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The Chimera is a mythical creature that is comprised of a Lion, a Dragon and a Goat (Ram) with a Snake head for a tail. It is sometimes also depicted with the Wings of a Bat. The creature has become the main basis for the modifications for this kit.

As a personal preference, I didn’t like the MG Unicorn at first because of the proportions, getting the Wing vKa rather than it during a purchase decision. Later on, I had two opportunities of getting the kit, both at a much lower price, one which remains up to now unbuilt, and the other half-built. The latter became what you see now as the Chimera.

This project started more as an itch to improve the articulation bend of the Unicorn’s knees so I may be able to pose it kneeling or in a more dramatic flight. It became apparent later on that I had to modify more than just the knees, because as a test fit showed, a kneeling Unicorn looked awkward. The proportions needed to be fixed, and along with it, articulation added to the torso was done.

The V-Fin was modfied and combined with a scratch-built one to make a distinct-looking version that, along with the slight cheek armor improvement, simulates the head of a Dragon. The Chest was later modified to simulate the head of a Lion with the chest vents as eyes. The pilot hatch still opens as if it was the Lion’s mouth. With no place to put the likeness of a goat, I opted to use the shield (someone also suggested it at almost the same time) by adding Ram horns to it, using the shield holes for eyes.

For an MG kit, the Unicorn vKa lacked the usual crystal eyes. The eye-part was molded from gray ABS, so making my usual “LED inside” mods won’t cut it. Since I was using the Unicorn mode’s face, I simply mounted a Surface Mount LED onto the faceplate, glued a piece of clear red runner over it and later painted it with Tamiya Clear Red, to mute the brightness of the green.

To facilitate a back-swept arm-mounted blade design, I modified the elbows to rotate the Unicorn’s saber hilt mounts 90 degrees.

Extra Modifications :

• Improved the articulation of the knees; modified the calves to expose the thrusters
• Added height and volume to the abdomen; modified the front skirts
• Added height to the neck
• Added a monoeye LED, powered by 2 AG1 button cells hidden within the modified backpack
• Modified the V-Fin/cheeks (somewhat the likeness of a Dragon)
• Modified the shield; added the likeness of a Ram
• Modified the Chest; added the likeness of a Lion
• Modified the hands to include Retractable (Lion) Claws
• Scratch built melee weapons; The Dragon Blade and the Ram Daggers