Fixing HGUC Gundam RX-78-2 Part 3 [Final]

You reap what you sow... really?
As mentioned in the previous posting, applying putty to the shoulder and hip joints are pretty much the last major step in recovering my broken HGUC Gundam RX-78-2. ^^ With ample time given to the puttied parts to dry and harden, this posting will be about reassembling the whole model and see the final result of the entire repair. ^^


The V-fin pieced together using merely cement for plastic kit in Part 1 is carefully removed from the plastic sheet that holds it from beneath.


The V-fin is attached to the forehead using cement, since its tab had been removed.
The entire part seems to be holding up pretty well. ^^


All components of HGUC Gundam RX-78-2.


The uneven putty edges around the repaired joints are trimmed using just a knife.
Painting the joints is not part of my recovery plan because: (1) the joints aren't going to be too obvious when the arms and legs are attached onto them, (2) I'm eager to see the result myself. ^^


Reassembled the legs.


While it's indeed a bit protruding, there's enough clearance for the hip's polycap to be attached to the joint. It won't have as much range for bending to the side after this, but there's no problem with the connection now. ^^


Bending to the side is now limited for the left leg, but other movement is alright. ^^


Reassembled the shoulders and arms.


A slightly wider gap between the right shoulder and its armpit as compared to that on the left side is observable, especially from below (right image), but the anomaly is not too obvious to really bother me. ^^;


Standing again, HGUC Gundam RX-78-2! ^^





The joints are indeed repaired, but that doesn't improve the articulation range much. ^^;
Come to think of it, the model itself has very limited articulation to begin with. ^^;


Looking at how limited the hip movement in the bazooka pose shown above, I detached the leg to reexamine the joint. Unfortunately the leg fell to the floor and the ankle joint broken >o< This time, I couldn't care less and just applied putty to reattach the ankle peg to the polycap and be done with it. -_-



Just a couple of hours given to the puttied ankle joint to dry before taking this beam rifle pose. The left foot still works, and that's good enough for me. ^^;


(Left) With the nozzle ring now in its way, the connector of Action Base 2 doesn't fit the hip joint anymore. ^^;
(Right) The larger connector from Action Base 1 can hold the entire hip, but the hip has no room to fit onto the ball-type joint now. ^^;


Still, going around the problem, Soul Stage Act 3 Action Support Clear Type ends all the fuss about the hip and a display base for this model. ^^


Seriously, what's with this chain of unfortunate events with my HGUC Gundam RX-78-2? -_- Apart from having a clumsy owner (that goes without saying ^^;), he seemed to have some problem with the floor of my room. Whenever he decided to fall, the floor was always the destination. Why not to another side of my desktop? or into a box, or into my hands to name a few other alternate places. I know the floor is convenient, but the problem is, the floor of my room which is made of cement and tile always won the strength challenge against HGUC Gundam RX-78-2, and will continue to welcome any sort of similar challenge with a sure guarantee of victory (that goes without saying as well ^^;).

Come to think of it, I should've stop when seeing that the model is able to stand properly for the first time. That plain standing pose will be his pose when returned to the display shelves anyway. Trying out how sturdy the joints seemed mandatory until the ankle joint broke. ^^;

Like I said after the repair on Action Base 2, I'm glad that the entire work featuring so many phases, materials and tools is able to restore the broken joints on this kit, I honestly hope I don't have to do it again. ^^;