WIP: 1/144 HG GN-008/SA Chedurim SAGA #Gundamber

 

Inspiration: 

Every November, @GunplaClub starts the hashtag #Gundamber - a gunpla building challenge to work on a model kit every day and hopefully finish the project at the end of the month. It is very much like #NaNoWriMo, or "National Novel Writing Month", and #Inktober. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, GunplaClub took a more hands off approach, but I still participated as my way to stay connected to the community at large. I'd always wanted to try a kit with Digital Camouflage,  so this is an approximation of that.

You can follow my progress on my Twitter @chetario starting on September 8th, 2020, and later on November 13th, 2020.

Process:

    Assembly: 

        Pretty standard construction for a 00 kit - with condensers etc. Simple to take care of seam lines in most areas, save the head. The kit comes with all the parts from the regular Cherudim, recolored - including the GN Sniper Rifle II, GN Shield Bits, and GN Drive. A number of new weapons have been included which gets monotonous to build. The main issue I came across was how to handle the seams on the weapons when I had to insert or be careful with the clear parts.

    Painting: 

        Colors:

• Krylon Color Maxx White Primer
• Gunmetal - craftsmart Dark Grey (50%), Silver (45%), and Black (5%)
• Oil Rubbed Bronze - craftsmart Dark Grey, Golden Brown, and Black
• craftsmart Acrylic Paint White
• craftsmart Acrylic Paint Turquoise
• Navy - craftsmart Bright Blue (90%) and Black (10%)
• Yellow - craftsmart acrylic Bright Yellow (95%) and Orange (5%)
• Light Grey - craftsmart Dark Grey (60%) and White (40%).
• craftsmart Acrylic Dark Grey
• craftsmart Acrylic Paint Grass Green
• craftsmart Acrylic Paint Silver
• Future Floor Polish/Pledge Floor Gloss
• Vallejo Matte Varnish

Primed all the parts using Krylon Color Maxx White Primer:

Painted Gunmetal - craftsmart Dark Grey (50%), Silver (45%), and Black (5%) on all the weapons:

Painted my custom mixed Oil Rubbed Bronze - craftsmart Dark Grey, Golden Brown, and Black for the frame:

Painted Turquoise on the red parts, the first major color deviation for the project:

Painted White on some parts:

Painted a custom mixed Navy on the torso and backpack:

Thrusters and Missile Pods/Mines were sprayed with craftsman acrylic Bright Yellow (95%) and Orange (5%) to make it a touch darker.

I painted the Light Grey on the armor pieces using craftsmart Dark Grey (60%) and White (40%).

My original vision was to give the kit digital camouflage, but the scale and precision required made me nervous. I feel the pattern below is a good halfway point between the idea and my execution.

With masking done, I sprayed craftsmart acrylic Dark Grey.

.I was really happy to see the contrast between the greys once it dried.

Applied the chrome stickers/seals and handpainted a few details using craftsmart White, Grass Green, and Silver.

Test fitting everything after coat of Future Floor Polish/Pledge Floor Gloss.

I decided to paint the extra options parts that came with the kit - shield bits, the shield I forgot, and extra chest piece.

Light grey and Oil Rubbed Bronze:

Masking the pattern:

Sprayed the Dark Grey. The contrast on the pieces is less pronounced than the earlier batch.

I sprayed Vallejo Matte Varnish over all of the pieces.

Installing the clear green pieces throughout the kit after the final coat to prevent any dulling of the effect as the final part of this kit.

With the top coat on, I finished the kit. 

The pictures above were taken with a Samsung Galaxy S9+.

Thank you for reading this post and the support. Constructive criticism is always welcome and I will likely respond to each comment. Advice on how I can improve is also appreciated.

Here's to a great #Gundamber in 2021.

Keep Building, My Friends!