AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

[The Magic Tuba Pixie]

I got the 1/100th scale Master Grade AMX-004 Qubeley model kit as something to poke at in the dorms at college.  I finished building it during the school year, but only recently got around to actually messing with it.  Spurred by the success of my U-Suit 47, which won Best of Show at the A-kon branch of the Gunpla Builders World Cup (enn bee dee, y'all), I have started working on it in an excited fervor.

Anyway, the idea I have for this particular model kit is pretty simple; my last model kit went back in time (sort of), back to World War II.  Why not go back further?  I want to make the Qubeley look like a knight in shining armor.
I ... have sketches of the initial idea somewhere, I just haven't uploaded them yet.  Watch this space.
I got the concept sketches scanned in.  Here's a peek into my (extremely disjointed) planning phase.
(These two images were in two different sketchbooks.  The idea has changed a bit since the initial thought.)

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

Yes, I am indeed adding a cape.  Because every giant robot needs a cape.

I plan to give the whole kit a metallic finish, with the exception of some filigree bits and mesh.

However, I just realized that I only have pics for the wing binders and some arm armor.  So that's what you get to look at today.

I started with the lower arm bits, just kind of derpin' around.

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

I cut out the vent details (and did kind of a shoddy job).  I also drilled holes where some circles were on the original kit.

Now, on to the binders.  It's here where I have decided to add some fancy filigrees as an excuse to try some reverse-washing techniques.
I found these leaf bead jewelry accessories at Michael's.  I think they're perfect.  The details will be framed by two polystyrene square rods, as such:

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

And here you can see my eloquent clamping technique used to fasten the trim in place:

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

I decided to fill in the small holes on the binder's corners, as such:

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

This will leave me more space for filigree madness.

I tried a few different arrangements of the filigrees:

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

But I ended up going with this arrangement:

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

You can see my finger in the corner there.

Now that I have one binder done, I can move on to the other three.
Yaay.  :L

Also: shit.

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

I'll fix this with some putty, so it's not really a huge deal, but I got absolutely no breaks on my first binder.  Oh, well!

I'm working on scratch-building a shield at the moment, as well.  I'll keep you guys posted!  There's some stuff I'll need help on later, but I'll cross that bridge when we get to it!
Thanks for your time!

[Hunter Rose]

Great details!  I love it when people do different things with gundam kits so will be following with interest, sounds like a cool idea.

And nice use of bulldog clips! 

[The Inner Geek]

This is going to be very unique. I like the filigree idea so much it's rediculous.

I don't know if you live in the states, but I picked this up these Clamps locally and love them for clamping small parts. The clamp "teeth" are even a softish finish so they don't bite into most things. I don't trust Harbor Freight product quality farther than I can toss the store, but for things like cheap clamps they rock.

[The Magic Tuba Pixie]

Thanks, guys!

Inner Geek: yeah, ridiculous is kind of what I'm going for. 

Speaking of ridiculous, I am in need of your help.  Here is a prototype for a shield for the Qubeley.
What do you think?

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

I can't decide if I want to keep it or not.
(And don't worry: the real shield will be made of polystyrene, not cardboard and paper.)

Here's the attachment / holding / handle mechanism, too:

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

Thanks!

[Beork]

I don't think the shield fits the design of the qubeley.
Maybe go with something more curved and facny, like shields in five star stories?

[Hunter Rose]

I personally love the shield design, big and bold like a knight of old! 

[Will Vale]

I like it too, it seems to go with the big feet really well. I'm not sure if it'll work with the shoulder pads though - it doesn't look like they'd fit together and allow movement from your pic?

[Sharkdog]

I do like the shield design, but I don't think it works practically.
Maybe to have it fit with the Qubeley's design a little bit more, make the shield a bit less wide. That way it'll have a bit more of a slender curvy feel to it, plus it won't impair movement (as much).

[The Magic Tuba Pixie]

Thanks for the input, guys!  I've gotten more than one response suggesting the shield should be narrower.  It's a good point; I'll whip up a narrower and swooshier design.  I'll probably use the shoulder binders' dimensions as inspiration.

On a related note, I'm also going to add filigrees to the breastplate.  I haven't decided on the arrangement of filigrees yet, but I have it narrowed it down to two possibilities.

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

I have three of the binders filigreed now, and I just had inspiration for a weapon to be held in the right hand; I think I'm gonna go with a spear with tassels and pretty things on it.  I haven't yet decided if I want the shaft to be stained wood or a solid color.
Here's a basic overview shot so far:

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

[JohnLogan]

Nice mods. Can't wait to see more.

[The Magic Tuba Pixie]

Here's a new take on the shield.  I made it more like the wing binders (i.e. longer and swooshier).

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

I used the same mechanism to attach:

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

I think it's an improvement.  Thoughts?

[Sharkdog]

Much better, I'd say! This shield fits more with the style of the suit, and I think it'll also give it a bit more range of movement :)

[The Magic Tuba Pixie]

I feel like I'm spamming the forum with all these pictures of this thing, but I always love to see other people's builds come together, so I hope other people are enjoying this as much as I am.

Small update, but it's a subtle Tengen Toppen Gurren Lagann reference.

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)

Well, as subtle as Tengen Toppen Gurren Lagann gets.

[Hunter Rose]

Wow yeah that shield is much better, and I love the chest plate on the qubeley, this is great work Pixie dont sweat it put as many photo's up as you like its looking really good! 

[Beork]

This shield is way better, still not elegant enough for my taste, but it'll fit in once painted.

Now go and finish it, want to see it painted!

[NickM]

I don't like the shape of the shield, it obscures the kit too much imo, how is the pilot even going to see around it? I think it's one component that could be a little more practical.

Been following this build for a while now, it looks great. I love how progressive it is. 

[The Inner Geek]

I don't like the shape of the shield, it obscures the kit too much imo, how is the pilot even going to see around it? I think it's one component that could be a little more practical.

I have to disagree. I think the shield looks great. As for practicality, a shield that size might hold extra radar and imaging systems that allow the suite to form a composite picture of the battleground far more detailed than the onboard sensors alone can. Therefore, the pilot might be able to see better from behind the shield, than without it? It's sci-fi... we can rationalize anything!

[mathai]

Since its got a medieval theme how bout a lance like the Knights of yore? 
I don't think the MG GN X has a lance so you might have to scratch build your own.

AMX-004 MG Qubeley (Zeonic Knight conversion)