Science Fiction Flavour

Tag: 1/144

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • RX-78-2 Gundam, Revival Ver.

    The Gundam in “Listen to Mum”: My RX-78-2 Revival Build

    There are times when a plastic model is more than just a plastic model.

    Recently, while watching Jay Chou’s music video for “Listen to Mum” (聽媽媽的話), I noticed something I had never really paid attention to before: an RX-78-2 Gundam standing on the right-hand side of the screen in the opening frame.

    Right at the beginning of the music video, the Gundam is prominently visible. It does not simply disappear after that first second. It remains part of the background in subsequent shots as Jay performs the song.

    It is never the subject of the music video, nor is its presence explained.

    It is simply there.

    And somehow, that small background detail became the reason I decided to build an RX-78-2 of my own.

    From the Music Video to the Workbench

    I was not trying to reproduce the particular Gundam prop seen in the music video exactly. Nor was I attempting to recreate its precise colours or finish.

    Instead, this is my own interpretation of that RX-78-2.

    For the project, I chose Bandai’s 2024 Best Mecha Collection 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam (REVIVAL Ver.).

    The choice was deliberate. Unlike the more modern proportions of the HGUC RX-78-2 Revive, the 2024 Best Mecha Collection kit deliberately recalls the proportions and character of the original 1980 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam.

    That old-school silhouette felt particularly appropriate for a project inspired by a music video from the mid-2000s, while still being a modern kit that I could build and customise in my own way.

    Painting the RX-78-2

    I began by base-coating the model with Mr. Color No. 13 Neutral Grey.

    From there, the armour parts received their respective colours and weathering.

    The red parts were painted with Mr. Hobby Gundam Color UG10 Char’s MS Pink. The yellow parts received Mr. Color No. 109 Character Yellow, while the white parts were painted with Mr. Color No. 107 Character White.

    The blue parts proved a little more troublesome.

    My initial plan was to weather Gundam Color UG02 MS Blue over the Neutral Grey base coat. However, the result did not quite work the way I wanted against the grey underneath.

    Rather than settle for it, I changed the approach.

    I painted the blue parts over with UG02 MS Blue as a new base coat, allowed it to dry, and then weathered over it using Mr. Color No. 323 Light Blue.

    The result gave me a finish that I was much happier with.

    The parts moulded in grey received a slightly different treatment. After the Mr. Color No. 13 Neutral Grey base coat, I airbrushed them with Mr. Color No. 8 Silver.

    Panel Lining and Assembly

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

    After allowing the panel-line wash to dry, I used Tamiya X-20 Thinner with cotton buds to clean up the excess from the surfaces.

    Only after the painting, weathering and panel lining were completed did I proceed to remove the parts from the runners and snap-fit the model together.

    It was a fairly straightforward build mechanically, but the painting process became a much bigger part of the project than simply assembling the kit straight out of the box.

    The finished RX-78-2 is therefore not a recreation of the Gundam seen in Jay Chou’s music video.

    It is my RX-78-2, inspired by the one I noticed there.

    The Song Behind the Build

    “Listen to Mum” was released as part of Jay Chou’s Still Fantasy (依然范特西), which was originally released on 5 September 2006.

    The song itself carries a message about listening to and appreciating one’s mother, and it remains one of the recognisable songs from that album.

    On 19 August 2026, Still Fantasy receives a new release in Super High Material Compact Disc (SHM-CD) format.

    That gave me a particularly good reason to finally turn the observation from the music video into something physical.

    I’ve been interested in both Jay Chou’s music and Gundam modelling for many years, and this project gave me an opportunity to bring those two interests together in a way I hadn’t previously considered.

    Twenty Years Later

    The interesting thing about this project is that the connection isn’t really about remembering a particular moment from 2006.

    It is about discovering something in a piece of media that is now nearly twenty years old, and deciding that this small detail is interesting enough to build something from it in 2026.

    For me, this RX-78-2 is a small physical marker of that connection.

    A Gundam that appeared quietly in the background of a Jay Chou music video nearly twenty years ago eventually became the inspiration for a modelling project of my own.

    It is funny how sometimes a small detail in an old piece of media can lead somewhere completely unexpected.

    Sometimes we notice the big things.

    Sometimes, we notice a Gundam standing quietly in the background while a song plays.

    And sometimes, years later, we build it.

    Jay Chou × Gundam. 2006 → 2026.

  • Archangel Catapult Launch Deck and Freedom Gundam (Phantaci edition)

    Building Log: MegaHouse Realistic Model Series 1/144 Archangel Catapult Deck & HGCE Freedom Gundam (Phantaci Edition)

    5 August 2026

    There are modelling projects that come together quickly, and then there are those that test one’s patience from beginning to end. The MegaHouse 1/144 Archangel Catapult Deck proved to be the latter.

    Although the display is largely pre-painted from the factory, I wanted to reinterpret it with a darker, more industrial appearance. A majority of the parts were airbrushed with Mr. Hobby Mr. Color Gloss Black (No. 2), requiring slightly more than three 10 ml bottles of paint. The original grey sections were then weathered with Mr. Hobby Mr. Color Gold, giving the launch deck a worn metallic finish while preserving the intricate moulded details.

    The distinctive 120-degree “L” runway markings received a different treatment. After allowing the gloss black base coat to cure, I carefully masked the surrounding areas before airbrushing Mr. Hobby Gundam Color Char’s MS Pink (UG10). Once partially dried, a light mist of diluted Mr. Hobby Mr. Color Wine Red (No. 100) was applied to tone down the pink and create a richer, weathered red that better suited the overall atmosphere of the display.

    One of the most time-consuming stages was the panel lining. Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color Grey was applied to the gloss black surfaces, while the gold and pink sections received black panel lining to enhance depth and definition. Cleaning the excess with X-20 thinner and cotton buds required patience, but it was this final stage that brought the surface details to life.

    For the side walls, I decided against airbrushing the grey-green moulded components. Instead, I used a gold permanent marker to add subtle metallic shading. This approach preserved the transparent light windows, allowing the integrated LED lighting to shine through without the need for extensive masking.

    Assembly was an undertaking in itself. The runway, support frame, protective cage, side plates, rear cover, access gate and illuminated wall sections all came together piece by piece. Wiring beneath the main structure had to be routed carefully before the installation of two AA batteries and final testing of the lighting system. Seeing the launch deck illuminate successfully made the many hours of work worthwhile.

    To accompany the completed display, I revisited an HG Cosmic Era 1/144 Freedom Gundam that I had painted several months ago. After cleaning away any remaining panel line residue, I assembled the kit and applied custom Phantaci waterslide decals. The decals were lightly misted with diluted Wine Red to harmonise them with the colour palette of the mobile suit, while the loose head crest was permanently secured with Tamiya Cement.

    This project was not always enjoyable. There were moments during assembly when frustration set in, and I genuinely questioned why I had chosen this hobby in the first place. Large-scale display pieces demand concentration, patience and perseverance, especially over several late nights. By the end of the project, I was physically tired and in need of a break.

    Yet, standing back and seeing the completed Archangel catapult deck with the Phantaci Edition Freedom Gundam docked on the runway made the effort worthwhile. The finished display represents not only a scene from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, but also the many hours spent painting, weathering, wiring, assembling and refining each component.

    This project is dedicated to 5 August 2026, commemorating the release of Jay Chou’s Children of the Sun in Super High Material Compact Disc (SHM-CD) format. As with every modelling project, the finished display tells only part of the story. Behind it are countless small decisions, repeated adjustments, moments of frustration, and ultimately, the quiet satisfaction of seeing an idea become reality.

  • Strike Noir Gundam

    The HG 1/144 Strike Noir Gundam is one of the most distinctive mobile suits from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: STARGAZER. Its predominantly black colour scheme, combined with the Noir Striker backpack and tactical weaponry, gives it a unique aesthetic that stands apart from many other Gundams in the Cosmic Era timeline.

    For this project, I wanted to preserve the Strike Noir Gundam’s sleek, dark appearance while introducing subtle metallic highlights and weathering that would add depth and realism to the finished model.

    The kit was first separated by runners before any assembly began. Every solid-coloured part on Runners A, B, C and D received a complete base coat of Mr. Color No. 2 (Gloss Black), creating a uniform foundation for the subsequent painting process.

    Once the base coat had fully cured, each colour group was treated individually. The yellow-moulded parts on Runner A were finished with Mr. Color No. 9 (Gold Metallic), applied as a full colour coat rather than as weathering. The red-moulded parts on the same runner were weathered using Mr. Color No. 108 (Character Red, Semi-Gloss).

    The light grey parts on Runner B were weathered with Mr. Color No. 107 (Character White, Semi-Gloss) to create subtle highlights and visual depth. The dark grey parts on Runner C, together with the grey parts on Runner D, were weathered using Mr. Color No. 159 (Super Silver), adding a worn metallic appearance that complements the Strike Noir Gundam’s design.

    After the lacquer paints had dried, two different Tamiya Panel Line Accent Colors were used to complement the finished paintwork.

    Black Panel Line Accent Color was applied to the parts painted in Character White, Super Silver, and Gold Metallic, creating strong contrast that enhanced the panel lines and mechanical details. Light Grey Panel Line Accent Color was applied to the Character Red and Gloss Black surfaces, producing a subtler effect that remained visible without overpowering the darker colours.

    Once the panel liner had cured, the excess Black panel liner was carefully removed using cotton buds dampened with Tamiya X-20 Enamel Thinner, leaving crisp and well-defined panel lines while preserving the painted finish.

    For the Light Grey panel liner, less of the excess was removed intentionally. The remaining residue created subtle streaks and smudges across the darker surfaces, resembling the marks left on a machine after exposure to rain and environmental conditions. This effect helped create a more weathered and realistic appearance, as if the Strike Noir Gundam had returned from repeated combat operations.

    With all painting and panel lining complete, the model was finally assembled. The combination of metallic finishes, contrasting panel lines and restrained weathering transformed the kit while retaining the distinctive identity of the Strike Noir Gundam. Rather than appearing as a factory-new machine, the finished model portrays a mobile suit with a sense of history and operational wear.

    This build is published on 14 July 2026, marking the 20th anniversary of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED C.E. 73: STARGAZER, which first premiered on 14 July 2006. Two decades later, the Strike Noir Gundam remains one of my favourite mobile suit designs from the Cosmic Era timeline. Completing this project is my own way of commemorating the anniversary of this memorable ONA series and celebrating one of the franchise’s most distinctive and enduring mobile suit designs.

  • Amazing Strike Freedom Gundam, Phantaci Edition


    This project was undertaken as a personal tribute piece to commemorate 10 April 2026, alongside the release of Children of the Sun. Following an earlier Freedom Gundam + Meteor Unit build, this iteration explores what a modern “successor” to Freedom might look like through a Phantaci-inspired aesthetic.


    Paintwork & Colour Concept
    The build began with a full base coat applied directly onto the runners using Mr. Hobby Mr. Colour No. 18 (German Aircraft Grey). This provided a neutral, slightly industrial tone that would later contrast well with the brighter accent colours.


    Selected armour segments were then treated with:
    ▪︎Mr. Colour No. 9 Gold for highlights and mechanical emphasis
    ▪︎A custom mixed pink, created by blending:
    •Mr. Colour No. 108 Character Red (semi-gloss)
    •Mr. Colour Gundam Colour UG8 (MS Purple)


    The resulting tone leaned toward a rich, slightly subdued pink with depth—avoiding overly saturated tones while still standing out against the darker base.


    Panel Lining
    After airbrushing, panel lining was carried out to define surface detail and enhance contrast:
    •Tamiya Light Grey Panel Line Accent was used on darker surfaces to maintain subtlety
    •Tamiya Dark Panel Line Accent was applied to the pink and gold sections to sharpen edges and improve readability
    This combination helped preserve clarity across different colour zones without overwhelming the finish.


    Build Experience
    Compared to the HGCE 1/144 ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam, the Amazing Strike Freedom Gundam is noticeably more complex in terms of part count. The kit comes with a total of 13 runners, reflecting its hybridized design lineage.
    Despite this, the snap-fit assembly remains straightforward and intuitive, consistent with Bandai’s modern engineering standards. The build process was smooth, with no major complications even after painting.


    One notable observation:
    Even after completing the build according to the manual, approximately 20–30 parts remain unused on the runners. This suggests significant reuse of moulds, likely shared with other kits—possibly the HG 1/144 ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam or related variants.


    Design Notes & Interpretation
    An interesting detail lies in the model designation.


    While this kit represents the Amazing Strike Freedom Gundam, its prefix is labelled as ZGMF-X10A-A, rather than continuing into the X20A line typically associated with Strike Freedom.

    This raises an intriguing interpretation:
    Rather than being treated as a direct upgrade of Strike Freedom, the mechanical design seems to position this unit as a true successor to the original ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam—a reinterpretation rather than a numerical escalation.


    In that sense, the Amazing Strike Freedom feels less like a “next version,” and more like a refined continuation of the Freedom philosophy:
    •Balanced silhouette
    •Controlled firepower
    •Emphasis on form, presence, and identity


    Closing Thoughts
    This build was completed during late hours after work—an exercise in both discipline and creative release. The Phantaci Edition (Ver. J) concept ties together music, design, and Gunpla into a single cohesive expression.


    More than just a model, this piece represents:
    •A continuation of a previous Freedom tribute
    •A reflection of evolving artistic direction
    •And a personal milestone tied to a specific moment in time


    Freedom was never meant to end—only to evolve.

  • METEOR Unit and Freedom Gundam

    This HG 1/144 Bandai build pairs the METEOR Unit with the Freedom Gundam in a customised Ver. J theme. The parts were primed in dark tones and weathered with pink and gold accents to bring out a warm, stylised finish. Clear red paints were used on the optics for extra depth, and Phantaci decals complete the look. The project was finished to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Jay Chou’s November’s Chopin.