BUILDS & MODELS

Featuring my personal interest in and making physical machinations!
I’ve been building Gundam model kits since the late 90’s - now I continue to dive into the hobby while bringing the sensibilities and design practices I’ve learned to the mix.

*Page & Site is currently a work in progress - experience is designed for desktop and not optimized for mobile platforms. Thank you for understanding!

MGSD ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos

**Built November 2024.** More info to come soon!

MSN-04 Sazabi Ver. KA

My first publicized build - **completed in August 2018!**
Check out the blog post from May 14, 2020 for more on this.

RX-93 Nu Gundam BFGazooka

The RX-93 Nu Gundam is my near absolute favorite, with it's iconic appearance in CCA sporting a more mature black and white color scheme and seldom seen asymmetrical design.

I've previously built two older MG variants early on in my journey, the original MG from 2000 and the Hi-Nu from 2007, and I still have them both on display. In a way I saw this build as a sort of circling around with a glow up to both my modeling skill and the new engineering of the RG. And, in following-up after the MG Sazabi Ver. Ka I finished four years ago, I wanted to push the amount of effort even further.
- 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 (discontinued)
Gundam GSI & X/GM Creos Markers
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- GM300 Marker Remover

Spray Paints (Cans)
- Mr. Surfacer 1200
- Tamiya TS-38 Gunmetal
- Mr. Super Clear Spray Flat

RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. OYW 0079

Until the HG Beyond Global variant was done two years ago, my only Gunpla experience with the original Gundam design was from very early childhood, and I haven’t built a Master Grade since the Sazabi Ver. Ka in 2018. Despite its age, there were many reasons for picking this RX-78-2: it's got my favorite head sculpt amongst the other variants, extruded beveled chest vents, and fantastic surface detail. Plus, it's based on the model featured in the PS2 era of Gundam games, and shares a lot of visual features with the PG 1.0.

In a way, this was made in the spirit of circling back to the beginning of my love of the franchise, and as such I stacked a lot of my professional practice and new learnings into creating my most laborious and custom build yet.
- Heavy scribing, lot of re-etching and some new lines: mainly to address the mold quality in older kits, and also to add more to specific areas
- Donor parts: replacing rear skirt flaps with those from old MG RGM-79C GM Type C
  for additional custom differentiation
- Two-tone color scheme: addition of Tamiya insignia (navy) white to achieve look similar to RG - lots of masking and painting (and also stripping!)
- Waterslide and dry-transfer decal apps: utilizing aftermarket G-Rework set and leftover HG RX-78 related decals
- Inner-frame painting: with Citadel Shade Nuln Oil, using multiple wash coats to achieve "metal staining"
- Using Tamiya Weathering Master: on top of previously mentioned shading - helping to provide textural detail and metal finish
- Trying Mr. Hobby Mr. Weathering (prev. Tamiya Accent Color) as an alternative for panel lining: Tamiya's strength has led to cracks in multiple builds
- Applying gloss and semi-gloss top coats (difficult to get adequately wet and consistent)
- Utilizing different paints/solvents to allow for detail layering and non-destructive clean-up
- Additional shading, weathering, and tone with GundamMarker Real Touch Markers, additional detail with hand-brushing and sponge-dabbing
- Final top coat with Mr. Hobby Mr. Super Clear Matte (Flat)
After a year of procrastinating, this build is finally done!

It

**Finished in July 2023.**
This was previously an abandoned build (2018) with a standard production RG Char Zaku II, later combined with a P-Bandai limited Team Monstre High Mobility Type. I got the idea to buy the second kit to revive the old model after watching Cucuruz Doan’s Island, specifically the scene with Amuro’s nightmares. I mixed and matched parts from both kits and secured an extra machine gun from an old HG Rick Dom II in my trash pile. I tried to improve on my surface treatment, taking extra care with the nub removal and sanding. Additionally, I selected a few parts to paint matte black, and after panel lining and applying a set of Bandai official waterslides, finished it off with a matte top coat. Hope you like this result of a fully loaded and detailed-up version of the Red Comet of Loum!

MS-06R-1A Zaku II High Mobility Type
Char "Monstre" Custom

**Finished November 2022.**
A companion piece to the Char “Monstre” Zaku build. I chose this iteration of an HG grandaddy Gundam as I personally liked the overall proportions compared to the other HG variants and was also particularly interested in the newer engineering. The build this time was fairly straightforward, except for some minor scribing and panel line re-etching, putty-filling, and adding another shade of white to some parts for a two-tone color scheme. As this BG version is a commemoration of 40 years of Gunpla, I wanted to treat this RX-78-2 as a more “show-ready” production model akin to a museum restoration celebrating Amuro Ray’s service to the White Base and EFSF.

Beyond Global RX-78-2 Gundam
Amuro Show Version

X-EX01 Gundam Calibarn

During 2023 I was frequenting a hobby store called Games at My Place in Pasadena, working on the recent builds that year there with some friends from ArtCenter.

The store was making a push to incorporate more of the Gundam franchise in to their space, and planned to have a display shelf for a wider range of custom works to boost the engagement and sales - this was my submission to them.

The Witch From Mercury was the new hot during this time. The show features a lot of new design elements not typical of the conventional Gundam style - that being said I found the Aerial and her upgrade had some aesthetic choices still that left a little to be desired from me. It wasn't until the Calibarn reveal that my attention was better caught. I like the new look more than that of her sisters, but I found the all-white color scheme monotonous - and so while this build was fairly straightforward I wanted to address it with a slightly alternate two-tone paint-job.
I had a hiccup when building this - losing the left inner leg/knee joint cover (replaced it with a leftover PC part), and more damningly broke one of the supporting brackets on the broom stick cannon. >W<

I did a reverse-side application of the crest decal, placing the rainbow activation underneath the smoked antennae.

- C87 Gundam Calibarn Water Decal Sheet
[from Evolution Studio / SIMP Models]

- GSI Creos Marker GM174 (Metallic Green)

- Tamiya TS-17 Gloss Aluminum Spray Paint