Welcome to my end-of-build write up for the 1/100 Elyn Hobby Kshatriya. I'm going to spend quite a bit of time talking about the kit and the build so if you're just interested in pretty pictures you're more than welcome to scroll down toward the end of this article.
It took longer than I would've liked, but three weeks and 12-15 hours of assembly/final detailing later the Elyn Hobby Kshatriya is now 2/3 of the way complete.
Slowly, as Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron Blooded Orphans progresses, so does the Gundam Barbatos as it slowly equips more weapons and armor. That change is reflected in one of the opening segment's early scenes. I'll update this page with images of the opening as the series begins.
Note - You can click to expand and use the left/right arrows to navigate.
About a week ago I saw this image refereced on Reddit and figured it might be fun to try out a few of those setups on some of my kits starting with the coloured backlighting all the way at the end.
A few weeks ago I redid my photo area, opting for a gray surface in front of black muslin. This created a gap between the table and the backdrop which allows me to throw in a bit of backlighting. I got myself an inexpensive colour changing LED bulb, placed it behind the table, and started taking photos.
As a moderator over at /r/Gundam I often see folks asking how to get into the franchise and what shows to watch. Hopefully this guide will help you along that path.
If you don't have time to go through and read, it's best to pick with one of the below series:
| Start with this |
Or pick one of these |
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Mobile Suit Gundam |
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Gundam 0080 |
Gundam 00 |
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G Gundam |
Iron Blooded Orphans |
Note that the above are in no order of preference or recommendation. Why I think they're four good starting points is detailed below.
If you can't be bothered as to finding out why the above are recommended, or just want me to make the decision for you, then watch the original Mobile Suit Gundam. The full series, all 43 episodes, not the movies.
An overwhelming sense of doom.
That's what I'm feeling right now. While I should be pleased that this build is now officially a third of the way complete and things turned out okay I can't get past the fact that the kit's LEDs are royally fucked.
Before I get into that, how about a few pictures...
After a couple weeks of prep and paint the torso is ready for top coat and final assembly.
I think I spent more time prepping the kit for paint than any other I’ve worked on up until this point. I feel like every piece on this kit has flashing issues. Some of the problem areas I didn’t notice until after the first coat of primer. Some I didn’t notice until after I had finished painting and started on detailing. Hopefully the ones I wasn’t able to fully clean won’t be too noticeable when all is said and done.
I didn’t do much modification on any components as dry fit issues were more with things staying together than going together at all. I did fill in some awkward gaps on the front of the kit. I sort of messed up the lining on that part in the process because I wasn’t paying attention though.
Within the past couple years Bandai has started releasing exclusive kits at various toy & model expos in Japan. They're typically slightly modifications of existing kits using special coatings or clear parts. Generally their boxes are just the standard box art with a bit modification or a logo for differentiation. This year's Art of Gundam expo releases featured several kits never released in a clear format with, what I believe to be, a stunning box design.
