I did manage to get some hours in working on my Zaku though. I decided with helpful insight from my wife that this Zaku being a sniper type would not be loaded down with a lot of extra weight and armor. That being said the Johnny Ridden custom I am using as a base is a very well armored version. After a little bit (a lot actually) of cutting I have completed the leg, most of the waist and chest. I am only cutting large sections out where I can expose cool under armor details that I will make the most of by adding a lot of color when I paint the frame. Instead of doing a 1 color frame like I do on a lot of my other Gundam. I always appreciate the people that paint every detail under the frame, but once all the armor covers it up what was the point of all that work? In this case I will be able to see it, and since it is for a competition I want to go that extra mile.
Enough typing... you are here for Gundam! I will let the pictures talk through side by side photos.
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Only thing of note on the above photo. I will be adding a small piece that will cover the hole I cut out...a bunch of work just to glue something over it...oh well.
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I completely removed the lower chest armor, and in case you are wondering why all the holes...lowers the weight of course :)...I cut away most of the lower sections of waist armor also.
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I haven't made a final decision on the middle section of the chest yet. There is no way to cut away anything with out exposing the cock pit, don't want that so I have to figure that one out a little more. I am at the point where I need to work on the decals of the RG RX-78, and have barely started on my Resin Booster Kit. A lot of kits in a small time I know but a 6 month deadline is what it is and 3 kits with a ton of customization doesn't leave a lot of time to mess around.
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As always thank you for looking!!!