Bandai release schedule

The LED version is $50 more expensive than the standard version so I guess those parts will save us all the drilling. I mean I really hope they're not charging an extra $50 just for some lights and a few cables!

You're getting the lights and clear parts (not included with the standard version), and a small booklet/photobook.
 
The LED version is $50 more expensive than the standard version so I guess those parts will save us all the drilling. I mean I really hope they're not charging an extra $50 just for some lights and a few cables!

Maybe the LED version comes with the holes casted in the plastic, then after painting you glue the clear parts (translucent I guess) on those holes afterwards, so that a big LED lights all of them at once from the inside? (no fiber optics, no drilling). Or maybe they added a sheet of dozens of tiny masking stickers? ($50 for a sheet of masking stickers is also a little too much).

I hope it's something super easy like that 'cause if I have to drill everything as usual, why so expensive?

I just assumed most of clear parts are clear replacement parts instead of an opaque colour so you can light it without the use of fiberobtics(!). I would hope they did some simple lightpiping to properly spread the light inside from fewer lightsources and added some diffusers, but that wouldn't be near as much work to fashion as routing fibers. Other than that I'd imagine it's up to you to mask/drill the clear. However I am just assuming. The bay area looks to be made in the way you are describing with clear parts that go on after painting.
 
You're getting the lights and clear parts (not included with the standard version), and a small booklet/photobook.
I know but how do the clear parts work? Have they announced anything about it?

I just assumed most of clear parts are clear replacement parts instead of an opaque colour so you can light it without the use of fiberobtics(!). I would hope they did some simple lightpiping to properly spread the light inside from fewer lightsources and added some diffusers, but that wouldn't be near as much work to fashion as routing fibers. Other than that I'd imagine it's up to you to mask/drill the clear. However I am just assuming. The bay area looks to be made in the way you are describing with clear parts that go on after painting.
Oh I see. That's another possibility I didn't think of. I was just assuming too.

Well however they use the clear parts, I just hope that for an extra $50 they'll provide us with an easy solution that will spare us the tedious work of fiber optics.
 
I know but how do the clear parts work? Have they announced anything about it?

2 of the sprues have been molded in clear and are packed in addition to the standard sprues. It's up to you to mask and paint.

1565453046806.png
 
2 of the sprues have been molded in clear and are packed in addition to the standard sprues. It's up to you to mask and paint.

View attachment 1047034
Oooooh I see. Thanks. I couldn't find that in their website.

So I'm assuming the LEDs illuminate the whole model (or big areas of it) from the inside and you just mask the tiny bits that you want to remain clear, right? What do you guys think? Also, do you think the price is justified knowing this?
 
Not really, they reprint old stuff all the time. If they only reprint what's successful then they wouldn't rerelease the G-SAVIOUR kit.
You're missing one important detail - in gunpla fandom many folks buy particular models not because they liked the show, but because they think that this mech looks cool. They might get attached to the hobby by Wing or Universal Century, but then started to build whatever has caught their eyes. SW case is quite the opposite - I'm pretty sure almost everyone buys kits because they love the movies.

Also, you forgot to mention that less popular or particularly old gundam kits get reprints once in a blue moon. In part it is caused by the sheer overall number of gunpla kits, but it's also clear as day that newer or more popular models takes priority - it's easy to find almost ten years old MG Nu and sazabi ver Ka kits, while in case of simmilarily old hguc Dra-C it might take several months to years to get an reprint (been there done that). Not sure how it looks in SW case, but from my personal experience the only time I've got problem to order anything from SW line-up, was when I tried to track PG Falcon in reasonable price. Maybe that new droid lineup is problematic along with the sequel stuff, but I wasnt interested enough to follow them up.


ANYWAY, does anybody knows if there are any EU-based shops taking preorders on ISD kits? Shipping cost from amazon.com are killing me.
 
[QUOTE = "SirSandalot, сообщение: 4650036, участник: 178647"]
Ооооо, я вижу. Благодарю. Я не мог найти это на их сайте.

Итак, я предполагаю, что светодиоды освещают всю модель (или ее большие области) изнутри, и вы просто маскируете крошечные кусочки, которые вы хотите оставить четкими, не так ли? Что, вы парни, думаете? Кроме того, вы думаете, что цена оправдана, зная это?
[/ QUOTE]
Oooooh I see. Thanks. I couldn't find that in their website.

So I'm assuming the LEDs illuminate the whole model (or big areas of it) from the inside and you just mask the tiny bits that you want to remain clear, right? What do you guys think? Also, do you think the price is justified knowing this?
I think it will be easier to paint, and then on transparent parts with a 0.2 mm drill bit to make a hole in the paint to enlightenment. think this will be easier, than to do masks 0.2 mm
 
I'm pretty sure some of the pieces like the bridge face are completely clear on the limited release. You paint most of it and somehow have the windows unpainted. I'm just not sure what the normal way of creating the windows is.
 
I think it will be easier to paint, and then on transparent parts with a 0.2 mm drill bit to make a hole in the paint to enlightenment. think this will be easier, than to do masks 0.2 mm
That's what I'd do to the standard version, then put some clear acrylic or something translucent beneath the holes so that I don't have to go through the mess of fiber optics.

I was asking what you guys think because I just don't get it. I don't understand the reason behind the clear parts in the LED version. If it's just the way I described, then I'm more inclined to buy the standard version and just do the same trick saving around $40 (buying cables and LEDs at my local hardware store). To me it's even easier to drill than to mask those tiny windows, too.
 
Some more pics of the mini SSD:


0864.jpg


Hat tip to Changkaishecky.
 
That's what I'd do to the standard version, then put some clear acrylic or something translucent beneath the holes so that I don't have to go through the mess of fiber optics.

I was asking what you guys think because I just don't get it. I don't understand the reason behind the clear parts in the LED version. If it's just the way I described, then I'm more inclined to buy the standard version and just do the same trick saving around $40 (buying cables and LEDs at my local hardware store). To me it's even easier to drill than to mask those tiny windows, too.

The difference is that with the clear parts you only have to drill a tiny bit past the paint. If you take the same approach with the standard version not only do you have to buy the lighting and fit it yourself, you would have to drill straight through the plastic, which wouldn’t have the same lighting effect. I do agree that masking tiny windows is not the way forward.
 
The difference is that with the clear parts you only have to drill a tiny bit past the paint. If you take the same approach with the standard version not only do you have to buy the lighting and fit it yourself, you would have to drill straight through the plastic, which wouldn’t have the same lighting effect. I do agree that masking tiny windows is not the way forward.
the fact is that the through hole does not look very good. drilling through and pouring clear lacquer again is not the easiest solution, although it is much easier than fiber optic yarn. transparent parts to drill through is not necessary. it is enough to remove a layer of paint and soil with a drill. we do not need absolute transparency, as for the cockpit of a fighter. but this is my opinion what is needed the transparent part
 
To drill through plastic as usual is one thing, but to drill dozens of tiny windows with a 0.2mm drill bit, on a finished paintjob (no margin for error), and only past the paint, keeping the clear plastic intact as well as the paintjob... I mean I'm not sure if I'd call that "making things easier for LEDs". Not sure that's a pro or a con honestly. If you make a mistake in the standard version on the other hand, you sand it, or even use filler, then sand it and you're good to go. Plus, although the LED version provides the LEDs, I have experience with LEDs so that's not a factor for me.

I'll keep thinking about it till its release. I still don't know what version I'll get, and even if I get the standard version I'm not sure I want to put lights in it.
 
I’m excited about the clear parts. If you want a window somewhere, scratch a bit of paint off. This has the advantage of making the windows smaller than .25 fiber, if your patient enough. Tiny windows are what give a model of a large subject it’s sense of scale.
 
I'll keep thinking about it till its release. I still don't know what version I'll get, and even if I get the standard version I'm not sure I want to put lights in it.
Take a look at this vehicle model 001 Star Destroyer and think about how he cast his own clear resin parts so he could embed a few leds and make lighting possible. It might help you see clear (badum) - parts in a new light (tish). Sorry I'll see myself out.
Btw it was a big hoohaa much earlier in this thread with lots of discussions and pics on this exact subject.
 
Dunno, drilling random holes wherever-you-please and scratching off paint doesn't seem very Bandai-like to me. Curious to see how they handle.
 
Do you not just spray the clear parts on one side (the models outside) with a light blocking paint,....when happy with the painting & weathering you give the part a light sanding,...if all the raised areas are the circular 'windows', you are left with a fibre optic effect

Thats how I'd manufacture the parts for lighting

J
 
Do you not just spray the clear parts on one side (the models outside) with a light blocking paint,....when happy with the painting & weathering you give the part a light sanding,...if all the raised areas are the circular 'windows', you are left with a fibre optic effect

Thats how I'd manufacture the parts for lighting

J
That would work in theory, but the SS has details that protrude past the windows so there's no way to sand without ruining the detail. Drilling is really the only option at this scale. I'd use the smallest drill bits I can find, like .1mm, and a Dremel that runs on AA batteries set as slow as it will go.
 
I was just going to use the same technique used on the original Death Star miniature -- paint, and then scrape off where you want the windows with a pin. Tedious? Yes. But more control than drilling and less messy.
 
I was just going to use the same technique used on the original Death Star miniature -- paint, and then scrape off where you want the windows with a pin. Tedious? Yes. But more control than drilling and less messy.
Interesting fact! I didn't know that. I'll make a test to see how that looks from up close (Ikea Detolf close).

Tip: don't use acrylic-polyurethane primer if you're gonna use that technique. It's a rubber-ish primer that tends to pull up surrounding material when scratched, so insted of a tiny window you end up with battle damage.
 
Back
Top