MG Heavyarms EW WIP (Part 1)

Now that I have more vacant time compared last month, it only means one thing.....I can already paint my Master Grade Heavyarms EW!!! :) I've already seen a lot of blog posts showing their paint customization job on their MG Heavyarms and I admit that I envy them. I really love their artwork. How I wish that I could do the same to mine especially that this is one of the coolest model kit released.

I have already some plans on my mind on what kind of approach I am going to apply to Heavyarms different parts. I just hope that the execution and outcome will be awesome. Well here goes.....

First I diassembled all the parts and grouped them according to their color scheme. I also sub-divided the grey parts based on the tone that I'm planning to give them.

I painted most of the grey parts with Alclad II magnesium using an airbrush. Just like the previous one, I am so satisfied with the outcome of Alclad paints. However since I'm trying to save paint (since Alclad paints are expensive) I did not paint the whole grey parts. I just painted the parts that will be exposed and let the hidden ones unpainted.

grey parts being painted with Alclad magnesium

missile pods waiting to dry after painting

For some grey parts like the circles on the knee and ankle, I first painted it with Tamiya X-1 gloss black and then with Alclad magnesium. I also gave it a top coat of Tamiya TS-65 pearl clear to give it a shiny look.

I also made some modifications on the cream/white parts like the vents and the ones under Heavyarms shoulders. I painted it with Tamiya X-32 titanium silver to have a contrast. I also did the same to its sliding part on the legs.

For the body, I changed the grey parts around it by using Tamiya XF-53 neutral grey. On the other hand, I already like the color of the orange parts so I just sprayed it with RJ metallic clear and top coated with RJ dull lacquer.

For all the missiles/warheads, I painted it with Tamiya XF-16 flat aluminum and highlighted its panel line with a red gundam marker. I'm so happy with the result...excellent! While for the parts that serves as base of the missiles, I simply painted them with Tamiya gloss black and dull lacquer.

To emphasize Heavyarms' vulcans, I dry brushed them with Tamiya titanium silver after painting with Alclad magnesium. I did the same thing on the guns on his chest.

Here is the over all look of my MG Heavyarms EW as of the moment.

I have to deal with the red and white parts next, as well as the remaining orange parts. I hope I'll finish everything before the month ends. ^__^

Testing Alclad II Paints

It's been a while since my last post. It's because I have been busy doing my project for our training program in our office. Now that I'm done with that...it's back to business now with my passion. lol

I usually use Tamiya acrylic paints in painting my gundams. But I guess they lack some shades of color when it comes to metals. If I'm not mistaken the only color they have is gun metal. I often use Tamiya gun metal color in painting the inner frame of the gundam kit. Actually I prefer Gunze Sangyo acquaeous steel than Tamiya gun metal, but sad to say it's supply here in the Philippines is really limited and really hard to purchase. I would really love to try other shades of metal colors like steel, aluminum, and stainless.

Good thing I have a friend who has other brand of paints..and I'm talking about Alclad II. That's what he usually use in painting his transformers toys, and I find the result really amazing and realistic! Alclad is not available in our country. Good thing he has stocks of it with variety of colors. My friend (Xavier) offered me if I want to buy some of it so that I could try it. At first I was hesitating because it's really expensive compare to Tamiya..almost four times the price. Eventhough it's also about four times its quantity, I have a feeling that it will be consumed fast because its a lacquer and no need to add thinner. However, I still bought two colors from him...magnesium and stainless steel.

Alclad magnesium & stainless steel

I'm planning to use both of them on my MG Heavyarms but I don't know the real outcome of it when painted and I also don't want to waste every single drop of it. So I decided to try it first on Heavyarms's army knife. I wanna test the approach that Xavier taught me in using the said paints. I'm planning to use the magnesium on the army knife's attachment to the arm, and stainless steel on the blade.

unpainted army knife of MG Heavyarms

For the arm attachment, I just simply sprayed the Alclad magnesium on it. No primary paint at all. The result was awesome! I could say that it's the best paint that I've tried so far. No mess..no hassle..and the output was so fine.

painted with Aclad magnesium

On the other hand, I used Tamiya gloss black for the army knife's blade as its primary paint. I sprayed several thin coats on it to have a glossy effect.

painted with Tamiya glossy black

Once totally dried, I sprayed it with thin coats of Alclad stainless steel. I just made some mists on it until I got my desired color. Below is the result.

 

However it is not advisable to touch often the painted part with Alclad stainless steel because it will cause the paint to fade. little by little and thus the black base coat will be exposed. That is really a big problem to me since I have sweaty hands, so I need to wear gloves to avoid such accident.

I could conclude that Alclad paints are awesome especially when you see for yourself it's outputs. It is quite expensive compare to other paints but in terms of the quality, you'll definitely be satisfied. As for me, I might just used it on selected parts...like the gray parts to make it more metallic and realistic. I would also love to explore its high shine paints like chrome (as well as with stainless steel) but it would be hard for me I guess since I have sweaty hands. So maybe as for now, I'll just go with it's regular paints. Maybe I will try steel next time. By the way, pictures of my finished work for MG Heavyarms' army knife are below.