Guidelines and Rules

[Lee]

This is a non-ISM Special Interest Group build.

There will be one or more prizes awarded depending upon participation (see below).

At ISM our ethos is that it doesn't matter what you build or how it turns out, as long as you enjoyed the journey. Basically what this means is that the more you share your information, the better the benefit to the modelling community, which in turn benefits every one of us. So, it doesn't matter if you're all thumbs, just started modelling last week, or can't achieve an exact replica of the subject you're building, we want to see that you've enjoyed the journey to the end result, no matter how it's turned out and most importantly, that you've had FUN getting there.....

Special interest group builds are great fun and gets a committed few working together towards the same goal and helps to get modellers out of their usual comfort zone and try something else whilst sharing their tips and techniques with the whole community. If you've never entered one before, don't be shy and have a go, we'd love to see your work....

Winter Gunpla/Robot/Mecha Special Interest Group Build Guidelines – PLEASE READ

Objective: Build and share any plastic or resin kit of any robot or mecha from any film, television program, comic/manga, or tabletop war game series. This could be any machine from, but not limited to:

-- Armored Core
-- Frame Arms
-- Macross (but it needs to have legs, no jet fighters!)
-- Maschinen Krieger (Ma.K)
-- Mechatro
-- Mobile Suit Gundam (any series)
-- Muv-Luv
-- Patlabor
-- Wahammer 40k
-- Zoids
* Imperial Walkers from Star Wars are acceptable, but not aircraft or Storm Troopers, etc.

Winter Gunpla/Robot/Mecha Guidelines...

- Any plastic or resin Gundam, robot, or mecha kit.
- Any kit manufacturer.
- Any scale.
- Anyone may join, no skill requirement, no kit complexity minimum.
- No restrictions on aftermarket products (decals, PE, etc.) or additional material.
- Scratch building is allowed.
- You may enter as many times as you like, build as many kits as you like.
- All kits must be not be started prior to the start date - no exceptions (damaged while in transit sprue parts are allowed).
- All entries must have a build thread in this SiG forum area for the entry to be valid.
- A progressive build thread must be posted - which must include sprue and box shots, regular picture and/or video updates with comments on hints & tips - by sharing your build progress others can learn.
- You must provide a minimum of three still photographs (as well as any video) as part of your final reveal.

Have FUN

If you're not sure of anything regarding the guidelines or the build in general (including advice on chosing a kit), then please PM Lysus for help. If you need further assistance with the forum, contact Les, GB Team Leader.

Duration: 4 months (18 1/2 weeks)
Start date: Wednesday 21st December, 2016
Finish date: Monday 1st May, 2017 at midnight GMT.

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded after the end of the build based upon the number of FINISHED builds (reveal threads). The winner(s) will be chosen by random selection via an online random number generator on Tuesday, May 2nd, meaning anyone who finishes will have a chance to win! The size of the prize will be determined by the number of finished builds; the more there are, the bigger it will be!

-- If there are 10 or more finished builds, one winner will have their choice of Bandai Action Bases, either the 1/144 Base 2 or the 1/100 Base 1:



If there are 20 or more finished builds, one winner will be chosen for the Bandai Action Base of their choice, and one ADDITIONAL winner will receive a Bandai HGUC RX-178 Gundam Mk-II (Titans):



If there are 30 or more finished builds, one winner will be chosen for the Bandai Action Base of their choice, and one ADDITIONAL winner will receive a 1/100 scale Bandai Gundam kit to be determined in place of the 1/144 kit. If we reach 25 finishes, Lysus will announce what this will be.

Prizes will be chosen by the SiG owner via random number generator and his decision is final. Note that if there are multpile prizes in play, winning the first prize draw does NOT disqualify you from winning the second prize draw.

Good luck people

[Lee]

Are the Bandai Star Wars figures allowed?

[Paul]

Are the Bandai Star Wars figures allowed?

Reading the rules you just put up, no lol

Unless its C3P0 or r2d2 or the like i guess

[Lysus]

Are the Bandai Star Wars figures allowed?

Reading the rules you just put up, no lol

Unless its C3P0 or r2d2 or the like i guess

* Imperial Walkers from Star Wars are acceptable, but not aircraft or Storm Troopers, etc.

I know you wanna do that Death Trooper while you move, but rules is rules

Thanks for the swift set-up, gents!

[Lee]

Are the Bandai Star Wars figures allowed?

Reading the rules you just put up, no lol

Unless its C3P0 or r2d2 or the like i guess

I ain't got time to read - To busy painting houses and creating SiG forums

* Imperial Walkers from Star Wars are acceptable, but not aircraft or Storm Troopers, etc.

I know you wanna do that Death Trooper while you move, but rules is rules

Thanks for the swift set-up, gents!

De nada

[Twokidsnosleep]

Hmmm, R2 is beeping at me from the closet...I may have to muzzle the bugger NO TIME!!!!

[Lysus]

Hmmm, R2 is beeping at me from the closet...I may have to muzzle the bugger NO TIME!!!!

All you guys moving house...I'm starting to feel left out!

[Astaroth]

Hey, I'll be moving, too. The question is, will I finish my entry in the current or the new house.

[Astaroth]

By the way, I will be building the Astaroth Origin ... when it arrives from Japan.

[Lysus]

Such a cool looking kit...

[Skullfish]

By the way, I will be building the Astaroth Origin ... when it arrives from Japan.

Astaroth that Astaroth looks mean.!!

[LM951]

Can't wait to start my Eva! Glad now that I saved it. This will officially be my first GB!

[DBMiller]

Great, just when I had decided to limit my entries to what I can actually finish, I have something I could build for this! Oh, well, It's long enough that I could maybe fit it in...

[Astaroth]

Great, just when I had decided to limit my entries to what I can actually finish, I have something I could build for this! Oh, well, It's long enough that I could maybe fit it in...

There's no "maybe" in "Yes, I'll definitely join in on this one"

[DBMiller]

Great, just when I had decided to limit my entries to what I can actually finish, I have something I could build for this! Oh, well, It's long enough that I could maybe fit it in...

There's no "maybe" in "Yes, I'll definitely join in on this one"

Don't try to frighten me with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Astaroth.

[Lysus]

Great, just when I had decided to limit my entries to what I can actually finish, I have something I could build for this! Oh, well, It's long enough that I could maybe fit it in...

There's no "maybe" in "Yes, I'll definitely join in on this one"

Don't try to frighten me with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Astaroth.

The next bit is where he force chokes you, be cautious, DB.

[Astaroth]

There's no "maybe" in "Yes, I'll definitely join in on this one"

Don't try to frighten me with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Astaroth.

The next bit is where he force chokes you, be cautious, DB.

I won't ... except when people do not join this SiG.

[kiwigav]

Ok robot builders you might like the last video I posted in this thread

http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 10&t=21102

[kiwigav]

Ok my friends...I need some sugesstions.

I am keen on really getting into this type of genre, but dont know where to start. I am looking to build kits that are weathered worn battle scared etc if you know what I mean. Not so much the clean looking bots etc. Any suggestions on what series or line of kits to look at and best sites to get them.

I may not get anything in time for this SIg but want to build anyway...Santa still got my credit card

[Lysus]

Ok my friends...I need some sugesstions.

I am keen on really getting into this type of genre, but dont know where to start. I am looking to build kits that are weathered worn battle scared etc if you know what I mean. Not so much the clean looking bots etc. Any suggestions on what series or line of kits to look at and best sites to get them.

I may not get anything in time for this SIg but want to build anyway...Santa still got my credit card

Well, you can paint them up any way you like, really. It's all up to you. The mantra of Gundam at least is "Gunpla is freedom," meaning you do whatever you want. This pretty much extends to any robot build. I mean, it's not like you can look to a Time magazine photo of the One Year War in outer space for real weathering on robots.

Sure, you can get caught up in recreating something from the shows or movies, but it's all what makes you happy.

That out of the way, have a look at the guide I wrote: http://www.intscalemodeller.com/viewtop ... 63&t=18941

It's a little bloated and in need of editing. I couldn't quite button this one up before life got a hold of me again and made me busy. But it's a start in terms of some lingo and a general sense of what is out there. One thing I need to add to it is dalong.net: http://www.dalong.net/

It's Korean, but as you look through the tabs for the different series you'll see links at the tops for English translations. (They also translate the manuals from time to time, but you can't count on it for every kit). It's great if you want to get a sense of the general aesthetic for each series as they differ. If you're used to AFV or Star Wars weathering, then I'd suggest anything from the Universal Century, specifically the Zeon Mobile Suits as they draw from German designs and feature some great surfaces for adding detail/wear and tear.

Before I throw out some suggestions, here's a brief rundown on the prices/grades:

High Grade (HG) 1/144 scale: The cheapest of the lines, HG can get you in for as little as $10 USD and are released throughout the year for the last 17 years. Most are 5" to 7" tall and have decent articulation and detail. They are numbered (up to 200 so far) and the newer the better.

Real Grade (RG) 1/144 scale: The same size as the HG, these are more complex and possess an inner frame (an endoskelleton the armor is hung on). They will have good articulation and gimmicks, but start around $20 USD and up.

Master Grade (MG) 1/100 scale: These will be 7" to 9" tall and have an inner frame as well as (usually) superb articulation and detail. They might even come with decals and dry transfer instead of just stickers. They run $30-100 USD depending upon the kit. For an experienced modeler, these aren't so bad a place to start but for the price.

Perfect Grade (PG) 1/60 scale: Roughly 12" tall, these are the top of the line. There aren't that many, and they start close to $100 USD with most being closer to $150-200. Cool as they are, they aren't "toe dipping" territory.

If you want to beat one up with weathering, again, anything is fair game, but I think the following can look best:

Any Zaku II:



Geara Doga:



Any Gundam, realyy. The Ez-8 for example:



And you can load them up with as much scratch build as you dare. Make them a 50 foot tall zimmerit monster:



I guess I'd ask what you prefer, sleek? Brutish? Somewhere in the middle? Then look at the budget/availability. HG are cheap, but can be a tad small if you like to go whole hog with detail.

Thoughts?

[chairman316]

i have never built a gundam kit before looking foward to it

[Lysus]

Hey there, just one month to go and I've decided to change things up a tad. Please see below:

Prizes

Prizes will be awarded after the end of the build based upon the number of FINISHED builds (reveal threads). The winner(s) will be chosen by random selection via an online random number generator on Tuesday, May 2nd, meaning anyone who finishes will have a chance to win! The size of the prize will be determined by the number of finished builds; the more there are, the bigger it will be!

-- If there are 10 or more finished builds, one winner will have their choice of Bandai Action Bases, either the 1/144 Base 2 or the 1/100 Base 1 or one winner will be chosen for the Bandai Action Base of their choice, and one ADDITIONAL winner will receive a Bandai HGUC RX-178 Gundam Mk-II (Titans):

:



If there are 20 or more finished builds, one winner will be chosen for a MYSTERY PRIZE in addition to the above! This will be a 1/100 scale kit.

Prizes will be chosen by the SiG owner via random number generator and his decision is final. Note that if there are multpile prizes in play, winning the first prize draw does NOT disqualify you from winning the second prize draw.