Extreme Gundam Makeover - Masters Edition

I don't believe I've been into gunpla modelling long enough to know who the "greats" of this hobby really are, but allow me to share those I have discovered over the past year. Thanks to the internet, I've been able to follow a lot of awe inspiring builders - and I'd be lying if I said I didn't pick up a few things from their generous sharing of pictures online - both of finished projects and works in progress alike. So although they do not know who I am, I'd like to thank them for helping me out, for showing me the way of the gunpla ninja, and for inspiring me to go that extra mile with each build I undertake.

I can think if no better way to show my appreciation than by honouring their works here on my blog. I'm sure many of my visitors have seen these works elsewhere, but for those who haven't, I've included links to the web sources so you can do your own research.

Let me start with my favourite build to date: Shunneige's MG Nu Ver Ka.

--> SHUNNEIGE'S BLOG

The attention to detail on this piece is nothing short of astonishing. As opposed to the commonplace adding of plates and scribing of lines here and there, Shunneige (not sure if this is his real name) raises the bar to a level very few can achieve by actually changing the overall look and stance of the model. Thanks to google translate (his blog is in Japanese), I was able to somewhat understand the reasons behind each modification, especially the changes in proportion and shifts in center of mass. This build has served as the main reference for my ongoing EXS project, despite it being a different kit altogether. Make sure to check out his Strike and Sinanju too, as both are equally as awesome as this one.

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MG EX-S (daban) WIP 2

This is WIP 2 for the MG EX-S. You can find WIP 1 here: WIP 1

I've been making slow but steady progress on this project. Here's what I've done so far...

I went with a simpler hole for the shoulders than what I have on my Quill sketches, but there will still be some plating to do to make it look more intricate. The image below shows my method for opening up panels. First, I sketch on the part with a pencil. When I am happy with the design, I drill the corners of the shape with a pin vise. Using Dymo tape as a guide, I then scribe the shape out. I do this lightly at first to get the edges straight, then add more pressure and scribe as deep as i possibly can. The deeper I can scribe, the less work I have to do with a hobby knife. I then cut the shape out carefully with the knife and clean out the edges with sandpaper. The same method was used to do the chest holes.

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