Gundam Unicorn

Oh, Bandai, why didn’t you just release a MG Kshatriya years ago? Would’ve saved me sooo much effort.

Last weekend I started out on an ambitious build. Well, the build itself wasn't so nuts, the time frame was. The goal was to build a PG Unicorn in one week. Here's how things turned out...

Everyone once and awhile it's nice to take a break from the complex projects and build something straight forward. While rewatching Gundam Unicorn ahead of episode 7's release I got inspired by doing a very simple looking deactivated Unicorn Gundam. Nothing too fancy, but something cool to add to the collection. I did that this past weekend, started painting Friday night and finished sometime Monday.

Phase one is complete of yet another project I may never actually finish. Initially titled Fire & Ice, but renamed to Heaven & Hell after I saw the two kits standing together, is a basic psychoframe swap and touch up between a MG Unicorn and a MG Phenex. Honestly, I just wanted a Unicorn with a blue psychoframe. Doesn't hurt that the Phenex looks pretty good witha red frame as well.

I've got quite a few Master Grade Unicorn Gundams in my collection. By last count I'm at 12 including the Banshee variants. When I picked up the last three for a bit of a project I was challenged on Reddit to build one without the manual. It wasn't the first time someone threw that task out there so I thought I'd give it a go.

Preparation was easy, take all the of the runners with applicable parts and cut & trim all the pieces. I didn't do any of the weapons because I haven't decided whether I'm going to use them or trade them out quite yet. I've already got more Beam Magnum rounds than I know what to do with. I made things a bit more difficult for myself by including both the Ver. Ka and OVA parts in the mix.

Ah, here it is. My latest Gundam Unicorn creation, a Banshee more specifically, themed in the lovable Titan's colour scheme. Blue and gold has always been one of my favorite schemes, well before I saw Zeta Gundam ages ago. To see this kit come together and look pretty damn amazing, with the yellow details here and there, is a long time coming. The project was envisioned months ago before I convinced PatrickGrade (of GundamGuy fame) to part with his Banshee.

His contribution, long with my FA Unicorn/Banshee frame swap, allowed for the kit to be built with two claws. I like how they look closed, almost like a giant fist, so I decided to display this kit with one closed and the other open. I'm not a fan of the built in beam cannons so those aren't like to make it onto any upcoming Unicorn projects of my own. They could make for a good mod/kitbash somewhere down the line. All in all, I'm pretty pleased with how this project turned out.

With her completion she's been officially designated the NUnicorn. A silly, yet endearing name. It's okay, because I prefer the nickname 'Noon.'

Last WIP shots for this project. In fact, most of it is almost done, just a key few pieces currently baking. I just wanted to snap a few shots now. For whtaever reason, when this kit is sans arms, you can really see Katoki's love of long legs.