Tuesday, June 26, 2012

BB Senshi Sangokuden Tenshouryu Koumei Nu Gundam Part 1

All Nu Gundams, gattai!

It has been quite a while since I last worked on a Gunpla, so after the reviews of Figma Kamen Rider Thrust and Sci-fi Revoltech Predator, I reckon I should pick up my tools and start on a new Gunpla. ^^;

So, the next kit I'll be working is this one: ^^


This is BB Senshi Sangokuden Tenshouryu Koumei Nu Gundam from the plamo-comic series. Much like the previous kit from the series I worked on - Gotaitei Sonken Gundam Korinpaku, it's a really "luxurious" set featuring a larger size kit with tons of gimmicks. At the price of 1,200 Yen (exclusive of tax), which isn't a very ig price for Gunpla kits especially by today's standard (^^;), it's a tremendous design and a fun kit to have. ^^

Tenshouryu Koumei Nu Gundam debuted in Koumei ReGZ's own adventure to the South of Mirisha. When he discovered his archival Houtou Jagd Doga (龐統ヤクトドーガ) was using dark forces to engulf the Moukaku Gundam's (孟獲ガンダム) Southern armies in a battle against their own kind, a determined Koumei ReGZ released the seal he placed upon himself (the vent-less face mask) and unveiled his true Tenshouryu form. With this power, Koumei Nu Gundam first saved Shukuyuu Gundam (祝融ガンダム), Moukaku Gundam's wife who was mind-controlled by Houtou Jagd Doga. Together with the Southern army, Koumei Nu Gundam defeated his archival, who managed to escape in the last minute (as usual with all comic villains ^^).


While his first form is based on ReGZ only (except for that one option face mask included in the kit that is designed after Nu Gundam's), the Tenshouryu form is modeled after Nu Gundam - all Nu Gundams. ^^ The most prominent body design is based on Nu Gundam, the wings are clearly Hi-Nu Gundam's Fin Funnels, and there's one extra body armor to be used during transformation that is designed after the same component on Nu Gundam HWS Type. ^^ In the midst of all the mix-match, there are designs such as the skirt armors and shoulder armors' dragon pattern that are inherited from his old ReGZ form, not to mention there're a few form changes incorporated as well. ^^

And the model looks really nice! ^^ Usually when so many features and gimmicks are thrown into a single design, the risk of having a very incohesive final product is very high. Fortunately, that's not the case for Tenshouryu Koumei Nu Gundam. ^^ It's a very good-looking kit, which seems to be stealing a lot of limelight off even the Emperor of Shou - Shouretsutei Ryuubi Gundam in terms of design in my opinion. ^^




Introduction of the kit on the box sides.


Content.



Just like the manual of Gotaitei Sonken Gundam Korinpaku, it's 16 pages of assembly sequences and comic all folded into one thick booklet. ^^


A small booklet on how to adjust good-looking action poses for your Gunplas is included as well. ^^
The Gunpla kit shown is HG 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. G30th.






A brief intro of the various Gunpla lines is shown in the small booklet as well. ^^


The back cover of the booklet shows promo for 1/144 XN Raiser, a special gift included with Hobby Japan October 2009 issue.

A look at the different runners in this kit:


Runner A - Multicolor runner containing parts mainly for head and body.


(Left) Koumei Nu Gundam's head seems a bit small as compared to most of the other BB Senshi Sangokuden kits I built in the past. ^^;
(Right) The helmet design seems to be straight from Nu Gundam. ^^


The rear skirt armor and shield parts are very reminiscent of the same component on Nu Gundam as well. ^^


As with the body and backpack. ^^
These two parts will require a great deal of paint work to realize their intended colors.


Koumei Nu Gundam's name molded on the bottom face of the feet parts. It's Nu Koumei (ν孔明).


Runner B - Contains all while parts mainly for the wings and backpack.


(Left) Hi-Nu Gundam's Fin Funnel block and ...
(Right) ... Nu Gundam's shoulder armors. ^^


(Left) Nu Gundam's leg and ...
(Right) Nu Gundam HWS Type's body armor. ^^


Koumei Nu Gundam's new weapon 龍焔刀. The handle is obviously designed after Nu Gundam's large beam saber. ^^


Runner C - Contains all golden parts seen on the kit.


Dragon and Phoenix head parts. ^^


宝扇剣 - the upgraded form of Koumei Nu Gundam's old feather fan Bakuousen (爆凰扇).


Runner D - All clear green parts to be used for the dragon eyes on the headgear, jewel on the cross guard of 宝扇剣 and weapon/transformation effect parts.
The effect parts can also be assembled into a display stand for the dragon form. ^^


Three different sets of polycaps are needed: PC-300, PC-7 and PC-15.


Foil sticker sheet.


As usual, all removed parts are organized and stored in individual paper containers.


The very nice-looking color of the clear green tree is too much of a waste to be discarded, so I decided to keep it for whatever purpose I can conjure up in the future XD

Since there aren't too many parts to take care of after separating them from their respective runners, I might as well jump into the paint work for some of them straight away. ^^


All the parts from Runner C will be hand painted. ^^


Toothpick and cotton swab sticks are used to hold the parts before the paint work begins.


The bottle part to be used this time: Gaia Metallic Color No. 122 Star Bright Gold.


Very shiny color with a rich texture. ^^


Painted all the parts with the bottle paint.



Closeups on some of the painted parts.


All the parts are stored inside a container for them to dry off.

Gaia Metallic Color No. 122 Star Bright Gold is a really nice color for golden parts. The tone is darker than Gaia Metallic Color No. 124 Star Bright Brass (see BB Senshi Sangokuden Kibutei Sousou Gundam, Joko Serpent, Sohi Gundam Set), but is shinier and has a richer texture than Mr. Metal Color 219 Brass (see Gotaitei Sonken Gundam Korinpaku). This is definitely my first choice for other parts from BB Senshi Sangokuden kits that require hand painting to realize their gold color. ^^

Will be working on all these parts again once the paint has dried. ^^

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