Plastic Model Building Log #6 BANDAI SPIRITS HGUC 1/144 MS-06S Char's Zaku II
About the kit
I didn't realize Gunpla was so hard to buy normally (sweat).
I wanted a Zaku and searched local hobby shops and online, but couldn't find one.
After waiting on a cancellation list at DMM Mail Order, the one I managed to get was the Char's custom version. So, for my second Gunpla build, I decided to make the HGUC Char's Zaku II "REVIVE" version.
The REVIVE version is a product that renews the initial HG, and it seems to be a great kit with redesigned proportions
and action range of motion.
The purchase price was about 1,500 yen.
For now, a straight build
I tried a straight build for now. Just like with the RX-78 last time, my impression was, "Is there any need to add anything more to this?"
Well, what should I do?
There is a way of thinking that you can just spray a matte topcoat on a straight build and call it "complete," but
I want to do something to it. I decided to try applying "decals" and "full painting," which I have never done before.
Filling holes
There are four holes in the shield, but was it always designed like that?
I like shields that look like cutting boards, so I decided to fill the holes.
I filled the holes with wave's "Black Instant Adhesive" and sanded them with Kami-Yasu #600 and #800 until they were flat.
Painting
I prepared the following for painting. From the left: Aqueous Hobby Color Neutral Gray, Gundam Color Char's Custom Red, Phantom Gray, and Char's Custom Pink.
For the small details, I used the Aqueous Hobby Color I already had on hand.
I disassembled the straight-built parts and painted them one by one. The bean-paste colored and black parts were almost the same as the molded colors, so I proceeded with the work while wondering if there was any point in painting the whole thing.
Applying decals
I obtained decals for Bandai's Zeon-type mobile suits.
I applied the decals randomly, referring to information online.
I don't know if it's the correct way, but I felt that applying too many would look bad, so
I kept the number of decals to a minimum.
Finishing
As a finishing touch, I sprayed on the familiar Aqueous Premium Topcoat (matte).
Completion
My first full paint job. From a raw ham-like pink molded color, it became a grilled salmon-like pink,
making it look more like the TV version of Char's Zaku.
I think the decals, while modest, also became a nice focal point.
I've been busy lately and couldn't spend much time on it, but overall I was satisfied.
