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currently building HG Aerial, and this is probably my favorite one yet in terms of both design (which is why i bought her) and sturdiness. she is loving rock solid and it's great. also gonna try my hand at panel lining soon. two questions: 1: do i need a top coat to prevent it from smudging down the line 2: in the event that I DO use a top coat, what should I do about the stickers, or, in aerial's case, the clear pieces on the torso? do I need to cover them with painters tape or something? e: page snipe, have a chuchu 
Blaziken386 fucked around with this message at 05:15 on Oct 8, 2023 |
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Oct 8, 2023 05:11
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| # ? May 23, 2024 18:28 |
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If its a gloss coat it should be fine over the shell units. If matte, remove those parts or mask them off before topcoating. Stickers and decals are fine to topcoat.
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Oct 8, 2023 05:18
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Speakina HG Aerial, I picked up some waterslide decals from Ali Express, but there's no guide to where they go. I don't want to just guess, but I'm probably going to have to. There are a couple pictures with them applied on the store page, but I don't think everything's visible. I also got some glow-in-the-dark waterslides for my HGUC Zaku II. These ones seem very freeform, with lots of numbers and various rank insignias. Is there a website with a guide to universe-accurate markings, and maybe some characters' personal suits?
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Oct 8, 2023 07:10
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Whatever looks good for me. Chest and shoulders for big ones then caution stickers everywhere else
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Oct 8, 2023 07:18
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Blaziken386 posted:currently building HG Aerial, and this is probably my favorite one yet in terms of both design (which is why i bought her) and sturdiness. she is loving rock solid and it's great. I just finished the build on a PBandai Permet-6 Aerial and OMG this is a good kit. She poses better than anything else I've built. Now to do the extra stickers and the panel lining.
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Oct 8, 2023 07:30
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    Just an absolutely unbelievable kit. I'm amazed I managed to finish it without losing a single part because there are just so many metal accents and small moving bits it felt inevitable at times. I need a break.
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Oct 8, 2023 13:53
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Pierson posted:
This is immaculate work here, congrats! The 2nd photo could be on the box and I wouldn't bat an eyelid. Speaking of the RG Hi-v, has anybody here built the Gundam Base 'Titanium Finish' version of it (or any kit, really)? I'd like to build this kit eventually and can't guarantee an excellent finish myself so it'd be tempting, but on the other hand if the plastic will suck to work with and destroy my nippers I'm not keen, especially on something with so many parts. I did the gold-plated HG Hyakushiki and while that was worthwhile I definitely got the sense it was harder on the nippers.
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Oct 8, 2023 16:43
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It won't wreck your nippers but the issue will be the one that every titanium/metallic kit has: Nub marks are almost un-erasable unless the entire kit is under-gated. It's something to do with the injection of the metallics or something, it will leave ugly dis-coloured square marks where the sprue attachment was.
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Oct 8, 2023 18:17
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Pierson posted:It won't wreck your nippers but the issue will be the one that every titanium/metallic kit has: Nub marks are almost un-erasable unless the entire kit is under-gated. It's something to do with the injection of the metallics or something, it will leave ugly dis-coloured square marks where the sprue attachment was. The finish goes over the outside of the plastic and when you cut it you expose the unfinished plastic. Don't buy a special finish kit that isn't 100% undergated, it looks ok if you don't know much but if you're reading this thread you already know enough to be disappointed by how it will turn out.
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Oct 8, 2023 18:42
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do y'all have any suggestions for how to not accidentally slice your fingers when removing particularly stubborn runners with the hobby knife, or is it just a practice thing. i ask, because my thumb is currently very sore.
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Oct 8, 2023 20:39
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Blaziken386 posted:do y'all have any suggestions for how to not accidentally slice your fingers when removing particularly stubborn runners with the hobby knife, or is it just a practice thing. Do you have a pair of sprue cutters? When I was younger I only used a hobby knife but a pair of sprue/side cutters/nippers make getting parts off the sprue 95% painless. Even a very cheap pair will be a huge step up. You can then use the hobby knife to trim the little bit of plastic on the part (the nub). If you've got money, a pair of nice sprue cutters will make it even easier. But regardless of quality, your fingers and thumbs will thank you.
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Oct 8, 2023 20:51
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You can also remove the nub by sanding/filing instead and ditch the knife entirely.
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Oct 8, 2023 20:52
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Tergaso posted:Do you have a pair of sprue cutters? When I was younger I only used a hobby knife but a pair of sprue/side cutters/nippers make getting parts off the sprue 95% painless. Even a very cheap pair will be a huge step up. You can then use the hobby knife to trim the little bit of plastic on the part (the nub). If you've got money, a pair of nice sprue cutters will make it even easier.
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Oct 8, 2023 20:55
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Blaziken386 posted:im using side nippers to cut them out and a hobby knife to trim the nub off. the issue is, the parts are very tiny and some of the nubs decide to be stubborn and then the stabbing happens Change the hobby knife blade more often. I use a new one at the start of a kit and for extensive kits like a big RG I would replace it midway through. Doesnt take much for a hobby knife blade to get dull to make trimming nibs tough. Also the thinner you can slice off a nib may help, if the nib is thick/large try and slice off a little at a time, not the whole nib at once.
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Oct 8, 2023 20:57
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Blaziken386 posted:do y'all have any suggestions for how to not accidentally slice your fingers when removing particularly stubborn runners with the hobby knife, or is it just a practice thing. Don't use a hobby knife. Budget wise, here are your options: IGAN-330 $7.50. Stedi MS-100 $18. Stedi MS-106 $26. Dispae 3.0 $30. The 330, is what I give people when they start the hobby. You.. can't.. break them. They're a double cut nippers. The MS-100's are thinner bladed, and sharper. I feel like they could be broken, but I have not done so yet. I own three, and my kiddos use them. The MS-106 is a single blade nipper, which tends to cut.. straigher? and generally leave a less obvious scar. The blade tends to get stuck in cuts though! The dispae 3.0 is vaguely better. But only a little. The alternative is use a sharper knife, and a mat to cut on.
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Oct 8, 2023 22:00
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Blaziken386 posted:im using side nippers to cut them out and a hobby knife to trim the nub off. the issue is, the parts are very tiny and some of the nubs decide to be stubborn and then the stabbing happens Ah, I get it now. In that case, I usually press the part against the cutting mat and shave off from the nub until it's small enough to slice the rest off. A new blade may also do the trick, if you use the knife a lot you may want to change it every few HG size kits.
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Oct 8, 2023 22:17
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Nerobro posted:Don't use a hobby knife. Budget wise, here are your options: IGAN-330 $7.50. Stedi MS-100 $18. Stedi MS-106 $26. Dispae 3.0 $30. Use the nippers.
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Oct 8, 2023 22:28
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Blaziken386 posted:do y'all have any suggestions for how to not accidentally slice your fingers when removing particularly stubborn runners with the hobby knife, or is it just a practice thing. Keep your knife sharp, shave less and never put your finger in the path of the blade. But, it's gonna happen eventually. It happens less as you get better. You'll know how much force you need to get through the nub and not use more. I have stabbed myself directly into the middle of the pad of my thumb. It hurt for days and days.
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Oct 8, 2023 22:57
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Get a thimble
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Oct 9, 2023 00:19
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At my very first job I ended up fileting my thumb with a produce knife so I've always been careful when shaving down nubs with a hobby knife. Once you get used to the plastic you'll know how much force you need.
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Oct 9, 2023 00:22
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Build calluses.
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Oct 9, 2023 00:29
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Gripweed posted:Build calluses. Gundam Build Calluses Gunpla Build Calluses? High-Grade Build Calluses
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Oct 9, 2023 00:44
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Had my first experience with very tiny stickers yesterday
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Oct 9, 2023 01:00
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For cleaning up nubs I've been a huge fan of those glass nano files. You can pick up a pair pretty cheap on Amazon, and with a little water they'll eat through the nub and leave a perfectly smooth (if a bit glossy) surface behind. If you don't paint, a magic eraser is good to match the surface to the satin of the rest of the plastic.
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Oct 9, 2023 01:08
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For nubs now I love glass files after using one on the last model I did. Before that I preferred using sanding sticks or sponges with increasing grain to get rid of any nub marks. Of course, it's best to start with a good single blade nipper like mentioned above and you can avoid marks at all a lot of the time.
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Oct 9, 2023 01:25
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Blaziken386 posted:do y'all have any suggestions for how to not accidentally slice your fingers when removing particularly stubborn runners with the hobby knife, or is it just a practice thing. What kind of blade are you using? If it's like an X-Acto #11 I'd just go smaller, like the Mr. Hobby MT701. I've found the stubbier blades are easier to control since there isn't an extra centimeter of cutting surface past the point of contact.
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Oct 9, 2023 03:04
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thank you thread for the advice in other news: Aerial!!  no backpack or weapons yet, but goddamn she looks so cool
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Oct 9, 2023 03:43
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Blaziken386 posted:thank you thread for the advice Just on the topic of backpacks; get the flight pack now-ish if it's of interest to you, reprints on accessory sets are spotty at best.
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Oct 9, 2023 03:49
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Skrillmub posted:never put your finger in the path of the blade. This is the not so secret, secret that I've discovered after slicing my thumb open a dozen times. SnakesRevenge posted:If you don't paint, a magic eraser is good to match the surface to the satin of the rest of the plastic. Seeming to just replace nub marks with glossy patches is why I abandoned my glass files after a couple of kits. So if this is true it'll be big.
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Oct 9, 2023 03:49
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HG Aerial is such a good kit.
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Oct 9, 2023 03:59
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Neddy Seagoon posted:Just on the topic of backpacks; get the flight pack now-ish if it's of interest to you, reprints on accessory sets are spotty at best. Prof. Banks posted:Seeming to just replace nub marks with glossy patches is why I abandoned my glass files after a couple of kits. So if this is true it'll be big.
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Oct 9, 2023 04:01
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The problem was they’re providing a mirror finish when you just want a satin. Not a problem if youre topcoating or painting though
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Oct 9, 2023 04:20
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Accessory kits generally are cheaper. At retail, the jetpack is 800 yen, while the Aerial itself is 1300 yen. It's a more-or-less standard price gap between accessory pack and main kit. I suspect the issue here is that the Aerial is easier to get lately, so the accessory pack is more likely to get markup. As said, accessory packs tend to get fewer reprints in the mainlines, so if you don't get it on release, it's harder to find one.
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Oct 9, 2023 04:25
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Blaziken386 posted:i was actually considering picking up glass files next time i was out just because replacing my sandpaper files was getting annoying. are they not actually that good? Works great at getting rid of the nubs without leaving the little divots or stress marks that the knife occasionally leaves behind. Plus, you don't ever end up with a chopped up thumb. But as I was saying, it also often leaves the area around the nub with a shiny gloss finish that really stands out against the matte plastic and is, at least in my opinion, more noticeable and uglier than the aforementioned marks left from just shaving away the nubs with a knife. This is probably irrelevant for anyone that does a matte topcoat on their kits, but I generally just straight build and panel line. I don't have the time, space, or cash for topcoating right now. I may go back through and do it if I ever buy and set up the space for a painting setup, but for now it's not in the cards.
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Oct 9, 2023 04:26
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Waffleman_ posted:HG Aerial is such a good kit. It really is. I just finished the build on the HG Permet 6 variant. This is very much at the high end of the scale for HG kits. Pics when I finish the panel lining.
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Oct 9, 2023 04:41
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Blaziken386 posted:
They're great, that's why you gently hit it with a melamine sponge after the glass file. It dulls the finish a bit to bring it closer to the untouched plastic.
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Oct 9, 2023 05:06
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Midjack posted:They're great, that's why you gently hit it with a melamine sponge after the glass file. It dulls the finish a bit to bring it closer to the untouched plastic. As a newbie myself grappling with these issues, any chance of some blow by blow pictures?
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Oct 9, 2023 05:09
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Pierson posted:It won't wreck your nippers but the issue will be the one that every titanium/metallic kit has: Nub marks are almost un-erasable unless the entire kit is under-gated. It's something to do with the injection of the metallics or something, it will leave ugly dis-coloured square marks where the sprue attachment was. Midjack posted:The finish goes over the outside of the plastic and when you cut it you expose the unfinished plastic. Don't buy a special finish kit that isn't 100% undergated, it looks ok if you don't know much but if you're reading this thread you already know enough to be disappointed by how it will turn out. Thank you both, sounds like the regular retail release is the one for me then. Metallic gold marker got me through the problem on the HG Hyakushiki but there's not the markers or time to do so on an RG... Blaziken386 posted:im using side nippers to cut them out and a hobby knife to trim the nub off. the issue is, the parts are very tiny and some of the nubs decide to be stubborn and then the stabbing happens Don't know how much it'll count, but I've gotten a lot of mileage out of using a 2nd pair of nippers for clean-up cuts like Nerobro suggested. The red-handled Godhands were what I had easy access to and they've kept me out of trouble for a year now, though admittedly working around curves can be frustrating and you have to be deliberate with colored plastic to avoid stress marks. Admitting that I'm a clumsy person right out the gate and working around it helped avoid a lot of strife.
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Oct 9, 2023 06:19
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trunkh posted:As a newbie myself grappling with these issues, any chance of some blow by blow pictures? This page is for an overpriced product, but it does what is being talked about and has pictures and video: https://www.gunprimer.com/gate-remover-set
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Oct 9, 2023 07:09
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claw game handjob posted:
Man, I got Valimar months back but I've never done Gunpla before and I get nervous I'm going to mess something up, like clip a piece of a part instead of the nub or slice a piece in half trying to shave the nub off, since Valimar is one of my favorite mechs. I ended up buying this Bandai Spirits model kit so I could practice
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Oct 9, 2023 08:40
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