Gunpla After Dark

When I tried doing pretty much anything in the summer months, it got so hot and muggy that I just sat around eating and streaming movies with the lights always off.  Using my phone as a lamp, I tried, once again, to build random Gundam models to clear my backlog.  And once again, I left an unfinished product to collect dust.  Now after all this time, I suddenly felt inspired to pick up where I left off, which was pretty easy since everything was still on my dining room table.

1/144 HGUC Zaku II FZ Type-B (Unicorn Ver.)

Literally the first exclusive kit I've ever built, this is a recolored version of the 1/144-scale High Grade Zaku II FZ, which I picked up from Premium Bandai at a low price.  Seeing as how I've built a Zaku way back when and loved it, I looked forward to what was added, if anything, to this kit.

Along with some exclusive stickers . . .

The real bonus was a runner with extra hands and weapons from the High Mobility Zaku series.

Besides some light painting, I wasn't gonna do anything major to the Zaku.  Though I skipped the usual steps I take to a straight build (cleaning parts, etc.), it took quite some time to finish.  Mostly cuz I added decals, sprayed clear topcoat and let it all dry overnight.

But once I was done, I was DONE.

Though designed to recreate the poses shown in the Gundam anime, I didn't get as much from this as from my last Zaku.  On the other hand, all the clear coat I sprayed on has stiffened some parts and I worried about joints snapping off and decals scrapping off.

Still, the added details make the model pop and I can't wait to put it up with the others.

Almost forgot the included extra head for recreating the aforementioned 'Type-B' mobile suit.

And that about does it for this kit.  When I got bored with my last project, this was meant to keep me motivated.  Now I can honestly say it has.  I want to go back to my unfinished Gunpla.  And I want to wrap up this blog so I can actually do it.

So join me next time as I sift through piles of shipping boxes for a way to the Top of the Heap.