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  • GP01Fb Zephyranthes Full Bernern, Linkin Park Edition, Metallic Coat Version

    HG 1/144 GP01Fb — Metallic Finish | Linkin Park Tribute

    Build completed: 16 October 2026

    The HG 1/144 Gundam GP01Fb from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory receives a custom metallic finish, complemented by two visual references to Linkin Park.

    The model was completed on 16 October 2026, the same day Linkin Park: Unshatter screened in cinemas in Hong Kong.

    Metallic Paintwork

    All plastic runners, except for the polycap runners, received a base coat of GSI Creos Mr. Color No. 2 Gloss Black.

    The polycaps were left unpainted to avoid potential paint adhesion problems on their softer, flexible material and to preserve the fit and movement of the joints.

    Following the black base coat, the original mould colours were transformed using the following metallic paints:

    • Blue and red: Mr. Color No. 159 Super Silver
    • White and yellow: Mr. Color No. 61 Burnt Iron
    • Grey: Mr. Color No. 8 Silver

    The original colour scheme was thus reinterpreted through three metallic tones, allowing the surfaces and contours of the GP01Fb to take centre stage.

    A Thousand Suns Shield

    The shield received a custom treatment inspired by Linkin Park’s A Thousand Suns album artwork.

    Before assembly, the shield was cut from its runner, with portions of the runner retained temporarily as a handle for easier handling during painting.

    A silhouette based on the album artwork was traced onto hobby masking tape and cut out to create a single-use stencil.

    The exposed area was then airbrushed with a custom mixture of Mr. Color No. 8 Silver and No. 159 Super Silver. The stencil was carefully removed while the paint was still relatively fresh, revealing the silhouette against the shield’s metallic finish.

    The shield was set aside to dry while work continued on the main assembly.

    Assembly and Shoulder Decal

    Assembly proceeded with the main body, backpack and beam rifle.

    A circular Linkin Park logo waterslide decal was applied to the right shoulder. As the printed ink showed a tendency to flake during application, a fine-tip marker was used to touch up the affected areas.

    The decal work was deliberately kept minimal, with the shoulder logo and shield artwork serving as the two principal Linkin Park references.

    The shield was attached last, completing the model after the main assembly had been finished.

    No Panel Lining

    No panel lining was applied to this build.

    With the black undercoat and three different metallic finishes already providing tonal variation, additional panel lining was considered unnecessary. Leaving the surface details untouched also allowed the metallic paintwork to remain the primary focus.

    Rather than relying on dark lines to accentuate every panel, the intention was to let the model’s contours, reflections and natural metallic texture define its appearance.

    The result is a restrained interpretation of the GP01Fb, with the finish doing most of the visual work.

    Final Remarks

    The completed GP01Fb combines a monochromatic metallic palette with two carefully placed Linkin Park references:

    • Right shoulder: Circular Linkin Park logo
    • Shield: A Thousand Suns silhouette

    Minimal decals and the absence of panel lining preserve the emphasis on the metallic surfaces, while the contrast between Super Silver, Silver and Burnt Iron gives the model its distinctive appearance.

    HG 1/144 GP01Fb — Metallic Finish
    Linkin Park tribute
    Completed: 16 October 2026

  • GP01Fb Zephyranthes Full Burnern, Metallic Finish

    HGUC 1/144 GP01Fb Zephyranthes Full Burnern — Original Colours, Metallic Finish

    Kit: HGUC 1/144 RX-78GP01Fb Gundam GP01Fb Zephyranthes Full Burnern
    Series: Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
    Finish inspiration: MG 1/100 GP01Fb Metallic Coating Ver.
    Paints: GSI Creos Mr. Hobby Mr. Color
    Status: Completed
    Publication date: 16 October 2026

    Introduction

    The RX-78GP01Fb Gundam GP01Fb Zephyranthes Full Burnern is the upgraded, space-combat configuration of the Gundam GP01 from Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory.

    This build uses the standard HGUC 1/144 kit, finished in the mobile suit’s familiar blue, red, yellow, white and grey colours. The twist is a custom metallic treatment inspired by the MG 1/100 GP01Fb Metallic Coating Ver.

    There is also a musical connection. The GP01Fb appears in Linkin Park’s 2003 music video for Somewhere I Belong, retaining its original colours. That appearance provided an additional reference for this build.

    The aim was simple: retain the GP01Fb’s familiar colour scheme while giving it a more reflective, metallic finish.

    Paints and Materials

    The main paints used were from the GSI Creos Mr. Hobby Mr. Color lacquer-based range. Paint Application No. 2 Gloss Black Base coat No. 8 Silver Metallic layer No. 9 Gold Gold-coloured parts No. 13 Neutral Grey Mixed with Silver for metallic grey No. 47 Clear Red Clear colour over Silver No. 50 Clear Blue Clear colour over Silver

    Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color in Black and Pink-Brown was used for panel lining, with enamel thinner and cotton buds for cleanup. A gold marker was used to highlight a chest detail.

    The PC-20 and PC-123 polycap components were left unpainted.

    Painting Process

    Metallic Colours

    All runners except the polycap components received Mr. Color No. 2 Gloss Black as the base coat.

    The white-moulded parts were painted with No. 8 Silver, while the yellow-moulded parts received No. 9 Gold.

    For the blue parts, No. 8 Silver was applied first, followed by No. 50 Clear Blue after the silver had dried. The red parts received the same silver undercoat, followed by No. 47 Clear Red.

    The grey parts received a mixture of No. 13 Neutral Grey and No. 8 Silver. The proportions were determined through intuitive mixing, using visual judgement rather than precise measurement.

    Face and Optics

    The face received a gloss-black base coat, followed by No. 8 Silver and No. 50 Clear Blue.

    The supplied sticker was then used to mask the optics. No. 8 Silver was airbrushed over the exposed areas before the sticker was removed.

    Black panel liner was applied, and excess was carefully removed using a cotton bud moistened with enamel thinner.

    The result was a pair of shiny blue eyes instead of the original green. This required additional masking and painting, but the metallic blue optics added a distinctive touch to the completed mobile suit.

    Shield

    The shield began with the same gloss-black base coat and No. 8 Silver layer.

    No. 50 Clear Blue was then applied to the regions intended to be blue. The supplied stickers were used to mask these regions before another layer of No. 8 Silver was airbrushed over the exposed areas.

    After removing the masking stickers, the shield displayed contrasting metallic blue and silver sections.

    Pink-Brown panel liner was used on the blue regions, while Black was used on the silver areas. Excess was removed carefully with enamel thinner and cotton buds.

    Chest Detail

    A V-shaped detail on Runner A, Part 40, was highlighted with a gold marker against the predominantly blue chest area.

    The marker tip produced a less consistent line than intended. Black panel liner was applied around the perimeter to frame the detail and improve its definition.

    Panel Lining and a Lesson in Paint Chemistry

    Panel lining was performed while the parts were still attached to their runners.

    Pink-Brown was used on the silver-finished white parts and clear-blue-finished blue parts. Black was used on the metallic grey and gold parts, as well as the face. The shield received Pink-Brown on blue and Black on silver.

    During cleanup, care was needed to avoid disturbing the underlying silver paint.

    This build provided a useful lesson in paint chemistry: Mr. Color is lacquer-based, while Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color is enamel-based. Enamel thinner was used to remove excess panel liner, but the underlying paint was not completely immune to damage. Curing time, paint thickness, solvent exposure and rubbing pressure all affected how safely the excess could be removed.

    The experience reinforced the importance of understanding paint compatibility and using solvents sparingly, particularly over metallic finishes.

    Final Appearance

    After painting and panel lining, the parts were assembled into the completed HGUC 1/144 GP01Fb Zephyranthes Full Burnern.

    The metallic treatment gives the smaller HGUC kit an appearance reminiscent of the MG 1/100 GP01Fb Metallic Coating Ver. while retaining the original mobile suit colours.

    The metallic blue and red sections, gold details, custom metallic grey, blue optics and two-tone shield give the familiar design a different surface character.

    The Linkin Park Connection

    The GP01Fb’s appearance in Somewhere I Belong connects this build to Linkin Park’s music and its place in the band’s early-2000s era.

    The publication date also coincides with the theatrical release of Linkin Park: Unshatter in Hong Kong and Macao on 16 October 2026, making it a fitting occasion to share a project that brings together Gunpla and music.

    Conclusion

    This HGUC 1/144 GP01Fb combines the mobile suit’s familiar colours with a custom metallic finish inspired by a premium Gunpla release.

    From intuitive mixing and careful masking to panel lining and solvent cleanup, the build offered several practical lessons alongside the visual transformation.

    One mobile suit, its familiar colours, and a different metallic finish.

  • Da Vinci Series Clock

    Academy Da Vinci Series Clock Model Kit

    Completed on 10 October 2026 — Journée Internationale de l’Horlogerie

    Painting and Preparation

    All parts were airbrushed with GSI Creos Mr. Hobby Mr. Color No. 13 Neutral Grey as a base coat.

    Parts moulded on the brown runners were subsequently airbrushed with Mr. Color No. 9 Gold, while parts on the dark grey runners received Mr. Color No. 8 Silver. The individual dark grey plastic parts that had been detached from the runners were left in Neutral Grey.

    Other individual parts moulded in brown plastic were airbrushed with Mr. Color No. 9 Gold. These included the beams and clock faces, giving them a metallic finish.

    For easier handling during painting, individual parts that came separately from the runners were mounted on satay sticks before airbrushing.

    Panel Lining

    After airbrushing, Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color (Black) was applied to bring out the details. Excess panel liner was removed using cotton buds moistened with Tamiya X-20 Thinner.

    This helped accentuate the mechanical details and add definition to the clock’s various components.

    Assembly

    Assembly was generally straightforward, with the instruction manual providing a clear sequence to follow.

    The only challenging point came at Step 3, where a vice clamp was needed to secure parts A7 and A8 to part B-2. The clamp provided the additional pressure needed to fit the components together properly.

    The kit also included metal rods of specific lengths that had to be measured during assembly. A measuring tape was therefore necessary to check their dimensions. In the end, I used an IKEA paper measuring tape that I had on hand. Haha!

    Completion

    The Academy Da Vinci Series Clock Model Kit was completed on 10 October 2026, coinciding with Journée Internationale de l’Horlogerie (International Watchmaking Day).

    This was an interesting change from assembling conventional plastic model kits. Beyond painting and detailing the components, the build involved fitting mechanical parts together and measuring metal rods to the required lengths.

    Although assembly was generally straightforward, Step 3 required some extra effort, while the metal rods called for careful measurement. Overall, it was a satisfying project that combined model-making techniques with practical mechanical work.

    Completing a clock model on a day dedicated to horology made for a particularly fitting conclusion to the build.

  • Convoy

    Yolopark 12 cm Optimus Prime

    Inspired by the white colour scheme of Takara Tomy’s Convoy (Optimus Prime) speakers for iPod, I decided to paint and assemble my own interpretation using Yolopark’s 12 cm Optimus Prime model kit.

    The entire model was airbrushed with a base coat of GSI Creos Mr. Color No. 13 Neutral Grey. After allowing the base coat to dry, I applied airbrush weathering using Mr. Color No. 107 Character White, creating a predominantly white finish while retaining some of the underlying grey for depth.

    Once all the paint had fully dried, the parts were assembled to complete the model.

    Finished on 5 October 2026 — fifteen years after the passing of Steve Jobs.

    The white Convoy aesthetic feels particularly fitting here, recalling the distinctive white-and-metallic design language of the iPod era.

  • Tesla Trooper

    Border 1/12 BA-001 Tesla Trooper — Red Alert 30th Anniversary

    With the Command & Conquer: Red Alert 30th anniversary community celebration beginning in October 2026, it seemed like the right time to finally complete a long-shelved project: Border’s BA-001 Tesla Trooper in 1/12 scale.

    The kit was received as a gift several months ago. The parts had already been painted according to their moulded runner colours, but only the first few assembly steps had been completed before the model went back into its box.

    The original paintwork was done using GSI Creos Mr. Hobby Mr. Color paints. Parts from the black runners received a uniform grey coat; the red runners received a black base coat followed by red weathering; the orange runner received a black base coat followed by orange weathering; and the silver runner was given a uniform silver finish.

    Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color was then used throughout: Black on the grey, orange and silver parts, and Light Grey on the red parts.

    The kit also includes rubber-moulded components, including the gloves, tubing, pouches and sling. These were left in their original rubber material rather than airbrushed. Light Grey Panel Line Accent was used on the black rubber parts, while Black was used on the orange rubber parts.

    The head sculpt is also made from a rubbery material and came as a separate piece. It was left in its original finish and mounted onto the body, with the Tesla Trooper’s distinctive, Juggernaut-like headgear fitted over it.

    Nitrile gloves proved useful during the final assembly and handling of these flexible components.

    Once assembled, the different materials become much more apparent. The figure combines metallic-looking painted surfaces, rigid plastic components and flexible rubberised equipment, giving the Tesla Trooper a convincing multi-material appearance.

    There is no particular faction preference behind the build. The appeal is the Tesla Trooper’s suit design as a piece of fictional science-fiction technology — an armoured infantry system built around an electrically powered weapon.

    The actual 30th anniversary of Command & Conquer: Red Alert falls on 22 November 2026, but with the community celebration already beginning on 2 October, there was little reason to keep the unfinished Tesla Trooper in its box.

    After months of waiting, the Tesla Trooper is finally assembled.

    Red Alert — 30 years.

  • Electromotive Style Injection Machine

    Bandai 1/60 Electromotive Style Injection Machine

    Manufacturing Day 2026 — 2 October 2026

    To mark Manufacturing Day 2026, a fitting subject was chosen: Bandai’s 1/60 Electromotive Style Injection Machine.

    Rather than a Gundam or conventional mecha, this unusual hobby kit represents the industrial machinery used to manufacture plastic model kits.

    From Black Plastic to Painted Machine

    The kit consists of a single runner, with all parts moulded in black plastic. A silver “Ecopla” sticker is included on the box.

    Initially, having the entire runner in one colour seemed likely to make the painting process more difficult. Without colour-separated plastic to provide guidance, the parts had to be studied individually and the colour allocation determined by observation.

    This encouraged a more deliberate approach to the surfaces and finishing.

    All parts first received an airbrushed base coat of Mr. Color No. 13 Neutral Grey.

    Paint Allocation

    Parts 5 and 6 were base coated with Mr. Color No. 109 Character Yellow. The supplied stickers were repurposed as masking material to protect the areas intended to remain yellow before Mr. Color No. 323 Light Blue was airbrushed over the exposed sections. As the parts were thin, the Light Blue was applied as a uniform coat rather than heavily weathered.

    The masking stickers were inadvertently switched between the two parts. Consequently, the yellow perimeter around the side-door window is thicker toward the lower section rather than the upper section. The result was left as it was.

    Parts 14 and 15 also received Mr. Color No. 109 Character Yellow.

    Part 19 was base coated with Mr. Hobby Gundam Color UG10 MS Char’s Pink. The pink area was masked before Mr. Color No. 107 Character White was applied to the exposed section.

    Part 20 received a different treatment. Selected wall surfaces were first airbrushed with Mr. Hobby Gundam Color UG10 MS Char’s Pink, while others remained Mr. Color No. 13 Neutral Grey. Masking had initially been planned, but was abandoned in favour of weathering the entire part with Mr. Color No. 107 Character White. The White was airbrushed over the whole part, leaving pinkish and greyish tones visible around the outer rim of the weathered sections.

    The remaining Neutral Grey areas were lightened with a mixture of Mr. Color No. 13 Neutral Grey and No. 107 Character White, adding tonal variation to the overall finish.

    Panel Lining and Finishing

    After airbrushing, Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color Black was applied to the moulded details. Excess was removed with cotton buds dampened with Tamiya X-20.

    For the final assembly, the supplied stickers were deliberately left unused. This omits details such as the alphanumeric prefix, chamfered rectangular markings, and simulated vent lines.

    The resulting minimalist finish keeps the focus on the machine’s forms, painted surfaces and restrained detailing.

    A Machine Behind the Models

    There is something appropriately circular about building a model of an injection-moulding machine.

    Injection-moulding machine → plastic → model kit → modeler.

    The machinery behind the hobby has itself become a model on the workbench.

    For Manufacturing Day 2026, Bandai’s 1/60 Electromotive Style Injection Machine offers a different kind of model-building experience: one that turns attention towards the industrial process behind the hobby itself.

  • “Zephyranthes” Full Bernern (Linkin Park Edition)

    HGUC 1/144 Gundam GP01Fb “Zephyranthes” Full Burnern — LINKIN PARK: UNSHATTER Commemorative Build

    With LINKIN PARK: UNSHATTER releasing on 30 September 2026, I decided to commemorate the occasion with a Gunpla build.

    For this build, I worked on the HGUC 1/144 Gundam GP01Fb “Zephyranthes” Full Burnern, a Gunpla with an existing Linkin Park connection.

    Painting

    I started by airbrushing the parts while they were still on the runners with Mr. Hobby Mr. Color No. 2 Gloss Black.

    Parts requiring bright colours received Mr. Color No. 107 Character White, while the grey parts were painted with Mr. Color No. 8 Silver. Parts intended to remain dark retained the Gloss Black.

    I deliberately left the pre-2000 polycap runners unpainted. Their rubbery-like material made me concerned that paint might not adhere properly, potentially flaking off and causing problems with the joints.

    Panel Lining

    I used different Tamiya Panel Line Accent colours according to the base colour:

    • Character White — Pink-Brown
    • Gloss Black — Light Grey
    • Silver — Black

    After allowing the panel liner to dry, I cleaned up the excess with cotton buds dipped in Tamiya X-20 Enamel Thinner.

    Assembly and Decals

    Assembly was straightforward.

    Once the main assembly was completed, I applied the waterslide decals. The round Linkin Park logo was particularly important to the build, but I noticed that its ink had a tendency to crack or flake.

    To protect the decal and the paintwork, I sprayed the completed model with Mr. Hobby Top Coat Semi-Gloss.

    I would have preferred to retain the full Gloss Black shine, but protecting the decal was more important. The semi-gloss finish was a worthwhile trade-off.

    Custom Shield

    The shield was inspired by the silhouette artwork from A Thousand Suns.

    I first masked and airbrushed the silhouette in Mr. Color No. 107 Character White, creating one continuous shape. Once the masking was removed, the complete album-art silhouette could be seen as one shape.

    I then applied Tamiya Light Grey Panel Line Accent to the shield and cleaned the excess with X-20 Enamel Thinner.

    The shield was deliberately the last piece cut from the runner. Once it was cut out, I test-fitted it onto the completed Gunpla.

    However, this was not yet the final installation. I removed the shield again for a second masking stage.

    For this stage, I used the original paper stickers supplied for the shield as masking material. The stickers covered the silhouette while leaving the outer rim/perimeter exposed.

    I diluted Mr. Color No. 2 Gloss Black and airbrushed it over the exposed perimeter. After allowing the paint to dry, I carefully removed the stickers.

    The result was the A Thousand Suns silhouette segmented into two sections, with the shield’s outer perimeter creating the separation.

    The completed shield was then attached to the GP01Fb.

    Final

    This build brought together airbrushing on the runners, colour-specific panel lining, custom masking, waterslide decals and protective top coating.

    The Linkin Park logo and the custom A Thousand Suns shield design give this GP01Fb its particular connection to the occasion.

    I would have preferred to preserve the full Gloss Black shine, but protecting the decal and the completed model mattered more.

    This was my personal Gunpla build to mark the release of LINKIN PARK: UNSHATTER.

    30 September 2026.

  • Mobile BuCue

    HG 1/144 Mobile BuCue — SEED × DUNE: A What-Should-Have-Been

    I have been working on Bandai’s 1/144 HG Mobile BuCue over the past few days, and what started as another modelmaking project gradually became something more personal.

    The BuCue is one of the more distinctive machines from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED: a four-legged, low-slung ground-combat Mobile Suit that looks less like a conventional humanoid robot and more like an armoured mechanical hound. Its desert-combat character made it particularly appropriate for an idea that had been sitting in my mind since 2024.

    I began the build in my usual way, soaking the runners in soapy water before using a toothbrush to rinse away the residue. After leaving the runners and parts to dry, I airbrushed the solid-coloured moulded parts with Mr Hobby Mr Colour No. 13 Neutral Grey.

    The red moulded parts were subsequently airbrushed with Gundam Colour UG10 MS Char Pink, over the Neutral Grey base. The yellow parts received Mr Colour No. 109 Character Yellow, also over the grey base. For the joint components, I used Mr Colour No. 8 Silver over the Neutral Grey, giving the mechanical areas a more metallic appearance.

    Once the paint had dried, I moved on to panel lining. The Neutral Grey surfaces received Tamiya Panel Line Accent Colour Pink-Brown, while the MS Char Pink areas and silver mechanical components received Tamiya Panel Line Accent Colour Black. After allowing the panel liner to dry, I removed the excess with cotton buds moistened with Tamiya X-20 Enamel Thinner.

    Then came assembly—and this was where the build started becoming distinctly my own.

    Some of the BuCue’s components have an aircraft-wing-like appearance, accompanied by engine-like compartments and sticker details. Instead of using the supplied stickers, I decided to highlight those areas with a gold permanent marker.

    While working on those parts, I also decided to inscribe the words “SEED” and “DUNE” onto the wings, taking inspiration from the typography of the Dune film logo.

    Why?

    Back in 2024, Gundam SEED Freedom and Dune: Part Two were promoted together in a special cinema collaboration. The official crossover artwork placed the SEED Freedom protagonists at the centre of the visual. My personal feeling was that a desert-themed SEED × Dune collaboration could have taken a different direction.

    Instead of focusing on the characters of SEED Freedom, I imagined the machines and characters associated with the desert operations of the original Gundam SEED taking centre stage.

    Hence the BuCue.

    This build is my little tribute to a “what should have been.”

    I wanted to take an actual desert-combat Mobile Suit from Gundam SEED and reinterpret it through the visual language of Dune. The BuCue seemed almost tailor-made for that idea: a quadrupedal machine charging across a desert landscape, looking more like some enormous mechanical hunting beast than a conventional Mobile Suit.

    I also decided not to use the supplied sticker for the BuCue’s monoeye camera.

    Instead, I cut a small piece from the leftover clear-pink plastic runner, shaped it and glued it onto the head as a physical optical element. The recessed area surrounding the camera was then shaded with a fine-tip black marker. The dark surround creates contrast against the translucent pink piece, allowing the monoeye to read more like an actual recessed sensor rather than a flat sticker.

    Toward the end of assembly came another choice. The kit provides the option of equipping the BuCue with either a twin-cannon turret or a multi-rocket launcher battery.

    Naturally, I tried both.

    I also tried the BuCue’s famous dual beam sabers once.

    With the two sabers mounted in front, the BuCue looks like a mechanical hound biting down on a double-edged sword and charging straight at its opponent.

    But after giving the configuration a try, I set it aside.

    My favourite is the rocket launcher.

    The rocket battery reinforces the BuCue’s identity as a desert assault machine. Low, wide and four-legged, it looks like something built specifically to race across hostile terrain while delivering a considerable amount of firepower.

    Which brings me back to the two words on its wings:

    SEED. DUNE.

    This isn’t an attempt to recreate an official Bandai or film collaboration. It is my own interpretation of one—a small-scale model that combines a machine from Gundam SEED with the visual language and atmosphere of Dune.

    And I deliberately wanted to finish it today, 22 September 2026.

    Today marks the release of Dune: Awakening on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, bringing Funcom’s journey across Arrakis to console players.

    So there was something fitting about finishing a desert-themed BuCue on the same day.

    A machine from one fictional desert battlefield, reworked through my own SEED × DUNE interpretation, now marks the arrival of another journey across the sands of Arrakis.

    A little experiment in paint, markers, plastic and imagination.

    A little piece of “what should have been.”

    And, appropriately enough, it is finally complete on a day when we return to the desert.

    SEED × DUNE.

  • Spice Harvester

    MENG Dune Spice Harvester — Build Log

    22 September 2026

    Today marks the console release of Dune: Awakening on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S. To commemorate the occasion, I decided to finish a model that has been sitting on my workbench for the past few days: the MENG Dune Spice Harvester.

    The Spice Harvester is one of the most recognisable pieces of machinery in the Dune universe. Unlike a sleek spacecraft or a humanoid mecha, it is essentially a gigantic industrial machine designed to operate in one of the harshest environments imaginable.

    That industrial character was what attracted me to the kit.

    Preparing the Parts

    I began by soaking the runners in soapy water. After that, I rinsed them thoroughly and used a toothbrush to remove any remaining soap and residue.

    Once the runners had dried completely, I was ready to start painting.

    One thing I like about my workflow is painting parts while they are still attached to the runners whenever practical. It gives me something to hold while airbrushing and allows me to establish the overall colour before assembly.

    Painting

    For the base coat, I used Mr Hobby Mr Color No. 22 Dark Earth.

    I wanted the Harvester to have a darker, weathered industrial appearance rather than looking like a clean, newly manufactured machine. After the base coat had dried, I followed up with Mr Color No. 21 Middle Stone for the weathering.

    The combination worked quite nicely for the subject. The Dark Earth provided the underlying industrial colour, while the Middle Stone helped give the machine that dusty, sandy appearance associated with Arrakis.

    Once the paint had dried, I applied Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color Black to the recesses.

    After allowing the panel liner to dry, I dipped a cotton bud into Tamiya Color Enamel Paint X-20 Thinner and used it to remove the excess panel line wash from the exposed surfaces.

    The result was a more defined mechanical appearance without covering the entire model in black.

    Assembly

    With the painted parts ready, I moved on to assembly.

    For the most part, construction was quite straightforward. The main areas that required a little more patience were the four legs supporting the continuous tracks.

    The legs occasionally came loose while I was working on the model, meaning I had to repeatedly tighten and reposition them. It wasn’t particularly complicated, but it was one of those small modelling frustrations that can slow down an otherwise straightforward build.

    The continuous tracks were another matter.

    There are 16 sets of track subassemblies to construct, so this part of the build required perseverance more than anything else. There is something rather satisfying about seeing all those individual assemblies eventually come together, but getting through them does require some patience.

    Once the track assemblies were completed, the side plates were comparatively simple to put together.

    And gradually, the Harvester started to look like an actual machine.

    The Finished Harvester

    After the final pieces were assembled, I had a small but surprisingly characterful representation of the Spice Harvester.

    The painting and weathering were particularly important to me. I didn’t want it to look like a pristine factory-new machine. The Dark Earth and Middle Stone combination, together with the black panel lining, gives the model a much more used and dusty appearance.

    That seems appropriate for a machine whose entire purpose is to operate on Arrakis.

    There is also something interesting about building a model like this compared with building a Gundam or another conventional sci-fi vehicle. The Harvester doesn’t really feel like a conventional “vehicle”. It feels like a piece of industrial equipment — a mobile factory designed to crawl across the desert and extract spice.

    That industrial quality is probably what makes the finished model so visually distinctive.

    Why Build It Now?

    The timing is intentional.

    Today, 22 September 2026, Dune: Awakening arrives on PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S.

    Rather than simply marking the game’s release by playing it, I thought it would be more meaningful to commemorate the occasion through something I could physically build.

    So while players are beginning their journeys across Arrakis in the game, I have my own little piece of Arrakis sitting on my workbench.

    A Spice Harvester.

    Built, painted and weathered by hand.

    And perhaps that’s one of the things I enjoy most about modelmaking: taking something from a fictional world and turning it into a physical object that I can actually hold, build and photograph.

    Happy Dune: Awakening launch day.

    Now, where’s the spice?