Report: Gundam Exia R2 Seven Sword Custom 1/144 HG

Just assume that this kit is a prototype mobile suit for Gundam 00 Seven Sword and Gundam 00 QanT… therefore I’ll just named it as it is now. Well, generally it took me 1 whole week to get this thing done. Working hours is about 5 hours to 6 hours each day… all the skills involve here… they are all new to me except sanding. Anyway, it’s good to learn something new. Here’s a list of material used:

Gundam involved: Gundam Exia R2 1/144 HG, Gundam Exia 1/144 HG, Destiny Gundam 1/144 HG, Mobile Pod Ball 1/100 MG, Gundam Astray Red Frame 1/60 PG, Hobby Japan XN-Raiser transformation pack

Tools and materials: Pla-plate, gloves, mask, Tamiya Putty White, Tamiya Finishing Abrasive P800 & P2000, Mr, Cement, Tamiya Clear Soft Plastic Beams (round 3mm), Diamond file, 2.5mm Drill, craft knife, cutter, clear plastic sheet

Paint and etc: Gundam Marker Black, Gundam Panel Liner Black & Grey, Mr. Color Thinner, Mr. Color Clear Green bottle paint, Masking tape, Mr. Super Clear (semi gloss), Mr White Surfacer 1000, Tamiya Paint Marker X-11 Chrome Silver, Mr. Color Spray Can (Steel, Light Gray, Black)

It sure sounds like a big chaos for involving so many Gunpla right? Haha… well, I only use a piece of two from the plastics of Mobile Pod Ball, Astray Red Frame and Destiny Gundam. Exia R2 and XN-Raiser are the main thing used in this project. Here’s an overview of my custom made Exia R2.

I use the clear part of beam saber from other kit, since Exia beam saber is actually a whole piece of white plastic. Next, I made the extra XN sword with a palm gripping it. I had sticked them nicely together so that the weapon will not get loose from the hand during posing. And finally another extra fist for holding other things… beam saber most probably.

Here’s a comparison between my model and original Exia R2. Starting from the bottom, I changed the color scheme for the leg, and I shaved the part right below the knee to review the inner frame of the leg… try to observe and you will see that original leg has a grey stripe in front of the leg right below the knee, which is very obvious and stand out, but for my kit I had throw that part away. A part from XN Raiser is added on top of the knee armor as shown in picture label 1. Just cement both part together and use putty to cover it nicely. There are some scratch mark on the knee which is due to my mistake in sanding T.T Next, I added the thrusters of Destiny Gundam onto Exia’s thrusters as shown in label 2. Just cut out the part from Destiny, sand it into appropriate size and cement it. For the socket near the waist, since I want to put the GN Blade, so I’m using Exia’s socket instead of R2′s socket. All frames and joints are in Steel color, white silver, black ad light gray hit the rest.

Label 3 indicates the Duo-GN Sowrd. I got one extra Exia GN Sword as I had transformed my Exia into Astraea last time with the conversion kit from Dengeki Hobby. At first I want to create only one beam rifle and 2 swords… but due to limitation of skills =.=” I ended sticking the two rifle together, put a layer of putty and sand them. Then the swords were sprayed with steel color and one is painted with silver as well to create MG-like GN sword. For the shield, I added a soft rubber (PS) part to increase the strength of the connection between shield and rifle. I also cut off the part which increase the gap between the shield and the rifle, therefore my shield now stick directly to the rifle.

Label 4 shows the slightly modified shoulder armor. Inside the shoulder, there are visible seam line. Although it may not be that visible when the arm is posing, but still I’d put a pla plate in to cover it. For the exterior, I’d added a silver detail part at the front as you can see from the picture. That is a part I get from Astray Red Frame. Some pieces of the clear parts I received last time around and I didn’t use it, so I just use them here instead. About the seam line on the shoulder, refer to the picture of the original R2 below for a clearer idea on what’s going on.

Red line and yellow line indicate the most obvious seam line. Green line will not be visible after assembly. So, for yellow seam line, I simply add another stripe on the opposite side as shown in label 5… therefore you won’t notice it is a panel line or seam line anymore! as for the read seam line, I shave down a little on both side, creating a “drain-like” mecha-detail, therefore manage to make the seam line become less visible as well as shown in label 6.

The beam saber is keep on the left hand elbow area. An extra part from the XN-Raiser is use to increase the distance between the beam saber holder (from Exia) and left hand as shown in label 7. Due to the need of this mechanism, the arm used here is Exia’s arm instead of R2′s arm. Label 7 also indicate the extra detail part I added on the “cut-short” shield. That part is from Mobile Pod Ball. Label 8 shows the modified shield. Generally I just cut the top part away and added a clear green plastic and a piece of pla-plate to clip the clear green part onto the shield. Therefore, my “Shield-Sword” is borned! Label 9 indicate the difference of waist rear skirting between my custom and original R2. The only changes I made is making the red orb larger. This is done by attaching the yellow orb of Destiny’s shield on it.

Next, take a look at the mechanism added on the right shoulder for the XN-Sword. It is a very simple mechanism though. First, I stick a pla plate on the top of the shoulder. Then I drill a hole on the pla plate. Then the first part from the XN- Raiser kit is join by using the plastic round beam and secure on the shoulder. Next, the holder for the XN-Sword is originally in the shape. but in order to attach it to the part on the shoulder, I shave some of the plastic away and put in a soft rubber part (PS) as well. In the end, the whole mechanism manage to turn as shown by the red circle.

Beside the rear skirting modification, the front also received some treatment as well. The front skirting is removed, but I’m kinda regret doing so as it exposed the waist clearly… well, never mind then. Next, I added a panel line for the waist central… just like the one in Gundam 00 QanT. Finally, because I can’t find the red orb for the front waist… (wonder where I lost it…) so I use another part from Astray Red Frame instead. Just stick it on and paint it… done. notice I’d remove the seam line on the leg? But the surface is still a little bit rough… And I also painted the arm joint in silver for some area.

Sorry if some of my explanation is not that clear. Feel free to ask any question or give any suggestion on how to solve the problems on my kit and how to improve it. Anyway, this is it… my very first custom made… will try on 1/100 kit next time when I have the mood and idea to do so ^^ till then, I’m off for my vacation and the Gallery will up for all my collections as soon as I sharpen my photography skills a bit and once I get hold on a better camera

Here’s some snaps of action pose (all images click on it to enlarge):

Posing with the Duo-GN Sowrd

Posing with the GN Shield-Sword

The XN-Sword can turn to the front and act as shield as well

Posing with the XN-Sword