Archive For December 2014

Using Sewing Pins as Rivets

I have shared photos and answered a few inquiries regarding using cheap sewing pins for rivets on my 1/48 Zaku project at both my Facebook and Instgram accounts already. But I thought I'd archive this technique as a quick tutorial here, as my blog is way more google friendly than Facebook.

This technique should both be helpful, and cost efficient! A sheet of sewing pins costs 22 pesos only and you just need a few tools to achieve the effects. If you are reading this post and googled it up, most likely you have these tools at hand already.

I measure with my trusty old caliper. I presume most does not have this tool, so any measuring tool can be used. I prefer using my caliper just because I have a caliper ( lol ).

I have a couple of Tamiya pin vises and attached are two different sized drill bits. Just drill the smaller hole first, then half-heartedly ( lol ) drill with the bigger drill bit. As you can see in the photo, I use a rusted old bigger drill bit, a new and sharp big drill bit will drill all the way and you do not want that at all.

I plan to paint the rivets the same color as the kit. So I glue it during this stage with an ordinary white glue ( superglue is obviously a stronger option ). Much like the last photo ( MG Zeta Karaba commissioned work ), I place the rivets after painting as I like the chrome finish that served as a cheap alternative for metal option parts.

I am so excited to paint this project already. I shelfed the MG Z'Gok and MG Zeta Karaba commissioned projects as I wanted to finish a build to start the new year ( 2015 ). Weathering those rivets should be fun! Stay tuned guys! Just enjoy the hobby!

The New Vallejo Game Air

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The Vallejo Game Air is a range of water-based, matte acrylic colors, developed especially for airbrushing. In the formulation of this range various new resins have been selected for qualities which up till now had not been achieved in water-based colors. The strength, resistance and covering power of Game Air is superior to any acrylic airbrush color currently available and also allows for application by brush to highlight the smallest details of the miniature. The pigments have been selected according to their degree of light-fastness and optimum micronization. The effects of washes and transparencies can be obtained by diluting the colors; all colors and varnishes can be mixed together and diluted with Airbrush Thinner.

Game Air Colors
The colors in the range have been selected in collaboration with modelers specialized in fantasy figures and dioramas, and the existing colors in the Game Color range have been taken into particular consideration. The names and shades of the most popular colors of Game Color have been maintained in Game Air, using the formulation and resins employed for Model Air. In the color chart we include a diagram of the most frequent color combinations: base color, light and shadow.

Surfaces
Game Air has exceptional performance on all materials. The adhesion of the colors on resin, plastic, steel and white metal is extraordinary. Moreover the surfaces do not require previous priming. Only in the case of a very dark base may it be useful to first apply a primer in order to increase the brightness of the final colors.

The copy above was according to the official Vallejo website. I will be testing this new range of colors on a few of my personal projects soon. If this is as strong or as scratch resistant as the Game Color ( or better ), The Game Air should eventually be my Vallejo acrylic paint of choice.

The Vallejo Model Color Range is still the flagship color range of Vallejo with 218 colors, but the Game Air should be the most perfect color range for Gunpla! As they come ready for airbrushing right from the bottle. Bright, strong and the most scratch resistant acrylic paints in the market, these colors should bring life to my personal and commissioned projects soon!

Thanks as always for dropping by! Until next post guys! Just enjoy the hobby! :)

2014 - The Work in Progress Year

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Just finished cleaning up my workbench and replaced the kits on top with all the kits that I have been working on. These kits are in various stages of progress, most are brain fart personal projects and a few are pending commissioned works.

As I've said in my previous post, 2014 was my first year from my 2 year Gunpla hiatus. Much of 2014 is re-learning old modification techniques and re-learning how to use an airbrush. Much of the latter part of 2014 was spent on working on the PG Strike Freedom and getting the necessary tools and supplies for my projects. 2015 should be more productive as I had my practice run already.

I really hope I slowly but steadilly work on all the projects on top of my workbench next year. My priority next year is to complete and finish my pending commissioned works. I am also getting a couple of Perfect Grade commission works ( international ) early next year ( 2015 ), so I really need to finish my pending projects ( both international and local ).

Stay tuned guys as I try to update my gallery this year! Thanks as always for dropping by! Until next update guys! Just enjoy the hobby! :)

GBWC Junior Category should be done live!?

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As I post photos of my lovely daughters at my Instagram and Facebook accounts, a thought came to me about a possible scheme on how to do the GBWC junior category.

My eldest daughter ( 11 years old ) has won 2 bronzes at GBWC already, first time was in 2011 and a second bronze this 2014. I must admit I get defensive sometimes when people comment that I help her with her entries... I tell them that if I actually help my daughter, she would definitely get gold and not bronze ( lol ).

Anyways, I thought of a "what if" scenario on how to handle GBWC junior category. Maybe they could make it an "on the spot" building category? An on the spot kit bashing contest that would show creativity OR an on the spot Gunpla painting category that should be fun to watch and would showcase the painting skills of our kids in front of the judges?

I know this idea will never happen. Too complicated to set-up and too tedious to plan. I do imagine it is much more fun for the kids! They get to compete in front of the judges and in front of their parents and they get to win without the help of their uncles or fathers who want to travel to Japan for free ( lol ).

This hobby is so much fun specially if we let the kids have fun on their own. No more controversial wins for the kids and they get to build names of their own.

This is pretty much similar to the on the spot painting contests I used to join when I was a kid. I know I won coz I was better than the other kids during those on the spot painting contests and I know some are better than me whenever I do not win.

The point is, kids will gain more confidence if we just guide them and let them achieve things or create art on their own.

Just a thought that I wanted to blog about. Some uncles or dads might hate this idea ( lol ), but my daughters would enjoy it for sure! Such a lovely sight when you see your kids enjoying the same activity you love.

The photos show my daughters sanding a 1/144 Nobel Gundam. I will teach them how to properly airbrush a kit tomorrow. Should be a fun family Gunpla day tomorrow! :)

Anyways, thanks as always for dropping by! Just enjoy the hobby! Until next post guys! :)