Monday, July 26, 2010

Master Grade 1/100 Duel Gundam Conversion

Update!

Well, looks like my last posting caused quite a stir within some of my regular clients. LOL.

I must insist again that I'm not RETIRING. Just taking a break from doing Transformer repaintings. I have my reasons, but the most is I'm burned out. Period.

And now, here's something that I've been working on for...emmm...a year plus. Yep. That long. So being able to finish this, was a great conquest for me! And it's my first MASTER GRADE conversion.

So what's the story?
Pretty simple. The Duel Gundam (Gundam SEED series) was one of my favourite mechs. But it saddens me that Bandai never actually produced an MG kit for this guy. They came out with the usual normal grade 1/100. So, having an extra MG Strike body and a Duel 1/100 I decided to make one.

Here's the original kit. (image courtesy of dalong.net)



The process was a long one. It went through many stages. And since it was my first time doing it, all I can say is...you better make sure you think it through! I had a basic design that I wanted to do, but worked around it later to suit the concept behind this kit.

What did I want?
A Duel Gundam that actually looks like his namesake. The world Duel itself means that it is a close combat unit. The simplicity of it's main design shows that it was meant for close proximity battles. And I also wanted to show that he has been in many battles without showing any battle damage. So the idea was to have a robot that has a rough look and yet looks streamlined for combat. I included the back part of his 'Assault Shroud' armour to the hips to give him a more sturdier look. What do we get?

A very 'macho', 'rugged' looking robot...

I present my first MG'fied Duel Gundam (it has some flaws, so hope you can forgive me for that)







Armed!



I'll be planning to work on his 'Assault Shroud' armour soon. But in the meantime, I do have more Gunpla works that I'm doing. So stay tuned!

Heh...it's good to do Gunpla again...

Friday, July 16, 2010

RK Designs on break

Hello all,

As from the title I guess you should know what is the news of this posting. As of today, RK Designs will be taking a break from accepting any comission works. I'll be taking only those which I have promised to do and that should be about it.

I guess it was going to come soon. Not that I'm quitting...no, it's just taking a break from painting and building other people's robots. How long? I don't really know. It all depends on me clearing up my afterburns. Yes, after more than 4 years of doing this...from repainting to gunpla building...I've burned out. I can't feel the same feeling I had a long time ago when I first started doing this.

Why? Well, for starters a lot of it is because of my career or my day job. I need to focus on a few things that matter in my career and I think I need lot of my free time for it.

Another is for once, I would like to finish up my customs, kitbashing and Gundam model kits. I've got a ton of kits I haven't built and not to mention my personal projects that I haven't gotten to do yet. So yeah...it's time to do things for myself now.

But again no worries, those who I have promised to take your jobs...I'll still do them. But I will be only taking small sized projects which are easier and is not as time consuming and it all depends on me as well. So no promises.

And I'm clearing up most of the pending jobs that I have.

Whatever it is, please do not be alarmed. RK Designs might be taking a break, but only from comission works. There will be updates once in awhile...so I'm still here ya. So keep your eyes peeled and keep on being with us to see what we've done.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Masterpiece Sunstorm

Update!

Hey all, been kinda busy lately...but no worries, got a lot to share with you all...

First up here is a repaint of a Decepticon Seeker named Sunstorm. Heck...after all this time I still remember that my first MP that I repainted was Starscream...waaaay back in 2007...and actually it was that particular fella that jump started the whole RK Designs ball rolling.

So here I am again with a Masterpiece Transformer, and one of the Seekers. Actually it's not that I don't like repainting these series, but dear God...the amount of 'scratch-points' (parts that slide with each other or snap in) are insane!!! But as most of you should know, I love a good challenge!

So after looking for the best color scheme (and the owner provided what he wanted, Dreamwave) it was easy after that. The original mold was of Skywarp and everybody knows that SOB is black. Well, nothing like a little primer and then some base white couldn't do right?

A lot of patience and some touching up was required and not to mention I had to take a break for my own getaway holidays with my dear wife, I managed to finish it.

Masterpiece Sunstorm





Fighter mode:




Heh...funny how I'm listening to the movie TOP GUN's soundtrack right now. LOL...

Btw, here's the link to my previous masterpiece Seekers:

Masterpiece Starscream
Masterpiece Thundercracker