Participating in the 2nd Gunpla Like! HG Darryl Baldet with damage processing

It's been a few months since my last Gunpla Like...
The 2nd Gunpla Like will finally be held starting in September.
Of course, Gunpla will be on display from the Akihabara Base Camp again this time!!

This time, we would like to bring you a glimpse into the making of the Gunpla model for exhibition.

What is Gunpla Like!?

This is the second Gunpla exhibition event, Gunpla Iine!
This event will feature Gunpla exhibits in the event space on the 4th floor of AKIBA Cultures Zone.

↓Click here to see the first event

Exhibition Event Gunpla Like! Spring 2023 at AKIBA Cultures Zone

Akihabara Gunpla exhibition event. Gunpla Iine! Second exhibition period begins

This time, there will be a theme section where works will be exhibited in line with the theme presented by the organizer,
Exhibits other than Gunpla are also eligible, and there is a general section that includes everything from bare builds to full painting and modifications.
For further information, please read CLICK HEREPlease apply from here (Applications are now closed)

HG Darryl Balde, after the battle

The kit used this time is HG Darryl Balde.
The aircraft piloted by Guel Jetark, who appears in The Witch of Mercury.
She appeared in the middle of the first season, replacing Dilanza.
It was also used by Guell in the second season, but he did not pilot it after the battle with Michaelis.

Since it is an HG model, there are few parts and few color-coded runners.
The colors are well-coded, relatively easy to make, and highly finished.

This time, we will use Daril Balde to represent the aftermath of a battle, and apply damage processing to it as if it had continued to be on the battlefield even after avoiding major damage.

From cutting out parts to gate processing

First, cut out the parts from the runner.
When cutting from the runner, leave a small gate.
After this, cutting off any remaining gates will prevent whitening or gouging, which can cause the parts to turn white.
*When painting the entire part, be sure to cut it leaving a gate to prevent the parts from being gouged.


Next we will cut out the remaining gate.
I use Ultimate Nippers, which have a sharp edge and are less likely to whiten.

Make two cuts so that a small amount of gate (about 0.1 mm) remains.
The remaining gate will be sanded down later.

This is the amount of gate that was cut.
A tabletop cleaner makes this process easy.

Here are the parts after the second cut.
It's the amount that can fit on one sorting tray.

Once the second cut is complete, a trial assembly is performed.
If you are assembling the model without any modifications, this temporary assembly process is not necessary.
I will be doing the modifications, processing and full painting, so after doing a mock-up I will think about what to process and how to color code the paint.

We perform a trial assembly and once we have confirmed the processing areas and color coding, we disassemble it.
After that, the remaining gates and the surface are treated at the same time.
Iron files and sponge files are used for gate processing and surface preparation.
I think it would be a good idea to have sandpaper ranging from about 400 to 800 grit.

The remaining gate is filed flat with an iron file, then smoothed using a 400 to 800 grit file.

At the same time, the surface of the parts is also smoothed.
Surface treatment smooths out any distortions or dents on the parts, allowing for a clean paint job.
Before processing.
Depending on the light, you may be able to see any sink marks (distortions or dents) on the parts.

After processing.
Distortions and dents have been smoothed out.

Modification and damage processing

From here, we will start adding damage processing.
But before that, we will repair the parts that are hollow (have a hollow back side).
Repairs are simple; just fill the holes with putty, let it dry, and then sand it down to a flat surface.
The soles of Darryl Balde's feet have been hollowed out, which doesn't look good, so I'll fill them in.
If there are any other areas you are concerned about, please fill them in.

Once the putty has been applied, damage processing is carried out.
There are various ways to create damage, but this time we will be doing damage processing in line with the setting in the movie.
In the world of the Mercury Witch, the use of real weapons is prohibited, so mobile suits are generally equipped with beam weapons.
When damage is received, it is not a bullet hole caused by a real bullet, but rather damage caused by a beam (heat).
So let's use the melted expression as the base and add some scratches caused by the aircraft colliding with each other.

The tools to be used are as follows:
Scratch expression
・Iron file
・Design knife
·pliers
Melting expression
・Soldering iron


Here are the parts after using an iron file to create chipped edges, a design knife to create scratches, and a soldering iron to create melted edges.
There is no absolute correct answer for this type of processing, but the metal melting that occurs in beam systems was only done on the outside.
This is because if it were to be hit directly or in a critical location, it would be unable to activate in the first place, and we wanted to create the impression that the damage was kept to a minimum by deflecting the beam.

Painting and dirt expression

I won't go into too much detail about the painting process, but since Darryl Balde doesn't have many colors available, I think it's suitable for people starting out with painting.
This time, Mechasaf Super Heavy was used for the frames, Bright Red for the exterior, and Cool White for the white parts.
The red turned out to be brighter than the setting, but I chose a lighter color considering the dirtiness.
In this case, it would be good to choose the color while considering the final finished color.

After painting, the surface is stained.
The weathering colors used are black and gray.
The order is to paint black first and then paint gray on top.
Once it has dried, adjust the dirt with weathering color thinner.
Here is it

It's quite easy to use because it cleans just the right amount without you having to worry about where the dirt accumulates and where it flows.
And finally, dry brush.
Use silver paint and a brush, and wipe off the paint on the brush with paper or something similar until it is completely dry.
After that, paint the areas where friction occurs, such as the edges of the parts, taking into consideration paint peeling.

Once the dry brushing is complete and the top coat is applied, the Daril Balde distressed finish is complete.

Gunpla is great! Daril Balde completed for exhibition

This time, I created Darryl Balde for the 2nd Gunpla Like!
I applied some damage to the item to express the theme "Aftermath of the Battle." What do you think?
Gunpla Like! will be held from September 1st to September 18th.
The location is on the 4th floor of AKIBA Cultures ZONE.
Next time, let's all display our Gunpla!