GP03s started way back in 2003

[MGmodeler]

After a trip to Tokyo I've gotten the itch to build a model again.
I started this GP03s way back in 2003 and now I'm going to finish it! 

GP03s started way back in 2003

New Pla plate added.

GP03s started way back in 2003

Decals to be used from Peter at Models4U 

GP03s started way back in 2003

I actually started this in mid June sometime but I only get to model once in a while...

[MGmodeler]

New pistons using rod.

GP03s started way back in 2003

Preshade

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

I'm going with purple on this one...!@&^@#$$&!

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

[MGmodeler]

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

[Grail]

Looking great so far. I'm liking your shading.

[Kane82]

Nice!  Seeing your masked tail binders brought back memories of my GP03.  I'm excited to see the final result!

[MGmodeler]

Finally some progress again after taking a much needed vacation...

I love putting on a massive amount of decals but I must admit it takes a long time.

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

Still have to work on the legs and arms and other detail bits.
A protective coat of future then panel line wash.  Drybrushing and other detail painting.  Then final matt finish!!!

I guess another month 

[FichtenFoo]

Looking good so far. Did you get what you were looking for decal-wise?

[MGmodeler]

No reply yet...

I'll need a new batch of warning decals after this kit.  I can't believe the Ka. look takes soo many decals 

[MGmodeler]

No updated pics this post (forgot the pics in the camera at home...) but I have has some progress in the past few days.  Finished all the decals and put a nice coat of future on.  Then I started to do some panel line washes....

What a disaster!  I’ve done panel line washes so many times before and it usually would come out good but this time !@%$$#$  I tried some artist oil paint and some odorless thinner to remove the wash and some parts cleaned up nicely and some came out @!$#!^@  I don’t know if the future was too thin or not flat enough but I wasn’t happy!  I then tried an acrylic wash.  NEVER AGAIN!  Then I got some testors  flat black and some thinner and holy !@%$#$%! The thinner ate through the future, paint coat and I think even the primer down to the plastic in ONE wipe!!!  Did Testors start using lacquer thinner ?

Actually some parts came out OK but some I could cry over.  The Grumbacher thinner would also break down some of the decals (even covered with Future) if rubbed too much…  What was going on all you experts out there??  Was the future too old or too thin of a coat?  Was the thinner too old and expired?  What was up with the Testors thinner as it acted so strong??? 

The only thing I didn’t try was lighter fluid and for some reason I can’t find any.  Wal-Mart and the dollar stores around me didn’t have any…  I guess all the non smoking policies have done their job.

I was almost ready to throw in the towel and stop modeling for another 10 years but I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.  A clear flat coat over most of the kit and drybrush details then I’m DONE!!!

[Grail]

OK.. I fell like going " WHOA! WHoa! ... calm.. "  

What a disaster!  I’ve done panel line washes so many times before and it usually would come out good but this time !@%$$#$  I tried some artist oil paint and some odorless thinner to remove the wash and some parts cleaned up nicely and some came out @!$#!^@  I don’t know if the future was too thin or not flat enough but I wasn’t happy!

!@%$#$%! The thinner ate through the future, paint coat and I think even the primer down to the plastic in ONE wipe!!!  Did Testors start using lacquer thinner Huh??

so, 1st, The flatter the coat on the surface,the more trouble you will have doing your panel lines. They stick instead of running. "capillary action".
You can't do this action without a surface that is a little smooth. I usually can get away with a satin coat,but flat is sort of inviting trouble.
2. Future never goes bad. I have had mine for about 4+yrs now. Same bottle.
3. Testors paints suck. Sorry all you testor lovers but these paints are just a mess. Just my opinion,but I recommend removing those from the equation. Some people CAN get nice coats from testors,but I am not one of them,nor have I seen many good ones.
I use Tamiya Laquer thinner for my Tamiya paints and I get no burn though as you suggested. I don't think it's the thinner in testors,just the all round product.
Again,just my opinion.  

The Grumbacher thinner would also break down some of the decals (even covered with Future) if rubbed too much…

Rubbing your decals too hard with thinner, even under a nice thin coat of future CAN do this. Future also needs time to cure. If you didn't wait long enough and it's flat,the thinner can make the surface tacky again,then it's a slippery slope to ruining the part. Future is not totally invincible as it would ruin your floor if it was.

The only thing I didn’t try was lighter fluid and for some reason I can’t find any.

Look for a store that has "pipes and cigars" they always use zippos.
You may need to slow down on the random paints and thinners and just pick a control group for your paints. Then strip the parts you had problems with and repaint. It is often easier to redo than try to fix a problem and make it look less cool. It would be a shame to see all the cool work in the previous pics suffer.
ANyhow. Hope this helps. What I saw in the earlier pics was awesome.

[MGmodeler]

Thanks Grail, yeh I need to take a chill pill...

Actually I gloss coated everything but some of the stuff I was using was just not right.  Actually I just came back from lunch and found some lighter fluid at Canadain Tire doh!  Of all the places that I didn't check and they had tons of it in the camping isle  

I just want to get this kit done and move on to the next kit.  8+years is just too long on one kit  

I actually did start on a Gundam Action base that I hope to make look good with a paintjob and some decals. Lets see how long this takes to complete.  2011, Sept, tick, tock, tick, tock...

[Grail]

Crappy tire! I could have told you that. I didn't know you were there:) Dude, I miss Canadian tire so bad. No store like that here. I am Canadian, but I moved to Cali for work about 3yrs ago.
Be careful. I get "I just want it done" syndrome right around the end of some of my kits. If left unchecked, that feeling will make all your work destroyed 
Cheers man, good luck.

[MGmodeler]

Got some pics tonight and it still makes me sad to see some of the damage that I caused but some of it doesn't look too bad at a second glance...

Shield doesn't look so bad but the fading caused on the edges  makes me cringe.  For a prototype unit it sure looks used up in some areas...

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

[MGmodeler]

Left foot was the test subject.  You can still see some remains of the acrylic wash and Testors enamel crap  

The right was done only with oils and the odorless thinner.

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

You can see from the sheen that the Future gloss still was a bit rough but in some pieces it was perfect.

[MGmodeler]

Now comes some of the bad images that make me cringe.  If I could repaint them I would but I don't have replacement decals  

You would think that a wash and cleanup would be easy but believe me I tried to clean these things up and this was the best I could get!

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

GP03s started way back in 2003

That last pic makes me sick.  The wash is more on the outside than inside of the panel line!!!!

Hopefully the clear flat spray will go on well and not have any white flakes in the surface.

[MGmodeler]

On a positive note I did start on the Action Base for th GP03

GP03s started way back in 2003

Nice and quick preshade over primer.

GP03s started way back in 2003

And to kick my butt to finish the current project this came in a few weeks back

GP03s started way back in 2003

Mmmmm my first resin upgrade kit.  I hope sniffing resin dust ends up being fun    Sorry Matt had to poke you on that one plus the grey Zeta will have to wait till after Sazabi  

[Hunter Rose]

I dont think it looks that bad MG, I'm sure when you've got it all together at the end it will still look very good, your paint job looks great even after the 'disaster' and at least the decals still look good.

Fair play to you for carrying on too, it would be really easy to just give up especially as you have a new model to start. I had a Warhammer Tau Piranah I was going to do before I started the Hornethopter but I screwed up the paint job, cleaning it off was a total nightmare and in the end I threw it all back in the box and resigned it to the darkness of a far corner of my shed!

Keep at it man, I'm sure the end results will make it all worth it in the end

[Sharkdog]

Always stick with it! I'm sure when you finally finish it up entirely, it won't look so bad at all :)

[MGmodeler]

Thanks for the vote of confidence guys.  I was just so pissed off that day that I had to vent...

I am very happy with the thrusters though.  Alclad with smoke looks so nice.

GP03s started way back in 2003

Strange thing is the white and purple armor pieces look good in the pics but actually look worse in real life.  Anything dark colored looks better in real life  

[Hunter Rose]

Very nice!

Excellent fade on the inside.