Science Fiction Flavour

Tag: Gunpla

  • Hello Kitty / RX-78-2 Gundam (SD EX-Standard)

    A Tribute to Yuko Shimizu – Kawaii Meets the Universal Century

    1 November 2026

    1 November 2026 marks the 80th birthday of Yuko Shimizu, the original designer of Hello Kitty.

    First introduced in 1974, Hello Kitty has grown into one of Sanrio’s most recognisable characters, capturing the hearts of generations through her simple yet enduring design.

    To commemorate this occasion, this build brings together two familiar icons from very different worlds: Sanrio’s beloved Hello Kitty and Bandai’s iconic RX-78-2 Gundam.

    Here’s a look at the painting, detailing and assembly process.

    1. Base Coating and Colour Treatment

    All parts were initially airbrushed while still attached to their respective runners, using GSI Creos Mr. Hobby Mr. Color No. 13 Neutral Grey as the base coat.

    The original moulded colours were subsequently treated as follows:

    • Grey parts: Retained in Mr. Color No. 13 Neutral Grey.
    • Red parts: Airbrushed with Gundam Color UG10 MS Char’s Pink for a weathered finish.
    • Yellow parts: Airbrushed with Mr. Color No. 109 Character Yellow.
    • Blue parts: Initially airbrushed with Gundam Color UG02 MS Blue. The weathering outcome was not satisfactory, so the parts were subsequently oversprayed with Mr. Color No. 323 Light Blue.
    • White parts: Following the Neutral Grey base coat, airbrushed with Mr. Color No. 107 Character White.

    The blue parts required a change of direction, with Light Blue replacing the initial MS Blue treatment to achieve the intended appearance.

    2. Panel Line Accent and Detailing

    Tamiya Panel Line Accent was applied selectively according to the individual colour groups:

    • Neutral Grey parts: Pink-Brown.
    • White parts: Pink-Brown.
    • Blue parts: Pink-Brown.
    • Yellow parts: Minimal application.
    • Red parts: Black.

    Gundam Helmet – Special Detailing

    The Gundam helmet, specially designed to fit Hello Kitty’s head profile, received additional attention.

    While Pink-Brown was used for the general panel lining on the white parts, it did not quite convey the mechanical appearance intended for the ventilation details on the helmet’s side cheeks.

    For these specific areas, Tamiya Panel Line Accent Black was used on the side-cheek vents, as well as the three stripes of fur on both cheeks.

    This provides a more pronounced mechanical appearance to the helmet while retaining the softer Pink-Brown treatment elsewhere.

    Cleaning Up

    After application of the panel line accent fluids, excess residue was removed using cotton buds dipped in Tamiya X-20 Enamel Thinner.

    3. Assembly

    Assembly was relatively straightforward, with no major complications encountered.

    The individually painted and detailed components were brought together to complete the SD EX-Standard Hello Kitty / RX-78-2 Gundam.

    The interchangeable components also provide flexibility in how the completed kit can be displayed.

    4. Display Configurations

    Configuration I – RX-78-2 Gundam and Hello Kitty

    The RX-78-2 Gundam retains its original configuration, standing alongside Hello Kitty in her familiar appearance, wearing a customised Gundam helmet.

    The oversized helmet is specially designed to accommodate Hello Kitty’s head profile.

    This arrangement allows both characters to retain their individual identities while sharing a common Gundam-inspired aesthetic.

    Configuration II – Hello Kitty-Headed RX-78-2 Gundam

    Alternatively, Hello Kitty’s head, complete with her Gundam helmet, can be mounted onto the RX-78-2 body.

    The kit provides a dedicated neck adaptor to facilitate this arrangement. A separate backpack component is also supplied to accommodate the oversized Hello Kitty Gundam helmet, which is considerably larger than the standard RX-78-2 head unit.

    The result is an interesting hybrid, combining the familiar mechanical proportions of the RX-78-2 with Hello Kitty’s unmistakable character identity.

    An Alternative Head Swap

    The interchangeable components technically allow the opposite arrangement, with the RX-78-2 head mounted onto Hello Kitty’s body.

    However, this particular combination does not quite work visually for me, and will therefore be excluded from this review.

    5. Final Thoughts

    The SD EX-Standard Hello Kitty / RX-78-2 Gundam offers an enjoyable crossover between Sanrio and the Universal Century.

    Both the original RX-78-2 standing alongside Hello Kitty in her customised Gundam helmet, and the Hello Kitty-headed RX-78-2, make interesting display options.

    A little meeting between kawaii culture and the Universal Century.

    Happy 80th Birthday, Yuko Shimizu!

    Thank you for creating a character whose simple yet enduring design continues to bring joy across generations.

  • 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