This is my 4th Gundam model kit for this year, and my second “China” model. Since these kits cost below P300 each, they’re good for practice and experimenting with the different techniques I either learned throughout the months I’ve been back in modeling or those gleaned from research over the web.

Check out the work-in-progress (WIP) photos after the break.

For this build, I wanted to do entirely brand new Gundam, without the weathering and scratches. Since the Blitz is a “ninja-type” Gundam, it will logically be without dents or bruises.

This model is the GAT-X207 Blitz, and is one of five initial designs that the Alliance secretly builds with Orb. The Blitz Gundam’s design is geared towards melee combat and stealth missions. Like the other prototype Gundams, the Blitz Gundam is equipped with the new Phase Shift (PS) armor technology. When in Phase Shift mode, the Blitz Gundam is nearly impervious to attacks from shell-firing artillery or melee weapons.

The Build – Construction

Construction, mods and painting took me almost two weeks of working around 2-4 days in a week. Bulk of the work would come in on weekends, of course.

The China kit is horribly designed. It has a LOT of flash and seams and I spent more hours repairing them and sanding than the actual build and paint. You get what you pay for. Sigh.

Let’s check out the photo of the box first

After a lot of sanding and putty work, I finally had the thing ready for assembly after around 4 days. Dang! My arms hurt!

While planning for the project, one of my goals was how to replace the ugly plastic thrusters. When a friend suggested that ballpen caps can be used, I actually tried to see if it’ll work.

Here are several ballpens that you can get for less than P20 each.

Just take away the faux metal casings and you have this. Compare it to the horrendous thruster included in the kit. Much better, eh?

Here’s test-fitting the new thruster! Coolnezz!

Meanwhile, I modded part of the legs to make it “sharper”. It’s actually SIM-card plastic (Gamer Sim), cemented together then I used Water Stop sealant as putty. This was dried and cured for 48 hours before filing, sanding and finishing.

Below: Fully assembled Blitz now ready for painting

Painting

For the paint scheme, I retained the black, red and purple look. Although I used a darker shade of purple compared to the light violet as suggested in the instructions. It kinda looked better.

Before painting, all the parts were washed in a basin with Joy dishwashing cleaner. Time to take a bath!

Washing takes away all the dust and dirt from the sanding as well as oils left in the plastic injection molds.

All the parts were then strained and left to dry

Prepping up for the actual painting, all parts of the same color got separated into individual containers…

Here’s the cast of colors: Flat black for the body, Red for the highlights, Purple for the other armor parts, Yellow for the claws and horns, Neutral Gray for the gun and Titanium Silver for the other metallic parts such as the insides of the legs. All paints were Tamiya except for the purple one, Gunze Sangyo.

After a primer of Tamiya Surface Primer (thinned with lacquer thinner), parts were placed in skewers and airbrushed. This was left to dry and cure for around 48 hours.

Once cured, I assembled the torso, legs and arms separately and gave them all a coat of Tamiya Flat Clear (gloss) in preparation for adding the decals.

Since the kit didn’t come with any decals, I scrounged around my spare-part-bin and used the leftovers from the Zaku. Here are the results

The metal part on the arm is an earing “pakaw” drilled and glued.

Here’s the thruster now…

The shield-gun was masked and painted red and neutral gray. I then masked the divider and painted in white for a cool effect.

Claws were puttied and painted yellow. You can see the other thrusters on the claw assembly

And now for the photos of the finished Gundam Blitz…

For added detail in the shield assembly, I glued an RF Online symbol. I got this from the keychain that we had made as give-aways during LIVE 2008. Hehe.

There you have it! The finished Bltiz. This is currently my favorite Gundam at the moment and I can honestly say that I learned a lot through experience and had fun during the entire process.

Next stop in my modeling project is a 1/35 M1A1 Abrams Tank (the main battle tank of the US Army used in Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003). I’ll be doing that over the Holy Week and hopefully I’ll be posting in-progress updates every now and then.

You’ll have to drop by regularly here to see it.

Peace!

GM T