MG Char's Zaku II ver 2.0

What is better as a second gunpla kit after my grand-dad RX-78-2?
 

Of course, his greatest nemesis! The Char's Zaku!

Master Grade MS-06S Char's Zaku II was released more than a decade ago in 2007, and I'm surprised it's still easily available online, with the same retail price! A Lego released 10 years ago would have cost few times more.

After reading some online review, this kit has proven to have stood the test of time. It was, and is still, one of the highest rated gunpla kit to date. That's why Bandai never border upgrading/ re-release even after 14 years!

Char Aznable (real name Casval Deikun) is one of the most iconic and lovable antagonist in the history of animation. His rivalry with Amuro Ray started in gundam-year UC0079, span through few series of gundam, and was concluded in UC0093. That was 14 years of conflict and relationship. 

In real world according to release chronology, it was from 1979 when the first gundam series was released, upto year 1988 when the movie Char's Counter-attack was released (almost 10 years).

Amuro Ray VS Char Aznable

 

 

There are many many gundam series and OVA and movies, but not all are worth watching. After reading a lot online and identified the highly rated & worth watching ones, the recommended watch sequence is as below:  

For me personally i have only watched The Origin, MSG, MS Zeta Gundam, and MSG Unicorn.

I have downloaded all the series i listed but couldn't find the time yet.
MSG Hathaway is coming to Netflix on 1st July 2021, stay tuned. 

Even though this kit has less parts and sort of a straight forward build, it still took me more than a month to complete it. 

A bunch of sate sticks

Sate sticks after sprayed with Semi-gloss Topcoat and left to dry

Char's Zaku back side

Char's Zaku front view

Now, with the Bandai Action Base, I can pose both of them in various combat poses. Awesome!

both nemesis holding their pilot - Char & Amuro

Jedi-like sword fight. Heat hawk VS saber beam

Hee-Yaaa!

Kung-fu kicks each other

Aiming their Bazookas at each other

RX-78-2

Char's Zaku

Back of RX-78-2

Back of Char's Zaku

Let me finish watching Iron Blooded Orphans in Netflix first. 

And guess what i have just started building? 

MG RX-78-2 ver 3.0

Netflix has just added the original Mobile Suit Gundam into its library - the trilogy of compilation movies of the first ever 1979 gundam TV series.
This compilation movies are widely considered as one of the highly rated-must-watch for people who keen to know more and get into the gundam-verse. 

 

Released in 2013.

 

 

Netflix added MSG I, II, III, Char's Counter Attack on 18/6/21.

2010 (when i was in med school) was my first contact with gundam TV series - Mobile Suit Gundam 00. It was a good one, and it remained my only one.

 

In 2013, i almost bought my first proper robot plastic model, the RX-78-2 ver 3.0 which was just released back then. Due to various reasons, i decided to skip it. Instead, i bought this small little thing. 

 

This SD grade has been in the shelf for the last 8 yrs.

There are many grades in Gunpla: SD-HG-RG-MG-PG
I chose Master Grade (MG) for its sweet spot of best size and best details and articulations. 

Different grades of gunpla explained

In Mac 2021, i bought and started building my first ever Gundam Plastic Model (Gunpla)

Master Grade RX-78-2 Ver 3.0

 

I know I'm too old to start venturing into this line of adult 'toy'. Usually guys started gunpla fever during high-school/ college period. 

 

This is certainly one of the best hobby to kill time, especially in the current Covid lockdown period.

First time looking into the box, i was shocked by the number of runners and small parts.

 

What's better than starting off with the grand-daddy of Gundam?

• The first gundam animation series 40 yrs ago, in 1979. 
  
• The one that started the whole universe of Gundam to this very day.
  
• The most recognizable robot of all time.
  
• The first ever life size statue ever built and erected in Japan, standing 18.5 meters tall.

 

The life-size mobile suit in Diver City Tokyo in 2014.

 

It was also during this period that i started and finished the 43 episodes MS 0079 TV series, as well as its compilation movies (available in Netflix now).

 

Original gundam series

Took my own sweet time, slowly learning and meticulously building.

Read many online 'lessons' and videos to learn this new "skill".

Now only i realize that Gunpla totally put Lego into children category. 

Besides, Gunpla is much cheaper than Lego as a hobby. 

The tools i used, what i consider essential

 

Bought water decals to replace all the original stickers

Prefer Semi-gloss than the Flat Matt (too dull) or Glossy (too reflective)

Nibbling, cutting, snipping, sanding, clipping and snapping each small parts together, then painting, panel lining, applying decals, top coating, and lastly posing and photo-shooting. 

It require long hours, utmost concentrations, fine finger dexterity.

Each steps took a massive amount of time and energy and stress.

Its similar to doing an eye surgery!

After around 1 month, i finally finished building my first gunpla. 

The satisfaction, the beauty - priceless.

For professional builders, they remove the nub marks completely, sand every area of the plastics, paint/ spray most parts with new colors, multiple types of coating, scribbling new lines, adding additional customized parts, weathering, diorama creations etc. 

The ceiling of this hobby is endless. Much more skills are needed as compared to Lego.   

 

I am still a beginner in this field. 

For me, i'm utterly happy with small detail painting using markers, panel linings, and decals, and will continue doing so for my future gunpla kits.

Here are some of the shots of the final model of my First ever Gundam. Enjoy!!

The core fighter

RX-78-2 front view (LED light on)

 

 

RX-78-2 back view

RX-78-2 with Beam rifle and Shield

RX-78-2 with Beam Saber

RX-78-2 with Hyper bazooka