12.27.2006 » Concepts / Intro

My next project is a custom MS design based on the PG WZC frame. I'm calling this unit the Pandora. I still need to decide on an era or if I even care to fit it in one. Probably post F91 so I can justify a beam shield and short stature.

I am looking to find a good acronym for H.O.P.E. System though to do the whole Pandora's Box thing. So far my favorite is HydrOxide Polymorphic Engine

As for the design, I'm taking elements from a lot of my favorite MS designs and fan-art (especially WindFall and Studio Reckless) for this. Also some queues from the Evolve Hi-Nu (hence the extended ass and crotch) even though I'm generally not a Hi-Nu fan at all.

Anyway, I have no sketches as the design is in my head. I'm also playing it by ear. Here's what I've got so far. The main gimmick feature I designed on it so far is the top of the mid-chest which slides forward to open the cockpit. I know the WZC does that, but I had to make my own mechanisms. I'm also integrating magnets under the armor for potential full armor (Full Pithos (storage jar)) mode.

12.28.2006 » More Chest Armor

I've gotten the basic shape of the chest armor done. Now I just need to do clean-up and the detail work for it. It splits up into several pieces to allow for painting and removal. I'll take pics of all the seperate parts soon. I also need to do the upper torso, but needed the chest fleshed out first. It's funny that I need to do A before B before C, but I need to first figure out what A is. Gotta love scratchbuilding. Here's the pics.

12.29.2006 » More Chest Armor

Last night I made the boxes to add to the shoulders and started on really cleaning-up the chest parts before detailing. Below is a photo of the finalizes chest shape. The chest vents are modified extras from my MG Rick Dias.

Today I worked on the upper torso that is connected to the chest, the crotch armor and I started on the thigh armor. A lot of the original WZC armor is rounded. This will be a boxier design so much of those parts are getting scrapped. I am still using small bits of the armor though and just layering over it to get the shapes I want, but allowing me to keep the same attachment points to the frame.

01.03.2007 » Skirts and Legs

Here's the latest batch of photos with some new body parts armored. Obviously there's much progress all over, but this project is so massive that it all seems to look the same for quite some time. These shots show the basic bare-bones progress. These "panels" of styrene are merely the first layer to give me something to start building onto. Enjoy.

01.12.2007 » Legs

Here's the latest on the Pandora... not much new as I've been too busy to work much on it, but I got the leg armor shaping up. Here's a pic: