Sunday 10 January 2021

A Look Back at 2020

 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. And so the new year begins with an oft quoted classical novel line that aptly describes what happened to me last year. Worst due to the ongoing pandemic, enough said. Best because I got to spend (and actually still am spending) more time with the missus due to general work-from-home orders. Meanwhile, hobby-wise I didn't get much done apart from mostly finishing projects that were already near-complete towards the tail end of 2019. These then are the scale models and miniature figurine that I painted in 2020.  


Scale Model and Miniature Figurine projects completed in 2020

 First past the post last year was my very first Gundam project i.e. the Bandai Master Grade 1/100 scale RX-78-2 Gundam Version 3.0 model kit (see below). Grandpa Gundam was an extremely time consuming project that involved the painting of a multitude of tiny parts prior to assembly. But I believe the end result of painting the kit is so much better than an out-of-the-box build. Without a shadow of doubt, the RX-78-2 Gundam has been one of my most satisfying painted builds in a long while.


RX-78-2 Gundam holding its pilot Amuro Ray in its hand

Also known as Grandpa Gundam, the RX-78-2 shown here in various poses

Equally impressive were the weapon accessories (also painted) accompanying the RX-78-2

 After working with the hard edges of an inorganic entity that is the RX-78-2 Gundam, I turned my attention to finally completing a miniature figurine in the last calendar year. This came in the form of the atelier iT 1/12 scale Race Queen figurine (see below). It was the first time I had ever used an airbrush to paint skin tones (in addition to the traditional hand painted methods). Going forward, this airbrush-handbrush combo will be my technique of choice in painting skin tones on figurines.  


Race Queen is a 1/12 scale miniature figurine; she's another 2020 project

Here the Race Queen is posing against a dark (black) background ...

... versus a light (azure) background; both had a slightly different effect on skin tone

 Another project that took a long time to complete was the Bandai 1/144 scale Millennium Falcon model kit that was modeled after the one in The Force Awakens (see below). In fact, 'a long time' is a serious understatement. Begun way back in January 2016, this Star Wars project was shelved in the middle of that same year before finally resuming in October 2019 and then finished in May 2020. But finished it is. And while the Millennium Falcon's colored panels consist of applied water decals, the ship still looks good as the rest of it is indeed fully painted and weathered.      


Bandai Star Wars 1/12 scale Millennium Falcon from The Force Awakens

Millennium Falcon is fully painted with the exception of its colored panels, which are decals

Closeup of the detailed exterior of the 1/144 scale Millennium Falcon

 Nice as it is to bask in the satisfied glow of completed projects, it's better still to look forward to ones that are ongoing or yet to be started. Personally, I've always felt it important to plan for the year ahead while conceding that there will be the occasional unforeseen miniature figurine or scale model kit project that takes my fancy. More often than not, a failure to plan will result in many half-worked-on projects that eventually sit on shelves gathering dust. In other words, not good. So the coming few days will determine which projects will start, which will continue and which will shelved indefinitely. For now, here's wishing you and yours a better (and safer) year ahead. 


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10 comments:

  1. Superb artistry on your works. The race girl is particularly impressive.

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  2. Many great projects! All the best in 2021!

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  3. In pure numbers it might not seem much, but in terms of quality you've definitely hit the ball out of the park. All the best for the year ahead! I'm looking forward to all the fabulous stuff you'll come up with in 2021

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    1. That's such a nice and kind thing to say. Thank you very much Moiterei, and all the best to you too! :)

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  4. Awesome projects of 2020 Kuan ! A happy , safe and hobby-full New Year 2021 for you and yours ! I can't wait to see the projects for this year.
    Greetings and stay safe !

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    1. Thank you Mario :) You too ... all the best and definitely stay safe!

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  5. The versatility of your work speaks by itself. You master such different techniques and manage to produce these so different beauties. Each one is a treasure by own right, I think you can be happy with the hobby output.
    All the best for 2021!!

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    1. Thank you so very much Suber. Your kind, supportive comments are always great to behold and it definitely lifts the spirits for 2021 hobby-wise. All the best to you too! :)

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