[5k][G]Sentenal's Guide to Gunpla

So here we are, the Gunpla I shall be building for you. This is the 1/144 HG Masurao from Gundam 00s2. Note the HG on the box, and how it also says the scale. No Japanese required.


So I open the box, and this is whats inside. We have a construction manual, and we have the parts, which are individually packaged in clear plastic. Each of those "sheets" are normally referred to as "runners". In order to build the Gunpla, you cut them off the runners, and snap them together, according to the construction manual. You will see.


Now, when I build Gunpla, after I remove them from their plastic packaging, I do something that is called "panel lining". Panel Lining is something that is completely optional. It helps your gunpla look better, but isn't required for it to look nice. First off, you need a Fine Point Black Gundam Paint Marker. PAINT Marker, do not try this with a sharpie pen or I will find you and murder you. Then, you just fill in the little "lines" on the kit, allowing you to see them much better.


See, here is the effect of panel lining. Panel lining is real easy too. Just take your paint marker, and draw over the line you want to ink in. Don't worry, this stuff doesn't dry quickly, it doesn't matter if you go out of the line or whatever, just mark up the bastard. Then just take your finger and wipe it. The paint in the cracks will stay, and the stuff on top that was outside the lines gets wiped away. Generally, the whiter a model kit is, the more panel lining helps. With this Masurao, its mostly black, so I barely need to panel line it at all. Other kits, especially Gundams themselves, have alot of white, so panel lining helps them look better.


This is what the inside of the construction booklet looks like. They give us step by step directions, that are labeled in letters and numbers! So you can read this shit! And look at the picture to see what they are talking about. So, step 1, lets get started. First, the tools of the trade:


I use these wire cutters and an Xacto Hobby Knife. But really, you could do this with a pair of good scissors too. Just something that can cut a little plastic.


Step 1 said I needed A8. Well, there is a runner titled "A", and a piece numbered "8". See how they are labeled on the runner? You locate the correct piece this way.


And I use the wire cutters to cut the piece off. Now, if you look closely, there are little plastic nubs on the piece, from where it was cut off. You normally want to get rid of these little pieces. You can either just try cutting it as close as you can with your wire cutters, sand it (which is a bad idea unless you plan on painting them), or you can use a Hobby Knife to slice it off.


Now, if you look close, I've sliced the nubs off. Now it will look much smoother once I put it together. If you do decide to get a hobby knife for these, be careful. They are really sharp. More on that later.

So, we cut out the pieces we need. We put these "polycaps" in them, which are smaller, more rubbery parts. All thats left is to snap them together. And then just move onto the next step? Easy, right? Lets jump ahead a little bit.


Decal time. Decals are the only thing with Gunpla labeled in japanese, but don't worry! You can just eyeball it. So, we are on piece A1. There is a line pointing at it, showing you apply a decal here. The moonrune labeled decal looks like if you took a 7, and then broke it in half, and then just sat the top part on the bottom part. And on our decal sheet, we have one with a label just like that! So we peel it off, and carefully apply it like how the picture says.....


That was easy. Okay, since it would take like 50 million pictures to go step by step, and I've already shown you the basics, lets turn this on fast forward.


We got us a torso!


Next we build the head. The Masurao apparently has Kamina glasses (from Gurren Lagann).


Okay this part fucking hurt. Look at my middle finger. DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE YOUR HOBBY KNIFE. I DREW BLOOD. Right arm complete.


Left arm made in a similar fashion. Now the upper body has been completed.


Now we move onto the leg. I think I like the construction of this things foot, but in the end, how stable and well built the foot is doesn't matter, since this thing comes with a stand.


Both lets complete. They can stand up.


So now the hip and groin is complete, and the legs are attached. Joints like this, and how good they are overall, vary alot between models. With the Masurao, its legs fall off fairly easy. This would be a pretty big minus, if it wasn't for a stand. However, I have plenty of kits that have great legs, so.......


So the Masuaro is almost complete. Its main body is done, its accessory time.


The Masurao comes with two cool beam katanas. Also, when its legs want to stay on, it stands up well. Also holds its swords pretty good, for nor a kit that doesn't have articulated fingers.


Finally, make the stand, and put it on! Masurao, complete! And it looks pretty good, IMO!


However, victory here was not without costs:
+ Show Spoiler [Warning, picture contains wounds I…] +