IdyotAko 2 years 9 months ago wrote:

I've been recently addicted to building Gundam model kits. It's been about 2-3 months ago that I've started building Master Grade level kits (for the uninitiated, these kits have different levels of detail and complexity broken into no grade 1/144, no grade 1/100, High Grade, High Grade Universal Century [only for certain Gundams], Master Grade, Perfect Grade). I now share to you all a start to finish showcase of Gundam model kit building (no painting, though... I've not graduated to that yet... ).

As the subject line indicates, I will showcase the creation of Gundam Mk II (featured in Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta and Double Zeta series). The kit I'm working with is a Version 2 Master Grade (a bit more detailed from the original Master Grade kit).


The kit simply contains the parts and the assembly manual.


I wanted to show each bit and piece being assemble, but I didn't want to confuse myself by forgetting which part is which (since certain sections require 2 or more of the same part or a left-right assembly). So following the assembly guide, I start with the inside torso. First in pieces...

... and fully assembled.


With that built, I begin to assemble the armor pieces. Again... first in pieces...

... then assembled.

Now some of you may notice, some of the pieces on the assembled part is not the same with the unassembled part. The simple answer to that is I've already applied the seals and stickers on the assembled part. What is not evident is I've also used a special marker to add more line detail to some of the parts (which will be more noticeable on the other parts).

From there, I assembled the head, vulcan pod and the backpack.


Next is the weapons and the shield.


Left and right arms in pieces. Had to assemble the right arm first before the left arm (this is where the confusion can happen if you don't pay attention).


After putting the arms together, I assembled the shoulder armor and at this point, I begin to put together the upper body.

And this would be the assembled upper body.


I then began to assemble the legs (once again, I had to build the right side first then the left). I forgot to mention from assembling the backpack unit was there is a part where it uses a small mesh pipe which has to be fairly accurately measured (which a small ruler on the bottom of certain pages on the manual can help with). It's the same with the legs, so I couldn't really show the "before assembly" shot. I didn't want to misplace the damn thing.


Then next was the waist.


With everything built, I put them all together and this is the final result.


Interestingly, it seems this particular kit is a lot more pose-able than other kits I've built.


Part of the kit is a display base with a few miscellaneous things (like little people figures) for... ahem... display purposes. The nice part about these bases is certain kits also have them and you can put them together to make a bigger display base.


Putting all of these took me about close to 2 weeks about 2-3 hours a day of work. This is why I've not graduated into painting because it would most likely take ma a month to build one. But I'm sure I'll get to doing that soon. Before I go back stateside, I'm likely gonna get myself a Perfect Grade kit (I have my eye on the Gundam Wing Zero one, but we'll see). So yeah, I still have like 4 kits to build and more kits to buy so Imma stop here and get back to working on my next kit. Peace! ,,\/,

Just a short list of the model kits I've completed:

1/144 Gundam 00
1/144 0 Raiser
1/144 Gundam Cherudim
1/144 Gundam Arios
1/144 GN Archer
1/144 Gundam Seravee
1/144 Gundam Seraphim
1/100 Gundam 00
1/100 0 Raiser
1/100 Gundam Exia
1/100 Gundam Dynames
1/100 Gundam Kyrios
1/100 Gundam Exia/Nadleeh
Master Grade Nu-Gundam
Master Grade V2 Zeta Gundam
Master Grade Hyaku-Shiki
Master Grade Gundam Double Zeta
Master Grade V2 Gundam Mk II

Still need to build:

Master Grade Qubeley (Haman Karn)
Master Grade Rick Dias
Master Grade Sazabi (Chrome Edition)
Master Grade Strike Freedom Gundam Full Burst

Planned purchases:
Master Grade Nu-Gundam (Chrome Edition)
Master Grade Gundam F91
Master Grade Qubeley (Puru and Puru II)
Master Grade Infinity Justice Gundam
Master Grade Destiny Gundam (version TBD)
Master Grade Gundam Exia (NEW!!! LOOKS TIGHT!!!)
Perfect Grade Gundam (?)

This list may grow when my return date gets closer and closer... (damn... that's a lot of Gundams... /swt)

fuse 2 years 9 months ago wrote:

Fascinating. I had a friend who was into War Hammer 3K, and he spent hours assembling and painting them. Takes a careful hand,

Strayato 2 years 9 months ago wrote:

I use to do this too very fun to pass the time with.