1/60 Fenics Rodeo Star

I wanted to take a break from building a Gundam and a Bandai kit—something completely different! Aesthetically speaking, I’ve always been drawn to steam punk/steam-era technology (e.g. Giant Robo, Kishin Corps.) A few years ago I picked up a few Sakura Wars V models on sale.
                        
Similar to the Kobu  in the original Sakura Wars anime, the Fenics are battlesuit armor. Unlike the Kobu, the Fenics transform into a flight mode. Previously, I started the Random Star, but ran into some problems with filling and filing seam lines. So I decided to start fresh and work on the Rodeo Star.

                       

On a side note, I recently realized how many models I have that are red (e.g  MG Astray Red frame, Gurren Mk II, MG Gundam RX-78-5) and now Rodeo Star.

Gurren Mk II, MG RX-78-5

MG Astray Red Frame

Ever since Blick Art Supply moved to town, I’ve been experimenting with Montana Gold Acrylic Spray paint for my model projects. The nice thing about Blick’s array of Montana Gold is that they offer about 50 different colors, which is a great selection for many projects. The only color lacking is gun-metal and other non-standard metallic colors.

The kit came molded in a yellow orange, with one sprue tree of orange red. Luckily for me, Montana Gold offered the spot on colors that I needed, which was Orange and Brick Red. For the parts that needed gun metal, I sprayed a based coat of silver and hand painted with Tamiya gun metal. For the copper and gold parts, I sprayed a based coat of red, since red captures the light better for gold-ish metallic colors. 

Every project I do has an ultimate ‘hobby goal’ that I’m striving to accomplish. It may be a new technique, or practicing basics, but nothing is built and completed in a standard sort of way. Why? Because I’m still figuring out what that is and how it looks. 

For this project, I am focusing on building, without mods, OOB. Also, I’m painting it based on the color chart, which isn’t as detailed as painting charts in the current era.

 

 I worked hard on removing the seam lines with sanding, and filling gaps with zap-a-gap (superglue) and putty. Since I’ve been practicing and building confidence with Tamiya masking tape, I was very meticulous with proper masking for painting multiple colors.

I’m about 85% finished with this project, and so far, I’m very proud of the results. Planning building and painting stages ahead of time really contributed to the ongoing success of the project. The key to this project was not pre-building the entire model ahead of time. I think that is a popular misconception. There are some parts that are just impossible to mask well for primer, base and top coat stages (e.g. joints, moveable parts, parts that connect to other parts—where there is layering.

For example, before I build the main body, I have to complete the exhaust pipes. All the ‘cables and conduits are gun metal with gold nozzles/connectors, which are different from the main body color. As long as adequate drying time is allowed, paint as you go is an effective strategy.

I first started this project in February 2012 and shelved it in April 2012 to work on my contest entry for Sakura Con 2012.

Originally, the forearm shield was a part that I was very proud of completing. After closer inspection, I noticed that I goofed when I applying the matte finish. On this part, there is silver and gold, which should have had a gloss finish. Because I used matte, the shine and luster are dumbed down. Looks like I’ll have to repaint the silver and gold (and blue) and use gloss. *grumble*

I haven’t found the motivation to finish this project, but I’m anxious to finish it (if that makes sense.) The tedious part about this project is all the masking involved and the smell of the spray paint. Here are some parts that I’ve finished.