#gbwc2016

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Watching the GBWC award ceremony live with @00gundamreviewsv2 on my projector. Good luck, everyone! #gbwc2016 #gunpla #ガンプラ #ガンダム #gunpla #gunplabuildersworldcup

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GBWC 2016: NYCC Entries

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Bandai Award

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Eli Milan Dagal Gonzales

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Miguel Sumoza

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Jing Xie

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Best Large Scale

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Best of Show

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Best Small Scale

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Blue Destiny

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Bluefin Favorite

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Display Only

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Display Only 

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Ulrich Rustungjager

GBWC - NYCC - Johany Conde

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Carlo Caragay

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - GRIMGERDE

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Alex Delseni

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Adalberto Rodriguez

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Zhiming Gao

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Joshua Frazier

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Mark Anthony Cadawas

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Andrew Yeung

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Steven K Chow

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Anthony Albaledejo

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Connor Orsi

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Mohan Aaron Bayona

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - WINTER CAMO DUO

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Poh Ngean Loo

GBWC 2016 - NYCC - Britt Rawcliffe

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GBWC 2016: Otakon Entries

GBWC 2016 - Otakon - Best of show

GBWC 2016 - Otakon - Best Large Scale

GBWC 2016 - Otakon - Best Small Scale

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GBWC 2016: Interview #18

It’s Friday! And what better way to start the weekend then with an interview with another one of our winners from the GBWC. Today’s interview is with Charlie Shappell, winner of Otakon Best Large Scale.

How did you first get into Gunpla? How long have you been building?

I first got into Gunpla back when Gundam Wing first aired in the United States which was quite a while ago back then I didn't do anything more then snap fit the models and just played with them as though they were action figures. Back then I only knew of the Gundam Wing series so I only had those models. I stopped building them after I fell out of my love for Gundam since Wing was the only series that originally did well in the USA. I started watching more and more anime and ended up watching all the other Gundam series as I got older. I started building seriously about 2 ½ years ago when I walked into a Barnes and Noble with my wife and saw they sold the models, I bought one and was hooked again.

What was the inspiration for your entry? Could you tell us about your concept?

The inspiration for this kit actually came to me from a design I found on Pinterest (a place I tend to find quite a bit of inspiration for my kits as well as unique ideas). The design I later found out was basically a full size or real size redesign of the SD Musha Crossbone X-1. Now the design was what I based my model off of but I did not replicate it completely mainly because certain parts like the V-Fin and such were beyond my current building skills. The concept was actually a last minute change to be honest, I originally designed the kit to be a diorama of a Japanese traditional gate and the Gundam standing with a sheathed sword on the ground in front of it. The design was nixxed because the sword I scratch built ended up being to large so I actually took the weapon from an MG Shin Musha and re painted it to use with the Musha Crossbone. The bamboo was also a last minute decision as well as the grass, all the bamboo though was made from plastic tubing and ground up with a Dremel, scored, then painted to imitate bamboo. Since a lot of people asked me if it was real I guess I did a good job imitating it.

Is there a style or theme or signature type of build that defines you?  What is it?

I personally don't know if there is I mean I'm sure a lot of my fellow modelers that see my builds could pick out something but I just can't myself. I have done kits that were completely off the wall paint jobs, realistic repaints in original colors as well as custom built kits just for fun. I would say my signature is just pushing the envelope I like to push myself as a builder and really show what amazing things can be done with this hobby.

What was the build process like? Did you use any unconventional materials or techniques?

The build process was very long and arduous there was a lot more masking on this kit then I have ever done on previous kits that is for sure. I used a lot of paints that I have used in the past and made sure that I went the extra mile to prep all the surfaces and I have now adopted that process for all of my current projects. This kit also had a ton of scratch built components to it like the V-fin, the shoulder armor, the stacked plates on the waist as well as the added plate details on some of the other pieces of armor. As for unconventional materials yes I did use one in particular all the roping details on the kit are actually different gauge wire I bought that is used for jewelry making I then bent it to shape and painted it to the proper color.

What part of building (in general) do you enjoy the most?

I would probably say the most enjoyable parts of the building process for me are the design concept, picking my paints, and the actual painting. I can't stand the sanding, prepping, and seam line sealing but I know that is a very crucial part of the the building process I just feel like it saps most of my energy while building. If there was a way I could get a model prepped and cut out and all I had to do was paint it I would be golden, but since that doesn't happen I learned how to prepare a model so my paint looks even better.

What’s your favorite Gundam series? Favorite mobile suit?

If you would have asked me this question about a year or so ago I probably would have said my favorite series is Gundam 00, but now I absolutely love the After War Gundam X series. The plot of that series was so well done and was amazing to watch despite it being quite a bit older. Now, as for my favorite mobile suit that I have multiple answers in the Gundam category I would say Gundam 00, Gundam Double X, and Gundam Heavyarms. In the non-Gundam category I would say the Hy-Gogg, Kampfer, and the Powered GM.

Anything else you’d like to say? Any interesting facts?

Well I would like to say thank you to Bluefin especially for giving us the opportunity to compete in this competition. Also, I am a person that is trying to start producing tutorial videos and hopefully seminars about gunpla, and model building in general I have actually already done a seminar at a local Barnes and Noble during their Mini Maker's Faire and have changed a lot of parent's minds about these models since most people don't realize that they do not require glue or paint. That little known fact is something that parents in particular find very appealing since they don't want to have to clean up glue or paint after their young child who wants to build. As always to everyone out there keep building, keep pushing yourself and have confidence in yourself. Criticism is fine just always take any of it as constructive.

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GBWC 2016: Interview #17

Thank you again and again to all the participants in the GBWC. We get more and more amazed with every entry and it was a definite honor to have a deeper look with the winner of Best in Show at NYCC, Tim Harkins! His entry “MSZ-006C1 (BST) Zeta Plus C1 "Hummingbird" was a real showstopper! Let’s take a look!

How did you first get into Gunpla? How long have you been building?

Like many American modelers, I was introduced to Gunpla by watching Gundam Wing on Cartoon Network back in 2000. I was randomly channel surfing and came upon this amazing animated robot fight and the rest, as they say, is history.

What was the inspiration for your entry? Could you tell us about your concept?

The main inspiration was the amazing mech designer Hajime Katoki’s original Hummingbird artwork. I’m a huge Katoki fan-boy and the Zeta+ and Hummingbird variant have always been my favorites. The concept for my rendition was to have a more refined version of the Hummingbird that could take a little more damage if need be. The original Hummingbird is a bit light on armor, especially around the shoulders and legs, so my version has more protection in those areas. In the canon story, the Hummingbird was originally an escort unit for the Deepstriker, but after that plan was scrapped, so was the Hummingbird. In my little backstory, the development for the Hummingbird continued in secret and it went on to be used as a fast-attack unit, cleaning up the remnants of Zeon/Neo-Zeon and the New Decides.

Is there a style or theme or signature type of build that defines you?  What is it?

I’m a very technical builder. I like angles and rigidity, and I try to think about practicality when I build. I imagine what the unit would be like in real life and build around that. Again the work of Hajime Katoki is a huge inspiration here. His original book Gundam Fix, where he creates artwork of Gundam units in a more “real world” style was a massive influence in how I develop my own style.

What was the build process like? Did you use any unconventional materials or techniques?

This build took around 4 years of trial and error. There were a lot of technical hurdles I had to tackle that made this build a complex one. The final products has been built and re-built a few times over to get everything to fit just right. I wanted the Hummingbird to showcase all of my skill sets, so there’s a lot of scratch building. The base, which I’m particularly proud of, is 100% scratch built from Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), plastic sheet, and detail parts. I also incorporated several resin cast pieces that I first scratch built, then molded and casted to create multiple copies. I used vacuforming to create the armor overlays on the back skirt as well.

What part of building (in general) do you enjoy the most?

I enjoy building itself. Before the sanding and painting and all, I enjoy working with the plastic to create new shapes or customize something in a way that nobody else has done it. It’s similar to sculpting in a way. You make the plastic bend and conform to your will to create something amazing.

What’s your favorite Gundam series? Favorite mobile suit?

To choose one Gundam series is really difficult. I’d say it’s a tossup between 8th MS Team, Char’s Counterattack, and Gundam Unicorn, but if that included side stories and manga, I’d have to say Gundam Sentinel hands down. My favorite mobile suit is an easy one; it’s the Zeta+ C1 variant.

Anything else you’d like to say? Any interesting facts?

I’d like to thank Bandai and Bluefin for allowing me to compete and I’m humbled by being selected as Best of Show at NYCC. Over the course of my 15+ years in this hobby, I’ve had the privilege of meeting and interacting with some truly amazing people. Some live pretty close to me, others live across the country, while others live on the other side of the world. None of those interactions would have been possible without Gunpla. Gunpla, to me, is much more than a hobby. It’s a passion to create something amazing out of a bunch of plastic pieces. It’s about creating art and I’m truly grateful to all of those who made this possible.

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