Submitted By: Twisted_Karma
Hello fellow modellers, I’ve been building Gunpla for about 2 or 3 years now. It’s a hobby I very much enjoy but only find small amounts of time to do, which got me wondering, “just how long do I actually spend building a model?” It takes weeks of doing a little bit here and there, but how long in those weeks was I actually working on it? When I got my RG 1/144 Zaku II from HLJ I decided to find out. Using my phone as a stopwatch I recorded the times to the closest minute on each step as I built the kit.
I cut and assembled parts for the model in sections (feet, then legs etc.) and I divided the timing into 4 sections;
1. The time it took to cut all the required parts from the runners.
2. The time taken to trim the gates off all the pieces.
3. Assemble time.
4. Time taken for the “Real Decal” stickers.
I took pictures of each step as I progressed so that I could edit each section into photos to upload when completed.I also took some photos comparing the Real Grade with my Master Grade Char’s Zaku II. Saddly I was only able to upload one with this article, but it still quite clearly shows a big difference in the level of detail.
I’m quite amazed by what the RG series has to offer, both the RG Zaku and RG RX-78-2 have amazing articulation that rival any MG. The tri-coloured armour on the RG adds an incredible amount of realism to the model. All the small parts fit together in a way that makes the surface appear to actually be seperate panels, which is a huge leap forward over the standard single colour armour of an MG. The thing that really sets the RG apart from the MG is the new, “Real Decal Stickers”. With 100+ stickers on a 1/144 scale model – it just looks breathtaking. As a straight build using just the stickers and no paint at all these RG’s have more detail than most of the MG models I have painted (although I am a novice at painting.)
Until the RG series I really wasn’t interested in 1/144 scale models. After building 2-3 HG’s I moved up to MG and never looked back – but these RG’s are really something else. If you like detail in your models than I highly recommend you try a Real Grade. There is only a $10 difference between the RG and your average HG kit, but it has the same amount of parts as a MG, which costs twice as much.
I can’t wait to see which model they will release next, I have heard it may be the Strike Gundam from Gundam Seed. I hope to see the RG Zeta Gundam in the next year or 2. My first build was a PG Zeta and it has been my favourite Gundam ever since.
terminator264
ah u got the head uploaded twice but overal DANG!!! i never new it took dat long to build i give a 10/10 for the work put into this nice work dude
Phillip
Awesome! Thanks for sharing! I noticed that for a lot of sections, the stickers took the longest… I would have to agree… I just built the RG Destiny and I believe it had more than 200+ stickers!
indisce man
Ahh char what an onor..
BLEE01
Nice….
Janis2hendrix
Awesome build. When measured like that, eleven hours may feel like an eternity!