Gundam Plamodel Thread IV

[mikeszekely]

Finally picked it up today. Overall a fun build that doesn't feel like the same RX-78-2 Gundam all over. Despite lacking a Core Fighter, Gundam Hammer, or Beam Javelin, this kit is a lot of Gunpla for such a low price due to its incredible articulation.

I haven't done the Revive Gundam, but I did the Guncannon. My experience jives with yours... inexpensive kit, nice proportions, simple build, crazy articulated. Compared to an RG, or even a lot of other HGs, it really feels more like you're building an action figure you can play with than a model kit. I don't know if that's enough to sell me on the Gundam, since there have been a lot of good 1/144 scale kits of it already (if I get it, I'm repainting it in rollout colors, just like I repainted my 2.0 HG as the Prototype Gundam after building the RG). For the Guncannon, though, it's fantastic. The Guncannon is kind of a dumpy mobile suit, and the original HGUC is ancient and looks extra derpy. The Revive version has better proportions that, paired with the great articulation, allow for some dynamic posing that actually makes the Guncannon look pretty cool. I'll post pictures soon.

Meanwhile, a buddy of mine is getting back into model cars, so he wanted to make the hour-long trip to the closest hobby store around. He got a ton of stuff for his cars. Me, I snagged an HGUC Zeta II and HGUC Delta Kai. Surprisingly, they had a few other kits I wouldn't have minded buying (Delta Gundam, Hi-Nu Vrabe, The O, FA Unicorn Destroy) but they're a little too pricey there to go nuts. And, bummer of bummers, the didn't have any of the other Unicorn kits I still really want, especially the Dreissen.

[areaseven]

Speaking of Unicorn, my Byarlant Custom needs a sparring partner. Any recommendations for a Sleeves/Neo-Zeon Remnants MS that's not a Sinanju or a Rozen Zulu?

[mikeszekely]

Speaking of Unicorn, my Byarlant Custom needs a sparring partner. Any recommendations for a Sleeves/Neo-Zeon Remnants MS that's not a Sinanju or a Rozen Zulu?

Dreissen!

Seriously, I thought the Dreissen was one of the better Neo Zeon MS designs from ZZ, and the Sleeves version from Unicorn was double hotness.

I'm kind of miffed that the Sleeves Zaku III didn't get a new kit. If I think the Dreissen was one of the best ZZ Neo Zeon suits, then the Zaku III is the best.

[areaseven]

Dreissen!

Seriously, I thought the Dreissen was one of the better Neo Zeon MS designs from ZZ, and the Sleeves version from Unicorn was double hotness.

I'm kind of miffed that the Sleeves Zaku III didn't get a new kit. If I think the Dreissen was one of the best ZZ Neo Zeon suits, then the Zaku III is the best.

Guess I'll go hunt down an HGUC Dreissen before Christmas.

As for Zaku III Sleeves, we'll probably see a P-Bandai release within the next year or so.

[areaseven]

Bandai needs to mass-produce this.

Non-Scale MA-04X Zakrello Scratch Build

[anime52k8]

Nobody loves you Zakrello. but I do, I love you.

[areaseven]

Here's a comparison of the 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam kits I currently have. Unfortunately, I don't have the 2001 HGUC kit and I lost my 1990 HG kit.


Entry Grade (EG) vs. High Grade Ver.G30th (HG Ver.G30th) ver. High Grade Universal Century Revive (HGUC Revive) vs. Real Grade (RG)


Elbow Bend Comparison. EG has no elbow joints. HG Ver.G30th is single-jointed with a 90° bend. HGUC Revive and RG are double-jointed with a bend of over 135°.


Knee Bend Comparison. EG has no knee joints. HG Ver.G30th is single-joined with a bend of a little over 90°. HGUC Revive and RG are double-jointed with a bend of over 135°, but the RG extends it further with some armor shifting.


Beam Rifle Comparison. EG is a single piece (and molded in blue) with no articulation. HG Ver.G30th, HCUC Revive, and RG have separate yellow pieces for the scope. Only the HGUC Revive has a smaller front handle for easier grip. RG has unique color separation with dark gray and white parts.


Hyper Bazooka Comparison. HG Ver.G30th has no articulated handle. HGUC Revive and RG have movable handles, but HGUC Revive has the most swivel distance. RG continues the color separation with white and dark gray parts.


Shield Comparison. EG is a single red piece with a long peg connector and no handle. HG Ver.G30th has two different pegs for the forearm and the backpack, but no handle. HGUC Revive has a very tight peg connector and a handle. RG has a movable mount with a handle and a rather loose peg connector on a ball joint.


Last Shooting Pose Comparison. RG is just a b*tch to pose for this pic.

Edited August 13, 2015 by areaseven

[areaseven]

Double Hyper Bazooka Time. Borrowing accessories from the HG Ver.G30th.

[mikeszekely]

I know I haven't uploaded any pics of the Guncannon yet (hard to do with the in-laws invading my space), but I managed to build ZII. And... meh. I mean, I saw the line art and wasn't really impressed, but I liked the ReZEL's in Unicorn and the ZII looked pretty cool on the box. As I was building him, I started to appreciate things like its weird feet and bulky legs. But by the time I finished its backpack, complete with the pair of clay bazookas, and now I just think it looks busy.

Also, I find it sort of irritating that Bandai can toss in a yellow sticker for every random yellow marking on it except thrusters on the legs, shoulders, and backpack. All or none, Bandai; no more of this half-arsed bull.

[electric indigo]

I started to Katokify my ZII and can confirm that painting the leg thrusters is a real pain. Everything else is going nicely, and I appreciate the stickers for the little yellow bits. I'll definitely leave off the bazookas.

[Ignacio Ocamica]

Looking great with all the markings!!!

[mikeszekely]

Looking great with all the markings!!!

Better than mine!

Fun fact: since I started building RGs, and RGs start with the legs, I've started skipping to build the legs first on my HGs now too.

[areaseven]

[chyll2]

that is way too weathered and paint was too thick

[anubis20]

Its definitely taking me a while but there is some progress on my Hi-Nu... Just the backpack and funnels to go..

[areaseven]

[Kelsain]

Finally finished my rg today!

Just a straight build, but I think he's great! And whaddaya know, I do like the scale.

As such, I've ordered 3 hgs & some accessories to kit bash, all for the price of 1 mg. hopefully that'll be just as fun.

(Edit) stupid sideways pic, fixed.

Edited August 20, 2015 by Kelsain

[areaseven]

The RG RX-78-2 Gundam is a great kit with excellent detail and articulation. Too bad the armor plates like to fall off at the slightest movement, which is why I prefer the HG Revive for poses.

[mikeszekely]

HGs can be a lot of fun if you don't mind that they're a little simple to build. Their low cost and lack of detail makes them ripe for painting, customizing, kitbashing, etc. At this point, I'd guess that the majority of my models are HGs.

That said, if you liked building that RG Gundam, I highly recommend building more RGs! They tend to be a tad more delicate and slightly more expensive than HGs, but between the number of parts and the stickers they are ridiculously detailed and still less than most MGs. Plus, newer ones have improved engineering since the RX-78. I dare say that RGs are some of the best bang-for-your-buck in a gunpla. My personal favorites are the Gundam Mk-II, the GP-01, and the Zaku II. The 00 Raiser is also a fantastic value, as you can probably find it for $30 or less and it's almost two kits in one.

Anyways... I finished my Delta Kai. I don't know if it's just been awhile since I built the Delta Plus, but it didn't feel particularly similar. When I looked, though, most of the torso, the legs except for a bit on the knees, the arms except the shoulders, the front and rear skirt armor, and the wing binders except for a small part for the funnels are actually the same. Honestly, I'm kind of surprised it was a main series release and not a P-Bandai... I mean, an MS variation best-known for being in a video game that involves reprinting most of the runners but tossing a few new ones in with a big sticker sheet? That's textbook P-Bandai. But I digress...

Being so similar to the Delta Plus means that the Kai has a lot of my same gripes, mainly being that it required a good deal of paint and that the only left hand is a closed fist. I mean, why even give me two beam saber blades if it can only hold one? Some new gripes, too... there are, as I mentioned, a good deal of stickers for a lot of the lavender markings on the wing binders. Interestingly, there are a lot of stickers for thrusters, too, which I'm grateful for. They're just difficult to place, and in some cases I skipped some of the yellow and black stickers and just painted with a Gundam marker. Also, and this isn't really a fault of the kit, but the Kai's shield is just ridiculous.

On the whole, I like having the Delta Plus because it was in Unicorn, and it more clearly shows its lineage. But I think I actually like the Kai, with it's lavender, white, and yellow color scheme and it's new more Gundam-ish head better. I just wish Bandai would give me and RG Hyaku Shiki to pose them with!

Again, pics are kind of difficult right now because the in-laws are staying with me. When I get a chance, even if I have to wait until after they go home, I'll put up pics of all three gunpla I've done recently.

[areaseven]

I agree that RG technology has improved after the RX-78-2. The GP01 is significantly sturdier, despite the weird shoulder forward swivel and the waist leaning toward the left when the shield is mounted on the left arm.

The 00 Raiser is by far the best RG out of the three that I currently own. I can't wait for Bandai to release the Seven Sword/G, even if it has to be a P-Bandai exclusive.

[chyll2]

While the 00 Raiser is not my favorite, I agree that it is the most sturdier of all the RG I have followed by the Astraea F/F2 (which is basically a red EXIA). So here I am looking forward to the Astray RG.

@anubis

nice build

Edited August 20, 2015 by chyll2

[Kelsain]

I did end up glueing the shoulder sections together & parts of the feet. But hey, first model I've finished since the Regult 4 years ago!

I'm probably going to pick up an rg zaku to square off with the 78. And I'll likely trade my mg MkII for the rg version as well. I'll have practice nub cleanup before I do that one, though. That blue will be a pita. Or I'll just have to paint it.

Edited August 20, 2015 by Kelsain

[joppewo]

[mikeszekely]

I'm still baffled why, after basically telling us that the RG Wing Zero frame was going to used five times, we've gotten an RG 00 Raiser and an RG Astray Red Frame instead and when Altron does show up it's in MG form.

[VF-Zer0S]

It's about time Nataku showed up though. You are right about the operation meteor suits.

Knowing bandai they are going to milk the Astray frame like crazy

[Guest davidwhangchoi]

where's RG GP-02A

[dizman]

Where's RG Gouf Custom?

[areaseven]

Where's RG Dendrobium?

[mikeszekely]

where's RG GP-02A

Where's RG Gouf Custom?

Where's RG Dendrobium?

If it were up to me, every mobile suit that had more than 10 seconds of screen time in a UC series would get an RG before you'd see another RG from SEED. But it's not up to me. So enjoy the inevitable RG Blue Frame, RG Gold Frame, and RG Green frame with minimal changes from the RG Red Frame.

Edited August 21, 2015 by mikeszekely

[joppewo]

Hmm P-Bandai Armed Armor VN and BS?

[electric indigo]

Funky ZII legs

[IXTL]

MG Altron is displayed alongside other P-Bandai kits. Pretty much confirms P-Bandai.

[areaseven]

Progress after 6 hours of applying water slide decals. All that' left are the left arm and left leg.

[mikeszekely]

MG Altron is displayed alongside other P-Bandai kits. Pretty much confirms P-Bandai.

All MGs? I'd kill for even a P-Bandai RG RX-78-1 to go with my 2, 3, and /CA.

[Raptor One]

Where's RG Gouf Custom?

Still waiting on RG Ground Gundam