Codename: MG Not-Nu WIP #1

I'm sure someone out there is getting super annoyed with right now for starting work on a fourth entry into the GB. There really is an honest reason for it, I promise.

While at this point 00 Nightmare (the 00 based Quadruped) isn't done yet, it needs paint and even more filling, filing and sanding before it will be ready to roll. The thing about the units I built up for Team Night Warriors is that they are hopelessly unbalanced in a one versus one setting. The Astrea DA has only short range weapons, 00 Nightmare has only long range weapons and the only slightly balanced unit the Quanta Blood Moon is specialized for supporting the other two.

That all said I'm quite pleased with how they turned out and/or are currently coming along, but I won't be using any of the three of them for the final tournament phase.

Instead I've got this lovely MG Hi-Nu that has been gathering dust don't worry it isn't the new one, the new Ver. Ka is the very reason it has been gathering dust at this point. I have decided to use this Group Build as an opportunity to do something that is hopefully pretty cool with it.

Time to start talking plans, as of now it's development codename is "Not-Nu" a Nu Gundam not for new-type use, I stripped the funnels and all of the associated psycommu nonsense after all I'm not a new-type how am I supposed to use any of that through my gunpla? It seems as though funnels need to be controlled individually by the fighter so those seem more of distraction than of any help, so no funnels.

Stripped

We've been having on again off again discussion throughout the forum, about certain gunpla having excessively OP abilities. With no way to actually prove they could do something like that. So my thoughts go to the basic parameters of how an MS performs, you've got weight, propulsive force, reactor output, sensor range  and finally armaments.

But, for others to actually believe that you have made improvements in those areas there has to some way to make a representative visual change to the Gunpla. The loss of Not-Nu's bazooka, psycommu, funnels and periphery were a good start to its weight loss program. Adding larger propellent tanks to fuel an array of verniers and a shield booster will push up it's propulsive force (acceleration and top speed).

Propellent Tanks

The idea for a shield booster came in a fit of inspiration from the Hi-Nu Vrabe and then from all things AoZ (for the good stuff). On a side not the moulded in blocky pattern is leaving.

Shield Booster

Notably the shield booster is still missing the all important booster part of the equation, but that will come. Any suggestions for cool names, because I'm still tapped out??

Mobile Suit Model Numbers in the Early UC Timeline

There is some sort of pattern to it

If it is a Federation MS like Gundam (RX-78-2) or a GM (RGM-79) or the Marasai (RMS-108) it typically starts with "R".
Within the Federation MS model numbers there are other codes as well:
-The "GM" in RGM-79 is for General Mass Production
-The "X" in RX-78-2 usually implies a prototype unit
-The "MS" in RMS-106 Hizack or implies a Zeon based unit or in other words a Monoeye.
-The "B" is for Ball as in RB-79 Ball and its variants.
-The Jupitris has its own code "PMX" as in the PMX-003 The O, the "X" is again for prototype units
-"_RX" (any letter followed by RX), is usually a prototype transformable unit like the ORX-005 Gaplant or MRX-009 Psyco Gundam.
-"RGZ" is for Zeta Transformable type like RGZ-95 ReZel and RGZ-91 Re-GZ.


Zeon usually had simply "MS" for Mobile Suit (MS-09 Dom).
There are plenty of variations of this:
-Amphibious units add an "M" to the end for an "MSM" designator like MSM-07 Z'Gok, likely "M" is for Mariner.
-Trial machines are labelled with a "Y" at the beginning as in YMS-15 Gyan or YMS-14 Gelgoog (later MS-14A after passing trials).
-Newtype-use add an "N" to the end as in MSN-02 Zeong
-The Mobile Armours are typically labelled "MA", like MA-05 Bigro, adding an "X" is for prototypes like MAX-03 Adzam, or adding an "N" is for Newtype-use like MAN-08 Elmeth


AEUG follows the same trend as Zeon but always adds a third letter "MS_"
-"K" is for Karaba MSK-008 Dijeh
-"Z" is for Zeta transformable type, as in MSZ-006 Zeta or MSZ-010 ZZ
-"A" is for AEUG as in MSA-003 Nemo and MSA-005 Methuss


Axis
-"AMX" for general purpose Mobile suits like AMX-011 Zaku III or AMX-009 Dreissen
-"AMA" for Mobile Armours like AMA-01X Jamru Fin


Neo Zeon
-"AMS" for general purpose Mobile suits like AMS-129 Geara Zulu
-"NZ" for custom Neo-Zeon units like NZ-000 Quenn Mansa, and  NZ-333 Alpha Azieru
-"MSN" is reused frequently same line as started with Zeon, MSN-04 Sazabi


That is pretty much it in summary, there are of course many exceptions and a few that just don't fit the pattern. I only covered early UC, because for the most part the AU series and late UC are actually much more consistent and thus far easier to follow.

HG 00 Nightmare Quadruped WIP #5

I've been filling in the holes with some putty and sanding a lot.

Back pack section

Chest section

Cockpit section

Missile pods

New fists

Seamline removal

Assembled as is

HG 00 Nightmare Quadruped WIP #4

Slowed down for a bit to finish up on MG Marasai, but I have made a little bit of progress in the past few days.

I have removed the seam line from the cockpit section.

I've done a bit more more work on the chest block bulking it up a bit to match the rest of the MS.

The backpack got widened a little bit to accommodate the transformation and adjusted it to be a little be higher on the torso to so the cannons get a better angle over the shoulders.

Assembled as is.

Completed Kits #10: MG Marasai Ver. War

I guess this is the first completed kit of the year for me, I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. I unknowingly painted it in Zaku III colours, I used spray cans (Krylon) for the most part, Pewter Grey for lighter shade, and Smoke Grey for the darker, with a bit of Banner Red and Oil Rubbed Bronze to round things out.

You can see all of the photos in the Google+ Album.

MG Marasai Ver.War WIP #4

Updated photos for the MG Marasai with better lighting.

MG Marasai Ver. War WIP #3

Finished up with painting today so there were a few light grey bits left to do and all of the darker grey parts to be painted, plus the gun.

Arms

Legs

Chest Section

Shield

Head

Gun

I think I still need a round of flat, I suspect I'm going to need to make time to hit up the hobby shop to get some more. As is it's pretty much done.