1/100 Gundam Virtue - Nadleeh Custom Paint
My 3rd GunPla.... This is proving to be more and more addicting! XD I've been hunting a 1/100 scale Nadleeh for some time now, and all I've seen is the 1/144 HG, until a few days ago. Our local shop just restocked on a 1/100 Virtue (and not being a fan of gundam) - I did not realize it was actually Nadleeh. =___= If there would only be one person in the world who could hate Gundam, that would be me, and so I never actually knew this was Nadleeh. Hahaha! Off to the pics!
I really like this kit. Must be my favorite out of the three (ONLY?!) GunPlas. Also my very first repaint of a kit.
I'd like to get the HG 1/144s GN Archer and Gadessa... Does anyone else know of any femenine gundams? Cause I don't think there's a Nobel kit... or is there?!
Either this is a picture-heavy post... or a post with heavy pictures. O__O
Front View. I've change the pinkish-red hair into a gold-plated chain which I've painted Black and Aluminum. My original plan for the color scheme was Major Aluminum - Minor Black - Accent Yellow. But everyone I asked told me to rethink Yellow and suggested more of Purple (since I wanted a bit of a femenine scheme).
Back View. Evil Virtue messed up the paint. I wonder if adding TopCoat can prevent the scratches? O__o This No-Grade kit is quite weightless - similar to my No-Grade 1/100 Exia. Is this a thing with No-Grades? Cause Weightlessness is VERY annoying. My MG Astray Red Frame KAI has a good weight to it. Luckily, even though these No-Grades are weightless, the wind can't blow them down... probably because of their HUGE feet. XD
As you can see, Nadleeh sheaths her Beam Saber on her knees... weird.
Nadleeh seems to have grown a fascination for turtles. XD
Turtle Blaster power!
The other Turtle Blaster! XD
One of my favorite shots.
My current wallpaper. My favorite Shot.
I was wondering at first how I can pannel line the exhaust thingies at the back of the Turtle Blasters... good thing the Aluminum paint did all the work. xD
Virtue Mode! Nadleeh suffers A LOT of scratches after getting her into Virtue's Armor... sigh. Might need to repaint her crotch pieces. xD
I tried to achieve a " fading metal" effect on Virtue's Armor... do you think I did it right? XD I'd like some tips here.
He is BULKY!
Forgot to take a shot of the GN Blaster in Burt Mode... It's just such a pain to get the pose of when he's shooting the Blaster. XD
Pew pew!
See? Even Virtue likes Turtles. XD
This looks familiar... IronMan anyone?
Damage - scratches from Virtue's Armor. =___= Might need to repaint.
More damage bye Virtue's Armor.
Virtue also damages the edges of the Black pieces. Erksome... =___=
i like those scratches, they make that real metal effect in my opinion
True for most of the scratches on the black pieces - though for the silver pieces, they tend to look like a bit of a bother. I'm not planning on repainting the black parts, though I think the crotch piece needs major repainting.
I'd point out a few things here.. First off what you did with this thing is called "painted gunpla".. Won't be called any mod coz you didn't really took care of the seamlines or added pla-plates or even used putty.
GN Archer and Gadessa are called mobile suits and not gundams.. I'm pretty sure you're using a D-SLR now, could you do something about the settings? The pictures has so much contrast that its blindingly white and the details are washed out.
And now for the gunpla itself.. You really should dust off the gunpla before taking the pictures. Seeing lotsa white particles here and there. The paintjob itself is okay considering this is the first time you tried it.
I'm thinking that you didn't use any "topcoat" on this guy cause the paint got scratched off easily. If you didn't know, topcoat does wonders.. Like protects the paintjob itself and evens out the overall look of the paint. Be sure to really dust the gunpla off before applying though.
Finally, the panel lines look nice and thin.. Though some parts needs cleanup.
Ooooh... so it's not a mod. XD Then merely customized?
The contrast was something I did on purpose. I wanted to get a nice bright background somewhat a White Washout. I did this shoot in a Yellow-Green(?) Background and I wanted it white... so yeah, details on Nadleeh were wiped quite a bit. Oh, and thanks for the info on Archer and Gadessa. XD I'd really like to know the difference between Mobile Suits and Gundams.
I have used topcoat on my Red Frame and I know it works very well... I was merely hestant to use topcoat on Nadleeh cause it might wash out the mild-gloss on the aluminum silver and make it too flat (similar to Virtue's texture). But I guess since topcoat's necessary, I guess I'd have to rid my worries of a too-flat silver.
And yes, I fully agree... while I was panel lining actually, I kept repeating to myself "Damn, my panel lining needs A LOOOOOT of work." I dunno how to clean up pannel lining though... care to teach me? XD
I'd say just painted.. Lol
Well for starters there's the typical gundam eyes, v-fin, chin and color scheme, or it could just have the gundam word attached to its name. It varies mostly but yeah..
You could always buy a gloss or semi-gloss topcoat of you're not planning on using matte, try going over at Lil's Hobby Shop.
On the panel lines.. You're already there, just needs some cleanup. It really depends whether its painted or not. There are lots of techniques actually, the most basic would be using your regular pencil eraser (those square ones) to wipe off the excess ink on the panels (Don't try this after you've already applied a matte topcoat).
Just google gunpla tutorials out, there's different kinds of guides from forums and websites.
I get all my stuff at Lil's (exept for the GunPla off course XD) though I still owe them lots for the thousads on spraycans I got just for this kit. Hahaha!
I guess I'll try that eraser thing. I've messed up quite a lot of panel lines on this one.
All "Gundams" have V-fins? So that means those with no V-fins aren't Gundams? O__o
Where in that statement did I say the word "All gundams"?
What I said was typical.. :p
I even said it varies at the end of the statement..
Ugh... fine. I can't believe you still wouldn't let that pass. XD Once again, critical as ever! Glad you passed by. I could really use the tips. v^___^
Here are guides by.. Martin Wandering and FichtenFoo.
As for the forums.. Try Zero-G or Hobby Fanatics
I've bee reading the FichtenFoo's MG guide again and again... as for Martin Wandering's, I guess I'll get on it now. I'll repaint some parts of Nadleeh since some of the scratches are bothering me quite a bit.
Last question! What are Pla Plates? XD
Pla Plates are sheets of styrene plastic, you can use them to scratch build parts or mod existing ones to add extra detail
Oh... do you cut these into pieces to for parts, or do you melt them and mold it?
Damn. This is complicated. XD
for my SB, I usually cut the plate into shapes
then use some epoxy putty to fill gaps.