Revisiting old projects

Watching KICK ASS while typing this...

Now I'll admit I've put my gundam building off for too long. Passed a resolution today to return to a major project I started a long time ago (about a year I'd say)...my MG Sinanju. Here's an example of some of the build to the right.

What's pictured there is just some of the straight build...those that followed the build on th

e Gundam Australia forums last year would note I'd been painting this one. As I'm without a compressor and airbrush I've been pouring in ridiculous dollars into spray paints on this kit. Why ridiculous dollars? To get my desired effect for the red armour panels I need three coats of different paints.

Below you'll see an example of one of the legs with paint on it. My approach with this kit is to get a metallic red coating through a black undercoat (TS-14 Tamiya spray), cove

red by their special formulation metallic silver TS-83 (that gets a fantastic shine but requires the black undercoat to work) followed by a final coat of clear red paint (Mr Color 47).

I've also been using Tamiya polishing compound to give an extreme shine to the coat. This involves alot of work, but the shine it provides is without compare. You'll

note the second pic is more orange than red...that's because I was aiming to gradient a transition from orange to red on the kit. It is not as effective as I'd have hoped, but I'll live with it.

In other news...Hot Tub Time Machine lands this week on disc...You must get it as it is the BEST MOVIE EVER!!!

There's been little progress on Rin Farrah...my primary soda-pop mini project at the moment. I've been busy with both changing jobs and interviewing for others. While I didn't enjoy the work I was doing with my previous team at work I loved and appreciated the people I worked with. Each had their own charm that made

them a pleasure to work with.... But back to topic... There isnt much progress but here's a pic of Rin in her current state...the flesh has started to grow. The flesh tone on the legs is how I'll run this one, the rest hasn't had its finishing touches. The hair will be that greenish tone, built up to a light blue/ice highlight. I've not undercoated the mini as you'll note with the progress shot...it is one of my foibles as I rarely do undercoat.

Shopping list for the next 6 months...maybe ;)

Dear Ozmecha,

Instead of spending money randomly on whatever pretties shine brightly enough to attract your attention how about making a definite shopping list that you can tick off as you go!

Best Regards,

Ozmecha

Well that Ozmecha fellow may be on to something eh? Below will be my wants list that I'll revisit and edit accordingly once they become GET! Categorised of course to allow easy reference.

Video Games

Call Of Duty Black Ops Hardened Edition Preorder made

A.C.E.: Another Century Episode R (Macross vs Gundam vs many other modern anime mecha)

Blazblue: Continuum Shift (Because the first was awesome)

BluRay Movies

Hot Tub Time Machine GET!

Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

The Expendables (cause these past two should be out within 6 months)

The 5th Element GET!

Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn Vol1

Macross Frontier Movie (comes with PS3 game)

Dr Who Season 5, Vol's 2, 3 & 4

Miniatures

Coming later today...gotta get ready for work... :(
Updates at work...YAY!

Anima Tactics
Legacy of Solomon
Black Sun Starter
Marchiosas

SodaPop Miniatures
Princess Mayla
Isabeau Durand

Forgeworld
MkII Armour set

Studio McVey
Y'Sidyra

Gunpla
1/144 HG Gundam 00Q

Oh the Pain!

Well, the past week has been interesting. I managed to catch Scott Pilgrim last monday at the cinema (free advance screening :D) and later in the week I had the pleasure of watching The Expendables. Both movies are spectacular, and both are incredibly flawed. Their respective target audiences though will forgive those flaws and find both movies entertaining and memorable.

Scott Pilgrim was a truly funny movie. The breakneck speed in which it dishes out the

comedic elements and humorous references to various pop-culture paradigms truly overwhelms the senses. This is also a weakness of the film as due to both its pace, and the lack of character development associated you do get the feeling that, if the pace were slowed slightly it would be a very empty and dull movie. Ultimately however it is an entertaining experience and a movie I enjoyed enough that I intend to go see it again!

The Expendables is another movie that I found entertaining for very different reasons. The

ensemble cast was truly epic (Dolph Lungrens character - Gunner Jensen was my favourite), the action scenes memorable and inspired by the classic action movies this pays tribute to...evidence of which being the location of the final battle, a militia camp/ammo dump. Was a

little disappointed in Jet Li's role...it seemed he was only there to be a foil to Lungren's character. Obviously this movie was not a cinematic masterpiece, however I like to think of it as the 'Sex in the City' for blokes, there is just something primal in this movie that once cannot help but love.

I did receive a new shipment of accessories/miniatures on

Friday and here are some pretty pics below. The first of

these is Ar-Fienel, a release from Studio Mcvey. Those with a games-workshop past will recognise the name of the studio head, Mike McVey. Studio McVey is delivering some truly fantastic sculpts (in resin). Not featured in the pic (as I havn't attached them yet) are the quiver and the falcon resting on her hands. I will be treating these miniatures from Studio McVey as both display pieces and painting treats...minis I'll spend a long time working on to get a beautiful result to do justice to the sculpt. I hope next to pick up from Studio McVey their latest sculpt called Y'Sydria. Mind you I'll also settle for Lisbeth. Check out their range at www.studiomcvey.com.

Also picked up number two for my Soda Pop minis, Fiametta. I've started on her and Rin Farrah from the earlier post. Both with resin bases from various retailers. I tend to start from the bottom up these days with minis I paint...but that may just be me being new to scenic resin

bases ;). The next purchases I'm looking at from Sodapop are Isabeau Durand and Princess Mayla - www.sodapopminiatures.com. You can see some of the progress below with the two sodapop minis.

The next of the minis I picked up I'm really excited about. It is Rin Farrah from the Soda Pop Miniatures line. Think anime/manga tokyopop like feel and you've got the groove of these figures. Rin here is awaiting a custom base before I continue further work on her...but that wont be long in coming. Cant wait to get started on her :D

New minis to start painting

Just picked up a couple of new miniatures with which I intend to kill some time ;)

First here is Erika, from the Anima Tactics range. As you can see she has a fantastic pose, incredibly animated. I've already started painting the base.

Anima Tactics has a great range of minis that I truly love working with...and their game itself is entertaining with a compelling back-story. Check out some further info on Anima here.