The Energon Pub

News Credits: 1452 · Mon Oct 05, 2009 3:12 am

Yeah... there goes my money..

PG 00 Raiser..

News Credits: 2 · Mon Oct 05, 2009 10:05 am

Blurrz wrote:Yeah... there goes my money..

PG 00 Raiser..

If it actually spits out GN particles like that, I think I may have to buy it too. And I never buy the models!

News Credits: 2 · Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:01 am

Blurrz wrote:Yeah... there goes my money..

PG 00 Raiser..

The PG kits are so tempting! I know it's a promo photo but still, the quality of the model kits seem impeccable.

I'm thinking of buying a MG Gundam F91(Harrison paint scheme) kit because it's on sale at HLJ for $21. The only problem is that it seems like that a proper paint job is needed to get the most out of a kit. If I'm going to invest the money in MG or PG kits, why not go the whole nine yards, right? The kit descriptions say you don't need to paint them but who doesn't paint their Gundam kits?

Touch ups, minor paint apps, drybrushing, highlighting panel lines, are all do-able for me but I'm getting the impression that to do a good paint job, if I want to go for a total kit painting, an airbrush setup is ideal for the best results.

Update:

Wow, HLJ is offering a 5% discount for pre-ordering by October 31st and while the PG OO Raiser initial production run includes a "ticket" for residents in Japan to purchase clear armour parts for the kit, HLJ is including a proxy order service for any HLJ customers.

Hobbylink Japan wrote:The limited initial production run version of this kit comes packed with a display base with two adjustable stands to display 00 Gundam and 0 Raiser. Also includes a ticket for Japan residents to purchase clear armor parts for the kit.

But wait! HLJ will be offering a very special proxy order and delivery service for the special clear parts set, for HLJ customers only! A special HLJ application form will be included with each Perfect Grade 00 Raiser kit, along with Bandai's special Purchase Ticket. Just follow the directions on the form, fill it out, and send it in to HLJ along with the Bandai Purchase Ticket in the supplied pre-addressed envelope. HLJ will then order the clear parts set for you and send it right to your door after we receive your payment for it! Details on pricing will be posted here once we know them.

I'm assuming the clear parts are used for displaying the inner frame, which is insanely amazing in the PG kits.

News Credits: 767 · Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:21 am

A question, how big is the average 1/144 kit?

News Credits: 1452 · Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:33 am

1/144 is around Deluxe size.
1/144 HGUC is between Deluxe and Voyager
1/100 is Voyager
MG is Voyager/Ultra
PG is Supreme(Bigger)

News Credits: 767 · Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:36 am

Blurrz wrote:1/144 is around Deluxe size.
1/144 HGUC is between Deluxe and Voyager
1/100 is Voyager
MG is Voyager/Ultra
PG is Supreme(Bigger)

OK thanks.

I think I'll get myself a bit of Gundam goodness. Zaku II MG here I come.....
And a bit of the 1/144 stuff too.

News Credits: 2 · Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:37 am

Dead Metal wrote:A question, how big is the average 1/144 kit?

Typically about 4.5 inches.

Convotron wrote:The kit descriptions say you don't need to paint them but who doesn't paint their Gundam kits?

See, that's why I don't buy models. I can't use paint worth crap.

News Credits: 2 · Mon Oct 05, 2009 2:00 pm

I think I'll start off with HG or HGUC kits and see how that goes. I'll probably start with mainly dry brushing and the usual touch ups like adjusting certain parts for colour and of course the panel lining. If that goes well, I'll go to MG kits and then some day, PG kits if I can work their cost into my budget.

News Credits: 1452 · Mon Oct 05, 2009 6:49 pm

There isn't really much testing to be done. I did it on one or two HG's, and I knew I had the skill right off the bat. Then again, the early part of my teen years were spent painting Warhammer(I hate myself), and that really gave me the painting skill.

Basically panel-lining turns everything into solid gold. It's basically been a standard for me to put the kit together... take it apart and paint/panel line it, then put it back together. ^^

and..

Want.

News Credits: 2 · Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:33 pm

I've been watching some reviews for HGUC and MG kits...man, it's simply too cool. I've also watched a few videos documenting the assembly of a couple of MG kits. It looks really fun! The inner frame of the MG Exia Ignition Mode model/figure looks really cool, especially the sliding parts at the arms and legs. The LED GN engine component is really neat too.

Blurrz wrote:Nothing beats building Gundams by hand though.

Boy, you said it! Now I'm hooked and I'm going to pick up a kit or two. Now the only problem is the vast selection of great looking kits to choose from! It's a good dilemma, I suppose.

Update:

I just watched a video detailing some known features of the PG 00 Raiser Gundam...I don't know what else to say but WOW!

News Credits: 4 · Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:17 pm

That PG 00 looks good, real good. I may have to start building Gundams again. It's been a few years but that is nice.

Puts my old PG Wing Zero Custom to shame.

News Credits: 1452 · Tue Oct 06, 2009 10:48 am

For some 1/100's, these are pretty much all out... Decals... Lights... Sexy.... Wallet... Gone...

Should've made a 1/100 GN Archer....... grrrrr.

News Credits: 767 · Tue Oct 06, 2009 1:33 pm

Just found my GW Heavyarms Custom crotch!
Man I wish there where a MG version of that kit available, also a Deathcite.

News Credits: 2 · Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:39 pm

Blurrz wrote:For some 1/100's, these are pretty much all out... Decals... Lights... Sexy.... Wallet... Gone...

Should've made a 1/100 GN Archer....... grrrrr.

Blurrz...you're destroying my budget!

The problem I have is that I don't know where to begin. I know I want to get into the MG kits but 99.9% of the kits I've seen so far look very cool. I just don't know what to start with. I'm pretty sure I want to get some of the 00 kits at some point. I just started watching 00 and it's a pretty good show so far. I just saw the Gundam Astray Blue Frame Second Revise MG kit, which I think is very cool for the "Tactical Arms II" sword/jetpack/gun unit.

Decisions, decisions...

News Credits: 7 · Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:00 pm

I have a couple of question first what sort of stuff do you need to put together a Gundam model kit. Second were did SD Gundam come from because me and my friend were sitting around watch his 00 boxset and we started to talk about the different gundam series and the only one we couldn't figure out was SD Gundam so we were hoping someone on here might know. .

News Credits: 2 · Tue Oct 06, 2009 7:28 pm

I'm a newcomer to Gundam kits so I only know the bare basics.

You don't need to have much to put together most Gundam kits these days. The parts come on plastic frames/runners and you'll need something to free them from the sprues. I've heard people use things from scissors to nail clippers(weird, I know). Since you'll usually have nubs on the parts after separation from the runners, you'll need to further whittle them down. Some use sharp blades like hobby knives. Some sand/file down the nubs. I've read that people suggest wet sanding to avoid inhaling the dust/plastic debris.

The majority of kits I've looked at are High Grade, High Grade Universal Century, Master Grade, and Perfect Grade kits. The majority of these kits don't require gluing/cementing or painting.

The kits use snap-on parts, which should fit together well but for situations where you may encounter unsightly seams, you could use some sort of filler material. I watched a video of the assembly of a MG F91 Harrison colors kit(which I ordered recently

) where the assembler filled up a seam in a part, let it dry, and then sanded it even. Once he painted it over, it was visually unblemished. Very cool!

The shades of colours used for the plastic parts look really good from what I've seen but to get the best out of a model kit, I think painting is the way to go. I've seen some great looking models that didn't have a full paint job. They do have some touch up painted work. I've watched reviews where people will mention that they painted certain parts to get the right look such as the V fins on the Gundam helmets. Most people also detail the panel lines to help bring out the sculpted details.

I've been researching approaches to model assembly and painting the last couple of days and it's pretty interesting. My main concern right now is that it's getting cold outside so I don't know how that will affect my painting attempts outdoors as I don't want to use an airbrush or spray paint indoors.

News Credits: 1452 · Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:19 pm

SD... Super Deformed, actually originated from a show/anime/manga called BB Senshi. They're basically smaller sized.. super deformed Gundams set in the feudal era... if that's even possible with Robots.

Anyways, SD has basically been part of every Gundam series, just as another little thing to collect.

Not 100% sure if i'm right, but I got the jist of it.

Basically when it comes to basic Gundam model kitting, all you need is the kit, a clipper of some sort and a good sense of building direction.

News Credits: 2 · Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:29 pm

Blurrz wrote:SD... Super Deformed, actually originated from a show/anime/manga called BB Senshi. They're basically smaller sized.. super deformed Gundams set in the feudal era... if that's even possible with Robots.

Anyways, SD has basically been part of every Gundam series, just as another little thing to collect.

Not 100% sure if i'm right, but I got the jist of it.

Nope. The series started in the '80s with fanart from a middle-school student of a disproportionate Gundam. Bandai liked the idea and ran with it, making it into some 4-panel comics and a gashapon series. BB Senshi is just part of SD Gundam.

News Credits: 7 · Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:42 pm

Thanks for the answers everyone I'm going to be getting my first kit this weekend just to try it out and see what it is like.

News Credits: 2 · Wed Oct 07, 2009 9:27 am

Good luck, shortround! I hope you enjoy the experience.

I can't wait for my order to arrive so I can get started as well.

Does anyone have any experience with the 1/100 no-grade kits? I watched a few reviews of the 1/100 NG Gundam Astray Red Frame kit and it looks pretty darn good.

Edit: I just found a nice little video detailing some of the tools useful for Gundam kit endeavours. Nothing drastic like "Here's what you want to have to fully paint a Gundam model kit!". Basics, really, and it's how I'm going to start off. I'll get to full painting someday.

Wed Oct 07, 2009 12:57 pm

I used to be all-out with properly assembling and painting model kits in the early 90's. I did all the trimming, filling, sanding, adding lights, etc. I painted using a combination of canned sprays, tiny brushes, and airbrushing. Some kits were never finished because once I started customizing, it became like a domino effect that slowed production to a crawl.

Nowdays, however, I lack the patience and time for such an undertaking, not to mention workspace where I can spread all the stuff out and/or spray paint and lacquer without filling the house with hazardous fumes.

As a result, all of my mid-90's Gundam kits sit still sealed in their boxes.
Zoids are pretty much the furthest I go in terms of model building anymore. Clip 'em, trim 'em, trim the decals and tweezer them on, and done! No fuss, no muss.

News Credits: 2 · Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:07 pm

Cobalt Prime wrote:Zoids are pretty much the furthest I go in terms of model building anymore. Clip 'em, trim 'em, trim the decals and tweezer them on, and done! No fuss, no muss.

Ah, Zoids. I was nuts for them years ago, around the same time Armada was starting. The Berserk Fury/Fuhrer nearly drove me insane.

Wed Oct 07, 2009 2:12 pm

Shadowman wrote:Ah, Zoids. I was nuts for them years ago, around the same time Armada was starting. The Berserk Fury/Fuhrer nearly drove me insane.

Ok, you have intrigued me.

How did the BF nearly drive you insane? :???:

News Credits: 2 · Wed Oct 07, 2009 3:05 pm

Cobalt Prime wrote:
Shadowman wrote:Ah, Zoids. I was nuts for them years ago, around the same time Armada was starting. The Berserk Fury/Fuhrer nearly drove me insane.

Ok, you have intrigued me.

How did the BF nearly drive you insane?

Because A) I was like 13 when I built it and B) It's one helluva complex model for a 13-year-old.