State of my Hobby Worktable ... what's in store for 2020

Being well into the current year, it would seem to be a significantly belated exercise for me to analyze what hobby projects I actually have on the worktable and in semi-storage. But things are in such a mess at the moment hobby-wise that I need to take stock before I can move forward. So not including projects already finished but yet to be unveiled, and in the order of most to least likely to be finished by year-end, here then is the state of my hobby worktable and what's in store in the coming months:

A) Projects with significant assembly and paint work completed
Most likely to be worked on (note that I didn't say finished) this year is the best way to describe this group of miniatures and scale model kits. Of the three in this group, the least advanced in terms of progress would be my Bumblebee Transformer in car form aka the Tamiya 1/24 scale Volkswagen 1300 Beetle (1966 Model). At this stage, only the engine counts as significant work done. Well that and perhaps finding a Bumblebee yellow hue I'm happy with. To breathe new life into the project I might just add a 1/24 scale figurine that could, at a stretch, pass off as Hailee Steinfeld. In case you were wondering, she played the human protagonist in the Bumblebee movie. 

Tamiya 1/24 scale Volkswagen Beetle Work-in-Progress (WIP): First section painted with Bumblebee yellow

Volkswagen Beetle's engine prominently shows the muffler, fan belt/housing, intake manifold, ignition coil, etc.

Beetle's oil strainer surrounded by the muffler, exhaust manifold heat exchangers and transmission

Meanwhile, a project that has seen much better progress is the Bandai 1/144 scale Millennium Falcon (Star Wars: The Force Awakens version). In all my time as a miniature hobbyist, I am most proudest of the detail I managed to bring out through paint on the 1/144 scale Han Solo and Chewbacca (see below). A combination of luck and patience played a role in the end results. Both were also part of the smallest group of miniatures I had ever painted. As for the Millennium Falcon itself, the cockpit, forward mandibles as well as upper and lower hulls are essentially complete sans weathering.

Smallest figurines I've ever painted so far i.e. 1/144 scale Han Solo and Chewbacca

All the 1/144 scale figurines namely Han Solo, Chewbacca, Finn, Rey compared to a five sen coin

Bandai 1/144 scale Millennium Falcon WIP: Cockpit and forward mandibles sans weathering

Millennium Falcon WIP: Lower gun turret with its yet-to-be-weathered hull plating attached

Millennium Falcon WIP: Basecoat, Panel Lines & Decals on Lower/Upper Hull

Moving on to something smaller, it has been a long time since I painted a miniature 28 mm or less in scale. And in a classic case of so near yet so far, I had actually painted a large portion of the Dark Sword Wood Elf Goddess before progress on her somehow stopped dead in its tracks. It was as if all confidence to finish up her paint work just drained away from me. I can't explain this one. As near to completion as she is, the goddess may have to wait a while longer for her day in the spotlight.   

Dark Sword Miniatures Wood Elf Goddess WIP: Painted in dark skin tones (front view)

Dark Sword Miniatures Wood Elf Goddess WIP: Painted in dark skin tones (back view)

B) Projects unboxed, color schemes researched and awaiting lift off
In this category are projects I had enthusiastically unboxed and researched before one reason or another caused them to be placed on the back burner. First there is the Bandai 1/12 scale Star Wars Scout Trooper and Speeder Bike. This one is going to be slightly different from the other Bandai Star Wars figurines I had previously worked on in that I plan to paint the Imperial soldier's white armor. As good as the armor looks unpainted, I believe it will need a proper coat of paint if it's to endure significant weathering using enamels and/or oils. After all, a Scout Trooper on the Forest Moon of Endor should, in theory, have some of mud, earth and vegetation stains on its white armor. 

Bandai Star Wars 1/12 scale Scout Trooper & Speeder Bike

To accommodate both the figurine and vehicle, eight sprues are tightly packed into the box 

More advanced along the project pipeline is the Bandai 1/1000 scale Space Battleship Yamato Cosmo Reverse Version. Colors for her hull and deck have been prepared and assembly should begin soon. Maybe a binge rewatch of the anime series is what I need to rekindle the spark I had for the Yamato. Or perhaps I could concurrently paint the corresponding anime character figurines from the anime. Either way this is one project I'm optimistic will see lift off in the coming months.

Bandai 1/1000 scale Space Battleship Yamato 2199, Cosmo Reverse Version

Moderately sized scale model kit box for the Yamato is also chock-full of sprues

Space Battleship Yamato Reds and Grays mixed at a paint ratio suggested in an older kit's color guide

While Yamato's decks are molded in blue gray, the color guide recommends a kind of pale violet brown

C) Projects hinted at previously but yet to be unboxed aka Shiny New Toy Syndrome
Spur of the moment scale model kit and figurine purchases, of which I'm guilty of ... a lot, form a large part of this category. Just rewatched an anime favorite Neon Genesis Evangelion? Bam! Cue obsessive search for an old Bandai scale model kit of the Evagelion-01 Test Type mecha. Feeling the need to supplement my Gundam project with a character figurine? Wham! Sourced a resin recast of Sayla Mass, which was originally a PVC figurine only. And as the old Batman theme (get it?) fades away, I can only stare, shamefully ... almost remorsefully, at yet another somewhat unnecessary acquisition inspired from watching the latest flagship Gundam series i.e. Gundam Unicorn. 

Bandai Limited Model High Grade plastic scale model kit of EVA-01 Test Type

E2046 resin recast of what was originally a 1/8 scale Sayla Mass PVC figurine

Bandai Master Grade RX-0 Unicorn Gundam - HD Color Version with Mobile Suite Cage

And of all the three 'Shiny New Toy Syndrome' purchases above, it's the Bandai Master Grade RX-0 Unicorn in HD Color and with a Mobile Suit Cage base that is least likely to get any work done on it. In contrast, the EVA-01 unit project has a high chance of getting off the ground because I've already test painted the color scheme I want for the Evangelion mecha. That leaves Sayla Mass who may be the first figurine I start work on this year. Or then again, it could be the two below.


D) Projects fully-assembled and primed, yet left in storage
That these miniatures are in storage tells its own story. Sort of. A myriad of reasons that range from from waning inspiration to real life issues to lack of skill set to do a project justice to just plain old forgot, resulted in both the Nocturna Models Battle Chick and the Knight Models Loki figurines being shelved after receiving a primer coat. Being shelved in a display cabinet, however, is clearly distinct from being put away in storage. The former means the figurines are still visible to me, so there is still hope I will work on them eventually. Moreover, the addition of airbrushing skills to my repertoire means the said projects takes on new possibilities when coupled with regular hand brush painting.   

Nocturna Models Necrospace series - 70 mm Battle Chick resin figurine

Knight Models Marvel Universe - white metal figurine Loki, assembled and primed

E) Projects whose assembly is nearly complete, awaiting a primer coat
Not unlike Loki above, the Knight Models Thor project stagnated for similar reasons, just that it stopped before even being fully assembled. But for a project that felt like a chore to complete with regular painting by hand, Thor seems ready made for airbrushing. This Norse God's dimensions such as the flowing robes and clearly demarcated superhero attire make it easier to airbrush than say the Loki figurine with its nook and crannies. At least it looks that way to me. Will Thor overtake Loki in the project pipeline? Or will both get done? Hopefully status quo does not prevail here.

Knight Models Marvel Universe - white metal figurine Thor, semi-assembled

And for the win, garnering the record for the longest period a miniature/scale model kit in my collection has stayed on the KIV or to-do-one-day list is ... drum roll ... the Games Workshop W40K Ork Trukk. It was the first scale model kit vehicle I had worked on ... eight long years ago. Phew! Well I did do some work on it. I removed it from the shelf and carefully washed away eight years of dust. So it's ready for a primer coat. What then are the odds for another eight years of inactivity?   

Warhammer 40K Ork Trukk - semi-assembled with its driver painted

F) Projects with as much sun exposure as a vampire
Aptly marked under 'F' after 'E' for epic fail, these are projects that have been shelved for a long, long time. So long in fact that I won't even waste your time showing you what they are in detail. Suffice to say they are mostly Games Workshop tabletop miniatures that got me started in the hobby. Chances for any project under this category being revived is extremely slim. Not impossible but slim. 

Then there is the wildcard category which arguably makes these what's-in-store-posts an exercise in futility and wishful thinking. Let's call it Category X. Remember the oft repeated resolution us hobbyists are renowned for? How did it go again ... oh yes ... I solemnly swear not to buy anymore scale model kits until I finish some of what I already own. Many had also taken this vow when gently reminded [increase level of domestic violence as per appropriate] by their spouses of the mountain of unopened kit boxes cluttering up the house. In essence, at any time either new impulse buys or existing model kits could (and likely) gatecrash the present project line ... possibly consigning work-in-progress miniatures and scale models into the dreaded Category F. See the pattern here?

Still on the topic of Category X, there are projects with a high chance of making it into Category B. For example, it's almost a given I'll being doing a World War 2 military model in one form or another. Coupled with my wish to learn new AFV-related painting techniques, it's therefore a near certainty work will soon start on a WW2 era armored fighting vehicle, in particular one that has been coined as the Spearhead of the German Infantry. In addition, my clogged up project pipeline could yet see Pixar's most popular duo, more figurines, diorama pieces, etc. join the queue. I won't give specifics as it all may be a lot of hullabaloo for nothing. For now, what can I say except carpe diem. Ironic huh?

Journey into the Mobile Suit Gundam Universe begins with the RX-78-2 and RX-0 Unicorn (MG) Gundams

This journey has been a long time coming. More than a year ago has swiftly passed me by since I first toyed with the idea of starting a Gundam project. Precious non-utilized hobby time gone in a blink of an eye. Linear time sucks. Oh what I wouldn't give for the power of a Q. Forgive me this reference to another beloved franchise. Let us set that universe aside and continue with this one. In a nutshell, Mobile Suit Gundam is a science fiction anime series involving giant robots (mecha). And my first steps will involve the RX-79-2 and RX-0 Unicorn - both are found in the Universal Century timeline. 

Size-wise the RX-0 Unicorn with Mobile Suit Cage significantly dwarfs the RX-78-2 box (see below). Weighing roughly 1.4 kg, the RX-0 Unicorn box measures a whopping 59.1 x 32.2 x 11.8 cm. In comparison, the RX-78-2 box weights about 0.8 kg and has a dimension of 39.2 x 31.2 x 8.5 cm. Both are from the Bandai Master Grade series which translates into a 1/100 scale gundam. 

Gundam scale model kits await unboxing

Why start my journey with these two gundams? Well, it's simple really. Currently many versions of Gundam anime exist; each series unfolding within in its own timeline. So far I've only followed the first and oldest timeline i.e. the Universal Century timeline. And within this timeline, I've mainly (but not solely) watched story arcs with the protagonist/antagonist duo of Amuro Ray and Char Aznable like First Gundam, Zeta Gundam, Char's Counterattack and Gundam Unicorn. Confused? Don't worry. Check out this anime site if you ever want to start watching Mobile Suit Gundam.  

Closeup of the life-sized RX-78-2 Gundam statue located in Odaiba, Tokyo (source: nihongogo) 

RX-78-2 statue is a giant towering close to the roof of Tokyo's Diver City Plaza (source: branipick)

Scale comparison of the 18 meters (59 feet) tall RX-78-2 statue against puny humans (source: cnet)

My model kit choices are based on the first ever mobile suit gundam i.e. the RX-78-2, and the protagonist gundam i.e. RX-0 Unicorn in a story that [minor spoiler alert] pays homage to the Amuro/Char character arc, a passing of baton if you will from the old to new generation of newtypes [spoiler ends]. Coincidentlly both my gundam projects have (or had) life-sized equivalents on display in Japan. From its debut 2012 until five years later, the RX-78-2 Gundam had a life-sized version of itself in Tokyo (see above). That iconic statue has since been replaced by an even bigger RX-0 Unicorn (see below) which was unveiled at the same location in late 2017.

Standing at 19.7 meters , the life-sized RX-0 Unicorn replacement statue is huge (source: ikidane nippon)

RX-0 Unicorn statue is so big that it towers above the Diver City Plaza (source: ikidane nippon)

Humans look even tinier when stood against this nearly 65 feet behemoth (source: ikidane nippon)

All lighted up in the dark, the RX-0 Unicorn transformed into its Destory Mode (source: ikidane nippon)

Closeup of the RX-0 Unicorn's front chest panels in Destory Mode (source: ikidane nippon)

Closeup of the RX-0 Unicorn's transformed back in Destroy Mode (source: ikidane nippon)

Back when the missus was on a work visit to Japan for the first time last year, she took the time to go to The Gundam Base Tokyo, a store themed after the Gundam franchise. Outside the mall where the store was located stood the main attraction namely the life-sized 1:1 scale RX-0 Unicorn statue. She did this partly so that I could vicariously live out an old gundam geek's dream. The missus also managed to capture the statue's transformation sequence from normal to destroy mode (see below). 

Below are two high resolution photos of the RX-0 Unicorn statue taken by the missus on that night.

Lighted up the RX-0 Unicorn looks truly impressive up close

So with yet two more kits added to the project pipeline, I'm now up to my elbows with hobby work. More details on these two oldie but goldie gundam kits will be posted soon, starting with their unboxing, so do stay tuned. There is a certain calmness in being inundated with hobby projects. And no, I'm neither being ironic nor oxymoronic. Having lots to do can engage the part of my mind that thinks too much. Just do it might be a cliched marketing tag line but there's a universal truth to it. Now all I've to do is think of what I need to do next. Oops.