Here’s Spike’s SWORDFISH II from Cowboy Bebop in 1/72 from Bandai. It’s quite a good kit, but you basically have to paint just about everything before putting it together.
I built and painted it quickly in 1 weekend, so some shortcuts were taken - ie some seams in less noticeable spots. I added a couple of bits and pieces, including the exhaust grille.
I picked this up in Akiba last year, but I believe Bandai have just re-released it. This oddball fighter has elements of WWI and WWII craft, with a crazy retro-futurist design execution I have not seen anywhere else. Spike’s ride should really be a bit more weathered than this, but I was reasonably satisfied with the result.
Neat looking little gizmo. But you confused me when you said - “…but you basically have to paint just about everything before putting it together.”
I dont have any kits that dont require painting before, during and after assembly. Am I missing something?
Most kits I’ve put together you could break down into a few sub-assemblies, and paint them before assembly. This had a lot more ‘sub assemblies’ than I was used to…
No. Joke. Almost every small part has to be complete before you even begin to assemble it. Of course that leads to other problems w/ masking and painting [#dots]
I’ve had that kit since the first mold run. It’s been sitting in the closet, half assembled, for almost 4 years now.
Makes me glad to see you were able to get such a good build up out of it. I particularly like the dark metallic color on the engine and gun. Maybe you’ve even inspired me to pull mine out and finish it.
Any assembly tips? How did you handle those little holes in the rear of the wings (shadowed in the pics) or the seamage on the bottom of the gun, where that cylinder shape runs perpendicular?
Model Master metallizer, with lots of buffing to bring up the luster produces a great result, but doesn’t photograph well. I also wet/drybrushed some metallic pigment powder.
Unfortunately I did not deal with the little holes at all, very well, as it was a quik build. Since this image I have actually painted those inset areas flat black so that unless you look up close, you can’t see a seam. Worked for me! As for the bottom of the gun, just lots of putty, Mr Surfacer, and lots and lots of light sanding. I can’t really give any more assembly tips, just be patient in assembling anything until close to the end… I’d hope to see yours complete sometime soon!
Actually, you really helped me w/ mine. After we exchanged posts, I went and looked at mine, and it wasn’t as bad as I remembered. I also had the idea to drop some MSG/Kotobukia ‘burner nozzles’ into those little holes. They fit perfectly, like they were made to go there.
I also filled the seams w/ Mr Surfacer, a product I had only recently become aware of. Again, worked like a wish fufilled.
So yeah, I really appreciate you posting your pictures. Helped me bust right on through a modeling block. Thanks. [8D]
John P:
Yeah, that was my other problem. I can get so anal-retentive about getting a kit perfect, that sometimes it stops being fun to build and I lose interest in it. I’ve decided that an ‘in flight’ model will be just the ticket. Now, if I can only figure out where to drill the hole for the brass rod…
…and if we could get David / PLU1 to post some pix of his work, it’d be all good! [;)]
