MG Blitz Gundam

Brief story time: my first articulated “model kit” was the G-Frame Blitz Gundam. I was amazed at the simplicity and aesthetic for <10 USD, and it inspired me to get into the hobby.

Late last year I got the MG Blitz Gundam, and it is everything I liked about the G-Frame times 20.

@gunpla

#gunpla #gundam #plamo #mecha #modelkits #gundamseed

    • wizardbeard@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      2·
      23 days ago

      Did you do anything special with it besides panel lining? Is there a matte top coat? It looks great!

      MG Blitz is probably the most expensive kit I have in my backlog, and I think I’ve built up the ideas of what I want to do with it to the point that I might never build it. I wish I could justify buying a second copy so I could worry less about getting it perfect. It’s kind of weird. Because it doesn’t have much screen time, I feel like I need to make the model shine.

      But I’m a rookie setting myself up for failure. I’ve only built a HG grandpa, trimmed the nubs, sanded down marks, and panel lined with gundam markers (the non-flow ones). And I’m partway through a “quick” build (trimmed the nubs but not sanding or panel lining) of a 30MM Volpanova Tank and some accessory kits to try and make some sort of guntank inspired weapons platform. Having trouble finding out a more stable way to mount the treads than the instructions suggest, and to also add all the extra arms and such without things being too heavy.

      Feel like I need some sort of pathway planned to build up the skills I’d like to have first.

      • MelodiousFunk@lemmy.zip
        3·
        21 days ago

        I’m a rookie setting myself up for failure. I’ve only built a HG grandpa, trimmed the nubs, sanded down marks, and panel lined with gundam markers (the non-flow ones).

        That’s more than most people do on their first kit. Or, if you’re like my nephew, the 20th kit. I took him to a FLHS for his birthday, and his eyes lit up when he saw the ZZ ver. Ka. Put it together in one sitting and he’s pleased as punch. Internally I’m screaming that it needs panel lines etc, but it ain’t my kit lol.

        Feel like I need some sort of pathway planned to build up the skills I’d like to have first.

        Just build, I’m serious. If you have something you want to do up “perfect,” save it for when you’re confident in your skills. But in the meantime, do other kits. Hone the techniques you know. Push boundaries where it makes sense. For example, let’s say you have an HG with minor color correction needed, like some thrusters molded onto a panel. You can leave it as is, use the included stickers, or paint. You decide to paint. Gundam marker? Hand brush? Mask and spray? You’ve got options. And each time, you’re getting more comfortable, and building your toolbox (both skills and literally). Each kit is an opportunity to grow.

        20 some-odd years ago, I dealt with nub marks by dabbing a little paint over the stress mark. Yes, it looked awful lol. Tried sandpaper but was never happy with the finish afterwards. I learned later that there were much much higher grits. Over time I got fairly decent at shaving nubs down with a hobby knife, then discovered single bladed nippers. Even with godhands, I still need a straight blade or some sanding to get a nub perfect… but most of the time I just go with “good enough.”

        Don’t overthink it! Just enjoy the process.

      • Gundam Reference@ohai.socialOP
        2·
        22 days ago

        @wizardbeard All I did was panel line with homemade acrylic panel line washes (it is not recommended to use oil or laquer washes on ABS, of which this kit has a lot). Of the ~50 kits I have built, I’ve only put a matte top coat on 7 of them.

        My first MG kit was a Z’Gok, and I probably put together almost 20 HG’s and 30MM’s before it because of your same mindset. My recommendation is to just start simple. You can usually make edits later, but if you never open the box you’ll never build the kit

        • TallonMetroid@lemmy.world
          3·
          22 days ago

          To add on to this, as long as you don’t make any physical changes like etching new lines or drilling new holes, you can always walk anything you do back. Obviously if you do a full paint job that might take a while strip off, but it’s still fully reversible. So build it, and then as you get more practice you can come back and do your additions.