HG 1/100 Gundam Heavyarms Custom Part 2

Shiny hooks, shiny gatlings
Starting the work on HG 1/100 Gundam Heavyarms Custom after the introduction in the previous posting. ^^


Just three parts to focus on right away: the v-fin and two hook-like appendages on top the shoulder armors.


No fancy detailing needed for the parts according to the completed model's picture in the instruction manual, but they do need to be painted gold. ^^
Adding gold paint to my model kits, how can that not be the priority right from jump? XD

Then again, to enhance the look of the three parts, a bit of extra work is needed before they are painted.


The "toothbrush" bits behind the two v-fin tips are sanded away using paper file.


Having no love for the bars of hollow spots behind the shoulder hooks, I decided to get rid of them by filling them up using epoxy putty. ^^


Those hollow slots are filled up using Tamiya Epoxy Putty Quick Type.


Metal file is used to give the parts a rough sanding first to get rid of as much excess putty as possible.


The parts are then cleaned and smoothed using paper files of different grades.



The three parts are painted using Gaia Metallic Color No. 122 Star Bright Gold.
For the v-fin, the rear side is painted first (with the front fixed to a double-sided tape) so that its tiny connector pin can then be used to hold the part while the front face is being painted.


Test fitting the painted parts to see how the v-fin and shoulder hook would turn out when assembled. ^^


The chest gatling is another part I pondered about for a long time. ^^; Besides making actual holes for all the muzzles, a small round spot next to each barrel set can be appended with a targeting scope, even though I think that was never part of the weapon's design. ^^


The muzzle points are made using pin vise with 1.0mm drill bit.


Done for the work on the muzzle points.


I actually drilled through to the back of the part for all muzzle points - the best way to make sure they are deep enough XD



Comparing the chest part to Kotobukiya's Modelling Support Goods (M.S.G.) Pla Unit P-106 Round Nozzle (S) to find the ones with the right size to become the targeting scopes I wanted.


The four puny parts are removed from the runner and have their excess gates trimmed off, very carefully. ^^;


The extra nozzles are attached to the chest part using cement for plastic models.
The entire part is now ready to be painted. ^^


A list of other weapon parts to be painted together with the chest piece.


I only intend to paint the barrels of the gatling guns, so the bases are panel lined to form the guides for the paint work.



All the parts are painted using Gaia Metallic Color No. 020 Gun Metal.



The gun barrel and chest parts are panel lined using Tamiya's Panel Line Accent Color (Gray).


With excessive panel liner solution rubbed away using cotton swab soaked with enamel thinner.


Test fitting the painted parts to see how the gatling guns' barrel would turn out when assembled. ^^


The extra scopes on the chest piece are painted metallic green using normal pen.



The other gatling gun parts are panel lined the regular way.


A pair of sunken slots behind the bottom parts are painted black using normal marker.
The slots are for spent cases to be ejected from the chamber I suppose.
Gold, gun metal and metallic green, the work on HG 1/100 Gundam Heavyarms Custom is starting to feel like BB Senshi Sangokuden Shin Enjutsu Zssa and HMM Zoids 1/72 Red Horn, which were the previous kits completed before it. ^^

Will continue to work on this kit in the next posting. ^^