As mentioned a few weeks ago I have foolhardily purchased 5 boxes of HGUC 1/144 Ball twin set, which yields me 10 models of the said cannon fodders. Well, here they are now, completed and ready for battle. Are you ready for war?
A brief background about these little guys: Featured in the original Gundam TV series, the RB-79 Ball is originally a civilian space construction mobile pod converted for Earth Federation's use against the Principality of Zeon during the late stages of the One Year War.
With their simple armament and thin armour, they were used en masse to overwhelm the enemy. Countless numbers of Balls were destroyed in battles, giving them a nickname of "mobile coffins". Nevertheless they contributed to Earth Federation's victory over Zeon.
Working on 10 of the same models may sound dreadful, but for a simple 1/144 it really isn't that bad at all. Line up the parts required for each section of the model (e.g. separate to main body, arms, and guns for the Ball), and build them in one go. That's what mass production is like isn't it? (laughs)
10 main bodies completed. They really look like mechanical eyes for some life size robots in a way...
Took a break and worked on the arms some time later. All parts for the arms (10 pairs) are as seen here. Lots of nub marks to remove, otherwise not a big problem at all.
"Backpack" thrusters and bottom thrusters completed along with the arms. Ready for assembly.
Everything completed except for the guns and panel lining. Now the Balls are chasing for the melonpan...
Some time later the Balls are finally here, completed and lined up in 2 rows, ready to roll out!
An angle shot as seen on typical military display.
Size comparison with a Zaku II of the same scale. To Zaku the Ball is like a big beach ball for it to play around with.
A stand is available for the Ball to 'float' on. Not much you can do with it as it has no points of articulation other than the ring which can rotate 360 degrees.
Alternatively you can use the Gundam Action Base 2 which gives it a wider range of posing. Just attach the ring that the Ball sits on to the base and it's done.
In addition to the standard 180mm recoilless cannon as seen in the original TV anime and games, there is also the double cannon as an alternate choice for the Ball to equip with as well. The double cannon is seen in the first episode of the 08th MS Team OVA (on an orange RB-79K piloted by protagonist Shiro Amada), as well as in MS IGLOO OVA.
And finally there is one thing I have been longing to do since I wanted to buy these cannon fodders:
Rally the Balls! Rush the enemy!
I don't have 10 Gundam Action Bases 2, so I tried and grab as many figma stands as possible to make this scene. The di:stage base comes from figma Miku Live Stage ver.
A vertical shot of the same scene.
A blue mobile suit joins in with the Balls. What is it? That will be the subject of my next review soon~
Omake - The crude photoshoot setup: A pillow case placed on my computer screen held by some clips with my desk lamp for the source of lighting. Yes I am quite a minimalist when it comes to such photoshoot. The same setting was used for my figma Black Rock Shooter as well.
I remember how my friend was shocked when I really did decide to buy 5 boxes of them - he thought I was just joking when I said I wanted to build multiple units like Zerg. It sounds foolhardy, and it is. I am somehow fond of building troops of grunts instead of Gundams themselves, but that's just me. Overall they're simple to build and fun even just to pose around with. Besides their innocent appearance gives you ways of abusing them...
Just like this example as Hobby no Toriko has shown ^^;
Now I just need to build a couple of GMs to accompany them.
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