I've chosen to do the Palace Athene, codenamed The Ice Queen for my ZeroG MonoEye GB project..
She's part of a multi-mecha thematic project I'm working on.
The name alone already suggests the color scheme. She'll be predominantly white, with light blue accents, and would basically be my first "heavily modified" kit. I'll be painting it with my trademark multitone process (though I'm still wondering if the color shift would work with just the usual paints I use). At any rate, I'm experimenting on new techniques for it.
The weapons back pack would have to go, replaced by something else. The missiles I shall use for another build, and the arm rifle will be modified. I'll custom build hands for it, since the stock hands are UGLY for an HGUC kit. I wish Bandai would just keep things consistent, and keep the quality of the kits across the board.
The name alone already suggests the color scheme. She'll be predominantly white, with light blue accents, and would basically be my first "heavily modified" kit. I'll be painting it with my trademark multitone process (though I'm still wondering if the color shift would work with just the usual paints I use). At any rate, I'm experimenting on new techniques for it.
The weapons back pack would have to go, replaced by something else. The missiles I shall use for another build, and the arm rifle will be modified. I'll custom build hands for it, since the stock hands are UGLY for an HGUC kit. I wish Bandai would just keep things consistent, and keep the quality of the kits across the board.
My progress is a bit slow, mainly because I think of the modifications first before proceeding to doing anything. Once I get something in my mind clear enough, I sketch it afterward to test possibilities.
Then I start cutting. The Queen will have a crown.
Since the Athene has a fairly small cranium, I built a ridge for the crown spikes to rest on using 1mm beams (adhered with Extra Thin cement) layered and trimmed to at least follow the original contour of the head.
With 0.5mm plaplates, I cut knife shapes and slapped them on to the ridges.
Test paint
Used Bosny Flat Black/RJ Flat White, Bosny Metallic Silver, and Bosny River Blue. I was able to simulate a pearlescent blue effect with the Black/Silver/Blue and a glittery ivory-silver-blue with the Flat White. Like that of the Impaler, the effect is not that obvious on the still shot.
Click the thumbnail for a closer look.
This one is especially difficult to achieve, since I have to have shorter, controlled bursts with the can...
Feet and ankle mods:
Deepened the panel lines on the feet (will also do so with the rest of the kit.
Modified the rear ankle area to increase the forward bend angle.
Will do additional mods, like maybe hydraulic pistons, etc.
Deepened the panel lines on the feet (will also do so with the rest of the kit.
Modified the rear ankle area to increase the forward bend angle.
Will do additional mods, like maybe hydraulic pistons, etc.
Added articulation to the Queen's shin guard, and a few panel lines on the legs.
Added pistons on the rear ankles.
Modded the backpack.
LED placement.
Modified the shoulders.
Test fitted the legs for a "major" modification, though, since I don't have red ink, I used the wash method to do the panel lines with red enamel.
Modified the shoulders.
Test fitted the legs for a "major" modification, though, since I don't have red ink, I used the wash method to do the panel lines with red enamel.
Had to build the shin guard mods from scratch after all. The part I took from the PG got damaged real quick.
Shin guard mods done.
I also had to redo the ankle pistons. The Tamiya metal spacers were a tad difficult to work with, so I simply got two spare body/chassis locks and used them for customizing pistons.
They're not hydraulic pistons, so to speak.
Shin guard mods done.
I also had to redo the ankle pistons. The Tamiya metal spacers were a tad difficult to work with, so I simply got two spare body/chassis locks and used them for customizing pistons.
They're not hydraulic pistons, so to speak.
Done painting miscellaneous parts and Panel-lined with enamel wash.
Her Majesty's test fit. Replaced the rubber cable thingee with 2mm Wave spring (the Koto springs are black).
I noticed a few problem spots, and I'm thinking of making her transformable, if time allows it.
I noticed a few problem spots, and I'm thinking of making her transformable, if time allows it.
The head modification. Separated the "crown" for easier painting.
The crown is removable and fits snugly on the base.
prepped the Queen's tail for a major modification.
Made a few adjustments to the tail mod. At this point, I had to use
thick paper to create patterns for the tail (I seldom do, and often
just estimate what I cut).
Scratch-built a back pack attachment that connects to (instead of replaces) the stock backpack mount.
Test fit. Also made a few adjustments to the ankle pistons.
Scratch-built a back pack attachment that connects to (instead of replaces) the stock backpack mount.
Test fit. Also made a few adjustments to the ankle pistons.
The Shoulder Armor
And the tail (which was MURDER to modify, especially in bending and shaping the 0.5mm pla plates, which readily bends without heat but I had to hold into shape while the cement cures).
The Queen's head, finally painted and assembled (which was also a pain to paint, with the icicles and all). I was going to make it blue silver all throughout, but decided to make the base RED.
And the tail (which was MURDER to modify, especially in bending and shaping the 0.5mm pla plates, which readily bends without heat but I had to hold into shape while the cement cures).
The Queen's head, finally painted and assembled (which was also a pain to paint, with the icicles and all). I was going to make it blue silver all throughout, but decided to make the base RED.
The Queen needed new hands (still working on the other one though), so
I customized fully articulated HUGE manipulators using 3mm beams and
modifying her original ones to fit them in.
The thumb actually rotates 180 degrees for that fist-clenching flexibility.
I've decided to repaint the Queen's mask Red, for added contrast.
The thumb actually rotates 180 degrees for that fist-clenching flexibility.
I've decided to repaint the Queen's mask Red, for added contrast.
Extended the skirt connection to keep it from rubbing onto the tail.
I also reshaped the hand guard protrusions.
And I just can't NOT have any Red...
The forearms, assembled with the manipulators (I shot these with the prototype).
I think it was a right decision to "ditch" the prototype. The Queen's hands now look more menacing with the lateral movements. I'm still deciding whether to paint the phalanges or not, since they look fine as they are (needing only some more sanding) without paint.
And I just can't NOT have any Red...
The forearms, assembled with the manipulators (I shot these with the prototype).
I think it was a right decision to "ditch" the prototype. The Queen's hands now look more menacing with the lateral movements. I'm still deciding whether to paint the phalanges or not, since they look fine as they are (needing only some more sanding) without paint.
Modded the shield to make it look more nastily appropriate for the Queen.
Also added a swivel mount.
Also added a swivel mount.
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