MS-09R Rick Dom | Master Grade Zeon Mobile Suit [WIP: Main sub-assemblies either painted or top-coated as well as panel-lined and given decals/dry transfers]

 If there was only one important thing I could take from the Rick Dom project, it would be that painting Gunpla need not be an all or nothing process. Before I begin painting a Gundam model kit, my OCD tendencies mean I am apt to plan for each and every single part - seen or unseen - to be painted.  And seeing that so many pieces (some tiny individual parts and some large sub-assemblies) make up a Gunpla, the very thought of painting everything can kill enthusiasm for a project before it even begins. But this particular Gunpla project has shown me not everything needs to be fully painted.

Rick Dom work-in-progress: Main sub-assemblies painted/top-coated/panel-lined and given sticker decals/dry transfers

 Easiest to get done, at least in terms of the number of parts involved, was the Rick Dom's head (see below). And in a way, the head is a microcosm of what I mean by not everything needs to be painted. For example, the visor is a clear piece that is used as is without being painted. Similarly the black plastic section of the head just needs to be top-coated with a matte clear coat to look like it had been painted in black. So that left the eye (painted a clear pink), the visor-frame (painted red) and the inner section (painted in a titanium hue and panel-lined) as parts that needed actual painting.

Rick Dom Head: individual parts and sub-assemblies prior to final assembly

Fully-assembled Rick Dom mobile suit head (isometric front view)

Fully-assembled Rick Dom mobile suit head (isometric back view)

 While the number of parts involving the 1/100 scale pilot figurines was even less, they weren't as easy to complete. As you can see from the photos below, the tiny figurines were molded as a single piece so no assembly was needed. Both figurines were painted while still attached to the sprue because their tiny size meant there was no other secure way to hold them during the painting process. Also because of the size, both figurines were hand painted using Vallejo Model Color acrylic paints rather than airbrushed. Figurines are always an important part of a Gunpla project because it gives us a sense of scale of the Gundam as to how big it really is in comparison to a human body.

Rick Dom Pilot Figures come in 1/100 scale and two versions i.e. standing and seated ...

... with both pilots shown here after being hand-painted with Vallejo Model Color acrylic paints.

 Next we move on to the Rick Dom's Upper Torso, whereby the only painted parts are the reds of the thrusters; the metal bits; and the clear yellow sensor piece. Meanwhile, the black and gray parts were only top-coated with a clear matte coat. Nevertheless, the quality of the top-coat is such that the parts look like they had been painted anyway. This section have also been applied with the first dry transfer decals: the numeral nineteen representing the unit's number and the Zeon symbol on the front; and the alpha-numerical letterings of MS-09R signifying unit type on the back (see below).

Rick Dom Upper Torso: individual parts and sub-assemblies prior to final assembly

Fully-assembled upper torso (isometric front view); dry transfers on the breast plate show the Zeon symbol (left) and the number nineteen which I choose as the unit's numeral designation (right)

Fully-assembled upper torso (isometric back view); the back also had a dry transfer put on it and it was supposed to show "MS-09R" i.e. unit type but it was torn during application

Rick Dom Upper Torso (isometric back view; upended): inner rim of both thrusters had been airbrushed with a custom red lacquer paint mixture

 Completing the Rick Dom's body is its Lower Torso, which also houses the seated pilot figure. Sadly once the hatch to the pilot cockpit is closed, the pilot will be hidden from view. However, the pilot is still accessible via the opening of said hatch so I guess the pilot isn't completely hidden. On the other hand, the inner section of the Lower Torso was supposed to be painted in a metallic hue but I had left it untouched (i.e. bare unpainted plastic) because this time the inner section is expected to be hidden from view permanently once the outer armor is attached to it. As such I saw no point in painting the inner section; therefore it was left in its original gray molded color (see below).

Rick Dom Lower Torso: individual parts and sub-assemblies (including seated pilot figurine) prior to final assembly

Fully-assembled lower torso (isometric front view); seated pilot figurine is not seen here because he/she is hidden behind the hatch at the front facing side

Fully-assembled lower torso (isometric back view); note the grey innards which remain unpainted because they will eventually be hidden hidden other painted parts

 Then we have the Rick Dom's Waist section which like the others consists of a mixture of painted and top-coated parts. Here, the violet, red and metallic parts were painted using Mr. Color lacquer paint while the black parts were only top-coated with a clear matte coat. A series of dry transfer decals were also applied on selected locations such as a red triangle with white stripes (on the front); two circular target-like symbols (on the back); and a rectangular warning text signage (both sides).

Rick Dom Waist: individual parts and sub-assemblies prior to final assembly

Fully-assembled waist (isometric back view); the two target-like symbols on the black armor sections are dry transfers which I had applied prior to the assembly process

Fully-assembled waist (isometric front view); the red/white triangle symbol and the two rectangular signs (one on the front and one on the side) are all dry transfer decals applied to parts prior to assembly

Fully-assembled waist (upended view from bottom); everything on the waist was either painted or top-coated except for the gray inner section that contain the joints 

 Following this it was the turn of Rick Dom's appendages/limbs, starting with both the left and right arms (see below). Their color scheme and how they were painted is in line with other sections like the waist. Dry transfer decals applied to the upper limbs comprised a yellow rank insignia of sorts on the left shoulder while a rectangular signage can be found on the other shoulder. Of note is the fact that both hands have individually articulated fingers. They aren't fused together like in some Gundam kits.

Rick Dom Shoulders, Arms & Hands: individual parts and sub-assemblies prior to final assembly

Rick Dom Shoulders, Arms & Hands: fully-assembled, painted, and/or top-coated plus dry transfer decals

 Most difficult to paint and assemble were the Rick Dom's legs. While most of the legs' inner section will be hidden from view after the outer armor is attached, enough could still be seen that the parts making up the inner section warranted a coat or two of paint of their own. Due to the complexity involved, it would be best for you to see what I mean in the photos below, rather than have you read a lengthy description. Just note that the violet, red, and metallic bits are painted while the rest have either been top-coated with a clear matte coat or just left in its original plastic state.

Rick Dom Legs & Feet: individual parts and sub-assemblies prior to final assembly

Fully-assembled legs and feet (isometric front view) with the left leg's armor panel removed to reveal the inner framework which has been painted in a metallic titanium hue/gun metal/red combination

Closeup view of the left leg's inner framework, which will eventually be covered up by armor

Rick Dom Legs & Feet: outer armor and inner framework fully-assembled, painted, and/or top-coated

 Working on a mecha project tends to take a lot of out me. As you can see from the photos above, there are a lot of parts to work with, which isn't easy when it comes to painting all (or nearly all) of them. The photos above were taken prior to the series of mishaps that befell my family and I. In a way I was lucky that a major portion of the Rick Dom had been completed before the run of bad luck hit. And it's only recently I found the time to sit down and write a work-in-progress report/blog update of the Rick Dom project. Hope springs eternal that I'll be able to get back into the thick of things soon, hobby-wise. Here's to that, and to you dear reader, being well and happy as always.