RG Mk II Titans Build Off VS Big Z: Custom Graphic

So the problem with doing a build-off with a guy who is a professional airbrush artist is that...he is a professional airbrush artist.

I have masked up some custom graphics on my models in the past, and I usually go with easier stuff (that also pertains to the model) but if I want a fighting chance against Z this had to be done. He's already much better at scratch building than I will probably ever be. Not really everyone's cup of tea I'm sure but here it is. Im going to weather the graphic in a similar style to the decals.

This is how I approached the graphic.

Thanks for viewing! Next one will be better!

RG MKII Titans Build Off VS Big Z: Beam Saber

Beam Saber Finished

Waist armor and beam saber done (minus the little piece that sits atop the crotch armor. I don't really know how I feel about how the saber turned out. At most angles I don't think its horrid but a friend mentioned earlier today that it was kind of ice-cream shaped lol. I was going for a comic style motion in a partially swung saber but it might look too comical next to the weathered armor. Theres always next time. Just a few more pieces to armor up with then I can finally wrap this up and weather all of it.

Thanks for viewing! I'll be putting up a lot more stuff soon (I know how long I've drug out such a small easy project,) announcing some great things at the Mechalounge forums, and a new blog I will be a part of.

RG RX-178 MkII (Titans) Build Off with Big Z: Continued

It has a head! I think I'm going to continue painting and glossing the remaining parts and then just do all the major weathering, decals, and washes when all is said and done. The end is near!

Should be done just in time for the new group build over at Mechalounge. Come check it out and sign up! Theres nothing to lose and lots to gain! We will be announcing prizes every month of the gb. You can enter literally almost ANY model kit. You can even repaint toys if you like. It runs from Jan. 1 2013 to June 30 2012 so you all will have lots of time. Hope to see you guys there. Here is a link to the Rules and Questions thread  CHAOS GROUP BUILD

RG RX-178 MkII (Titans) Build Off with Big Z: Continued

Alright I have 3 weeks off so I can get this damn thing done and over with now that theres no reason to procrastinate further. Torso has had all physical indentations made, basecoated, shaded, and glossed for decals etc. :)

I really have to fix the gold band on the left arm..Its hard to tell how chipped an uneven it is in person.

RG RX-178 MkII (Titans) Build Off with Big Z: Continued

 
   So yeah basically Big Z busted out some killer work by scratch building a custom mammoth of a beam weapon for his AEUG MG Mk II 2.0 so I'm just trying to use any spare time I have to hustle up and get the rest of this kits armor painted and weathered so I can get to making a diorama. I've been messing around with glow powders trying to cook up a nice glow in the dark green for the eyes and sensors but, the finish always comes out rough no matter what. I'll probably just paint the lenses green and get some highlighting done with a fine brush.

   A lot of the weathering techniques I've used in this build are very easy and rewarding. Because the Real Grade line of Bandai Gundam kits are 1/144 scale I had a hard time with getting salt and hairspray weathering techniques to fit the scale without looking ridiculous. Some of the damage around the kit is actually there in the form of hobby knife knicks and indentationss and the other small dings and scratches are just painted on. I saw my friend Kamm do this on his Sazabi last year. He hand paints a lot more and a lot better than I can so my weathering/damage is naturally less refined haha. None the less I got the painted illusion trick from him and used the actual knicks to make the ones without physical depth look more convincing. For chipping the decals I just chipped them with a hobby knife after they had soaked up some Mr. Mark Softer. I found its usually good to reapply more Mark Softer after the chipping so none of decals remain peeled up or otherwise protruding from their surface.

   Everything else is just washes in german grey (acrylic), 50/50 rust/blue grey (acrylic), and black (enamel) (for filters and panel lines.) Most of the washes are brushed on using 91% isopropyl alcohol as a thinning agent for my acrylics (vallejo and model masters; so that they dry and stain fast), and Ronson lighter fluid for my enamels (panel lining and airbrushed filters to tie the shading together a little better.) The only other thing I can think to mention is a little technique a guy from my local hobby shop told me about. He suggested I try making oil stains, burn marks, and residue by mixing acrylic and enamel paint together. The paints do not mix well or at all and the acrylics gum up while the enamel carries the residue. This makes for some kind of cool looking effects (imho) for weathering around vents and thrusters. I guess I could ramble about shading for a while but I go through a pretty long and tedious process that yields results not much different than your average pre-shading/post-shading. Thanks for reading and checking out my work and dont forget to visit MECHA LOUNGE and see what the community is up to! We have some really cool stuff planned for a huge group build coming 2013 that you won't want to miss out on! Also see what Big Z is up to here at our BUILD OFF thread.

Kotobukiya D-Style Blade Liger

D-STYLE BLADE LIGER

So with no shortage of WIP projects I decided to start working on something small that I can finish quickly. I haven't finished anything in so long and really want to have a completed model to add to my collection.

I started off by sanding and snap fitting the kit and also trimming the male pegs so that it would be easier to disassemble.

Next I found there were several gaps and seam lines to be taken care of (as to be expected from deformed non-scale kits.)

I filled in all the gaps with epoxy putty, then painted/enamel washed the neck joint, put in between the two halves of the torso, removed the seam lines, and masked off the next to lay down the base coat for the torso.

After this I realized that I should've kept the mask on so that I could shade the torso (facepalm.) I then remasked the neck and added white highlights so that I could spray a very thin black over the german grey + white highlights. I generally tend to try and go more in depth with my shading but this is just a small project and I wanted to try out some slightly darker shading than usual. As you can see in the picture below I missed a few areas and had to go back and fill in some with german grey before the black mist. I dunno what's wrong with me tonight, so many small and stupid mistakes.

And finally this is what I have wound up with so far. The not yet detail painted but otherwise complete torso! Thanks for viewing!

Oh yeah I almost forgot. Here is package of 6 MGs I received over the summer courtesy of Bandai via the Gundam.Info Campain Round Two lucky give away!!! MG Deathscythe ver EW, MG Full Armor Unicorn, MG 00 Raiser, MG Sinanju, MG Red Frame, and a MG Strike Freedom