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Gunner Zaku Warrior - Lunamaria Hawke |
| Series | SEED |
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| Title | Gunner Zaku Warrior - Lunamaria Hawke | |
| Release Date | March 2005 | |
| Suggested Price (JPY) | 2,300 | |
| No. of Parts | 8 runners + 1 polycaps + 1 stickers + 1/20 Lunamaria Hawke Plastic Card w/ stand | |
| Plastic Color | Pink, Dark Red, Clear, Purple, Dark Gray, Bluish Gray, Clear Red | |
| Grade | HG 1/100 | |
| Scale | 1/100 | |
| My Rating | Good | |
| Model Status | Completed (2006-07-23) | |
| Production Roll-Out# | #26 |
Comment
This is a 1/100 scale plastic kit from Gundam Seed Destiny anime series. This particular
Gunner Zaku Warrior is piloted by Lunamaria Hawke, a cute female character in the series.
Mecha are stereotyped as a masculine and rugged war machine. It is quite boring after
building 20 over of these "mean" machines. Why can't a mech be a little bit more feminine
just like its pilot?
The reason I am buying this kit, beside the big gun, is to test the possibility to break away from the conventional viewpoint and to build a rather feminine war machine by a slight twist. The other reason is to practice modifications on Gundam plastic. I am grateful that although this kit is a HG, it has good enough articulations for making the required pose for photos.
This kit is purchase from Low Yat.
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Construction Process
1. Basic Building
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Model is opened and build straight from the box using the conventional basic
building method. This is a HG grade meaning there are tons of seam lines to be
eliminated. I have to use Plastic Cement, craft knife and tons of sanding for those lines. Models are test fitted before proceeding to the next step. See photos below. |
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2. Modifications
This Zaku Warrior is a HG and too bland comparing to a MG kit. First complain is the short neck. The overall proportion is wider on lower body. It might be suitable for a male pilot but then it is not stylish for a lady.
I decided to do some light mod on this kit to spice things up. I guess I am not skillful enough to thinned the legs so I am padding up the upper body to make give an illusion of a slimmer body.
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The modification started with the right shoulder added with round mold from
Kotobukiya Modeling Support Goods (MSG). Those molds (front and back) are attached
with the help of plastic cement and putty.
Drilled 2 holes to the side of shoulder armor for aesthetic purposes only. |
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Why all Zaku's neck is so short?
This mech is use by Lunamaria Hawk, and supposedly to be a maiden ride and a turtle-necked robot does not suit her. The neck is elongated by 4 to 5mm to improve articulation and make her look a bit slimmer. The technique to attach and re-attach these small part is similar to how I fix my broken leg connector on my MG Zaku I Rambal Ral. |
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Left chest is drilled with a hole to embed the "bolt and nut" mold from MSG. |
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The following are the rest of the mods:
Note that all seam lines are puttied with Tamiya Basic Gray Putty thinned with Mr. Thinner. |
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The photo shows the final result. This mech is
spice up with just a little "light & easy" mod. All mod are additive; meaning all
additional parts are add-on. Non of the parts are removed or cut off except for the
neck piece. A simple attempt for a first timer. Note that the position for the modifications are mostly asymmetrical by design meaning only one side is modified (right head, left chest and right shoulder). I believe it is livelier this way. |
3. Priming & Painting
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I normally do not prime my Gundam kit when I build it out-of-the-box. However, I am doing mod here so I have no choice but to prime it with Mr. Surfacer 500 to trace all those imperfections. |
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Model rebuild again to check for a final check. Imperfections is puttied and sanded again. Primer is re-applied and the process is repeated again. |
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Parts are separated out into different color group for painting. |
The following are the color scheme or painting method chosen to achieve the final result. Max Starter White painting technique is used. I am aiming for some metallic effect here so I use silver instead of white for the armor highlight.
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Intended Color |
Base Coat |
Highlight |
Top Coat |
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Silver |
Flat Black |
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Silver |
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Pink |
Flat Black |
Silver |
Pink (mixed. mist) |
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Deep Red |
Flat Black |
Silver |
Deep Red (mixed. mist) |
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Black |
- | - |
Metal Black |
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Bluish Gray |
Flat Black |
Light Bluish Gray (mixed) | - |
* Mixed - Mixed paint
* Mist - Very thin paint lightly misted on surface
* Highlight - Only spray at the center of armor parts. (Please refer to
Max Technique)
4. Final Touch-Up
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After rounds of puttying and sanding, the surface is still not smooth. I guess I sanded too hard. The front skirts are re-worked again. |
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The silver part is hand-painted with silver. |
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Masked the feet thrusters and spray with flat black again to cover the pink overspray. |
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Document Date : 2006-07-24 |
Responses to this page:
great job on this, just a quick question. how did you do the black lining on this one. thank you in advance
I am using Gundam Real Touch Marker for the panel lining.
i have been surfing the web looking for information about starting gundam modelling, since i am new, this page and website has been incredibly helpfull. Thanks a million. :-)