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Registered: 01-2013
Posts: 192
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Gunpla: The Strike Azure


Here, at long last, is the model kit I've been working on since March. Typically, it doesn't take so long to build and paint a kit, but my work time on models is limited to two days a week. In other words, I paint one day, give it two days to dry and cure, and then build on a third. I used Testors enamel spray cans to paint this baby. A combination of white (a standard for Gundams), silver, light blue, and copper is what I settled on.

This is the Strike Azure Gundam. I'll post some specifications of the Mobile Suit after the photos, since I'm such a nerd. I'd show the weapons, but it is fairly difficult to get the kit to hold them securely. I'll post them separately, as soon as I am able. I'll also put up a photo of the original Strike for comparison.

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Lower Torso, Feet, and Leg Units. The sticker on the hip indicates Phase-Shift Armor. The Armor Schneiders (the knives) are stored on the hips. The sheaths BARELY connect to the kit. Had to glue them in place.

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Left and Right Arm Units. The AA sticker means the Mobile Suit is assigned to the Archangel (a carrier from Gundam Seed), and the X-105 is the Gundam's model number.

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Torso Unit, with the armor partly stripped to show the internal frame. Slight damage due to handling the kit before it was dry.

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Arms, Legs, and Torso assembled. Roughly the halfway point!

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Head Unit Attached. The inner horns on the V-Fin (the crown), are actually painted the same silver-grey as the torso. Lighting bleached it out.

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Upper Wings of the Striker Pack (the Back Unit).

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The Aile Striker Pack assembled.

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The Gundam with the Striker attached. Here's the kick. The Striker Unit is heavier than the kit itself, so it severely alters the center of gravity. The Strike has to hunch over to have the backpack attached unaided. It also barely connects to the kit. This is a major flaw in the kit design, but the Strike is meant to be able to switch between the Aile, Launcher (an energy cannon), and Sword Packs quickly. This means the backpack unit only holds lightly to the connectors on the back. Poke it, and it falls off!

And sorry for the background. I kinda got lazy with the last few photos and took them on work table. Which had the remnants of my lunch and my vitamin bottle on it!

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Side view showing the lower boosters of the Striker Pack. The stand actually lets the Gundam stand up strait! You can also pose the crap out of it, assuming the Striker pack doesn't fall off. Easiest thing to do is get the Gundam on the stand, get it in the pose, and somehow finagle the Striker to stay on afterwards.

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Back View of the kit, showing the inside of the boosters.

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The original Strike. With Panel lining and full stickers. Much higher quality photo than I can produce. Shows the Beam Rifle and Shield.

Notes:

The photos aren't the greatest quality. I had to take them on my phone and edit them down using the software there to make them fit on page. Don't have an editing program on my PC. The kit is quite intricate and some of these photos do not show the details.

I also discovered my hands are not steady enough to panel line the kit. This process, using either a fine brush or even the Tamiya pens, really makes the armor plates pop. This is due to the nerve damage I happen to have in my left hand, which cannot hold the piece steady enough for the precise painting.

I broke part of the internal frame on one of the legs, which refused to assemble correctly. Oddly enough, when broken, it fit into place perfectly, and I was able to glue it so it didn't fall apart.

There are also several more stickers that can be put on the kit, particularly the Striker Pack. I put a lot of work into painting it, so I decided show off my work rather than clutter it up with a bunch of stickers. So I went with the two on the shoulders, the one on the hip, and the eyes (which hides unless you get a really good photo of the kit in perfect lighting).

It also took fricking forever. I lost six weeks of work due to weather. The Testors paints have a strict temperature range. They will not settle and dry correctly in anything less than 60 degrees fahrenheit. I started roughly in March, which was farily warm for about ten days. Then the weather went to the crapper all through April to the middle of June. Oregon's springs and early summers are notoriously random. I also put it off a bit. Work, stress. You get the idea.

I also discovered the best way to paint a kit is to do it in sections. A whole arm, leg, or chestpiece is the way to go. Otherwise you waste a lot of time.

Overall Experience:

I loved working on the kit, for the most part. Painting a model for the first time was quite the experience. Towards the end, I'll admit, I was getting frustrated. I seriously considered using the last of my 4th of July fireworks to blow it to kingdom come when I was at my most angry.

The intricacy, I adored. Its a lot more detailed than a High Grade kit, which even I could assemble in an afternoon. A Real Grade takes time, perhaps a day or two, for me to do. That's without painting.

Score: 8/10.

The Striker Pack is the big flaw in this baby. While it is quite sturdy and looks great, it does not stay attached well. Poke, move, or even breath on the kit and it falls off. The Armor Schneider sheathes are also barely attached. Adjusting the torso can make them fall off. I had to glue them in place, which helped. Somewhat. Docked two points for those two bits of insanity.






Aug/29/2016, 10:44 pm Link to this post Email Mithrilfist   PM Mithrilfist Blog
 
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Re: Gunpla: The Strike Azure


Technical Specifications:

Model Numer: GAT-X105AZ
"Strike Azure" Gundam
Limited Production General Purpose Mobile Suit

Variants:
GAT-X105AZ+E-X01 (Aile Strike Azure Gundam)
GAT-X105AZ+E-X02 (Launcher Strike Azure Gundam)
GAT-X105AZ+E-X03 (Sword Strike Azure Gundam)
GAT-X105AZ+P202QX (Integrated Weapons Strike Azure Gundam)

Frist Seen: April 26th Cosmic Era 77

Manufacturer: Morgenrate Inc

Operator:

Orb Union

Known Pilots:

Rylla Indarius (hint-Gundamverse version of Jaeindir)

General Characteristics:

Height: 17.12 Meters (58.136 Feet)

Weight: 64.8 Metric Tons

Power Plant: Ultracompact Energy Battery V2

Pilot Accommodations: Pilot Only (cockpit in torso)

Armor: Variable Phase-Shift Armor

Armaments:
2x "Igelstellung" 75MM Mult-Barrel Anti-Air CIWS
2x "Armor Schneider" Combat Knives

Special Equipment:
Hardpoints for "Striker" Packs

Optional Equipment:
57MM High-energy Beam Rifle V2
Shield
Bazooka
Aile Striker V2
Launcher Striker V2
Sword Striker V2
Integrated Weapons Striker V2

History (Simply because I must!!))

Developed during peacetime, this Mobile Suit takes much of its technology from the previous models of the versatile Strike Gundam. Developed by the original creator of the Gundams, Morgenrate Incorporated, saw little actual change to the base Mobile Suit. Instead, Morgenrate chose to enhance the Strike's base equipment, using refined versions of the Striker packs and other equipment, hence the V2 (Version 2.0) of all the Striker units and weapons. It also uses the most advanced form of armor available, Variable Phase Shift. The enhancements to the batteries have also massively improved its operational combat time.
Dubbed the "Strike Azure" by its pilot, the Gundam has seen a bit of combat action against the remnants of Blue Cosmos and Logos alongside the Wolves of Onogoro, an elite unit of the Orb military formed after the Second Bloody Valentine War, which utilizes enhanced versions of the first generation Gundams.

The combat tested Strike Azure is credited with over a dozen Mobile Suit kills since it was assigned to the Wolves, all in the hands of Rylla Indarius, one of Orb's top ace pilots, who served in both previous wars. Rylla was one of the few Orb pilots to remain in her home country during the Earth Federation occupation, using guerilla tactics alongside her fellow Astray pilots, and then piloting a Murasame during the second war. She was assigned to the Wolves because of her impressive combat record of twenty confirmed kills.

The story of the "Strike Azure" is ongoing, as it is still in service today!







Last edited by Mithrilfist, Aug/30/2016, 12:43 am
Aug/30/2016, 12:29 am Link to this post Email Mithrilfist   PM Mithrilfist Blog
 
Miss Adora Profile
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Registered: 02-2013
Posts: 669
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Re: Gunpla: The Strike Azure


Looks good Jae

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Aug/30/2016, 2:13 pm Link to this post Email Miss Adora   PM Miss Adora Blog
 
Supergirly Profile
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Registered: 04-2012
Posts: 3299
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Re: Gunpla: The Strike Azure


Wow! That looks like it took a long time to make that. Great work though! Better than I could imagine doing. I am still trying to get Beam's amrour to work right in my art.

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Aug/30/2016, 9:51 pm Link to this post Email Supergirly   PM Supergirly Blog
 
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Registered: 09-2012
Posts: 465
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Re: Gunpla: The Strike Azure


eeeeeeep! I miss my collection now!

That looks so NEAT!!! emoticon

it makes me want to reach out and touch it! and make shooting sound effects and then blow it up! because it got shot!


There is a reason why I don't have nice things emoticon
Aug/31/2016, 11:28 pm Link to this post Email Vanlock   PM Vanlock Blog
 
Blazing Bacon Profile
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Registered: 04-2013
Posts: 122
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Re: Gunpla: The Strike Azure


I've been working on a Gunpla recently. I'm going to up my game a bit!

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Sep/2/2016, 6:27 pm Link to this post Email Blazing Bacon   PM Blazing Bacon Blog
 


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