MG Exia #05

Custom paint gunpla

Introduction

Definetly, I love this model kit. So I take my time to obtain the best result I can. For this post, I will speak about the custom base coat paint and the panel lines work. I don’t like the base plactic aspect of the model kit. So I prefer a custom paint gunpla.

A good way to improve the general aspect of the gunpla, for me, it’s to use the black and white technic before to paint the main color.

Technic : the black and white in action

Like on my previous work on the MG Exia, I painted a black primer coat first (ref : vallejo mecha primer black 70.642) . Then I highlighted the parts with white paint (ref Mr. Color : C1). To finish, I applied the base coat with the desired color.

I used this method for all the pieces, It’s long but I like the final apparence of the gundam.

MG Exia's - gunpla MG Exia
Arms painted and ready for the assembly

Did I say I love this Cobald Blue (ref Mr. Color : C80) ? 😍😍😍

Final painted result

After several hours of painting, this is the finish work. I’m really happy of the final result. I think the paint imprive the volumes … isn’t it ?

Custom paint gunpla MG Exia

Custom paint gunpla MG Exia

Panel lines

After that, I put a gloss varnish coat (ref : Mr Color. C46) which is very important to protect the previous work. It was ready to receive the enamel juice to improve the panel lines. Like usual, I used the panel line accent color product from Tamiya which is a perfect product for me. When I have more time, I made it myself with a classic black enamel paint thinned with white spirit. To clean it, I used zippo lighter fluid 😉 with cotton sticks or a little brush.

Panel line accent color tamiya with zippo lighter fluid and brush. Custom paint gunpla
material used for the panel lines

I don’t finish all the mecha for the moment but this is some photos without and with the product applied on some parts.

I hope this post will be useful to improve your gundam and to work on a custom paint gunpla. Don’t hesitate to write a comment and to share of you like 👍.

See you soon for the waterslides 😉.

MK.44

Banner for the post about MK44 book from Lincoln Wright (paintonplastic.com)

After the excellent « Sci-Fi FAQ« , here is the new book by Lincoln Wright « MK.44 » dedicated to the models of the Maschinen Krieger universe (abbreviated as Ma.K) created by the Japanese artist Kow Yokoyama.

For those who do not know the Ma.K universe, I encourage you to discover it. I am not a specialist, but I really appreciate the visual aspect of the mechas, vehicles and figurines. The whole composes a very coherent universe which seems to me very inspired by war machines of the XXth century. In short, search a little on the web, you will find a lot of information about this little known universe.

A simple book ? Not only.

Let’s talk first about the book itself. It’s a beautiful object in large format (A4) with 128 pages in glossy paper that are filled with great photos and brief texts to explain the creative process and some layout techniques ! Important details, it is written entirely in English. It seems that it is the first book in the language of Shakespeare dedicated to Ma.K.

I’m a bit afraid to damage it over time by turning the pages over and over 😅. I hope it will resist to my incessant research.

Maschinen Krieger model kit and technics

For the content, Lincoln Wright proposes here to detail 4 times the same model (MaK 1/20 MK44 Ammoknights) treated in different ways. Some might cry « what a rip-off! But it’s always the same thing! », I will answer them « No! No! … and no! » Because with the 4 variations, we get 4 very different and interesting outcomes that have in common only the general form. We can appreciate all the work of transformation of Mr. Wright and the result is amazing. The photos of very good quality in large format or in thumbnails allow to see with precision the work in progress and they highlight the multiple details of the models. A small regret, there are photos and techniques already present in « Sci-Fi FAQ« . But despite the repetition is not serious as it concerns only a few photos in this huge album.

A nice bonus

Finally we will find at the end of the book a photos gallery of Max Watannabe’s realizations. We can see the same model of Ammoknights treated on several themes and admire the work of this other great artist. The « Taco (The Octopus) » of the last page is just incredible.

Conclusion

I can only advise you to read and buy this book. It has already inspired me a lot for my future creations as well for the technique as for the themes treated.

MG Exia #04

I continued to paint the MG Exia. I used the black and white technics to improve my model kit. That’s allow to make some artificial shadows and to improve the volume sensation. If you’re looking for a tutorial, I can advise you to go here (english) or here (french).

I painted the primer coat with the « one shot black » from Mig ammo [nozzle 0,4mm/1,5bars]. Then I used the white paint from Mr Color (ref : C1) diluated with a ratio of 50%/50% to paint the center of some parts [nozzle 0,2mm/1bars]. I decided to work with the paint made by Mr. Hobby for this project.

To finish, I a apply the base coat. You can see the result on the piece below with the « White MS » from Mr. Color (ref : UG01) [nozzle 0,2mm/1bars].

I hope you can the difference between the leg painted and the leg ‘out of the box’. I used exactly the same light for the photos. I think it looks great, no ?

See you soon 😉

Rusty Jo

It’s done, I finished this week-end the HG Jo Hound. It’s totally hand painting, it was a real pleasure ! I love to add weathering effect, dust and rust ♥️. I modifued some parts and adding a real green plastic lens … from my daughter’s toys 🙄.

I will probably write a post to describe all the products used to this realization.

To see more, you can go on its gallery : ▶️ here ◀️

See you soon 😉

HG Jo hound 1/144

I can’t use my airbrush during summer, so I worked with my brushes. I build the HG jo Hound from Kyoukai Senki anime series.

First, I modified some parts of the mecha and I textured the armor plates. Then a black primer coat from an old can from Vallejo.

Then I worked on the different rust effects. It’s a real pleasure 😃😃 !

I open his gallery if you wanna see more pictures : ▶️ HERE ◀️

MG Shenlong #01

Hey ! With summer’s holydays, I’ve got my kids at home and it’s impossible to work correctly with the airbrush (lacquer paint ar too dangerous with kids around). So I decide to build different kits during the next weeks and I will paint them together.
If my childrens are cools with maybe I will finish the MG Exia.
The first kit is a mechas from the gundam wing anime serie, The Shenlong (EW ver.). Enjoy !
To see more, go to the gallery : ▶️ here ◀️ !

See you soon ! 😉

MG Exia #03

I work a lot this moment, so I post when I can but I progress on my differents builds. The Exia is on the good way. I paint slowly because I use a lot of masking tape between each step. But I love the result.
‘Be patient to obtain a beautiful work’ that what I think.

In a same time, I work on a car model kit and that is an story 😀

See you soon 😉

Star Wars legion AAT #01

I put my MG Exia on the side for few weeks. I prefer finish this star wars legion model kit : AAT char. You can see this vehicule in episode 1 and the animated serie clone wars.

It’s for me the occasion to try a lot of new technics and paints. For example, I used liquid mask with a succession of different colors for the chipping effect. I use the Mr. Color paints which is just … amazing. Moreover, this product is really durable and strong, I hope the color will stay like that.
It’s not finish but the most important is to take a lot of fun.

I put all the photos in his own gallery.

See you soon 😉

MG Exia #02

I finish to built the MG EXIA. It’s probably the worst kit I done 🤪. A lot of pieces have bad adjustments and the « holographic » plactic use to simulate the GN cable of the mobile suit are terrible.
Now, I will disassemble it and modify some parts before painting.
In a same time, I prepare a longer post for another model kit the AAT char from star wars clone wars.

See you soon 😉