The Ol' Red Frame Gets a Makeover

One good thing about doing gunpla is the community that you come into contact with. In this case its my good buddy Andrew. He got started and I restarted gunpla making at the exact same time. As he was showing me his latest kit, the MG Astray Red Frame Kai, I remembered that I have an old HG Astray Red Frame kit somewhere in the storeroom. Now I remember getting this when it first came out and built the whole thing in one evening in the office. Over the years, it was handled quite a bit and held the Malaysian flag every year during our Independence month. I pulled it out about 2 days ago and while inspecting it, promptly broke the little nub that attached the 'V' horn to the head. 

So I decided to fix that and in the process give the Red Frame a little make over. First thing I noticed was that this kit was positively grimy! So using a very weak Simple Green solution, I wiped every thing. Next I took all the main parts apart and wrote out what I wanted to do:

First up, the legs and hip unit got some seam filling done and the saya got a bit of gold details refreshed. I don't have any of that vermillion-ish red so more detailing on the saya and katana hilt will have to wait.

(Parts seam filled and awaiting sanding. Saya drying)

(Seams sanded. I'm getting better at this! So happy.)

Next up was fixing that 'V' horn. Trimmed out the broken bit and sanded it. Cut off a similar piece from the sprue (yes people, keep your sprues!) and glued that on. This last process was hell on earth cos my eyes aren't as good as they used to be. Add to that the fact that its a HG kit Arrgh! Pre and post 'micro surgery' pics next:

That got fit into the head hole (haha) and glued into place. Head then went for drying with some panel lines filled in.

Shoulder decal got replaced

Started then working on the sword. The blade got sanded and repainted. 

(Sorry, no after pics. Forgot to take a picture)

So with everything dried up and ready to go, its time to assemble and..pose!

 (Impatiently waiting for the katana to dry up)

I must say, I'm very pleased with this quick restoration job. I got to practice a few more skills. Red Frame will get a flat coat later today and put up for display.

Meanwhile the HeavyArms build is still underway and I finally fixed the head up after running into a myriad of problems. I do need time to post up the early WIP pics and thoughts. 

Thats it. Laterz.

Gunpla at 40

About nearly 5 years ago, I started a blog called phaseignition with an ambitious project to turn one of these:

 

Into a World War 2 DAK (Deutsches Afrikakorps) themed "Desert Zaku". I'm glad to say that nearly 10 years later, its still in pieces with some parts covered with a German Gray Primer and a shoulder missing.  >.<

Its not that I lost interest. Life happened. These days I have time for such things and I might take up that Desert Zaku. Maybe I'll add a cape to cover up that missing shoulder ala Repair Exia. Meanwhile, I just got myself a MG HeavyArms EW and will be using this blog to kinda post about my progress. In fact I have already begun work on it and when I find the time, I'll put up some WIP photos and thoughts.