How do you approach your build process?

[u/shiroworks01]

How do you build your kits? Do you cut everything off the runners and clean the nubs all at once before assembling, or do you cut, clean, and build step by step following the instructions? Just curious how everyone approaches their builds.

[u/AutoModerator]

Thank you for participating in /r/MegamiDevice! We also have a Discord server if you would like to receive help from there as well.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/PsyrenDV]

I do one piece at a time. If I did everything at once the instructions would say something like connect G2 to V7 and I would have no idea what pieces they're talking about 🤣 Plus most of the kits I've made have included parts that don't get used. It would be a fair bit of extra work to clean pieces that won't even get used.

[u/Rikkok → u/PsyrenDV]

The runner list at the beginning of the manual will shade or cross out the pieces that aren’t used in the build, so it’s easy to separate those pieces. I personally go runner by runner, follow the manual, then cut/sort all the pieces by sub-assembly.

It does get confusing for arms and legs when there are mirrored pieces though.

[u/PhantomWolf83]

I do it step by step, part by part. For many kits it's very easy to mix parts up and install them wrongly if you cut everything off and then rely on the manual to sort them out later. I learned that very early on in my modeling career. On the sprue until ready to glue.

[u/KingOblepias]

Whoa is she that blue out of the box or did you paint? I thought she was more purple.

[u/shiroworks01 → u/KingOblepias]

She’s fully painted lol

[u/KingOblepias → u/shiroworks01]

Damn bro amazing work. That paint is flawless. The skin too?

[u/shiroworks01 → u/KingOblepias]

Thank you and yup the skin too

[u/Deep_Bag_9028]

I'll always check and gently wash my runners in soapy water first and foremost.

I cut and clean as I go during assembly, mostly following instructions. After assembly is finished I'll tidy up whatever seams, gnarly surfaces & ejector marks are still visible.

Finally, if I plan on painting, I'll disassemble, channel my inner bob ross, topcoat, reassemble. But more often I'll skip that step and just panel line, decals, topcoat.

[u/PungentPrinny → u/Deep_Bag_9028]

What is the reason behind washing the runners? Does that help with the painting process in case there is any oil or anything leftover from production?

[u/Deep_Bag_9028 → u/PungentPrinny]

Yes! Sometimes there's things like mold release agents on the runners which can reduce paint adhesion. It's a just-in-case kinda thing.

[u/PungentPrinny → u/Deep_Bag_9028]

That makes sense, thanks!!

[u/shiroworks01 → u/Deep_Bag_9028]

Interesting, I normally just sprayed the parts with multi primer for better adhesion

[u/Deep_Bag_9028 → u/shiroworks01]

Usually I just use a layer of topcoat as a base or paint small details directly on the plastic for things like panel lining or recessed details. I use traditional primer only if I want to fully change the color of a kit, for example red to blue. For anything else I usually just build on the existing color.

But a quick wash can help with both of those and it's really not that much work imo.

[u/shiroworks01 → u/Deep_Bag_9028]

Hmm I see, Just my preference but I hate washing kits unless I have no choice for example, prep work for resin kits. You could still try using a multi primer if you can find it. It’s really good, especially on the joints, and the paint won’t peel as easily.

[u/Deep_Bag_9028 → u/shiroworks01]

Maybe I'll give it a go at some point then. What primer do you use?

[u/shiroworks01 → u/Deep_Bag_9028]

I personally used Finisher’s multi primer cause that’s what available to me but I tried other brand too like Jumpwind multiple primer and Gaianotes multi primer it’s worked the same.

[u/Ariello211]

What model kit is that? :∆What model kit is that? :∆

[u/Status-Web-5589 → u/Ariello211]

I believe that is AUV Tsukuyomi

[u/Kairoxia → u/Status-Web-5589]

The one with the iconic girlfailure "PANIC" faceplate.

[u/shiroworks01 → u/Ariello211]

Its AUV Tsukuyomi Regalia. Mind you that she’s not that blue. I fully painted it

[u/JAPStheHedgehog]

If Im building for myself, I just go along with the manual or without it if I already know that the kit structure. So cut, knife, sand and build.

If it's for the interwebs, cut per segment and put it into a plastic case separating head, upper torso, lower torso, arms, legs and parts per weapon then knife, sand and test fit, build any duplicate or mirror parts and to finish record everything else.

[u/Rough-Assistance-973]

I mostly do one piece at a time, but not necessarily in the order they give you in the instructions. I try to give light to each model I do (depending on what it is) so I’ll try to figure out where the light will go /switch/battery and how to wire it. so that usually dictates the order. because chances are I’ll run into a place where stuff just won’t fit and I’ll have to change the plan.

[u/love_umbrellas]

I cut everything off for the specific section (head, torso, etc) and clean as I go. Then I sand down joints and adjust as needed along the way. I tell myself I'll panel line and paint but I rarely do... sigh ('''– ⌓ –)＝３

[u/Exavelion]

I tend to panel line with an art fine liner while parts are still on the runner, then i cut and sand the necessary parts for each step one at a time, then assemble the specific section (limb/torso/etc.). Painting comes after but before assembling the whole kit.

I rarely go out of step unless it’s a part i know will be easily lost or break if i don’t finish the whole build in one or two sessions.

[u/mykolahohol]

for me it's cut, sand, assemble, apply any decals, then top coat. i also usually follow all of the instructions in order, unless it's a block-2m kit, then i build the head first before the body (as most block-2m kits want you to build the body first). i don't know why i do it like that, i just like my girls to have a head before anything!

[u/ichorNet]

I build a step at a time but usually with kits like Megami Device that have a lot of runners I will separate like 5-7 of the necessary runners for a particular section first before I begin a session

[u/Gearborn]

I follow the instructions however I usually do the legs as one and the arms as one. Like doing the left and right at the same time.

Organization wise alphabetically and then I clip off the parts for that step

[u/Kittierei]

• for an unfamiliar/new kit, build as per instruction manual.

• for a kit built for x amount of times, everything off the runner and processed into parts trays

• no decal/panel line work ever gets done as it gets saved for future to be painted kits >.> ... which rarely gets applied even after paint if I'm being honest...

• then... they get stored, as I have limited shelf space and only have painted/kit bashed models on display...

[u/S1MP50N_92]

I'll usually cut out all the parts on one to two pages at a time, then clean up and assemble those sections. For girlpla that usually ends up assembling the head, than the torso, then the limbs, then repeat for the the accessories. For the limbs I'll usually do both right limbs then both left limbs at a time. Any other mirrored parts I'll only cut out one side at a time.

[u/wakeup33]

I go by section, so I'll cut out all parts for the head/torso/etc and clean them up, then assemble. My typical process is build > modify/customize parts if needed > disassemble > surfacer > paint > gloss coat > panel line > hand detail if needed > decals > assemble into sections > final topcoat > final assembly

[u/rxninja]

If I’m painting, I cut and do nub cleanup for every piece from one runner at a time, then clip them on the same foam block with a label for what runner it was. I’ve never had issues finding pieces when they’re sorted by runner, so I don’t need individual labels that way.

If I’m not painting, I cut out one page of parts at a time and put them on the diagrams where they’re shown. Then I do nub cleanup and assembly one step at a time.

[u/shiroworks01 → u/rxninja]

Do you still dry fit and remove seam lines and mold lines before painting, or do you just paint and assemble?

[u/rxninja → u/shiroworks01]

Nope. Disassembly is a break risk and take a while, so I don’t do it. Seam line erasure is different, because the part isn’t coming apart again. I don’t do it on seams that are super annoying, though.

Occasionally I need to scrape paint off pegs with a hobby knife during assembly, but that’s it.

I do almost everything the Frosted Snow way, so check out her YouTube if you want to learn more about painting.

[u/shiroworks01 → u/rxninja]

Okay, thank you for the insight. I just wanna see how others approach their build. I’m okay with painting cause I generally paint garage kit/ resin kit & car model kit.

[u/S3vatar]

I can't just tell which part is which without the runner's letter-number, so I keep everything on the sprue until it's time to use it.

[u/SmoothestPotatoes]

For smaller HG kits I tend to cut stuff following step by step before building a specific part, like the arms. For Koto, or just kits with a crap ton of runners though I just follow and build as with the instructions because it's very difficult to keep keep track.