MG XXXG-01D2 Deathscythe Hell

Picture from the Gundam Wikia

I've had a pretty long hiatus from Gundam assembling so this month I picked up two different models, the XXXG-01D2 Deathscythe Hell is the first of the two that I decided to build. I picked this one up from looks alone, because I mean the whole demon-wings thing looks pretty intimidating right?

This model is from the "Endless Waltz"anime from 1997, that's all I really know about it but apparently it is "both a sequel and prequel to the Gundam Wing series"whatever that means. Seriously though, at some point I'll actually watch these things.

he has a really small head for some reason 

Of the two I bought I decided to build this one first because it's mostly dark which means I can mess up on the cutting and and it won't be too noticeable. Also, I usually don't do much lining on darker models since you can't tell, so this one was a nice model to build to get me back on the proverbial horse.

nothing says profesional like a bunch of toys on your desk

Although I wanted an easier model to help me get my groove back, I'm a bit let down by the Deathscythe. It has very little movement compared to the others, the hands don't move independently instead you select one of three separate hands and snap it on, and there's only one real weapon for it, compared to the four or five that come with the other models. Still, the Deathscythe got it's revenge and drew blood from me, so there's that.

there should be a bunch of decals there, but there isn't

Although the build was mediocre I still think the finished product looks nice, although I messed up some of the decals and so I didn't add them to the wings. 

MG MS-06J Zaku II

<

Booklet Cover

Well this model took me longer to complete than any of the others so far, mostly because I took a big Europe break in between construction but also because of the number of decals that this model has. The MS-06J Zaku II is a variation of the wider MS-06 Zaku II line which apparently is one of the most enduringly popular mecha designs in anime history.

The model is another 30th anniversary model like my RX-78-2. So far the only special feature I can see in these 30th anniversary models is more articulate hands, which end up being annoying to assemble. The Zaku also has some unique build features, mostly around the hoses, which are made from springs and plastic rings. The assembly of these was pretty unique while not being overly difficult.

Booklet Back Cover

Like I've said before, I haven't really seen any of the Gundam anime or manga so I'm not too sure about the storyline but I think the Zaku is one of the bad guys, although I could be wrong. The only reason I bring this "bad guy" possible fact up is because with the other models I would end up with one or two cuts from the detailing, however, with this model I cut myself at least four times, and while it could be due to me being clumsy I'd like to think it's because this model is evil.

Back View

The number of decals on this model was bordering on ridiculous and all it did was help me realize that I need to find out some way to make sure I apply them straight because I'm sure one or two are crooked, which bothers me. Also, there are a number of decals that you can't see in it's final assembled form. There is one radioactive sign decal that you can only see if you separate the top and bottom halves of the model, seriously, it's there.

Completed Model

Zaku looks a lot more different than the other models I've assembled. It might be due to the fact that the head isn't square and there are a lot more curves but it might have some storyline explanation so who knows.

MG RX-0 Unicorn

So, after finally finishing Fallout: New Vegas I had a chance to build the Gundam that I bought at the Anime Festival in Singapore. I spent a good chunk of my time at the festival at the Ban Dai booth trying to decine which one [I limited myself to one] model I was going to buy. I decided to stick with the Master Grade models since I still don't have an airbrush [yet] to make the Perfect Grade models worth the investment and a High Grade model feels like a downgrade.

After weighing all my options I decided to go with the RX-0 Unicorn because the box showed that it could pull off some sort of transformation and I figured it'd be like buying two gundams or at least one and a half so it'd be the best value for money.

Instruction Booklet

The build was pretty straight forward. It didn't have any extra parts other than the plastic, no string or screws or anything like that. The plastic came in more than two colors, including semi-transparent pink which the manual referred to as the "psycho frame".

Selection of Parts

The build took a bit longer than the others, mainly because  of the detailing. As I build a model I like to do the lining on the individual parts because it's easier to do than once the model is completed. However because the RX-0 transforms I wasn't too sure which parts needed to be lined and which did not.

Just Starting

In the end, I was fairly happy with the finished product. The one downside was that a lot of the lining I did do ended up rubbing off on my fingers as I was transforming it from one mode to another. I still have to get better at applying the decals because there's a couple of them that aren't straight.

Unicorn Mode

In order to transform the model from one model to another you need to remove the legs and head, this means that these parts where made to be removed and attached frequently. As a result the model doesn't feel as sturdy as the other ones, especially the legs. It's very hard to stand it up straight as it tends to sag to one side.

Destroy Mode

With all the models I've built [and the ones I will build] I think it might be time that I start watching the series or at least one of the movies.

My Desk is Getting Crowded

MG Musha Gundam Mk-II

I recently finished building this MG Musha Gundam Mk-II. Not being a follower of the gundam canon I have no idea what the backstory of the gundam is, because even though the instruction booklet comes with an explanation, I don't read Japanese [yet].

However, a quick search on the gundam wiki [whose existence isn't that surprising] informed me that the Mk-II is the Dynasty Warriors Gundam game variation of the regular Musha Gundam. Fascinating stuff.

Box Cover

I picked up this model at the "Gundam Roadshow" after I saw a version of it on display. The model on display had some cool looking kimono stickers thing, which I noticed wasn't pictured on the box. I figured I'd ask one of the salespeople there about this and would buy it if it came with the stickers.

Japanese Pattern Motif Stickers

The build was pretty straightforward, nothing too complicated. The one quirk in this model is that it came with some sor of rope, laces thing that is used to model hoses. I was really worried I would cut some section too short or too long and then screw the whole thing up, but luckily it all worked out well. Another thing that made this model pretty fast is that the plastic is all dark colored which meant that I could skip the lining. I tried to pose the model in a Samurai Jack inspired katana sheathing but posing these things is extremely difficult because of all the moving parts.

Constructed Model

I put off adding the stickers for a while because I thought they were decals and those are generally a plan. However, once I realized they were just stickers I cleared up an evening and got to it. I think I spent at least three hours adding the stickers. It took a while because I had to remove parts [carefully] and often I would be unhappy with the orientation of a sticker so I redid parts. I realized that while the stickers gave me some flexibility with redoing parts, it also meant that there would be obvious overlaps that kind of still bother me.

You Can See the Overlap

Regardless of that I think he's happy in his new home on my desk.

New Cubicle Decoration