My Official Entry To The Gunpla Builders World Cup (GBWC) Singapore 2013 - HGFC 1/144 GF13-01NJII G-Gundam + Master Gundam & Fuunsaiki Diorama

The Gunpla Expo Singapore 2013 and the Gunpla Builders World Cup (GBWC) Singapore 2013 just started last Saturday, 21 September 2013 and I've dropped off my entry for Open Category, New Challenger to the exhibit venue so I guess it's safe for me to assume that it's okay for me to post photos and documentation of the work now.

As I am a Gunpla building and modelling late bloomer, this work is another one of my "firsts" as this is the first time I have worked on and completed a 1/144 kit (let alone TWO) AND made a diorama for them. I initially did not intend to enter this into the competition but eventually I decided and said to myself, "What the hey, no harm if I did." I'd be happy if the event organizers decide to include it in the exhibit for other people to see. Now I AM glad that they did and that I did enter the competition. It's also my first time to enter a competition and it's such an honor.

Mandatory box art shot of HGFC 1/144 Master Gundam & Fuunsaiki

Mandatory box art shot of HGFC 1/144 GF13-017NJII G-Gundam 

Gundam C.H.I.E.F.s Singapore Official Entries to GBWC Singapore 2013

Finally took the plunge and submitted an entry to the Gunpla Builders World Cup (GBWC) Singapore 2013 despite my lack of confidence in my modelling skills. Will post the W.I.P. entry after the event. :) Along with a couple of my comrades in Gundam C.H.I.E.F.s Singapore (GCS), Arvin and Mokel, pictured above is a preview of our official entries. Arvin started GCS as a haven for Gunpla Collectors, Hobbyists, Innovators, Enthusiasts, and Filipinos (C.H.I.E.F.s) based in Singapore. Wish us luck!

1/60 XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam 0

I would suppose that it is pure coincidence that I decide to finally paint this kit just when the mothership (Bandai) decided to come up with yet another Master Grade (MG) version of this suit, the Wing Gundam Proto Zero (Endless Waltz version). I have had this kit for quite some time now (give or take a year or two) and I've only been keeping it in storage after snap building it. I figured a 1/60 scale kit would be an ideal test subject for my next foray into Gundam kit painting. Maybe soon, if funds (and the wife) permit, I could get my very first Perfect Grade (PG, they're also 1/60 scale but have waaaay more detail and gimmicks). Anyway, I did try to document as much as I can of this (currently) work-in-progress. I will post an update when I've completed this project.

Finally! My Transformers Classics Jetfire & Grimlock

Hey there, Kervs here, as a "collector" of Transformers, I'll be focusing on Transformer figures and maybe wide angling on to other transforming mecha later on. Also (as a warning) there may be things that hardcore collectors will cringe at when they read my posts so its better to be warned than not, which brings me to one of my latest hauls and long time dream toy, Classics Jetfire (also known as Skyfire in the Transformers G1 animated series).

Very G1 cartoon in looks and headsculpt is almost dead on!

My Gundam Sketchbook

Drawing is much like riding a bicycle. Once you learn it, you don't really forget how to do it. Of course without practice, you would get rusty at it. Working with computers all these years, it's a rare opportunity for me to work with traditional tools like the basic pencil and paper. I have had to make an effort to shut my computer down and go back to basics. And here's what I came up with:

Tallgeese III. Pencil on paper. 2012

1/100 MBF-P03 Gundam Astray Blue Frame

I used a non-grade 1/100 Gundam Astray Red Frame kit  to make this one. They look pretty much exactly the same except for the
frame colour, the decals and weapons. 

I'm not quite sure if this could be considered an out-of-the-box build since to my knowledge there hasn't been a 1/100 version of the MBF-P03 Gundam Astray Blue Frame that came out. I made this from the non-grade 1/100 MBF-P02 Gundam Astray Red Frame. They're basically similar in form except for the frame colour and decals. I was planning for this to be a two-phase project, this being phase one which is the base unit of the Astray Blue Frame. For Phase two, I was hoping to tackle the Full Weapon Form version of the Astray Blue Frame. As far as I am aware of, hobbynotoriko did a 1/144 version of this and he got the parts from other HG 1/144 kits. But the specific kits where he got the other parts from did not really come in 1/100 scale so I may have to dip my toes into some scratch building action. Wish me luck.

Gunpla & Photography

I use an 80 cm x 80 cm x 80 cm light tent which came with differentcolour backgrounds (red, blue, black, white),
three Yongnuo Speedlite YN 460 off-camera flash units in slave mode , one Nissin Di622 flash unit equipped
with a Lightsphere flash diffuser mounted on my Canon EOS 40D with an EF 50mm f/1.8 II prime lens.

Given my background as a visual artist and graphic designer, photography and travel are interests that come naturally. And ever since I was introduced to photography in secondary school, it has been an enduring passion ever since. And the logical progression now that I am into Gunpla and scale modelling is to take whatever I have learned in doing different kinds of photography and apply them to scale models and toys. Although what would be more applicable to scale models and toys would be the knowledge I've acquired doing product photography. Just in case you're interested to see my photography work, you may view them here and here.

HG 1/100 OZ-00MS2B Tallgeese III

Ever since I laid eyes this mobile suit design, I instantly took a liking to it. As I am not well-versed in Gundam lore nor have I seen the complete Gundam Wing series (although I did get to watch Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz Special Edition OVA), I only know as much about the Tallgeese III as I've seen in the animated feature. I do like that majority of this mobile suit is pristine white with a dash of blue and gold (yellow). Quite elegant if I may say so myself.

1/100 ZGMF-1001-M Blaze Zaku Phantom Rey Za Burell Colors

I feel Zakus don't get much love since they're usually the antagonists in the Gundam Universe. They are reminescent of World War I German Stormtroopers after all. But I think they have a certain "charm" to their design, especially this one from the Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny series. The ZGMF-1001 M Blaze ZAKU Phantom is more angular and "spikey" than the Universal Century Zakus which are more rounded and "organic".

Photo-Dump For My Gundam Model Kits

Gundam Collection, a set on Flickr.

My repository of photographs of the Gundam model kits in my collection. Currently incomplete.

Thanks for viewing.

The Fantastic Plastic Journey Begins

Actually, it started when I was in second grade. My folks got me a 1985 Chevrolet Corvette Coupe 1/8 scale model kit by Monogram. I had no concept of scale models and scale modeling that time and I was a bit disappointed to have gotten a toy car that I had to put together myself. I eventually figured it out but without proper guidance and tools, I messed it up big time. I only had access to industrial-grade rubber cement and that was the only other adhesive I've known then other than Elmer's glue, which I've learned isn't really suitable for plastic model kits.