1/100 MG Kampfer [Knight] WIP1

I've been working on this for quite a while and I just want to get it finished! It was initially for the MechaLounge Group Build but I didn't have time to finish it due to work commitments. I've made quite a lot of progress over the past few days, but here's the photos I have of it from start to its current state.

I've started using my iPhone4S to take WIP photos - I'll always use my SLR for the final shoot, but for WIPs the iPhone is incredible. I can't believe the quality of the pictures! It makes life so much easier in terms of recording progress. Provided there's good light, that is.

Dark Vengeance 01 - Deathwing Terminators

This is the start of the 'something special' I've been working on - it's back on the Warhammer!

I bought the Dark Vengeance starter set a while ago because 1) I just had a really strong urge to play some Warhammer, something which I cannot explain as I'm very bad at it. And 2) Because there's some really cool models in this set, something that usually lacks in the Games Workshop starter games from what I can remember.

1/100 MG Kampfer [Knight]

So I am working on this amongst all the other stuff I'm doing at the moment! I'd say it's about 50% built, and the paint job will be pretty straight forward. Though I am gonna have a go at the zig zag camo as I think it really suits the curves of the kit. I need to think of a way to do it so that it all matches up, though. I will be entering this in to Mecha Lounge's CHAOS Group Build if it's done in time!

I saw this Kampfer with a red shoulder a while ago, and I think it worked really well so I'm going to try and do something like that, but make it into what I'm calling a 'chapter badge' like on Space Marines. I'm sure they're called something like 'house colours' on Knights, but it's basically the markings that identify the knights allegiance.

Also, one more thing to note - the 'Knight' theme basically came about when I lost the Kampfer's weapons (all of them) when I moved house (facepalm!) so I had to build a whole new set of weapons. And I had just started playing Dark Souls at the time and I really like the Black Knights with the Halberds....... Stay tuned!

1/100 Garbaldy [Juggernaut] WIP1

I'm a bit daunted by the warping I need to fix on my Zaku so I stopped that for a bit. I'm supposed to be panel lining my Kampfer but I can't bring myself to do that yet, So I started my Garbaldy.

1/100 MG Strike Rouge Ver. Gav

I started this kit way back in 2011 before I started my Mecha 2012 entry  - so about a year and a half ago! Apparently I didn't bother sanding parts before that point because on my return to working on this kit the amount of imperfections, nicks, bumps and downright untidy parts I found was ridiculous. I did my best to clean it up but there are some parts of this kit I'm not really proud of.

Also, because I've had this one in progress for so long I think I may have rushed it a bit putting it together, and in some (luckily) unseen areas the paint has scratched off down to the plastic. Which is saying something about my poor sanding and I'm also going to blame the primer! 

1/60 G-System Zaku II: WIP 1

So I made a bit of a start on my Zaku.

It was a bit daunting at first but once I got into the swing of it it's actually really fun working out where to drill the holes and the best places to pin bits together. Trimming down all the parts and cleaning them up is a bit long winded but is very satisfying.

My Recent Acquisitions - 1/60 PG RX 78-2

This was half price (ish) on HLJ.com and I had to get it. I don't know why but I really love the design of this classic Gundam. I used to hate it but it's really grown on me - Mainly since I saw Sori Kim's version! His painting is just stunning and it really opened my eyes to what you can do with such a deceptively 'basic' looking model. I won't be using the same colour scheme but I really hope to replicate the weathering style.

My Recent Acquisitions - 1/100 Garbaldy

I've been a big fan of Kallamity's work for a while now, but his models have always been far out of my reach. Whether it was the limited availability or the high prices of the models, there was always a reason I couldn't get hold of one. I was browsing the website longingly, as I have a habit of doing, and I noticed that he only had 12 of the 2nd Run 1/100 Garbaldy's left. I originally wanted a Briegel as most people do, but the more I looked at it the more the Garbaldy grew on me. I didn't have the money at the time, so I emailed Luca to ask if he'd accept a deposit to secure one of the remaining models - it actually turns out he had 8 left, not 12, and he hadn't been able to update the website.

I won Mecha 2012! / Taking a break

Didn't expect this to happen! 

The much anticipated results of the Mecha 2012 competition over at Mechalounge.com have been released. Yesterday Hannah and I took a break from cleaning to huddled around my phone whilst shuffling about in our old empty flat trying to find the spot with the best 3G signal. I've never heard her screech so loudly when they announced my entry as the winning entry for my category (Modified Plastic), and when the the link for mvm3897's best of show came up we where both speechless when he announced my entry as his favourite, and best of show! I've always been a massive fan of Matt's work and he's a real inspiration to me, so for him to pick my model as his favourite means a hell of a lot.

Here are the two videos, I urge you to watch the entire 17 minutes of the announcement video as the other winning entries are spectacular. Decay has also announced the winners on his site with photos, so that's well worth checking out

I just want to thank everyone at Mecha Lounge - The organisers of the competition, Kamm & Sneeper1980. All the other staff that helped organise and moderate the competition, like Harry, Hummingbird & Decay off the top of my head (sorry if I forgot anyone). Also the judges who took their time out to sort through all the hundreds of entries to pick the best ones, and finally all the awesome community members over at Mecha Lounge, it's seriously cool forum to be a part of at the moment. 

Secondly: I'll be taking a bit of a break from Gunpla for a few months. We're currently in temporary accommodation and all my modelling stuff is in storage until we find a proper place to live. I guess this will give me a chance to do some digital painting and photography.

Mecha 2012 - 1/100 MG Sazabi Ver. Gav [Project Hades] Completed

Holy Shit-Bananas. 

Well, here it is. The 1/100 MG Sazabi [Hades Pattern], my entry for Mecha 2012 over at the Mecha Lounge.

It almost didn't happen. I nearly gave up so many times when things just weren't going my way. One such instance about 5 weeks ago when I started painting - I used the wrong type of salt in the salt & hairspray technique and because I was in a rush I didn't test the salt on one piece first the entire paint job was completely covered in huge salty white splotches forcing me to strip the whole model and start again.