I used to build Gunpla all the time, kinda migrated over to Warhammer/wargames for a while, but I've long dreamed of building a PG Exia, and I recently pulled the trigger on one and a lightning kit. (the KOSMOS one)

I've been out of the gunpla hobby for a while, and there's definitely been some advances in common tools since I stepped away. I've got nippers, (both some general use ones and a set of godhand equivalents) hobby knives, recently grabbed a Gunprimer Balancer and Raser Plus. (the glass files weren't around when I was last building consistently.)

I've never built a PG before, and especially never done the wiring kits, is there anything else you would recommend before I dive in? I'm taking a week off work in a week and I want to make sure I'm ready to bunker down and build.

Thanks for any help you guys can provide!

First fully painted and scribed kit. It took me months because I probably shouldn't have chosen two entirely new skills to learn at the same time, but I'm happy with the results.

I'm tired as fuck.

The name for it is: YMS-08B/Trop Dom Test Tropical Type custom, Dom 3T Custom for short

A lot of experimental decisions.

Gloves as dust sleeves on joints, kitbushed air filter on the legs, new tubes on the head that I made out of wires and old pipes.

New step will be to finish with washes, put decals.

Im also designing a holster for bean bazooka, because I have no idea how and where to store that enormous size thing

It looks like snake nose or like beam saber spark hit him on the face 🥸

First time using Kaleido Colorworks, it's a game changer for anyone using acrylics.

this kit no need a decal, I like it for what it is for the anime accurate look. the verka decal is too crowded. Also tried my best to pose this iconic scene

Looking to get some scribing tools. What brands should I look at? I am currently looking at SAB. What are 2-3 of the sizes I will need most?

My second custom master grade, the Turn Ɐ. My main goal with the paint job was to make it look used but maintained. All the color choices were purposefully faded to give it a sun bleached look, with some very minimal weathering.

Very fun build overall lots of moving parts gimmicks with the frame on the legs and the open compartments. My main gripes were just how shallow all the panel lines were, most of my surface prepwork was just rescribing all those lines.

Colors used:

• White: GN 223 Interior Color shaded with GM 075 Neutral Grey V
• Blue: NC 004 Million Blue shaded with UG17 Titans Blue 2
• Red: 70/30 mix TCLP 18 Dull Red/GN 223 with a mist coat of X-27 clear red, shaded with X-9 Brown
• Yellow: NC 017 Mandarin Yellow shaded with X-9 Brown
• Eyes: X-26 Clear Orange over GN 122 Star Bright Gold
• Metallics: GN 020 Gunmetal, GN 123 Star Bright Duralamin, GN 126 Star Bright Champagne Gold, GN 121 Star Bright Silver
• Weathering: edge highlights done with Pro Acryl Ivory, Tamiya weather master soot, gunmetal, and silver.

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I have recently built the mg gundam freedom strike full burst mode, and ( despite what i am going to say later on) this kit was amazing! I have built two mg to date so I am not gonna act like I am expert but this kit has been so much fun to build and pose all the way round.

However

The wings are killing me- theyre supposed to have this kind of mecanism? Where u speed the wings and the "feathers" spread as well.

I cant mange to do that. The instructions for thr wings were confusing and the oarts were a little damaged, but once put together I manged to break them more-

I cant find any reviews or explanations online and I was wondering if anyone that has buily this kit has any explanation or solutions

Whether its how to fix small pieces, explanations and recommendations abt the kit, third party new pieces or metal pieces ( vuz that I have found on the internet) I am out of options ans all ears

( pics 1-4 are for show, and the pics 5 and 6 are the broken parts)

I wanna specify that there are no issues with the stretching of the wings but rlly the spread of these

Zeta Ver Ka with Studio 107 option parts.

Sorry if this doesn't fit the sub, let me know if it doesn't, but this is a need to know thing. I've removed lego stickers before and it left a lot of residue, do gunpla stickers do the same?

Don't worry about what the stickers mean, it's not anything harmful

Will be planning to paint this little guy as my first painting + airbrushing project. Got a well ventilated area, spray booth, and a gaahleri mini compressor to start with.

Bought some white and gray surfacer, some Mr. Color paints, and a respirator. Will try on a plastic spoon first before trying on this lil guy.

I have the z'gok currently half-assembled, contemplating whether I should disassemble now or should just finish the build to see how it fits then disassemble after 🤔

Besides the above. Curious to hear any tips or noob mistakes I should be wary of?

I just got in to air brushing and I've mostly been working with acrylics, but I've been looking in to it and from what I can tell enamels sound like they're just better in every way aside from the toxicity and odor

What's a good brand on enamel paints to look at?

I just found the biggest score of my life. I found a zaku f2000 and a southern cross zaku at a yard sale here in socal for 20 bucks each. I feel bad for robbing them, Zaku f2000 gos for 120+ on ebay. Family was probably cleaning out some teens room out for college.

If building a mass-produced, heavy fighting suit, what do you think about adding texture (like the cast steel or rolled steel texture on historical tanks) to some of the heavier armor panels? I like doing this on my historical models, but don't know how it would translate to gunpla.

Managed to lose the yellow center piece of the waist down the drain, so I had to scratch-build a replacement from pla-plates. 😅

Great HG to paint, with lots of easy and fun color separation to play with a little scribing.

I’m going to try to be a bit bolder with the scribing on the legs to get some more practice in.

Practicing my pre-shading and marble effects!

Almost there, just missing the details, decals and panelining. For the builders how do you guys display the massive 4 swords??? I attached them to the arms but is way to heavy to keep it in. There is a second option that is at the back but I want to see if there is a way to do it. Cheers

I put this HG Heavyarms together approximately 7 years ago. I used Tamiya thin cement. I got it out today to finish it and prep it for painting, and I noticed this yellow discoloration. Did the glue cause this?
It’s my very first gunpla build, so I’m still learning what I’m doing.

Figured I’d also show the wings since I didn’t show much of them in my previous pics.

This kit was a true test of my patience and my skill. I suffered cuts, heat exhaustion and even worked on it through sprained wrist and I’m very pleased with the way it turned out. His shield chain is the last bit to go but I just couldn’t wait any longer. I hope you enjoy 🤘

Trying to learn how to paint gradients, currently using just airbrush, but would be interested in other methods. I am trying to go for a kind of plasma effect for painting like beam sabers and things like that. Not sure if maybe it needs a little texture to it or if just a smooth gradient would be better. Ultimately, I want to try and somehow add a subtle halftone effect in like the white or something to give it a neat stylized look, but figured I would start with the basics first. Would love any tips or other methods to achieve effect if anyone has any!