Improving the 1/100 Nataku

[hummingbird]

*WARNING - IMAGES MAY BE BIG, I FORGOT TO REZISE IT WHEN I UPLOADED*

Right guys... it's been a long time since I have joined the WING group build, was busy with uni stuffs that i couldn't turn my attention on my models.. now, without furhter ado, I present to you.. my W.I.P for my 1/100 Nataku...

Obviously... the most prominent thing that calls out to be modded... ''The elbow''

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

as can be seen on the photos... i plan to mod it into something like that .... so.. firstly, using blu-tack to determine how long do i have to make the elbow for it bend well like an MG...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

after hours of aching eyes and sore fingers and trails and error.... this is how it turns out....

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

Rememdy for the back-ward bending comes in this form.. I bliv i used two peice of 1mm pla-plate, not sure <_<  , and make a '''Slab''' that would be glued on to the back of the elbow joint and stop the back ward bending...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

backward bending problem solved    and it was time for me to go to the upper arm rotation... the elbow joint look kinda plain and didn't like it so even put some pla plate on the joint to add some details.... i didn't had that much of a clear idea about how to mod the upper arms and i really had to reseach on that  :think:

ok... that's it for the first post .... will keep you guys updated..... stay tune.. C&C are welcome.. oh and really sorry about the big pic....

[hummingbird]

terribly sorry for the blurry pics.. i was tired and couldn't hold the camera steady...  :worshippers:-bow-
 
alright.. update ... after finalizing the research i was doing since 3 months ago... I decided to go with this plan :

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

I got too many sprues and too quite a lot of spare PC cups still avaiable so.. i kinda figure will go along with this...
Initial steps... I had to choose which size sprue to use and look for available PC cups.. and had to cut the sheets into 1x1 cm sqaures...

and that's what i came up with

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

after doing that... I did what you could see from the pic below.. again sorry for the blurry pic   :worshippers:-bow- 
I was so scared when i first started cutting the upper arms... I don't want to make a destroyed it and waste it   :a10:-help- 

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

but lucky... after trails and experiments.... i fianlly got a good result...although i had to clean out the inside of arms of the pegs and everything for part B ''the female cup'' to be fitted... thin the inner pars with blades and put Part B in, glue it... put the arms together... glue it firmly.. and put in some pla pate to fill in the gap between the 1x1 CM square and the arm... Part A ''the male peg'' is, however, simply attached by gluing and the outside reinforced with putty..

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

two of these parts.... which will go in like so....... seeing those two working well is quite a relief... huu 

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

I have to say.. I am really satisfied with how these came up...   B)-what...-   .. and finally...... this is how my mods come out...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

wufei will be so happy....  :oo_o   LOL

alright.. that's that... that's the arms done..... C&C are welcome.. but pls be gentle ...this is my frist time serious modding and 1st WIP... so there might be mistake on my part...   :worshippers:-bow-   ''respect to my seniors''

next step is the waist mod... but seriously.. I am at a lost on how to do it exactly   :think:-???-  any suggestion would be welcome...

[arrmahza]

like the modds so far bro.

[tanaboon]

Ah, I have this model. Idk if its just mine, but it had like really really bad knee joints. Is yours the same?

[hummingbird]

Ah, I have this model. Idk if its just mine, but it had like really really bad knee joints. Is yours the same?

Sadly, yes.... i can't make him stand upright.. keeps falling down...

[hummingbird]

like the modds so far bro.

thank you .... very very very much.. appreciated it

[hummingbird]

OK guys... update.....

working on the shoulders.. ( this is really depressing for me)
anyhow... first off..

I filled it with MMD green putty and add some pla plate as you can see from the photo

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

my initial idea was to make the ''swivel up and down'' flap just like an MG shoulder.. so.. I have to come up with something ..so this is how i came up with ...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

To show you guys what i really intended.. i guess this pic will do justice...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

and then.. test fit... of what i want to do and voila...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

bottom view

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

ok.. that was my inital mods on the shoulder.. which i have done about a week ago (i think) it was stalled cos i met so many problems... will tell you about the problems and  the finalization of the shuolder in the next post.....

[hummingbird]

small update guys...

You know that i was trying my best to make the shoulders swivel up and down, right?? well...  that was  .. so i just decided to just go with MG RX79-ish shoulders...  so what i did was
1. removed the rods
2.rework on the flaps
3. put in some details... all can be seen in the pic below... - -

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

and, for some reason.. I was quite happy.. cos i no longer have to work with the swivel.. i felt like a path has opened and then  -_-  I got an idea..

so.. first of -  4 plates to make up a box

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

and finally... ta-da.... i got two vents...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

explanation on how its done? well.. you see those 4 plates 1 picture up??? i make it into a box... use another piece of plate that is a bit thinner then the borders of the box.. and guled it on the back.. leave the front open... measure the front opening with a digital vernier caliper.. cut strips of styrene ( that is the kind of plastic pla plates are made of) and insert it into the front .. cut the excess strip.. sand it down and voila.....

afterward... a few deatails to the shoulders......

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

Another shot..

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

and voila.. some details on the shoulders... unfortunately, the vents are a little bit long... so i have to remedy that.. and i have but i still haven't put on the finishing touch.. so.. gomen.. will post more.. will keep you guys updated... thanks for reading....

[hummingbird]

update.. .update.. :)... alright now this is the final work on the shoulders...... i have to say.. i am happy that it comes out the way it is...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

And now.. the Nataku is looking like this.....

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

What do u guys think? suggestion are welcome ... :)... right.. on to the waist... gosh i am scared.....

[Kylew]

I think it looks quite out of proportion, like the arms and shoulders are more 1/80 scale.

[Mrex-sgundam]

I know this is probably something the creator should be responding to, but since it was brought up elsewhere I figured I could chime in. He plans to lengthen the legs to make the kit more proportional.

[hummingbird]

@Kylew... yes sir.. i am well aware of that... and this is not finished... working on the waist now... by my guess... with the mods to make it bendable like WZC (wing zero custom) it will look a bit nicer..

@Mrex-Sgundam - thank you so much brother.. for replying in my stead.. I was a little busy today to repond... very much appreciated....

[hummingbird]

Right o... right o.... my friends would be looking forward for the update... and here it is... the waist mod.. part 1..

RIGHT... the very first thing i did was that i cutted the body in half.... and put some pla-plates  as you can see from the picture...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

and the following picture shows a more-or-less detailed process of the construction and structue of the ''CUP'' the ball joint of the lower torso will go into...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

putting them together... and voila...... this is how i made my upper torso.....

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

A ''Cup'' in the upper torso... which MG torso does this remind you of?? hehe.. consider this a quiz...

NEXT stop - a double ball lower torso....... stay tuned

[hummingbird]

yosha... yosha.. yosha.. yosha... update.. update.. i don't know about you guys...but i myself am excited to post updates..:) even though i know i will NOT get as much feedback as i thought'' ..but still.. as long as people view my WIP and my juniors learn from it.. i am happy... alright.. on to the posting..

Right,, remember that i used a slab and support system to house the cup??? well, that slab has been wobbly-bobbly so... i decided to cook something and the result is this.. it was kinda hard cos the back of the support was angled and i had to measure accordingly to how the body was angled.. (sorry i couldn't shoot the photos of the supports)... but neverthe less.. i am so so happy with what i got... let the picture do the talking ...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

Owners of the WZC (wing zero custom) would understand what i'm trying to do in the next picture...i first cut a slab with a hole as you can see... and you see that long plates behind that ''special shaped'' slab?? I used that long plates to make the sides of the lower torso....  take a look..

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

all in all.. i am quite impress with what i can do... i mean.. this is my first mod and everything....but it is still a mess and i still have to clean up a lot...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

does that waist joint remind of you anything??? that's right.. the MG wing zero custom... and to further,, well.. ''show-off"" LOL ... here's a comparaison pic of the HG NATAKU Ver. Hummingbird and MG WZC BANDAI... hehehehehe ...what do u guys think ??

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

oh and before you guys say it is not that good looking or anything... pls be patient... i still have to put on some finishing touch and do some clean up... so stay tune u guys.... :bow: thanks for looking....

[Ezechiel]

Good job so far, that's a pretty big project for a 1st time but you're getting the hang of it!

[hummingbird]

Good job so far, that's a pretty big project for a 1st time but you're getting the hang of it!

Thank you so very much, i was just lucky i guess..

ok guys.... up date .. up date

As you all know.. the back skirts of every late 80s HG.. and I do mean every... are attached and they cannot be move and it really is a royal pain in the neck... so...  first thing first... i cutted it in ''twain''.. that was one hell of a cutting.. my  arms were aching from the sawing...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

and this is what i do after i cutted the skirts... the full process is in the picture.....

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

so.. after seeing this... i assuming you guys will be thinking what i do with the back skirts... well, here it is... as ususal the full process is inside the picture... and man, this is one confusing process... i had to carefullly figure out where to put in the cups..

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

and ta- da.... my HG Nataku just got a MG skirt... of cos.. i still have to put more details in it..... will do it shortly...

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

Inner View

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

AND this is how much my nataku can bend now....... compared here with the WZC ..

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

and here is wher my current progress ..... a dirty nataku ... about 75% done..... I first thought of extending the leg... but i decide not to..... but i still have to modify the legs.... or maybe kitbash some....

Improving the 1/100 Nataku

feedback and suggestion and advise and comments... alll are welcome guys... .but i really do need some advice and suggestion about what to do with the legs.... the legs are soo..... ''ugh''

[Asmodeous]

I agree that the legs are atrocious.  Maybe bash a set of legs from a MG with the armor from he Nataku.  The feet look good maybe the ankles need could be lengthened. Cut the point off of the thigh and maybe ad a joint to he knee.  Maybe..

[hummingbird]

I agree that the legs are atrocious.  Maybe bash a set of legs from a MG with the armor from he Nataku.  The feet look good maybe the ankles need could be lengthened. Cut the point off of the thigh and maybe ad a joint to he knee.  Maybe..

unfortunately,, i do not have enough budget to sarcrafice a MG just for this particular application... but however... i will mod this,, lengthen it and may put in a double ball-joint ankle.... still in planning stage though... thanks for the support.. will keep you posted...

[fulcy]

Easy (and cheap) way of getting a MG to sacrifice - check out Ebay for built gundam models.  There are always snapped gundam models going for cheap.

[hummingbird]

Easy (and cheap) way of getting a MG to sacrifice - check out Ebay for built gundam models.  There are always snapped gundam models going for cheap.

Yes, i am always looking out for that.. but here in london, british people don't know anything about gundams and they don't build gudam either.. so it is very hard to find one.... beside, my sister has gave out an ultamitum that if she sees another delivery with my name... i will have had it...