Master grade MS-06J Zaku II

[mz3]

Update....









Started making streaks and grime. I used the left over black oil paint from the cat build, so it was thinned a bit. I'll do more after all this is completely dry. This will basically be the dark stains under rust or grime, whatever I go with in each area.





I also added a bit of shading around the leg missile packs straps. I sprayed a very thinned layer of mr color tire black with the straps in place.


Then lightly sanded them to wear out the paint a bit. The one on top is sanded.

[chromdome35]

That looks great, your paint and weathering on this is off the charts. Bravo!

[Real G]

The "clean spot" under the leg rocket launcher straps is brilliant!  I never would have thought to do that.

[mz3]

I had the idea a few years ago, but haven't had a chance to do it until now. I might go back and add a bit of some kind of brown.





Testing some paint chips. Testors flat rubber, it's a nice dark brown color.

[buddho]

Ohhhhh goodness, that looks amazing!🤓

[mz3]

Update...

Dark yellow parts have been painted and reinstalled...


I drybrushed them with testors flat black then flat rust trying to get a slightly burnt look to them. Don't know if it worked exactly, but it looks cool. I painted the round part of the elbow back to original dark green. Painted the "2" on after everything was dry, used(too much) liquid mask to chip it.







Now, I like to try new things, I'm using water color pencils to add blotches and damage to the paint. I'm still learning how to use them, but so far I like it and it's very easy. The camera is picking them up more, buy irl they are very soft and just barely perceivable.

[deafpanzer]

BEAUTIFUL!!! I love how you are using different colors for almost every part!!!

[mz3]

Update...

I started on oil paints. The watercolor pencils are good, but I need more practice with them.










Kind of hard to see, I'm only going heavy on the damaged areas. Most of it will be a bit more subtle. I'm working greens in to change the base color a bit. A tan for some rain marks/dirt.

I also broke out the new airbrush to do some more dirt/grime in some areas. I need to practice with it more, it feels very different from my Iwatas.

[406 Silverado]

JEEZ mz!! It doesn't look like you need much practice bud! This weathering that you're pulling off is looking great man.

[mz3]

Working oils....













Mainly working the black/grey parts trying to get some scratches and scuffs. Some of them will be filled in with some kind of rust. Haven't decided yet what to use. On the green parts I was trying to work areas that have a higher likelihood of damage. Hands, parts that kind of stick out a bit. I'm using 2 different shades of green, mixing them in a few areas. They are a little bright, but I think that will help when dirt and dust goes on later. I applied most of these with a toothpick.

I also put a crack in the clear plastic in front of the eye. I'll wash it later to bring it out more.

[deafpanzer]

Brilliant work adding crack to the eye!!! Everything is really looking great.

[chromdome35]

WOW, i haven't looked in on this one lately and WOW! That paint job looks excellent. I agree with Andy, the eye crack is a brilliant addition!

[Real G]

The damage is MUCH better looking that Doan’s Zaku from Kukurusu Doan’s Island. Doan’s Zaku looked like it was made of gingerbread cookies and some rats got to it.

Oops, is it too early to slide in Christmas references? But the radio stations switched to 24/7 Christmas music last week, and the stores are creating consumer confusion by declaring Black Friday yesterday!

[mz3]

I was getting black friday ads 2 weeks ago. I'm not a big fan of this time of year.

Pics...

Before-


After-



I was REALLY curious about AK's weathering pencils. So I bought a couple and started using them. I'm actually impressed with them. They are basically watercolor pencils that take a hint more effort to blend or remove.




This is kinda what I'm going for on the feet-




It's really the only real world example of something big and weathered that I could find.

[tcoat]

Nov 18, 2023 17:41:16 GMT -5 mz3 said:

After-




This is kinda what I'm going for on the feet-




It's really the only real world example of something big and weathered that I could find.

[mz3]

Zaku...










I bought the whole set of weathering pencils from AK. I've been trying the different colors here and there. I really like these and the normal watercolor pencils. But I feel like I still need practice with them. I'm focusing on the feet right now, trying to get scratches and little stains.

The axe isn't finished yet, just trying it on.

[deafpanzer]

Looking real good! I am in same boat as yours... I got those weathering pencils recently but I still have to learn how to use them effectively.

[mz3]

I found a tutorial from AK on youtube...

youtu.be/5I3S4-aQPkY?si=9RGhxkAhdiMWAHn1

Basically the same as normal watercolor pencils. Learning on a 1/100 scale probably isn't the best way to do it. I will go to town on the Panther when I actually get to the painting on it.

[Green KreationZ]

I’m blown away! Your paint job and weathering is very convincing.

I have to admit, I find the tedious work of putting Gundam together, then take apart to paint, and then put back together again extremely exhausting. I actually have a Great Saber Zoid completely built and partially taken apart chilling in my closet because I got tired of messing with it lol. One day I plan on getting it painted up.

[kyledehart5]

Fantastic work. The weathering is looking great.

[mz3]

Dec 6, 2023 15:06:21 GMT -5 Green KreationZ said:

I’m blown away! Your paint job and weathering is very convincing.

I have to admit, I find the tedious work of putting Gundam together, then take apart to paint, and then put back together again extremely exhausting. I actually have a Great Saber Zoid completely built and partially taken apart chilling in my closet because I got tired of messing with it lol. One day I plan on getting it painted up.

Honestly, it is tedious at times. Notice it takes me a while to actually finish any of these. There's a bunch of times when I just don't want to do anything with them. Mostly around priming and the first layer of paint. Those parts will sit for weeks. I just try to keep in mind the end result and try to move forward. Sometimes that doesn't work and they just sit more.

[Green KreationZ]

Dec 6, 2023 16:29:48 GMT -5 mz3 said:

Dec 6, 2023 15:06:21 GMT -5 Green KreationZ said:

I’m blown away! Your paint job and weathering is very convincing.

I have to admit, I find the tedious work of putting Gundam together, then take apart to paint, and then put back together again extremely exhausting. I actually have a Great Saber Zoid completely built and partially taken apart chilling in my closet because I got tired of messing with it lol. One day I plan on getting it painted up.

Honestly, it is tedious at times. Notice it takes me a while to actually finish any of these. There's a bunch of times when I just don't want to do anything with them. Mostly around priming and the first layer of paint. Those parts will sit for weeks. I just try to keep in mind the end result and try to move forward. Sometimes that doesn't work and they just sit more.

Seems you feel a similar way haha. 

Here’s the saber before I took it back apart for paint -

[kyledehart5]

That is sweet!

[mz3]

That is cool. I haven't ever done a Zoids build. But I keep seeing nice stuff like this. I may have to build one.

[Green KreationZ]

Dec 6, 2023 18:28:28 GMT -5 mz3 said:

That is cool. I haven't ever done a Zoids build. But I keep seeing nice stuff like this. I may have to build one.

It’s in between an MG and PG if you were comparing to Gundam as far as number of parts and size. 

[mz3]

Dirt.....











I've been working these ak pencils for a bit on this. Slowly building up dirt and grime. Using them both wet and dry. I've been using them dry in the areas where the armor plates meet together. Getting a pin wash in those areas is all most impossible. With these I'm just using a sharp pencil and tracing along along the line. Then go over it with a damp brush. Using a bunch of different colors.

I also broke the back of the right hand....



I had to preform some emergency finger surgery and taking the back off I split it. I'll just work it into the weathering.

I'm very curious as to how these pencils will handle a flat coat. I'll get to that this weekend.

[deafpanzer]

Really digging the subtle dirt weathering!

[Real G]

Very nice progress! Looks like it’s about ready to go out and kick some Feddie GMs!

[mz3]

Time to gwt back to work...







Weapons are mostly done now. They all startbwith black mr surfacer primer as their base coat. Then silver enamel drybrushed on. The boozuka got dark iron on the middle section. The heat hawk has silver on the blade and bottom tip. The hose is flat black. The ends were painted bronze, but the black ate it up. So I painted them gold leaf, just for a bit of color. The boozuka and axe still need flat coat and washes.

[dupes]

Missed your earlier updates, apparently - the Zaku looks great! I need to play around with my AK pencils more.