30 September 2010

Roll out the Balls!

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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.

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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)

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10 main bodies completed. They really look like mechanical eyes for some life size robots in a way...

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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.

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"Backpack" thrusters and bottom thrusters completed along with the arms. Ready for assembly.

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Everything completed except for the guns and panel lining. Now the Balls are chasing for the melonpan...

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Some time later the Balls are finally here, completed and lined up in 2 rows, ready to roll out!

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An angle shot as seen on typical military display.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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:
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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.

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A vertical shot of the same scene.

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A blue mobile suit joins in with the Balls. What is it? That will be the subject of my next review soon~

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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...

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Just like this example as Hobby no Toriko has shown ^^;

Now I just need to build a couple of GMs to accompany them.

19 comments:

  1. That's helluva lot of balls. You inspire me to follow suit now. Only with MG versions >_<

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  2. Balls en massed. AND THEY'RE TOUCHING~! (sorry, can't resist that. ze)

    Seriously... 10 balls isn't something to be triffle with...

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  3. Zergling erh i mean ball rush lol!!!

    Wow you got the RD GM Sniper!! Sweet!! Can't wait to see the review on that one. I resisted buying it so far...maybe i'll get a few balls in the mean time haha..

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  4. Lmfao, this reminds me of the Ball's special attack in the Gundam Battle Universe series games for PSP... Sooo sick. Should paint each of them a dif colour and make a rainbow ball rush attack XD

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  5. THE BALLS ARE INERT!!!
    .
    .
    .
    just saying...

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  6. Wow you sure got a lot of balls to make this post xD! Okay enough of the ball jokes... that is pretty cool! Now I want to pick up a set just for the fun of it. They really do look intimidating when there are that many of them lined up!

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  7. LoL awesome! Finally done, eh? How long did this take you? So aside from removing nub marks, did you do other work on them?

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  8. Hmm... the ball jokes are getting pretty old. so all I'm gonna say is... GOOD JOB! I wouldn't have the patience to build 10 units at the same time ay :S

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  9. OMG you got 5 sets of those twins.

    kinda want one myself...

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  10. THATS A LOT OF BALLS! sorry can't help myself LOL!

    10 balls up and running around your desk, that ought to be something interesting, and the melon-pan scene!

    hey I'm linking you up!

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  11. @ coffeebugg:
    Multiple MG Balls?! That's sure gonna be a lot more work compared to the HGUC ones!

    @ bd77:
    lol they're not gay! They're not... Or are they? ._.

    @ chubbybots:
    The GM Sniper II is quite simple with few accessories, but for those who want one it's worth buying I think (since no gunpla has been released, and only conversions kits exist which are quite expensive).

    @ rxsiu:
    Ah too bad I haven't played Gundam Battle Universe... Would like to see its special attack though! Rainbow Ball Rush?? XD Not my sort of thing, but you can photoshop one if you want ^^;

    @ Tom:
    lol Dragon Ball Z reference. Didn't see that coming ^^;

    @ Z:
    Grunts look much better in numbers compared to the... Hero units. In case of cannon fodders, making a Zerg rush scene is what I have dreamt of doing since its announcement, and it now has been accomplished~

    Pick one box if you really want to have one. They're simple and fun rather than serious for sure!

    @ Lightning Sabre:
    Total time is probably around 4 hours or so. I've only done panel lining and that's pretty much it. I may do decals and top coat them in the future, but that's just a possibility.

    @ AstrayP03 (Zhe):
    To be honest, building 10 HGUC Balls definitely requires less effort than building a recent MG gunpla IMHO... If you are patient enough to repeat the same process 10-20 times. :O

    @ DivineLight:
    They are very simple models, but if you like having them just for fun then it won't hurt to buy a box to play around ^^

    @ Syful:
    I am sure most will say the same thing when they first see my... Um mobile pods ^^;

    Added you to blogroll too!

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  12. You have some "balls" to show all that. Best pic was the last one of course. Not sure I could of handled that many my self - nice job

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  13. Hi! I have intentionally renewed my blogroll to refresh the page. If you believe your site was included on my old list or you want your site to be included on my list, don't hesitate to EMAIL ME, commenting on my posts will not be accepted. The listing is FREE. Thank you! http://hapiblogging.blogspot.com/2008/01/blogroll.html

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  14. I love these balls as well. The more the merrier. :D

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  15. Hey, nice work buddy! They look great! As a makeshift MA for the EFSF the Ball did serve as a cheap, fast way to counter-measure the Zeon MA production.

    Also, I believe the Old Man in Crossbone Gundam stated he took down 10 Doms in one Ball, so at least some of them weren't entirely useless! Lol

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  16. @ Bluedrakon:
    Haha the last picture is not mine, but from Hobby no Toriko. 10 Balls look like a lot, but it's not hard to do for simple models, and I only panel line them for the 'extra work' so far. Definitely doable I'd say ^^

    @ Hapi:
    Thanks. Will consider about it.

    @ LEon:
    Indeed, the more Balls there are, the merrier~ It's like building a huge family ^^

    @ Apt-1B:
    The Balls are usually regarded as cannon fodders or even 'mascots' for the Earth Federation, but nonetheless they sure have their own charm IMHO.

    So there were Ball veterans and aces? With such crazy skills they must be on par with Gundam pilot(s) then! XD

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  17. A ball army XD
    even a high-end OYW unit would be in trouble if 10 of them came attacking at the same time!

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  18. LOVE THEM ALL!!!!! yes agreed the BBQ pic was pretty funny... so whats with the blue Robot Damashii GM sunaipa?

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  19. @ hiroy_raind:
    Balls may have been called "mobile coffins", but with a number of them rushing at the same time it's quite something! Imitating a zerg rush with them is what I've dreamt of doing since the Gunpla was announced!

    @ oliver:
    Zaku BBQ'ing the Ball sure gives many people a good laugh~ Hobby no Toriko is very creative with his gunpla.

    The GM Sniper II is going to be reviewed later, once I get my big Dora gun sorted out that is (need to clear some space to accommodate it).

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