#proph builds

[prophbuilds]

State of the Blog – 12.2024

It’s the end of the year and I’m feeling talkative. So! Let’s look back at the last few kits and whatnot I’ve done here, take a look at what’s next and maybe make some plans on what gets done.

Now… On with the Show!

The “first” build of the year was making my ‘Totally Pro Spray Booth Mk2’. A simple cardboard box stuffed with spray booth filters powered by a simple desktop fume extractor. The unit works surprisingly well despite not seeing much action this year. Although my booth was shockingly solid, my airbrush mix was not. In the coming months, I’m going to give it a better test of air sucking power and use my rattle can paints. It’s not how I wanted the setup used (Never been a big fan of spray painting indoors) but it’s the option I have left if I want to get my mods done without waiting ‘till the weather is both warm and not windy. -.-

The next build was one of the two HG Catsith kits I got during my test of the Buyee proxy service. As I stated back then, this was my Dream Gets – an Unobtainium kit that rarely ever popped up Stateside for anywhere close to retail price – and I had somehow found a listing for Two of them. The kit is still shockingly tight despite using it to help figure out poses for artwork. I also have not given up on my plans to build a modded version using the other copy I got. I’m still working out the details but I’m leaning toward a cold weather kit styled after some of the concept artwork with a few extras tossed in for good measure. These things 100% look like I could make a bear out of it and I Think that’s what I’m going to do.

The last build was me Finally finishing off the MGSD Freedom kit. That thing kinda’ killed me, honestly. The results of a hurt shoulder and my back disliking life, I got a very solid little kit. The MGSD Freedom has some seriously tight joints that are… worrisome. Say what you will about polycaps and how sloppy they are, the sheer amount of plastic on plastic friction in this kit makes me think I’m going to have to just put it in a pose and just sorta’ leave it like that. Or use a dab of grease and hope that doesn’t send things All the way in the other direction.

Now, you Might have noticed that – on the Spray Booth – I said it was the “First” build. Well… not exactly. Turns out I did a write-up for the HG Gundvolva that never made it up here. I’ve corrected that mistake and I'm going to see if I can somehow fudge it with the dates here to get it in the right order at some point.

So what’s the future look like for the ol’ Build Blog?

That’s the question, honestly. While cleaning things the past week, I kept on running into the same thing: I have a backlog that Needs to be burnt through yet I just got in a new RX-78, a whole set of stands and the MG Freedom as an Xmas gift. It keeps filling up. I also just went through and consolidated a bunch of my Backlog shelf to see just what and how much I actually have left to build. I have five active mod projects in with all the Straight Builds that I need to paint up and finish out in some way/shape/form.

I’m thinking about making a plan to get at least six Straight Builds done this year. It’s not much by any means but it’s two more kits than I finished off this year. I'm not going to count any Mods I complete as those are very much dependent on me finding the time to put in work beyond clipping the parts and snapping things up.

I also want to review some more extras. I still haven’t done anything with the 30 Minute Missions Hand set I got. Mostly ‘cause I never finished the mods on the Gundvolva – one of the main reasons I got them. I also never did a write-up for the Builder Parts Blade kit. Again, another one I got for the Gundvolva mod with plans to do a review after I got the mod finished. The one I can do immediately is the White Base MS Hanger set. I might even set that as the last “Build" for this year.

In a way, I also want to get that Gundvolva done. It’s not a terribly complicated mod by any means. It needs paint. That’s the whole “Use my rattle cans” comment earlier. I have some parts that need to be primed and get a coat of either black or something dark. I might even try some Gundam markers if I can find a set at a decent price.

So that’s about it on this “State of the Blog” post. Here’s hoping I can get through more of my Backlog without adding Too much to it next year. = )

[prophbuilds]

Mission Statement (or “Hey, Proph... Why are you making yet another Tumblr blog?”)

If you know me - if you’re reading this, chances are you do - then you know I like to separate my things out for both myself and others. That’s why I have my Main Blog (a catch-all) and my Art Blog (exclusively filled with finished pieces and some extra info). As you can gather from the title of this one, this will be my Build Blog.

What’s a Build Blog?

Simple. This will be where I drop info on my various Gunpla and other kit builds. I’ve been making these models for a long time and I’ve done my a good number of posts over on my Main. Since I don’t necessarily do these very often, those posts are effectively buried by my usual foolishness. Like with my Art Blog, this will help keep my Build posts from fading into obscurity.

What’s Gunpla?

Gunpla is short for Gundam Plastic Model. Along those lines, there’s Pokepla (Pokemon Plastic Model) and Plamo (Plastic Model). It’s simply shorthand for the particular model kits I generally like to build and mess with.

What’s with those HG, MG & SD tags?

These are “Grades” - or types - of Gunpla. HG (High Grade) is meant to be 1/144th scale compared to the size of the fictional machines. MG (Master Grade) tends to be 1/100th scale. SD (Super Deformed) and the SDCS (Super Deformed Cross Silhouette) line is the one grade that I build that has no real equivalent as they’re done in generally smaller scale with a focus on making the kits look cute.

One that may come up is “Non-Scale”. Pokepla tends to be non-scale as the critters in the games range from just as small as the finished kits all the way up to like 325ft. They can’t scale so they’re effectively Non-Scale.

What’s a Straight Build?

A Straight Build is what it says on the tin (or box in this case). This would be a straight up by-the-book build. No cutting, adding, painting or otherwise changing things. I use all the stickers. I don’t go in and change things beyond maybe cleaning up nub marks or scars from me clipping it with my tools.

What’s with all the weird poses?

Something I like to say is you should have fun with your stuff. No matter how you slice it, these are toys. Specifically, the kits I build are meant to be toys. I know many folks like to build and place their kits on display on a shelf but that’s not how I usually roll. That said, the more recent pics I’ll post here will have one or more SDCS figures in the background or directly interacting with my in-progress builds. It’s my way of having a little fun with my desk toys. = )

- -- - -- ~ -- - -- -

And that’s about it for this little intro post. What I’ll do while I work on things is dig up and reblog some of my ancient builds here from my Main Blog. Back in those days, everything was fairly rough and done with a not-so-great camera on my phone so temper your expectations on presentation. My current stuff isn’t done much better but my equipment is better and I’ve learned a thing or two about color correction.

I can’t say what the first actually “New” build here will be here but I do know I have an unhealthy amount of kits in need of building.

Lastly, I will be doing stuff like item reviews and answering any questions I think is worth answering here. This isn’t a “Professional” project by any means. It’s just a chill thing to help move my Gunpla and model kit stuff off my Main Blog and onto someplace they’re less likely to disappear. = )

~EKA