The Know Nothing Nerd

This is a test message to make sure I can post from email. I will try to do so from the Tokyo Game Show.

Char's Zaku (left) & Zaku (right); You can see the seams on the Zaku

These are the first two Gundam models that I built and painted. I mentioned before I had some exposure back when I worked at Toys ‘R’ Us, but that was just snapping a few together. The green, regular Zaku was the that I built. I ended up painting everything while it was still on the trees. After I clipped it with my snippers, I filed the nubs a little and sanded them down. I did not fill in the seams with putty or glue for the Zaku.

On Char’s Zaku, I used Tamiya glue to fill the seams/ melt them together. I went back and used a Tamiya model putty with accelerant (spell check is telling me this isn’t a word…). 400 grit sandpaper was used for wet-sanding.

Char's MS-06S Zaku II

There are some seams on the main body. I had painted these pieces first, before deciding to try a seamless build. They are pretty well hidden by the other parts though.

I hand painted both models with Mr. Hobby acrylic  paints. I used a 60/40 paint/thinner ratio and brushed the paint on. The reds (Char) and greens (Zaku) were premixed “Gundam Colors.” All the grays, except the Green Zaku’s weapons were mixes I made. I used the color swatch on the manual to compare my mixes. Since the reds I used were not the same as though listed in the manual, I mixed a new red for Char’s backpack. I did this because a plain red pack didn’t quite look right to me. On a quick side note, I used different colors, because the shop staff told me that the colors can vary from series to video game slightly. The reds used were for a Char model, but not specifically the colors listed in my manual.

Zaku II (MS-06)

In later pics, I’ll show the heat hawks (axes). I mixed up my own purple using the ratios found on the manuals. I us

ed a Gundam pen and mechanical pencil work paneling and detail lines.

All-in-all, I think it turned out pretty well for a first time build. Once I get my forums running full steam, I’ll list paint numbers, parts, etc. in more detail. I hope to use here to show overall big progress.

I took this photo back on August 1st. This is the life-size model of the original Gundam (RX-78-2). It was displayed in Odaiba during the July and August this year. Anyways, it has had enough press around the net so I won’t go into more of it.

I had seen the Gundam Wing series on cartoon network about 10 years ago, and had some limited exposure to the models when I worked at Toys ‘R’ Us. Seeing the big guy in person though, I became intrigued as to why Gundam is a big icon in Japan.

From this interest I first settled down to watch Gundam SEED and it’s successor, Gundam SEED Destiny. Both these series focus a lot on character development. I enjoyed them as entertainment, but the character Shin Asuka in Destiny was just a little too whiny and emo for me. Right, I get it. You are all in torment, and others don’t really understand.. blah blah.

After I finished those series I started on the original Mobile Suit Gundam. Being that it is 30 years old, the animation wasn’t near today’s quality, but it was still enjoyable. There were a lot of throw-away one shot episodes or some that didn’t really progress the story much. I would recommend the movies since they condense the series down and keep the pace up.

While I was watching the original series, I found myself in Akihabara one day. (I was there on an unrelated note buying some electrical wires and LEDs for a 1:1 Star Wars clone helmet I was working on.) I decided to stop into a store and take a look at some of the Gundam Models or as the Japanese call them Ganpura or Gunpla (ガンプラ). Think Gundam Plastic Model condensed. I decided to buy Char’s ZAKU II (MS-06S). His name in Japanese in pronounced the same as my last name, so I often get “Oh, like the Gundam Character?” when I introduce myself. I also picked up a normal ZAKU II (MS-06). I grabbed the otaku staff and asked them what I needed to make this look fierce. I think I dropped 40 bucks (4000yen) on 15 bucks of models (1500yen).

In the posts to come, I will show a little of what I built. I didn’t take photos until I was finished, so it’s not a WIP. I’ll be doing a WIP when I build my 1:100 MG Freedom, and 1:144 HG 30th Anniv. RX-78-2.

For those that need some help… WIP is a Work In Progress. MG is Master Grade. HG being High Grade. 1:xxx is used to denote the scale.

Well, this was the first day I actually sat down and fiddled around with the settings. There are so many settings and things to explore with WordPress… I’ll probably start making post about, “Gundam” soon. After visiting the full-size Gundam last month in Odaiba, Tokyo, I started to explore one of the quintessential areas of nerdom in Japan.

I got a forum installed, but I need to get it all setup before I even want to open it up. Hopefully, as I explore new areas I can open up my forum to allow people to share some information. I can see it as possible becoming like a newb nerd’s guide to becoming a nerd. I guess that will all depend on home many people actually find there way through here.