Science Fiction Flavour

Category: Film

  • 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.

  • “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.

  • G1 Optimus Prime

    Blokees G1 Optimus Prime — Action Edition

    Completed: 17 September 2026

    This model was completed on 17 September 2026 to mark the 40th anniversary screening of The Transformers: The Movie, originally released in 1986.

    After unpacking the box, I gave all the parts on the runners a base coat of Mr Hobby Mr Color No. 13 Neutral Grey.

    I then worked on the moulded plastic parts according to their original colours:

    • Red moulded parts: Weathered with Mr Hobby Gundam Colour UG10 MS Char’s Pink.
    • Blue moulded parts: Given a flat coat using Mr Hobby Gundam Colour UG02. No weathering was applied.
    • Yellow moulded parts: Weathered with Mr Hobby Mr Color No. 109 Character Yellow.

    The parts that came pre-painted in the package, namely the gold and silver parts, were left untouched.

    For the robot’s left shoulder, I used an ALEXEN MODELS Autobot logo stencil to achieve the desired shape. The Autobot logo was painted using Mr Hobby Mr Color No. 8 Silver.

    Once the paint had dried, I applied Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color:

    • Black on the UG10-painted parts and the pre-painted gold and silver parts.
    • Light Grey on the UG02-painted parts.

    Assembly

    Assembly was generally straightforward. The main drawback was that some of the parts from runners H1 and H2 could be extremely tight when joining together. In some cases, they were too tight to assemble comfortably by hand.

    The tight fit may have been partly due to the additional layer of base-coat paint on the parts. To get some of the pieces fully seated, I used a vice clamp to apply controlled pressure and tighten the joints. Care was taken to avoid damaging the parts.

    Lighting Feature

    After completing the assembly, I tested the magnet supplied with the kit. Passing the magnet over the designated area activates the lights inside the chest compartment, causing both Optimus Prime’s eyes and chest crystal to illuminate for a few seconds.

    The model was completed on 17 September 2026, serving as my personal model-building commemoration of the 40th anniversary screening of The Transformers: The Movie.

  • Optimus Prime

    YOLOPARK 12cm Optimus Prime — An Unexpected Tribute

    A model left unfinished

    This Optimus Prime had been sitting at roughly 70% completion for several months.

    It is the YOLOPARK 12cm Optimus Prime model kit, officially licensed by Hasbro. Unlike the conventional plastic model kits I normally work with, the parts did not come attached to runners. Instead, they came in moulded positive-negative trays.

    When I first started the project, I put on gloves, removed the parts from the mould trays and prepared them individually for painting.

    The painting

    The model was airbrushed using Mr. Hobby Mr. Color paints.

    As this project had been shelved for several months, I no longer remember the exact Mr. Color paint numbers I used. What I do remember is the approach: I first gave the parts a dark base coat, then built up the colours using blue, red or grey depending on the individual part.

    The darker base was allowed to contribute to the final appearance, creating a weathered effect rather than a completely clean finish.

    Once the airbrushing and weathering were completed, I left the parts to dry.

    And then the project was shelved.

    At roughly 70% completion.

    For months.

    An unexpected reason to finish

    Peter Cullen passed away on 26 August 2026.

    In the hours after work, while catching up with the news, I came across reports of his passing.

    The news hit differently.

    Peter Cullen was the voice of Optimus Prime, one of the most important roles in the Transformers franchise.

    Almost immediately, I found myself thinking about the unfinished Optimus sitting among my modelling projects.

    So I dug him out.

    This time, I decided to finish him.

    Completing Optimus

    The first step was to assemble the painted parts.

    After months of being left separately, the weathered pieces finally came together as a complete Optimus Prime.

    I then used gold and silver markers to highlight the remaining details on the model, particularly the mechanical and armour sections.

    There was no major repainting.

    I simply continued from where I had stopped months earlier.

    And with that, the Optimus Prime was finally completed.

    An unplanned tribute

    This was never intended to be a Peter Cullen memorial build.

    The model had already been started months before his passing.

    It was simply an unfinished project that happened to be sitting there when the news arrived.

    I did not buy the kit because of the news.

    I did not begin the painting because of the news.

    I already had an Optimus Prime waiting to be completed.

    But after learning that Peter Cullen had passed away, I decided that this particular Optimus should not remain unfinished.

    Remembering Peter Cullen

    For generations of Transformers fans, Peter Cullen’s name is inseparable from Optimus Prime.

    He voiced the character from the original Transformers era, including The Transformers: The Movie, and later returned as Optimus for the live-action Transformers films and other Transformers productions.

    His voice became an enduring part of Optimus Prime’s identity and the character’s legacy across generations.

    The completed Optimus

    This model had been waiting on the shelf for months.

    I had no idea that I would eventually finish it under these circumstances.

    Sometimes a model project acquires meaning that you never intended when you first opened the box.

    This one did.

    The YOLOPARK Optimus Prime is now complete.

    And it will remain, for me, as a small tribute to the man whose voice helped define Optimus Prime for generations.

  • Power Loader

    Build Log: MODEROID 1/12 Power Loader (Good Smile Company)

    On 18 July 2026, the 40th anniversary of James Cameron’s Aliens (1986), I completed Good Smile Company’s MODEROID 1/12 Power Loader. It felt like the perfect occasion to finish and share a build of one of science fiction’s most iconic industrial machines.

    There are model kits that test your painting skills, and there are model kits that test your patience. The MODEROID 1/12 Power Loader managed to do both.

    Rather than building it straight out of the box, I decided to repaint the entire model. Every solid yellow moulded part was first airbrushed with Mr. Hobby Mr. Color No. 13 (Neutral Grey) as a base coat. The black moulded parts also received the same treatment before painting continued. The yellow armour was then weathered using Mr. Hobby Mr. Color No. 109 (Character Yellow), gradually building up a worn industrial appearance through multiple light applications.

    One thing I quickly learned was the sheer scale of the project. The kit contains a large number of parts, and simply preparing and painting them required considerable time before assembly could even begin.

    Assembly itself proved to be an enjoyable engineering exercise. Although several steps in the instruction manual recommended the use of glue, I found that the snap-fit design held together securely enough for my build.

    The most demanding stage came with the hydraulic tubing. The supplied black rubber tube had to be cut into multiple lengths before being routed throughout the Power Loader. Installing each section required patience, as previously connected tubes would occasionally detach while the next ones were being fitted.

    Another lesson came from the piston cylinders. Their orientation matters more than it first appears. If assembled incorrectly, routing the hydraulic tubes becomes significantly more difficult, with tighter bends and less room to manoeuvre. Correct alignment made the installation process much smoother.

    To complete the exterior, approximately thirty decals were applied. They add the finishing industrial touches without overwhelming the clean mechanical design.

    Looking back, this wasn’t simply a painting project. It was an exercise in mechanical assembly, problem-solving and patience. Every painted component, correctly aligned piston, carefully routed hydraulic tube and precisely placed decal contributed to transforming a box of plastic runners into one of science fiction’s most iconic industrial machines.

    Happy 40th Anniversary to Aliens. Here’s to four decades of one of cinema’s greatest science fiction classics, and to the remarkable machine that continues to inspire model builders around the world.

  • Darkstar

    Building the Bellfine 1/72 Darkstar from Top Gun: Maverick

    The Darkstar sequence from Top Gun: Maverick was one of the most memorable parts of the film for me, so I decided to pick up the Bellfine 1/72 scale kit and attempt a full painted build. Although the aircraft itself is fictional, its presentation in the movie blends futuristic aerospace styling with realistic experimental aircraft design, which made it an interesting project to work on.

    Initial Preparation and Painting

    The kit runners came moulded in black, white, and clear plastic. For the main body, I airbrushed the black and white runners using Mr. Hobby Mr Color No.18. The clear parts were left unpainted to preserve their transparency.

    After allowing the base coat to settle, I began masking selected areas using 5 mm masking tape. The highlighted sections were then airbrushed with Mr. Hobby Mr Color No.13 Neutral Grey. This helped break up the otherwise dark surface and introduced subtle tonal variation across the aircraft.

    The white sections were lightly weathered using Character White to reduce the stark contrast and give the aircraft a slightly more operational appearance rather than a factory-fresh finish.

    Assembly Process

    Once painting was completed, assembly of the main airframe proceeded relatively smoothly. The sleek fuselage and blended wing design captured the cinematic appearance of Darkstar very well once fully assembled.

    The landing gear, however, turned out to be the most delicate part of the project. The subassemblies had to be glued progressively in phases due to the small contact points and narrow support structures. I used Tamiya cement throughout the process, but even after curing, the assembled landing gear remained fragile under the weight of the completed aircraft.

    After completing the landing gear installation and photographing the model in its parked configuration, parts of the assembly began separating under load. To avoid further damage, I eventually removed the landing gear and decided to display the aircraft exclusively in flight mode.

    Display Solution

    One unexpected challenge was the absence of an included display stand. Since the Darkstar is visually better suited for an airborne presentation, I improvised by adapting a Bandai Action Base using the peg-type holder attachment.

    Although it was not specifically designed for this kit, the setup provided enough support for stable flight-mode display and photography. In the end, the airborne presentation arguably suited the aircraft more naturally than a grounded configuration.

    Decal Application

    Applying the water slide decals took approximately an hour. Once the decals had dried, I used a damp cotton bud to gently remove residual water marks and adhesive residue surrounding the decal edges. This helped the markings blend more cleanly into the painted surface and improved the overall finish of the model.

    Final Thoughts

    Despite some engineering limitations — particularly the fragile landing gear and lack of a dedicated display stand — the Bellfine 1/72 Darkstar still turned out to be an enjoyable and visually striking build.

    The combination of dark tones, subtle grey panel variation, and in-flight presentation helped capture the futuristic hypersonic aircraft aesthetic seen in Top Gun: Maverick. While the kit required some improvisation and patience during assembly, the final result displays very well and stands out nicely alongside more conventional aircraft models.

    Overall, this project felt like a blend of traditional aircraft modelling and science-fiction display building, which made it a uniquely satisfying addition to the collection.

  • Ohmu

    Bandai’s 1/20 Ohmu from Studio Ghibli was completed today, coinciding with Hayao Miyazaki’s 85th birthday, a fitting tribute to the creature’s origin.


    Painting & Weathering:
    All parts were base-coated with dark hobby paint, then airbrushed with plant-green paint to add natural shading. Tamiya Panel Line Accent (brownish-red) highlighted crevices, giving an organic, weathered appearance.
    The clear orb-like eye parts were first coated with a silver marker and then layered with transparent red hobby paint, creating depth and a soft glow.


    Assembly:
    Sides, base, and optic units assembled smoothly. The legs and other limbs, totaling over 50, required careful attachment. The final result is a fully articulated and visually dynamic creature.


    Reflections:
    Pre-painting parts simplifies assembly and ensures consistent weathering.
    Silver under transparent red produces realistic glowing eyes.
    Patience is essential when attaching repetitive parts, but the visual payoff is significant.
    The finished Ohmu serves as a miniature homage to Studio Ghibli’s imaginative creatures.

  • Buzz Lightyear

    Bandai plastic model kit, base-coated in dark tones and airbrushed with desaturated colours for a weathered finish. Water-slide decals add a more grounded, tech-like look. Built to commemorate Toy Story’s 30th anniversary.