Gundam Plamodel Thread IV

[electric indigo]

The Barzam is a bit funky for my taste, but the details on the kit are just great. And the hands are fine, too.

[dizman]

On 5/20/2017 at 6:56 AM, Big s said:

I was also wondering about the refined barzam. I would love a hg, but I think bandai would probably do a re 1/100 if it happens.

A HG version is easier than ever now that the regular Barzam and revive MK II are out. Bandai can source the head, back skirt and feet from Barzam and use the Mk II for most everything else. The only new tooling needed (that I can think of) is the lower legs, front skirts, chest and under barrel grenade launcher. Throw in some waterslide Pezun markings and we got an easy P-Bandai cash in. A Re100 would be cool to have but I wonder if they would just make it a MG and use the 2.0 Mk II frame.

[Big s]

It's a bit rare for an non hero mg kit these days. The re 1/100 kits are a bit more free with the lesser known mobile suits. I still would really like to see a hg kit of the refined Barzam.

[Hikuro]

I've been building atleast 2 kits a week in the last few weeks. Regardless of one being painted and the other a straight build or not. I just finished this Zaku I Char unit tonight....adding on a nice flat coat and chipping giving it the look that it was the final battle Char would have with this unit.

[Big s]

I like it so far, but are you gonna do the site and mono eye?

[Hikuro]

Mono eye is on but some reason this thing refuses to turn in the direction it should, kept looking it over and it still wouldn't do it weirdly enough.

as for the sight nah, it's not gonna be visible in the cabinet. It's posed differently right now.

[Big s]

While working on the Bugu, I actually contemplated trimming the gear so it wouldn't turn the eye stupid while posing the head. It's an interesting gimmick, but also frustrating.

[Big s]

Well since the contest at Hlj is over, I can post some pics. I'll put more of the work pics in the workbench category 

[dizman]

Great work, cute idea running with the whiskers on the face and going full cat 

 

[mikeszekely]

On 5/22/2017 at 10:46 PM, Hikuro said:

I've been building atleast 2 kits a week in the last few weeks. Regardless of one being painted and the other a straight build or not. I just finished this Zaku I Char unit tonight....adding on a nice flat coat and chipping giving it the look that it was the final battle Char would have with this unit.

Seems like you've gotten pretty good with that airbrush since I last checked in on you!

[seti88]

which remains me, have to remember pick up a rodi.....

[seti88]

 photos!!

[kajnrig]

MSM and RG Unicorn up for preorder.

LE(?) RG: https://hlj.com/product/BANN20714

"The RG Unicorn Gundam's first release comes in a special limited box with Unicorn Mode depicted on the front, rather than Destroy Mode (shown on later releases).  It's armed with the beam magnum, hyper bazooka, two beam sabers, and a shield.  Decals are included, too.  Only limited quantities of this kit in this package will be available, so don't wait!"

[dizman]

Ooh that MG ZZ is lookin good in color, the only thing I don't like is the chest spikes. I know the last few Ver Ka MGs have them and they look good on those kits but it just seems out of place on the ZZ, guess I'll skip putting them on.

[kajnrig]

It seems to me that they're part of the inner frame, actually, so you'll probably have to snip them off during the build. Someone on GE commented that the amount of exposed areas on the armor is off-putting, and I'm prone to agree. I'm getting a FAZZ Sentinel version (second purchase of that kit, it's so gloriously over the top), and I was struck by how little of that gimmick exists on the older MG.

[dizman]

Funny enough I didn't even notice all the exposed frame areas until you mentioned them, those are a bit strange. I'll have to see some better pictures to see if they will be a deal breaker but I doubt it. The (probably) P-Bandai Full Armor set should fix any armor gaps anyways 

[kajnrig]

HLJ 20th Anniversary sale, part 4 = Gunpla

https://hlj.com/scripts/hljlist?SaleGroup=HLJ20ANNIVERSARYJUN9

[Kelsain]

Oh, there's some good stuff in there. But I'm a little broke...

[kajnrig]

Yeah, there was quite a few things in there that interested me, but nothing that I was chomping at the bit to get. I honestly think I'll find something more "I NEED THAT RIGHT NOW" once the sci-fi stuff goes on sale. I did buy a MG Force Impulse, though, mostly for the eventual Stargazer conversion kit that I'll get the instant I get the chance.

[slide]

That Hi-Nu Ver.Ka though........................................................................................................................

[seti88]

 

[kajnrig]

Summary/commentary:

- Individual shoulder "petals" are movable, fairly easily, too. Shoulder itself is still on a slide-rail for bird mode/re-entry mode.
- I still hate the chest opening gimmick. It's even more pronounced on here than it was on the Freedom/Providence.
- About 10 seconds in, you get a decent look at the face, and it appears the right ear is closed and the left is open and has that extra fin. Later on, you see a shot behind the closed right ear and see a white fin piece hiding, so chances are that area is articulated as well.
- The arm rotation joint, typically on the bicep somewhere, looks to be on the forearm this time. That doesn't bode well for articulation; I'm reminded of the old 90s 1/100 kits.
- Way more wing articulation. I wonder if it wouldn't be simpler at this point to just give you a flexible wire mesh and a whole bunch of feathers to stick into it as you see fit.
- Leg articulation seems largely unchanged from older kits.
- Side skirts are on a hinge that swings forward to cover the side of the legs. Guess is it's related to the bird mode transformation.
- Twin buster rifle has undergone some major changes, which were already visible on pictures before the video but it's still noteworthy. The handles were moved forward (or the buttstock lengthened) making for a longer stock.
- The handles also feature a secondary bar that extends from the bottom of the handle back and up, forming a triangular space for the hands to fit in.
- This video showed bird mode without the TBR attached, though I remember seeing a picture where it was. I imagine the videographers simply forgot or chose not to incorporate them.

Seems like the TBR changes would make for increased difficulty handling it, and indeed, the shots of the Wing Zero holding it look awkward and clumsy. In both poses (standing and a dynamic midair pose) the buttstock is tucked beneath the WZ's shoulder, resembling more a bazooka than a gun (you see the same pose on a lot of Zakus). The dynamic pose reveals the contortions the hand has to make to grip the handle of the gun due to the extra piece of plastic introduced for the redesign.

[Big s]

Looks like the 1/144 white dingo kits are going back on sale as web exclusives again, so anyone who missed them before get another chance. I still love that sniper  kit.

[General Rasp]

The HGUC Pale Rider is being reissued, does anyone recommand a site to order P-bandai set from?

I have ordered from Nippon-Yasan but they are kinda pricey. 

[kajnrig]

P-Bandai has information about that. Basically, use third-party proxy services.

http://p-bandai.jp/bc/images/net-s_tokushu/international_delivery.html

They officially partner with Buyee, which is apparently also the official proxy service of Yahoo Auctions Japan; From Japan (the one I use, I've not had any issues with it), Samurai Buyer, and De Japan.

EDIT:

To order (from From Japan, at any rate), you just go to the P-Bandai product page, copy the URL, and enter it into From Japan's search bar.

Edited June 16, 2017 by kajnrig

[dizman]

I've had good experience with From Japan as well, was even thinking about using them to get the MG 3.0 Char Gundam that's been hanging around the P-Bandai site for a bit. There are other options out there if you don't mind the wait, Gundam Store USA and Gundam Planet usually stock a small amount of P-Bandai kits.

[kajnrig]

1 hour ago, dizman said:

There are other options out there if you don't mind the wait, Gundam Store USA and Gundam Planet usually stock a small amount of P-Bandai kits.

Ah yes, I forgot to mention stateside stores as well. I also know that Tatsu Hobby regularly preorders/reorders P-Bandai items. I'm sure if you contact them, they'll be willing to get some of those for you. I bought the P-Bandai Powered GM, Tallgeese III, and Heavyarms Kai through them, and the price was... I'd like not to think about the price, but that's to be expected. I've bought from them for years and have never had any issues with them.

[kajnrig]

What are the peg diameters of the various RG beam sabers?

1) The ones included on the A/B runners of some RGs.
2) Runner SB-1 on others (also on most MGs, I think?).
3) Runner SB-12 on still others, I think the Destiny and Zeta.

Follow-up question: Does anyone have any they're willing to let go?

Thanks much, everyone.

[electric indigo]

The pegs of the RG GP-01 are just a hint below 2 mm, so they fit into 2 mm holes.

I could provide you with the parts, as I don't think I'll use them.

[kajnrig]

Thanks. PM incoming once I get to a computer proper.

[electric indigo]

Tristan & Isolde... they're really pushing the levels of subtlety again.

 

[Kelsain]

I'm torn between really liking, and being really off put, by the inhuman proportions of the Byarlant...

[Big s]

The only thing I have ever disliked about the byarlant is the baboon butt.

[dizman]

Bandai loves to use that Byarlant mold, might as well make it pink this time around cause lady pilot. 

[kajnrig]

Wasn't there only one in existence, which got destroyed during the (Australia?) base attack in Unicorn?