Hello friends, Happy New Year, hope you’re all well!
I finished this month-long build in August last year - today I’m super excited to show you that recent personal project. I made a post a few years ago covering my MG Sazabi Ver Ka. - for me what was significant about building it back in 2018 was that it was the first time I really approached any model kit as a craftsman: trying new tools, experimenting with different techniques, and applying decals and details. Soon after that though I was back at ArtCenter and another 4 years would pass before I could tackle building another “toy.”
The RX-93 Nu Gundam is undoubtedly S-tier giant robot aesthetics,
and I’m going to elaborate that it’s not for the same reasons that most would think. Compared to post-2000s Gundam designs, the Nu showcases a surprising amount of restraint, especially in its more mature color palette and refined silhouette. Also, it still remains one of the only mobile suits that features a decent-looking asymmetrical design. Honestly, I was going to approach this as another relatively straightforward build, but the technological marvel that was the 2019 Bandai RG kit quickly inspired me to take it a lot further.
I didn’t take it further by getting optional accessories alone, I also started to experiment with a few more techniques from before - for example using Gundam Creos markers in different ways for color accents, my own composition for decal placements, as well as tiny modifications to the faceplate and antennae. I also withheld from using every single metal etch detail-up part to reduce the extra noise where I felt it really wasn’t needed.
The RG Hi-Nu was already released, but I went with the classic Nu for display composition reasons - primarily, because having the upscaled and up-detailed RG next to my old 2007 MG meant that the two would be competing on near equal terms for attention. I think that result would have been much busier to look at in comparison to what I have now.
It shouldn’t be any real surprise that despite my immense love for the Gundam franchise, I am actually extremely picky about what elements and designs resonate with me. I’ll not get into that topic as it’s a whole ‘nother can of worms, but that sentiment carries over the model kits now too - maybe it was a mistake to have worked on some of the absolute best offerings of Gunpla twice in a row, because now I know I’m going to be tremendously let down by worse plastic and engineering.
That made me think long and hard about what my next builds were going to be. The running theme for my Gunpla showcase is going to be very thoughtfully crafted big and smol boi pairings of my absolute favorite (in design and in sentiment). Actually, you’ll see some of what I have decided and planned for the next few months/years over there on the right. I’ll talk about those when get to building them in the future.
As usual, sorry for being MIA. Life post grad has moved so fast, I’ll definitely need to do a blog post just to bring everyone up to speed. In the meantime, hope everyone had a great month in the new year. Stay warm, be safe, and I’ll see you all next time!
Optional Parts/Accessories (all for 1/144 Hi-Nu/Nu):
- SO3 Photo Etch Parts from Madworks
- Hyper Mega Bazooka Launcher from EffectsWings
- Fin Funnel Effect Parts and Stand Bases from Susan Model
- Metal Modified Parts from Susan Model
- Fin Funnel Clear Effects Set from Plat+ Studio
BFG - What does “Hyper Mega Bazooka Launcher” even mean? Does it launch bazookas?
Also ironic that I mentioned restraint earlier, yet I decided to spare no expense in the materials and accessories, let alone getting one of the largest and most outlandish and ones.
