Thursday, June 11, 2015

PG Red Frame - WIP 5

A display for something exquisite
 
With one set of the Gerbera Straight (Daban) done, I should start work on the second set but I could not bare to see the completed katana in the a plastic. Makes the Gerbera Straight looks like it has been abandoned. 
 
Completed Gerbera Straight kept in a plastic
 
The katana should have a place where it can be displayed to show its full glory:

Image taken from the Oriental Décor
 
With that in mind, I decided to open both PG katana display stand. Why do I need both? One for the Gerbera Straights and the other is for the metal katanas. I will have one spare metal katana without a stand but I might be making one.
 
Front of the box
 
The front picture is actually just stuck on to the box using tape. The actual box is the effect parts of the RG Strike Freedom gundam. Good to know that they are recycling boxes. From the image, it shows that this comes with a metal katana, display stand and includes 4 leds. Do note that the leds included is green and not purple. The good thing about this kit is that led lights up the display stand. Imagine having 4 different colors of leds. I think it would make the display stand look nice.
 
After opening the box, this is how the contents are packed:
 
Contents for the PG katana display stand
 
Batteries are included for the 4 leds. The display base is black and the rest are all transparent for the effect of the leds. The parts are removed from the runners, nubs removed and waiting for good weather to spray the black.
 
Katana display base waiting for painting
 
Since the weather is uncertain (sunny followed by a sudden downpour), I decided to start work on BanDai's Gerbera Straight. The only work I managed to do with the Gerbera Straight was to remove them from the runners, de-nub the pieces and do some spraying when the weather is more reliable.
 
Fast forward a few days with good weather and this is what happens:
 
Parts waiting for paint to dry
 
Painted the parts of the Gerbera Straight and the katana display stand. The Gerbera Straight will be featured in the next post. This post is about the display stand and I think that the stand is best to be completed before the completion of another katana to avoid another sad looking katana in a plastic.
 
Painted parts of the display stand
 
With the base of the display stand completed, I tried to assemble one of the base but I felt that the details at the transparent part cannot be seen clearly. I did the same thing to the Expo edition SD Unicorn. I pane lined the details to make it pop. I know most people will just leave it as it is but it really does make a difference especially on a transparent part. See the difference below:
 

Differences between panel lined and non-panel lined parts
 
Doesn't the panel lined parts make the details pop and looks more pleasing than a plain transparent part? After the panel lines are dry, they are wiped away with the Zippo lighter fluid.
 
All panel lined transparent parts
 
Now that all the parts are done, the assembling of the katana display base can begin.
 
All the parts of 2 katana display stand
 
The first thing to do is to insert the leds into the base. Each base requires a total of 4 leds and the best part is the leds and batteries are included. Insert the leds following the cut out hole in the base. The longer hole is for the on-off switch and the other is for the screw.
 
Base and led
 
Leds inserted into the base
 
The next step is to place the long transparent piece on the bottom base before sandwich-ing with the top part of the base.
 
Completed base
 
Do note that the base cannot be closed properly. Not sure if it is a defect of mine but I doubt it unless I'm very unlucky to have both display to have the same problem. The leds will shine from the holes on the base.
 
The next step is to assemble the 2 'holders' on either side of the base. When you are done, flip the base upside down, flick the switch on and viola!
 

Lighted up display base with lights on
 
Lighted up display base with lights off.
 
From the photos above, you can see that one of the led is not working. I'm not sure if it is because of a weak battery or the connection problems which I faced when working with the Seven Sword. Anyways it is a small matter which can be easily rectified.
 
With the display done, both metal katanas can be displayed on a single display.
 
 Top and front view
 
Front and back of the metal katana
 
Back view
 
There is a slight problem with the display. It is only meant for the katana. If you want to display the katana in the scabbard, some modification will have to be done.
 
Scabbard on the display stand
 
Fitting issues detected
 
From the photos above, I think there will be a lot of filing involved. All this will be solved in the next post so stay tune.

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