One can really make something shine when effort and passion is put into it.
This is the 1/144 scale Victory Gundam 'enhanced' by a ToysDaily forum member tom0083. And yes it is a 1/144 one, not the 1/100 MG (Master Grade) ver. Ka that was released 2 months ago. This is no Master Grade, boy. No Master Grade!
According to what is said on the forum, the modeller has made a few subtle changes to the model in addition the decals for outward appearance. This includes but not limited the usage of double ball joints on the shoulder, increased height on the waist and legs, as well as added articulations.
Since the original height of Victory Gundam is supposed to be around 15.6m, this makes the 1/144 version to be a mere 10.5cm only in height!
Original gunpla box. This one is originally released way back in 1993, and that is more than 15 years ago!
In comparison with Revoltech AR-7 Arbalest and HCM-Pro Sazabi (1/200 scale)
In comparison with straight built V2 Gundam of the same scale. Victory is a bit taller than the V2 here because the modeller has increased its height on the legs (as well as on the waist).
tom0083 has implemented lighting inside ths tiny Victory Gundam: He uses a connector of some sort to complete the circuit, and hides them wires away with the chest part. Very nifty I must say!
To change batteries, he simply removed the backpack to reveal the battery that is installed inside the torso. You can see the wires that are going to the head unit.
Victory Gundam lights up!
It's a bit faint, but you can see the light at the back camera on the head too.
Even in normal lighting you can still see a bit of light coming from the Gundam's head!
If you think that the lighting within the Gundam itself is awesome already, tom0083 throws in this self-lit beam sabre. The beam effect part is removeable. With something so small I really do wonder how the wiring works there since it's independent to the Gundam itself.
Beam sabre ready...
... Activated!
The beam effect part is mixed with 2 different material, hence the difference in colour from one end to the other.
Beam shield activated with lighting too! o_O
o_o;;
My hats off to tom0083 for his passion to rework an old model into this little "masterpiece". Imagine having to install the lighting into the small torso, changing simple joints with the better ones, as well as the repaint and decals. This is no ordinary modding especially for this scale! And since I am a fan of things in 1/144 scale in general, it makes me admire his work more than people who work on, say, 1/100 MG models.
Some of you may wonder by now already: Why did he not just buy a 1/100 MG model instead in the first place? The modeller's answer is quite simple actually - he doesn't like how the waist the the legs being too thick for his taste on the MG version ^^;
UPDATED:
The secret behind the beam sabre's lighting is revealed!
EDITED: The lighting device he used are small LED fishing floats with some kind of pin type battery, possibly CR435 or CR535 :o
Apparently the LED lights he got have no switches - it's just a simple connect-the-circuit kind of thing. Remove the outer casing for the LED lights to reveal just the LED light and the power source, and you can stick it on a beam sabre and add a beam effect part to make your very own self-lit beam sabre! Very interesting there~ ^^
Source from ToysDaily forum
This is a great find! I liked the pictures where Victory's eyes glow in the dark; very intimidating and menacing look. It's really amazing how he could actually fit in the led and batteries into such small parts. Kudos to him.
ReplyDeleteTheres lights EVERYWHERE, and this is a 1/144 with full articulation, its doesn't look hindered much, save for the thighs, best part the Light shield, beautifully done^^
ReplyDelete@ Jacques:
ReplyDeleteDespite being such a small model, the glowing eyes sure look menacing! Seeing a lot of details and gimmicks being put into something so small, this kind of thing has always been my cup of tea.
The modeller is still updating on that forum thread so I may get to see how he works on installing those lighting parts!
@ GunStray:
The modeller really has enhanced the model significantly, and it's like a whole new one right now. If you want to see more with the lighting stuff you can check more on the actual forum thread with the link provided up there. It should be on page 4.
ZOMG awesome mod in such a very old kit O_O;; I want the beam saber so bad it's like that included in the PG zeta
ReplyDeleteWow....that's pretty amazing. I had this kit, it was one of the first models I actually used paint on. The lighting is amazing and such a great job considering this little 1/144 lights up more than a 1/60 Perfect Grade.
ReplyDeleteJust awesome!
Wow, I never heard of someone going as far as to mod their gundam's sword and shield to light up as well O_o, though i have heard of the headlights. I want to know how this person did it with such small space within the sword and shield it must have been incredibly painstaking to do but the results speak for themselves as to how awesome it would turn out ^_^.
ReplyDelete@ moemoekyun:
ReplyDeleteThe modeller will post his methods on adding the lightings around CNY. You can check the forum thread (link provided at the end of the blog post). I am really curious on how he does all that!
@ Apt-1B:
In terms of proportions, the smaller 1/144 Victory will indeed shine more significantly compared to the 1/60 PG models or even 1/100s with similar lighting. What impresses me is how the modeller has managed to put all those lighting with minimal wiring! He said he will release his methods on the forum thread around CNY.
@ AS:
I heard that custom self-lit beam sabres exist in first place and are sold in some local model shops, but are a bit pricey. The modeller said he will post how he installs the lighting in CNY, so you can check the forum thread (link provided at the end of the blog post) for future updates. I too would like to know how he does it out of curiosity!
1993? that's pre-MG I think!!
ReplyDeletestill, I really like the light up head gimmick. but I think I would stick with the MG, primarily because most of my collection is MG...
I cant comment on the gundamn itself since I know jack about it but the lighting effects Tom pulled of are more than awesome.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how he pulled of the light in the light beam katana
@ gundamjehutykai:
ReplyDeleteYep that's pre-MG for sure ^^
Haha on the contrary, I am sticking with the 1/144s since most of my stuff are 1/144s, but I will build at least 1 MG this year and see whether my opinion of them will change after building the one and only for my friend several years ago (as I am never really into MG all that time despite the fact that a lot of people only care about MG and overlook the smaller gunpla lines).
@ Blowfish:
"Gundamn" lol...
Just updated the blog post since the modeller has revealed the secret behind it reecntly - LED fishing lights?!
Happy chinese new year.. i know it a bit late.. wow.. that is one cool V gundam over there.. really like how he did on the LED part..
ReplyDelete@ seven6398:
ReplyDeleteHappy Chinese New Year!
The lighting done on the small Victory Gundam is indeed impressive, be it the lighting for the head or the beam sabre / beam shield effects! Really like the gimmick on the 'switch' for the head's lighting I must say~