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Page 01 » Scratchbuilding
for the PGM Cloud 09
09.11.03 » I'm on
cloud 9
I decided after all the annoyances
with the MG ALEX, that I would put it away for
now and move onto a project that I am way more
excited about. I Ordered the Powered GM conversion
set and Type C GM from Ako Hobby in Hong Kong
a few months ago. It's a plastic (not resin) conversion
parts set to turn the RGM-79 Type C MG kit into
the Powered GM from the first episode of Gundam
0083.
I never go with the standard color
scheme anymore so I came up with an idea for an
"Ariel Drop Assault Unit" based on the
PGM. Basically, this unit would be dropped from
a plane over an enemy target as a surprise attack.
Being that it would come from above, I am giving
it a "cloud camo" scheme.
Modification/addition-wise I'll
be scratch building a booster parachute ala 8th
MST. This will attach to the bazooka mount on
the rear of the kit. I have a rough idea of how
I'd like this to work/look and will put a scan
below.
Decal-wise, I went with a Mario-esque
angry cloud symbol for the shield and some various
custom markings for the rest of the kit. Also
on the shield is the lyrics for 'I'm just a little
black rain cloud" from Winnie the Pooh. Once
again... I have an odd sense of humor.
Cloud Camo Color Scheme »
Booster-assist Parachute Sketch »
09.17.03 » Test Fit,
Glue, and Putty
Okay, all of the parts are cut out.
Now I'm in the process of puttying and sanding
those parts that are in need of it. I also wanted
to test fit the option parts to make sure all
was well. There was parts of the shoulder assembly
that needed IMO some putty. There is a seam down
the top of the shoulders and on the sides as well.
You can see in the pics where I have puttied those
parts.
Next up I will need to start sanding
and smoothing out these parts.
I am also waiting on an order of
option parts so that I can begin construction
of the booster-assist parachute. Hopefully by
next week I'll be able to get started on that.
All of the parts cut out. They are
currently separated into those that will be painted
with internal colors and those that won't. I have
a system, believe me! »
I had to dremel out the posts inside
of the head so that I can slide in the lens innards
later. »
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Test fit of the PGM leg parts. Needs some
sanding and putty, but fit well.
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You can see here where I have put putty in
order to fill in the gappy seams.
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Detail of side seam (puttied) and test fit
of shoulders/backpack.
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09.26.03 » Ugly Feets
Yeah, the GM Type C has ugly feet.
Normally, I'm not a stickler for proportions and
whatnot, but what the hell was Bandai thinking
with these!? So because of this I have been forced
into a modification.
I'm going for a simplified Katoki
styled foot. Not an exact Katoki foot, but something
similar.
First I cut 2 pieces of styrene
and glued them at an angle. Then after they were
dry, I glued them to the front of the foot. I
then put a piece or sprue inside as support for
the sides which are of thinner styrene sheet.
»
Then I glued precut styrene to the
sides. »
In this picture you can see the
pre-cut styrene to add the details to the top
of the foot after it has been puttied initially.
The white you see inside the styrene is crappy
testors putty that i used to fill in the foot.
The only reason I used that crap as a support
is because the tube has a thin enough tip that
I was able to squirt some in there. »
Not shown here is the feet with
the putty applied. I used Milliput to fill in
the corners and big gaps. I'll smooth out the
putty with sandpaper when it is cured, then glue
the feet details on.
09.27.03 » More Feet
Progress
Since yesterday, I was able to putty
and sand/file down the feet. They're almost done
now. I primed them to see if I missed any areas
that might not be filled in or that need smoothed
out more. Of course there are, so I'll have to
putty a little more with the Tamiya Basic Putty
and sand to finish. But for my first major modifications,
I'd say this isn't half bad.
Here's some pics. »
09.28.03 » Scratchbuilding
the Booster-assist Chute
Wow, I'm on a roll today. Gotta
love the rain. Okay, I started on my booster-assist
parachute this evening. So far it's going together
much easier than I had anticipated.
Here's a shot first of all the parts
for the "box". »
Next up in this series of shots
is how I built the "X" on the front
of the box. First, I took my small round file
and drilled some holes near the corners. Next
I began cutting lines between the boxes. When
that was done, I smoothed out the edges with my
file again. The result was a rounded edge "X"
detail that I glued to the front of the chute.
Lastly is a shot of the bazooka
mount, back vent for the box where the bazooka
mount poles will attach, and the box in it's current
phase.
The mount is a piece of styrene
tube and extra arm/minus molds from my Gundam
Ver. Ka. kit. The strap attachment bars are extras
from my GM (G) kit. I'm debating on using them
until I see what the booster part will look like.
09.28.03 » More Chute
Here's a shot of the parachute as
of today and a shot of my PMG build-drawer. I
have a nifty little drawer system where I keep
supplies and parts for specific projects.
09.29.03 » Option
Parts!!!!!
My option parts came today from
J-Hobby.
Nice new store! Anyway, since they came, it was
the perfect excuse to do about 45 minutes of modeling
tonight. Now that I have the boosters, I can measure
for the side assemblies.
First I made a couple wedges like
I did for the feet. Then I glued the 2 half boxes
to the sides. Next I measured out some triangles
by holding notebook paper up to the edges and
tracing. I did 4 for the wedge sides, and then
measured more out for the angles. (see below)
I still need to make the angles for the back,
but now you'll have a better idea of what they'll
look like when completed.
09.30.03 » Getting
there...
Okay, tonight I only got to start
a few quick control boxes and finish the basic
paneling on the side assemblies. All of the above
need putty and sandpaper.
Here are some pics. »
10.04.03 » Aww Chute!
 You
know... if I had known that scratchbuilding something
was this easy, fun and satisfying, I would had
done it a long time ago.
For todays update I have images
of all the chute parts so far. The first two are
shots with the Milliput applied. The last is of
the parts after being filed and sanded to smooth
out the Milliput. Tamiya basic putty was applied
to fill in any little gaps/pockets left from the
Milliput.
You can see where edges have been
beveled. The control boxes for example are beveled
on the corners and the upper edges.
The fuel tanks are still missing
their "ball" for the ball joints. I
need to crack open my epoxy for that.
Here's a key as to what is in the
first image.
- Bazooka mount. Made
up of two 8th MST cannon holders, 2 minus
molds, and styrene tube.
- 2 shoulder roll bars
from my GM (G)
- Angled mount for back
of parachute. Contains Kotobukiya mesh and
sheet styrene.
- Parachute
- Control Box
- Detail for inside of
booster assemblies. Will be more "visible"
once it is primed.
- Kotobukiya Boosters
- Fuel tank assembly
- Wave G-Tanks
10.04.03 » More shots
Here are a few shots of the parachute
in a near-complete state. The control boxes, boosters,
and Wave tanks are just temporarily held on with
sticky tack.
I had to change my bazooka mount
design since neither the Tamiya cement or the
5 minute epoxy would hold my parts very well.
So instead I drilled some 1/16 inch holes and
used 1/16 brass rod. Then I added styrene tubing
to make it look piston-like.
I still have more sanding to do.
10.06.03 » Test fit
(whew!)
After seeing bhops PGM pics, I got
a bit worried that the bazooka mount would be
too wide and the parachute pack wouldn't fit.
So I decided to do a test fit. It was easy enough
since I only had to put about 9 pieces together
to test it.
As a result, I can rest assured
that all that work was not in vain! There is plenty
of room to spare. In fact, I could probably fit
a bazooka in there instead if I wanted to.
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