find out which id best and it looks like the the Dragon kit wins hands down.

The dragon kit has superior detail, best ive seen i reckon. Amazing little cockpit, can see buckle on the straps, piping behind the ejection seat and with all the control panels present. And like nearly all Dragon kit a fantastic selection of weapons to load up the Hog with, enough for maybe 4 sorties each with a different selection of bombs and missiles.

Revell kit, which i must be a repackage because it does not compare to the usual Revell standards still has a few good points, looks like it would be the easier kit to build, lots of nice straight line with no flash which the Dragon has quite a bit of and has a better engine turbines, will probable use them inside the the dragon jets. Seems also to be somewhat larger the the dragon kit and the landing gear it very toyish.

Both have basically the same looking decals for the standard Hog, Dragon has the very striking display scheme but becoming less of a fan of those sort of livery, prefer a plane that it painted for combat. Gt to have the shark teeth on mine.

Looking forward to building this gorgeous looking jet, Tankbuster!
Ian

Revell + Academy 1/144 - MiG-29 Fulcrum "Polish Air Force" - Completed -

2011-07-29T22:40:00.000+01:00

Heres the MiG-29 Fulcrum i really like, a more modern version the Fulcrum in the cool light grey, dark grey camo of the Polish Air Force or Air Forces of the Polish Republic in their native tongue.

Nose i fell is still not right from certain angles but overall this one i like. Got some cool weapons on there from the Dragon kit, most of the cockpit is from the Academy kit with my favorite ejection seat done so far and an upgraded engines. Might be crazy enough to redo the the nose and make this into a small dio.

Top view show the camo pattern, also see quite abit of panel scribing i did.

All the very nice DML Dragon weapons with pylons from the same kit are very accurate. For some reason the underneath of the Revell kit is really detail?

Canopy not glue, so you can see the computer behind the ejection seat.

The more modern tail design using the DML Dragon kit i think, can't quite remember know, really tried to paint the engines in different shades of silver/chrome.

Polish decals came form a Attack MiG-21 kit i had in my stash for a while, got to remember to have the red square always to the right.

Now i need a good Su-27 Flanker, best Russian jet ever!
Ian

Gundam RG 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion - EFSF - M.S. Pilot and Officer -Gundam RG 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion - EFSF - M.S. Pilot and Officer -

2011-07-26T22:05:00.000+01:00

The Real Grade kit has to have a pilot and the RX-78-2 Gundam comes with a tiny figure of Amuro Ray. So i made my own Mobile Suit Pilot and Federation Officer from some Preiser 1/144 figure ive collected. Think the pilot is from the NATO crew set and the officer from the airliner set.

Really enjoyed painting these up, look really good when there next to the GM WiP, in the photo there about 5 times larger than what they actually are and i can see what could be improved but just too damn difficult to do at this scale for me.

Got to get me some Zeon figures now and Preiser really need to release some more 1/144 figures, there the best that available in the scale but really there is a really lack of choice, some WW2 Luftwaffe and RAF crew and pilots would be superb.

Ian

Revell + Academy 1/144 - MiG-29 Fulcrum " Soviet Air Force" - Completed

2011-07-24T20:50:00.000+01:00

In all honesty this recently completed MiG-29 Fulcrum to me just does not look right, maybe its the lack of undershading, weathering or maybe i just got the colour wrong, that green is far too bright.

Followed building this model quite a few other modelers attempt at updating this kit but alot of mine just does not look right, especially the nose cone from certain angle. Wonder why there is a total lack of decent Russian / Soviet aircraft kits available, at least for the latter cool aircraft.

Put this one down to learn from ones mistakes, decided to try and only build newer more accurate kit from now on like Revell, Platz, Sweet and maybe buy a few of the newer smaller company who are releasing some nice looking aircraft.

Favorite part of this build it the snow guard on behind the rear of the front landing gear wheel.

Got the Polish Fulcrum coming next which i think is a improvement on this one.
Ian

Gundam RG 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion - Head / Monitor WIP - 2

2011-07-23T17:07:00.000+01:00

Suddenly decided that i no longer liked what i'd already done to the top of the GM head from the last WIP, reckon it would have looked fine but wanted to to match up with the Gundam when posed next to each other .

What im hoping to do now is use the parts from the real grade Gundam head, the ridge and the vulcans.Got to take the hack up the gundam head now and try and fit it to the GM exactly like the RX. Shame about the vulcans i already completed but hopefully this will look much more real.

GM looking like Krillin at the mo.
Ian

Prefectural Earth Defense Force

2011-07-22T22:23:00.001+01:00

Totally random but very funny parody anime i just watched, how and when i got this is a mystery. Just takes the stab at every anime/manga during the 80's and surprisingly with this sort of comedy anime the animation is top notch, great intro sci-fi space battle and some sweet action during the entire show.

Bascially it about the evil Telephone Pole Company? wanting to take over the world but they reckon they have more intelligence than your run of the mill evil organisation. So after seeing so many bad guys fail in anime who go directly to the capital Tokyo these this lot dicide to start with the outlying Prefectures, in response the anime cliche teenage heroes are recruited from the nearest school to oppose them. Sounds silly, is, but was seriously funny to someone who's watched so much 80's anime.

Pink hair girl is a total cutie Baradagi, whose only evil during the Telephone Pole Company working hours, after that shes a normal cutie with a real out of place hair cut.

Ian

Gundam 0083- HGUC 1/144 - RGM-79C GM Type C - Decal WiP -

2011-07-17T14:09:00.002+01:00

Spent the last few hours decaling up the Type C using any leftover decal i could find, still want to add a nose art type thing on the right shoulder but yet to find one which i think will look good in my left over decal tub. Colours and decals kind remind me of the Delta Plus from Unicorn?

Lucky with the EFSF decal, never knew i had one and it the perfect size, think it might have come with some random Macross bits i once bought along withe those nice mecha warning sign with the circle which i really like on gunpla i see all the time.

Still have'nt started the weapons and ive lost the beam saber!!!!
Ian

Gundam 0083- HGUC 1/144 - RGM-79C GM Type C - WiP

2011-07-14T22:02:00.000+01:00

Started getting work done the the GM Type-C pretty darn fast over the last few days, have kind of taken few weeks off modeling lately for holidays and stuff but now itching to get back to some plamo.

Airbrushed all the main meat 2 days ago and detailed up last night. All that left is the decals and weapons, weekend maybe?
Decided to go with a almost low-viz version of the blue type-c, using 2 paints that ive never used before.

All ready to go a few days ago before any paint below. Changed a few bits about the kit, removed the aerial behind the head and remove the bars on the shoulder, also decided to use the shield from the HGUC Gundam with the star on instead of the simpler shield that comes with this, will keep that for another build set during 0079.

Did want to do this as a quick fun build and i reckon i can get it all wrapped up within a week it time pertains.
Ian

Revell + Academy 1/144 - MiG-29 Fulcrum - Wip Built and painted.

2011-07-10T22:08:00.001+01:00

Did put quite a bit of work into these 2 but all the photo i took are really bad, think because it was mostly white plastic. Used most of the parts from the revell kit and academy and only the pylon from the DML Dragon, will also be some weapons and landing gear from that.

The green/grey will be a Russian/Soviet early type Fulcrum while the Grey/Dark Grey will be a Polish later type after communism.

My favorite cockpit so far in in the the Polish MiG, decided to have the canopy open on that one now.

Still not sure if i got the nose cone correct.
Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion - WIP - Backpack / Ransel

2011-07-09T23:08:00.000+01:00

Got the Ransel (no idea what that was but apparently that's what you call the backpack on a gundam, some sort of military Backpack) completed today.

Had to remove the one the double holsters for the GMs only one beam saber. Wanted to do something simple before i tackle the shin guards, still not sure how i want them to look.

Cockpit and Backpack complete, still to be done: Head, Waist, Shin Guards and Weapons.

Ian

Space Battleship Yamato - EDF Escort Crusier - Completed

2011-07-03T17:49:00.000+01:00

Had these 2 completed for over a month now but but keep forgetting to take some photos when the lights decent. Super happy with the way they've turned out, especially considering the kit is from the 70's.

Got the decals from a spare set of modern Luftwaffe set, might be from a tornado and the name are the call sign for the pilot and navigator. "EDF-12 Golden" is done in the anime colours and "EDF-30 Ludwig" is my own scheme.

Think these wave motion engine are my favorite part.

Off to join the fleet for the final showdown with the White Comet Empire.

Needs a Yamato to escort....
Ian

TECHNOTISE - Edit & I

2011-07-02T22:24:00.001+01:00

A very cool Serbian sci-fi japanese inspired animation i recently watched which i enjoyed bigtime. Was very skeptical about at first, i don't think ive sever watched a Serbian film before and certainly not sci-fi aniamtion but this really impressed me, thought i make other aware. Check out the wiki, not much on it but did find out its a squael to a comic which ive had a look for and have not idea where to find.

Hope for more sci-fi like this, felt to me like audiobook or radio show type sci-fi with alot of discussions and a bit of cool hover board action. Hope for more mecha action too.

Soundtrack was right up my alley, cool electro rock.
Ian

HGUC - Gundam 0083 - RGM-79C GM Type C

2011-06-21T20:46:00.000+01:00

As i realised that the Real Grade GM conversion is going to take some time, thought i have ago at modelling at the same time the Hajime Katoki redesign for Sentinel 0079 and MSG 0083. Going to enter it in the MAC forums European Gunpla Cup.

Going to remove the antenna on the head and the handle on the shoulder pads, not a fan of those.Not decided what colours im going to paint is as but really like the blue, might go a low-viz livery.

Bazooka from Gundam Mk.2?, really like the shield without the Federation star might do that on the RG GM.

Comes with fists manipulators, win in my book.

Hajime Katoki design looks almost identical to Gundam except for the head and knew guards.

Off to Glasto music festival, no model or anime for a week, might have withdrawal symptoms.
Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion - Waist WIP 2 -

2011-06-18T23:13:00.000+01:00

Starting on the two piece waist this weekend, added a piece of plasticard to each section to cover the groin and have been sanding the joining edge hoping to get a perfect seam right down the centre.

What i did not realise is the both these guards over the hips are not actually flat against the legs but slight angled towards the groin which means the part below the guards now protrudes, will have to make something new for that.

Got what i think the rear waist guard done, i think. Will add a piece of plasticard joining the two hip guards together. Trouble with adding a piece now joining both means that once glued the entire parts has to stay connected to the model because of the ball joint connecting each part to the inner frame face each other.
Will do that right at the end of the build so i can work and paint everything off the inner frame. No doubt without the inevitable being the first part completed on the model it will be the first part to break.

Still very rough, might just start over again.
Ian

Star Wars F-toys 1/144 -Tie Bomber -

2011-06-12T20:38:00.000+01:00

Something that past me by was the series 4 of F-toys 1/144 Star War line, no news of series 5 yet? Probable because there was only one 1/144 scale vehicle i wanted the other being a re-painted Y-wing and the rest scales other than 1/144. Have been watching this on eBay for sometime waiting to grab one at a low price and happened to get 2, result.

Another great release form f-toys, with such a awesome amount of detail. Always been one of my favorite star wars vehicl, it just looks right.

Real Grade 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion - WIP - Waist

2011-06-11T08:06:00.000+01:00

Starting the waist by removing the gundam detail to make the more simplified GM. Got to turn this from a 3 piece with a crouch guard into a simple 2 piece armor that looks good, reckon this is going to take some .

Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion - WIP - Chest / Cockpit

2011-06-05T19:14:00.000+01:00

Started yesterday on what i thought would be the easiest part of the build, the cockpit. Sanded down the piece of plastic inside the cockpit, added the plasticard and a bit of detail and got myself the first part of the conversion completed.

Also primed all the inner frame which already makes a big difference to the appearance, no longer shiny. Was going to start painting detail but after a little work noticed how much dust there is i will leave until i paint the entire kit, might have to cut some of the frame anyway.

Going to start the waist next, thats going to take some time.
Ian

Gundam RG 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion - Head / Monitor WIP

2011-06-01T21:56:00.000+01:00

Already was working on this from the G.30th HG conversion. Got what i think is the basic idea i had in my head modeled so far from converting the RGM-79[G] Gm Ground Type head or monitor into what i hope will be a better looking head than the somewhat none descript head that come with the HG GM gunpla.

Lots of the protrusions have been removed, the air intakes on the cheek, the small goatee on the chin and the guard that come out over the screen. Lots of putty and sanding.

Added a new month guard which i think needs to be more defined, looks like ive sanded off the sharp edges and left them looking to soft.

Vulcan in the forehead ive started, did 2 until i realised that one side was higher than the other so at the moment im waiting to putty and sand then start again hoping to be symmetrical.

Neck is too long, think i will adjust the inside on the head rather than cut up the inner frame.

I have spent quite some time on this and think there is till quite alot to do, fear the panel lining on this.

Ian

Real Grade 1/144 - RGM-79 GM conversion

2011-05-30T21:40:00.001+01:00

Ditched converting the HG 30th Gundam and switched to the Real Grade RX-78-2 Gundam kit instead.

RG Gundam - Will need to change the shin guards, waist, cockpit, backpack and head.
HG RGM-79 GM - Beam spray gun.
HG Ground War Set - Converting the RGM-79[G] head, already started with the 30th Gundam
Master archive for reference.

Inner frame is pretty damn amazing, arm and legs joint move like muscles, even the finger move.

Great thing is that i can convert all the parts separately, paint and detail easier i hope.

Space Battleship Yamato - EDF Escort Crusier - WIP 3 -

2011-05-26T22:03:00.000+01:00

Now that im into gunpla again i kinda left this on the side waiting for the final touches after all the parts being glued together, decals and panel line done, all that needed know is a final coat of matt and it should be complete.

Really very happy with the ways they've turned out, amazing these are kits from the 70's.

Ian

1/144 MiG-29 - Wanting to build 1, bought 3

2011-05-22T22:29:00.000+01:00

Been wanting to build a Russian aircraft and there seams to be a real lack of good kits for the old soviet jet. Bought these 3 MiG 29's from DML Dragon, Revell and Academy one after the other hoping to get a better kit but alas all are so-so.

Best of the bunch is the Revell kit will be using the entire fuselage from that, the Dragon in Italeri for the European market boxing and Academy are on about the same level of detail, was expecting the Dragon to be the best but strangely not as good as the other Dragon kits i have.
Going to be using the landing gear, tails and weapons from the Dragon, they are the best and the Dragon does have a great selection of weapons which both the Revell and Academy lack.
Lastly the Academy, i will be using the canopy and decals, might also us the wheels.

Turns out to be a good thing i bought all 3 so that i can build maybe 1 or 2 decent MiG's got another Revell on the way.

Ian

HGUC 1/144 - MS-07B-3 Gouf Custom - Wip 1

2011-05-17T21:44:00.000+01:00

Getting started on the Gouf and really from what ive done, glued and sanded the seam lines i reckon i could get a damn fine model completed but i want to add a little detail.

One of the first things i did which ive seen alot of blogs i follow, is to sharpen the spikes on the shoulders, really great little technique, cut of the end of the spike, replace with some plasticard, glue wait to dray then sand into a more defines point, really simple and works great. Also drilled out on of the joints on the inside of the shoulder guards away, could be seen which really didn't like the look of.

Tried to do some panel lining but that did not go well at all, hands to fill in with Mr Surfacers and sand to the original finish.

Only major seam line on this great gunpla is the back of the leg and only the bottom third do you have to sand down, the rest is meant to be a panel line, result!

Try adding a little detail, coping whats on the RG Zaku II, no attempt at new panel lines yet on these parts.

Ian

F-toys 1/144 - A-7E Corsair II - VFA-25 "Fist of the Fleet" - Completed

2011-05-11T21:01:00.001+01:00

Remodeled and repainted F-toys A-7E Corsair II in the VFA-25 "Fist of the Fleet" livery. Used YKraft decals and weapons from DML Dragon.

Was a very easy model to do but for some reason took me months to finish. If i was to make this again would use different pylons on the wings, fro some reason the f-toys ones are really plain while the rest of the jet has real top notch detail.

Because of the cool fist holding the lightning like Zeus i decided it would be only right to have a full payload of weapons on this bird, imagine this jet dropping bombs like Zeus throwing lighting to earth.

Ready for a sortie, weapons come from a DML Dragon A-6 Intruder set.

Think this photo show the great detail on the F-toys Corsair, which i think is the best available.

Ian

Monsters

2011-05-07T22:01:00.001+01:00

Great super low budget indie movie written, directed, shot and all the digital effects done by some awesome bloke called Gareth Edwards. Sweet little story about a journalist escorting is bosses daughter from Mexico through the "Infected Zone" to the USA. Its like a story set after the the proper monster with screaming and the running finished about the background extras, really unique and enjoyable.

Highly recommend, was totally under the radar for me, heard about it maybe a year ago and then nothing until today. Amazing that the same person did so much in this movie and the effects are quality, with off the shelf software.Ian

1/144 HG - Gundam Ver.G30th to RGM-79 - GM conversion. - WIP 2

2011-05-05T21:41:00.000+01:00

Getting more done on the GM, doing all the easy parts right now.

Cockpit - Cut out what was meant to be the core booster and added the simple GM cockpit, added a little detail which is shown in the GM Archive mook.

Head - Is from the Hardgraph Gundam Ground War Set and is going to be the modified ground GM head, think it is the best looking GM head available. Started removing some of the intakes and forehead protrusion, hoping it will look like a normal GM head but a little more real. Like how the 1/1 gundam looks more real than what appears in the anime.

Legs and Arms - Marked off what will need to be removed and changed into the more streamlined guards, thats going to take alot of putty and sanding.

Still alot to do, got really changed the waist, GM is really different to Gundam there and still so much work on the head and legs.

A long term project which i hope i don't get to distracted by Zeon suits.

HGUC 1/144 - MS-07B-3 Gouf Custom - Out of the Box -

2011-05-02T20:47:00.000+01:00

BADA$$!
Out of the Box built Gouf last night and it is one sweet kit. Lots of articulation compared to the other HG kit ive built and a wicked assembly, most of the sprue marks are hidden and the only seem line are on the back of the leg, unreal!

So easy to pose, especially with the clenched fist. Hope these fist are something regular with the new HG kits, make them look great when standing in non action pose. Think this started with HGUC kit 100 Unicorn Gundam and looks like all the feddie suit get a new sprue just for fist and open relaxed hands.

Big gun and a sword, somebodies ready for battle.

Cool little feature at the shoulder, there's a little notch so that when the arms is raised, the arms locks in so that a pose with the Gatling Gun is kept in place, simple.

Going to do a little research and see how i can add more detail, panel line and maybe some metal parts. Thinking about slightly copying the panel on the RG Zaku II
Ian

HGUC 1/144 - MS-07B-3 Gouf Custom -

2011-05-01T17:22:00.000+01:00

Looking forward to building this one, Norris's awesome Gouf with the giant Gatling Gun. Once i completed the Rick Dom, knew this was going to be the next Zeon suit i would build. Going to attempt to add alot more detail to this, want to try out some of the metal parts. Ive seen so many cool thruster added that i can resist adding some myself

Box feel really heavy comapred to the other HG kits ive bought, full of sprues. Should have this built within hours, got the side cutters ready.
Ian

FeResin 1/144 - TA-7C Corsair II - Completed

2011-04-28T21:31:00.000+01:00

First completed resin kit the TA-7C Corsair II from FeResin, got to say at the moment i prefer injection kits but that's only because Ive been building them since i started modeling.

The aircraft depicted is from the U.S Naval Air Weapon Station China Lake, its where the US Navy test out there new weaponry, wonder how you get a cool job like that, bombs away.

The Ycraft decals, very thin and look great once applied. Need to be a bit more defined and have sharper colour, his website no longer works?

Pirates firing laser beams from there only remaining eyes, yep your screwed.

Best cockpit ive done so far, tried to copy a 1/48 resin kit, can just see the rivet on the wings using the trumpeter river maker, not really made for the scale.

Used the camera on my new phone Nexus S, freaking close-ups are better than both my other cameras, what up with that?
Ian

1/144 HG - Gundam Ver.G30th to RGM -79 - GM conversion. - WIP -1

2011-04-25T19:02:00.000+01:00

Learn from the other 2 Gunpla ive modeled and get the joints painted first. Hope this mean the the rest of the GM will be easier to paint now that these are done.

Sprayed grey from a rattle can then detail added copying the full size Gundam, nice and easy.

Ian