Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

My Running List

Bandai 1/12 C-3P0
Bandai 1/12 First Order Stormtrooper
Bandai 1/12 R2-D2 & R5-D4 (with R2-KT custom)
Bandai 1/12 Darth Vader
Bandai 1/12 Sandtrooper
Bandai 1/12 Captain Phasma
Bandai 1/12 Kylo Ren


Hello All! :canada:

2015 was a great year for Star Wars action figure fans, but for me it was the introduction to a new, cool pastime of mine, kit building. Never in a million years did I think it would be fun, relaxing and in some cases be more satisfying than collecting the Hasbro Black Series line. These sets are extremely movie accurate and very detailed. But not many collectors know about them.

I have purchased almost every 1/12th scale (6") Bandai Star Wars figure kit so far and I wanted to document them and show some of my paint work and maybe answer any questions you might have about the sets. Please feel free to post your own Star Wars Bandai kit pics and thoughts as well.

I also wanted this to be a place we can share tips and tricks and our reviews for those that might be on the fence for purchasing any of the kits. So here we go...



What are Bandai kits?

They are plastic models that you build piece by piece. The parts are still on the racks straight from the factory mould which need to be cut off and trimmed. You assemble the kit by simply snapping the pieces together as indicated in the instructions sheet. No glue is required. Each set includes a sticker sheet (green background) and a water decal equivalent (blue background). Of the two, I prefer the water decals. Less noticeable. But actually my preference is to paint the detailing whenever possible.

Bandai kits are not toys like the Black Series line. They are beautiful model display pieces that can pose extremely well due to their lighter weight and superarticulation. Rough play is not recommended.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTA1NFgxNj...lVOHzO/$_1.JPG


What tools do I need?

All you really need are...

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...PL._SX342_.jpg

Small, angled flush cutters - this will allow you to cut as close as possible to the part so as to leave only minimal flash (Here is the flush cutters I bought)...the flash can then be carefully removed with...



http://www.hollanders.com/media/cata...o_11_blade.jpg

X-Acto knife - a good one used for crafts serves well. I got mine from the dollar store and it came with a lots of extra blades and a rubberized grip.

I've never had the need for any other tools. These kits literally just snap together.


What if I break a piece?

Some Bandai pieces can be thin and fragile. I've broken my share. Here are some modeling adhesives that might help that I've used before.

http://s29.postimg.org/52jpixa9j/s_l300_edit_edit.jpg


Painting

Painting is NOT necessary. But I do highly recommend it as it just takes the kits to another level of awesomeness. Painting seems intimidating but take it from me who has never had any experience painting a thing in my life. It's not that hard. It's actually quite relaxing and rewarding. If I can do it, anyone can.

http://s13.postimg.org/ckqhq3x7b/IMG...810_233018.jpg


Painting prep procedure

Before painting you should always submerge your racks/parts in soapy water. I use dish soap and gently rub the parts with a soft bristle children's tooth brush to get in all the grooves. This will remove the mould release chemicals, allowing for better adhesion of the paint (and stickers/decals too). I was shocked how oily the parts are if not washed. Before painting some people will also apply a primer.

I always decant my paints in a separate paint tray that has 6 mixing wells. I got them from the dollar store. My decanting and mixing is very unscientific. I literally take Popsicle sticks and scoop out a bit at a time.

Make sure you mix up the paints first though. Cause the acrylic and paint naturally separate when sitting idle. I use wooden shrimp forks I found at the chinese grocery store lol Lately I've just been using the cocktail forks to decant the paints. I only decant what I need which is usually very little, like four drops at a time.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...EL._SX300_.jpg


Painting technique

My technique is not very sophisticated. I don't own an air brush set and I have zero previous experience. But I prefer to use Tamiya acrylic paints because they are normally self leveling and easy to work with.

I apply my paint with synthetic paint brushes. I prefer Taklon. They are golden/orange in colour, sometimes brown, very durable and have a natural feel to them while brushing. They are also cheap. Michaels has them, Walmart and dollar store too. I tried natural horse hair bristles and that was a terrible experience. Taklon brushes are available in varying sizes but make sure you get some extra fine tipped ones. A 20/0 brush works great for fine detailing.

http://thumbs1.ebaystatic.com/d/l225...guVNiFLfOQ.jpg


My Toothpick Technique

When dealing with smaller detailed parts sometimes it's hard not to apply excess paint. This is ok. Just gently scrape off excess with a toothpick once dry or something that won't scratch the surface. You don't have to be so precise when painting.


Helpful Painting Agents

Apply thin layers if you are concerned about unevenness. Add Tamiya X-20A acrylic paint thinner to help you achieve this. The thinner also contains a paint retardant, causing it to not dry out as fast. Just add one drop at a time as needed until the consistency is to your desire. You don't need much. I use a needle-less syringe I got with a prescription for my child's antibiotic. I like to use the thinner once the paint starts to dry out in the paint well or starts getting thicker. It's a good paint salvaging agent.

Tamiya paints come in three finishes, flat (denoted by "F" on the paint colour code, semi-gloss (written on label) or gloss (default). Tamiya X-21 Flat Base can be sparingly added to any Tamiya glossy paints to flatten out the finish too. But if you use too much, your paint will frost up like wet icing sugar and you will not see any colour. You literally only need one or two drops. Test it out before applying. Make sure to let it dry fully. It looks glossy at first but then it flattens out real nice. This is a handy trick if you don't want to get three different versions of the each of the main colours. The reverse can be done using Tamiya Clear Gloss if you want to add a little more sheen.

http://s24.postimg.org/lvkp9ec85/Untitled_1.jpg

http://fireflyhobbies.co.za/images/TAM81040.jpg

http://i1.wp.com/modelismoblog.files...size=277%2C320


What about weathering effects?

Many people create their own "washes" for that worn in look by just mixing a darker colour with water and then applying. There are also ready made products for this specific purpose. I like to use a thin coat of Tamiya Smoke X-19 mixed with X-21 Flat Base. This eliminates any reflection and really gives you a good effect (see Boba Fett kit pics). Another option which I am going to be experimenting with are weathering kits and panel line markers and dyes. Tamiya and Gundam have a range of products.

Edit: I recently tried the Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color product here and Weather Master kit here and they are great. The panel line accent uses capillary action to spread the wash along the grooves. whatever is extra can be easily removed with lighter fluid and a Q-tip. The Weather Master kit is applied like make up.

http://www.tamiya.com/english/produc...hering/top.jpg

http://www.tamiya.com/english/produc...accent/top.jpg

http://www.spaceoddity.nl/files/images/14425.jpg


What if I really mess up?

If you mess up, just submerge your plastic model part in this for a bit. The paint just lifts off. Rinse with warm water and you're back to normal and can start again. No risk really. Just don't use the "D" version (degreaser).

Simple Green is non-toxic, eco-friendly and does not irritate your skin. I have used it plenty of times. Available at Canadian Tire.


http://simplegreen.com/images/produc...0000113033.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

http://s23.postimg.org/4wvhzb1nv/maxresdefault.jpg

Bandai 1/12 custom painted. C-3P0 is absolutely phenomenal. CHROME!!!! Makes my Revo 3P0 look like a KO.

Behold the chrome-a-licious parts!

http://s13.postimg.org/u3vf20n1z/IMG...615_220224.jpg
http://s13.postimg.org/vycuxhzg7/IMG...615_220244.jpg

One of the most satisfying aspects to this set are the abdominal wiring. I couldn't dare use the decals provided. Just a simple run a some gloss red and blue (royal blue/white mix), grey (black and white mix) and flat aluminum and black paint on the wires and it just looks so alive. The layering effect gives it a three dimensional look and feel.

The eyes I painted with Tamiya Gold Leaf and then used a black sharpie to mark the pupils. I tried to bad a bit of paint there but it kept running into the eye socket grooves. Painting it from the back didn't work either. It wasn't dark enough for me.

Other areas I painted with Gold Leaf are the palm detailing and the bicep pistons (for the movable arms) and some of the back panel detailing (when cover removed). Also the four gold wire couplers visible on the front and back of the abdominal area.

The restraining bolt I painted Gun Metal with Flat Aluminum accents. and I added a little white to the comlink.

Note: be very careful when cutting some of the pieces off the mould. A few of the sprues are exposed on the exterior of the parts, which are vac-metal, so if you do not do clean cuts, you will experience some unwanted peeling. If your flush cutters are a little dull, you should consider replacing them.

This set is a great medal ceremony 3P0. I'll have to remove the restraining bolt though. I have another set and I was thinking of adding a faint black wash to the chrome.

Verdict

This kit is honestly a near perfect model. If I had to rate this kit, I'd say it's 9.9 out of 10. THIS is the protocol droid you're looking for...

Here are some comparison and progress pics...

http://s27.postimg.org/w5vun31tv/IMG...809_150156.jpg
http://s27.postimg.org/b6fqvl05f/IMG...809_153908.jpg
http://s27.postimg.org/r3j461hxf/IMG...809_153813.jpg
http://s27.postimg.org/ggkpmvkeb/IMG...810_230543.jpg
http://s27.postimg.org/l50pi29kz/IMG...810_232804.jpg
http://s24.postimg.org/5b3odyo79/IMG...34902_edit.jpg
http://s27.postimg.org/lcsxsb9xf/IMG...810_233006.jpg
http://s27.postimg.org/7myejimtf/IMG...810_233108.jpg
http://s27.postimg.org/6s79jqpkz/IMG...810_234831.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

I bought a boba fett one with the intention of building it and never have.

I actually really would like to assemble a few of the droid sets.

These are very similar (as they come from the same company) to Gundam model kits, which I used to put together as a kid. Those were FUN to put together and I suspect this will be much of the same.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

I have the Boba set waiting to be made too. I'm going to be converting it into a ROTJ Boba instead of ESB Boba. This is where the customizability (if that's a word) of the Bandai kit really gives the owner the freedom to make the figure his/her own. That's one of the best parts of owning these kits

Edit: updated pics of C3P0 above

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Wow! Multiplex, thanks for posting all this info! I actually just logged on right now to send you a PM basically asking you about everything you posted. I am totally stoked to get some of these sets - just got my shipping notice now for the ones I bought, they should arrive after the Christmas break.

It's been 15-20 years since I've touched a model kit - I used to do a lot of classic cars, painted up nice, got about 2 dozen on the shelf. My brother and I used to use the small cans of automotive spray paint for them, but that's definitely overkill for the Bandai stuff. Where do you buy your Tamiya products? Local hobby store, or is there a good online site?

You did a beautiful job on that 3PO!

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Thank you, wedge! It's one of my favorites.

I buy my paints locally from a couple hobby shops. One is a military model shop. You don't really need much cause you can create many shades yourself. They are 3.50. To 3.99 a bottle. You really won't need much cause really all you are doing is touching up areas and adding extra detail. Just be aware there are three finishes to many of the colours, flat matte, semi-gloss and gloss.

Look forward to seeing your models.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

I love these kits. I'm just finishing up the R2 and R5 models.

I'm having a hard time with the keylines. I used to do gundam about 10 years ago, so I'm familiar with the markers. I tried using a fine brush and a wash, which for the most part has been working ok.

I got Boba next, want to get Phasma for sure. Where you guys ordering these?

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

The Boba kit is probably the only Bandai kit that absolutely needs some extra detailing. Boba has to have battle damage and worn in fatigues, for me anyways.

As you might know, Disney put the squeeze on Bandai for selling these kits outside of Japan. So unfortunately, the usual places like HLJ, AmiAmi, etc no longer ship these to international buyers. Which really sucks cause now we cant get these for the early bird discount price. Likely a licensing issue. Interesting thing is their Figuarts line is fair game.

So where do we get these now? Well as wedge mentioned in another thread, eBay is one source. Preordered my Phasma kit from CDJAPAN. Never used them before but I hear good things. I had to ensure I get one of her cause I'm sure it will not be cheap on eBay.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Thank you for this informational and in-depth post! I've been meaning to try my hands on model kits and custom painting. Now I can buy everything all at once! YAY!

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Not a problem. I hope you try one out :highfive:

Btw I added some extra info about paint brushes and a few more comments about the C3P0 which I think will be helpful.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Thank your for the detailed build & review, very interesting kit, sometimes it does go on sale at Amazon Ca

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Hey Multiplex,

Thanks for posting this. I currently have my mouse hovering over "buy now" on the 3PO. I know its a model kit but my main question is: Is there any articulation? Not that I will be playing with this figure in a sandbox or anything, but Id like to be able to get a few different poses out of him for display and photos.

Im not too concerned about any articulation below the waist, just wondering if there is any head/neck/shoulder/elbow/wrist/abdomin articulation.

This thing makes the recently announced 6" black series figure look awful...and that red arm :doh:

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Yes there is articulation in those areas. I think the only area you mention that doesn't is the elbow, but only the swivel aspect due to the pistons. But the shoulder swivels and so does the upper bicep. I'll verify at home later. Edit: looks like the shoulders do not abduct. Only rotate/swivel.

There are two sets of arms that are included. One is stationary and can only be rotated at the shoulder. The other set has some (but not a lot) of bicep flexing. The pistons on the arms can actually be moved out of the way to achieve more bicep flexing.

C-3P0, as a character, has little articulation in the movies to begin with so this figure I think is true to his robotic poses. You can pretty much achieve those classic 3P0 poses that we've come to know. There's even a bit of ab crunch.

I would suggest watching a YouTube review to get a better idea of the articulation.

http://yakfaceforums.com/main/wp-con...m1504120-1.jpg

http://www.gundammodelkits.com/wp-co...PO-image-2.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Thanks for the reply. Totally agree that he doesnt need a ton of articulation due to his robotic movements in the movies...just looking for a little so he doesnt feel too static. Probably going to buy this kit, looks great...maybe even the Vader too, cuz I hate the helmet sculpt on the black series version, he looks so sad.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

http://s17.postimg.org/ddgtf54mn/image.jpg

With all the excitement of Episode VII opening this week, I thought I'd throw in one of the newer TFA Bandai kit sets for discussion.

For those that already own the Imperial Stormtrooper Bandai kit, I can honestly say that this First Order Stormtrooper kit is better built and more thought out. I found it much easier to build. The racks are clearly labelled and they organized the parts for each step to be close to each other, most times right beside each other. So it made the build much faster.

I really like how they handled the armor around the waist and collar. Much better than the Imperial Stormtrooper kit did. A lot of the guts of the figure are built similar as well, like waist, shoulders and knee joints, feet etc...

The figure itself if stunning. It's like this figure was meant to be a model kit just because of the glossy armor. Only when you compare the Hasbro version to this do you realize how dull the finish on the Hasbro figure really is.

The articulation is good but I do wish the knees had a bit more bend like the Hasbro version does. You can only get about 90-100 degrees bend. However, the oppsisite is true for the arms. The Bandai kit has superarticulated elbows. So there is some good with the bad.

The best and worst thing about this set are the accessories. Although the Tonfa stick and gun have amazing detail, there is much painting required to make it look movie accurate cause the entire gun is cast in black! And Bandai failed to provide any stickers/decals for the blaster.

The Tonfa stick does have some colour off the rack, the white prongs but that's about it. There are some decals but I decided to paint instead. I do love that they included a shield and Tonfa

stick and blaster but why is there no hand gun like the Hasbro version? Maybe the movie will reveal that reason.

I quickly found out there are few reference pics at this point of the blaster and Tonfa stick so I have to use the trailer and some youtube cosplay videos to help.

NOTE: The only part I would be cautious when cutting off the racks are the helmet jaw pieces. Two of the cut points are not ideally located and if you look very close at my pics, you will notice a slight gap. That was a lesson learned. The next set I get, I will know to trim more carefully around those parts.

Having said that, you just can't compare the extra detailing on the Bandai kits. Even the shield window is see through. Painting the accessories was a bit of a pain. But I really like how things turned out, especially those three tiny red lines on the blaster. I used a very fine tip paint

brush. I believe it's called a 20/0 tip? Found it in a military model store. And then used a spudger to scrape off the excess.

So all in all, I have to say this figure is great. Sometimes I feel the shoulder armor is a little bulgey but you can adjust them quite easily. It's not easy to find a Hasbro FO Riot Control Stormtrooper so this set gives you that option as well.

Verdict

I'd say this set would be a solid 8 because the painting was a huge pain but they included so many accessories to make up for it. It was a very enjoyable build and the figure itself is very movie accurate from what I can tell from the trailers.

Here are some work in progress pics...

http://s2.postimg.org/xirm3c1zt/IMG_20151206_222320.jpg
http://s2.postimg.org/9p8cydy55/IMG_...05938_edit.jpg
http://s2.postimg.org/st1oeqazd/IMG_...10005_edit.jpg
http://s2.postimg.org/a39oxzi8p/IMG_...10026_edit.jpg
http://s21.postimg.org/vqwkay1fb/IMG...13548_edit.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Hasbro on right

http://s2.postimg.org/m4cnf2gyh/IMG_...34924_edit.jpg

http://s9.postimg.org/ra38sfh7z/IMG_...34233_edit.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/66ocs6w2t/IMG...23727_edit.jpg

http://s24.postimg.org/jddsrprs5/IMG...207_224753.jpg

Here are the instructions and how I painted the details on the figure

http://s2.postimg.org/6z16lesvd/IMG_...80911_edit.jpg

http://s30.postimg.org/mi1ip7wg1/IMG...80934_edit.jpg

http://s30.postimg.org/ruqd3ckch/IMG..._edit_edit.jpg

http://s2.postimg.org/tz7txqqp5/IMG_20151208_180725.jpg

http://s2.postimg.org/rgm4x24yx/IMG_20151208_180608.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

The accessories after they were painted (Habro on left)

http://s24.postimg.org/d6nmzpk79/IMG...34930_edit.jpg
http://s24.postimg.org/4glyl4dc5/IMG...35257_edit.jpg

The riot shield (Hasbro on right)

http://s24.postimg.org/g1w4styth/IMG...35323_edit.jpg

and the completed figure...

http://s24.postimg.org/z35kmc805/IMG...211_000701.jpg
http://s24.postimg.org/ipll36rut/IMG...211_001044.jpg
http://s9.postimg.org/dnho5rhxb/IMG_20151211_001052.jpg
http://s9.postimg.org/yyf8a101r/IMG_20151211_001411.jpg
http://s24.postimg.org/lfux0dojp/IMG...211_001449.jpg
http://s24.postimg.org/bxv60c2v9/IMG...211_001827.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Reference pics for accessories

http://s7.postimg.org/vm73pi2vv/blaster.jpg
http://s7.postimg.org/lfyi6iihn/blaster_001.jpg
http://s7.postimg.org/ft2591fyz/blaster_002.jpg
http://s7.postimg.org/5cm16pgyj/sw_shf_item02.jpg
http://s7.postimg.org/jhn8us0m3/sw_shf_item03.jpg
http://s7.postimg.org/6u7hi9lp7/sw_shf_item04.jpg
http://s7.postimg.org/6c7qoo6qj/sw_shf_item05.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

I got my 3 kits in the mail yesterday, so excited - but also a bit overwhelmed/intimidated at first glance into the boxes! Do all these tiny parts really just snap in place, no glue?

Multiplex - at what point do you decide where you want to apply paint? From past experience with doing car models, I know it is often easier to paint the parts while they are still on the sprues, and then touch up the connection points afterwards once they are cut off. But typically a car model will tell you what parts need paint, and what colour to use, so you can easily paint out most parts beforehand. With paint being optional for these Bandai kits, how do you decide what to do? For me, I'd almost have to assemble the kit first before seeing areas that I think need paint. But I am guessing it's not recommended to take things apart again in order to get the paint into tricky spots. Curious to hear how you approach that.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Hi wedge, it's been a busy last few days. Happy new year to you. Which sets did you get? I may be able to recommend a few strategies.

Question #1 - Yes, they literally, just snap together. Surprisingly with extreme precision It's beautiful thing to experience the model come to life.

Question #2 - There are a few factors for me when I try and decide if I want to paint vs. apply the stickers. I'll try and explain how I approach it.

First thing I always do is look at the sticker sheet and assess how many details could be painted and if I have the right colours on hand. Sometimes you don't need a lot of colour, cause you can create your own by mixing.

Second I usually assess how easy it will be to paint on the detailing. Are the details just solid shapes or is there some convoluted or minuscule shapes that are not practical with stickers. Darth Vader is a perfect example. The stickers are completely useless for the buttons on his chest. Laughable really. It's way easier to a few touches of paint. Sometimes it's not so easy, like the Scout Trooper and Speeder Bike kit or R5-D4's head. I would opt not to paint some of those details.

Another important factor to me is movie accuracy. I always try and use the source material to nail down the detailing or get the colour the way I want it. In many cases, even add more detailing that the stickers omit. For example, R2-D2. I didn't like how light the blue so I created my own darker blue and added more detailing that I noticed from Episode IV. Vader was a good example of how I added two tones of black on his mask just like the movie. I had no idea until another customizer mentioned to me his helmet is not all black!

Effort is another factor. Some sets require a lot of work. For example, Boba Fett. He clearly need to get that worn in look and there is no stickers that will ever do his battle damaged look justice.

When it comes to actually painting, I prefer to paint on the racks. Most of the cut points are in areas that will not be seen once snapped together. But for those don't follow this, I sometimes cut it right off and paint it. I usually don't touch up cut points once it's snapped together. Mostly because they usually don't show anyways.

One other practical aspect of painting is you rarely have to paint an entire piece. Only apply paint to the area that will be seen. This saves time and paint.

I forget if I mentioned this before but I like to use the tooth pick method. Sometimes the area being paints is so damn tiny, you can't help paint over the boundaries. I just wait till it dries and then scrape off the excess with a toothpick. Doesn't damage the plastic and you get a perfect edge.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Bandai 1/12 R2-D2 and R5-D4

http://i0.wp.com/thefwoosh.com/wp-co...-R5-D4-Box.jpg

Today I’d like to discuss the R2/R5 kit. This kit contains two Astromech droids, R2-D2 and R5-D4. Both are actually almost identical in build, with the only difference being the domes and colour scheme. This was one of the first Bandai kits I built and I would say it was one of the harder ones to build as there are so many individual parts. 3P0 was faster to complete than R2 IMO, mainly due to the many parts that require detailing on R2.

The Build

As far as the build is concerned, it was very satisfying and highly detailed. I think this set one of the highest part counts. The third leg mechanism is a great feature and glad they were able to include it. To drop the third leg, the dome needs to be removed to push it down.

NOTE: Some of the parts are very hard to remove after being snapped together. So plan accordingly.

Here are some specifics about each set…

R2-D2

For R2, I was not satisfied with the blue they chose. So I decided to make my own darker blue. I was also really disappointed that the grey parts were not shiny enough. R2 needs to have silver accents, especially his dome. There are actually a lot of stickers/decals that come with R2. Some are so tiny and impractical I wanted to attempt to paint them on. So glad I did.

But the hardest part about the painting was to envision which parts are exposed to the exterior. Because there is no point wasting paint and time painting the whole part if only a little bit of it shows. I had trouble putting in some of the pieces because I used too much paint or had excess paint dry on some of the parts that rub together when you insert them into each other. I had to do a lot of removing of paint so the parts fit snug and not too tight. There were also areas that were hidden under the grates that I forgot to paint so I had to take apart the model body a few times. My suggestion is to really understand exactly where the painted details need to be and do them ahead of time. I painted almost everything on the racks. I also added more detailing than the stickers provided.

The dome, be very careful. Use thin layers. I added a couple drops of the Tamiya Acrylic thinner X-20A to the Flat Aluminum and used a wider brush to apply thin coats. It probably took about three coats to get it nice with no visible light/dark areas. Be patient.

Colour Palette Synopsis

All blue parts - Tamiya Royal Blue/Metallic Blue mix
All grey parts – Tamiya Flat Aluminum

Also, I used Tamiya Gun Metal to add some accents to some of the small round knobs that attach to his dome. I got this idea after watching Episode IV again.

For some of the LED light details, I used Flat Red, Yellow, Lime Green and also a Sky Blue/White mix.

For the fuel cell wiring, I used Dark Copper.

I did not paint the accessories yet.

As you can see, the final product is absolutely stunning. I am so happy with it. It scales perfect with the Bandai C-3P0.

http://s15.postimg.org/3rkmv9s8r/IMG...05823_edit.jpg
http://s15.postimg.org/9nj5wewxn/IMG...10033_edit.jpg
http://s15.postimg.org/clbjcdf7f/IMG...10201_edit.jpg
http://s15.postimg.org/70z21qgcb/IMG...10311_edit.jpg
http://s15.postimg.org/soo0c6gqj/IMG...10337_edit.jpg
http://s15.postimg.org/6zp48beij/IMG...10401_edit.jpg
http://s15.postimg.org/hrra15jcr/IMG...11003_edit.jpg
http://s15.postimg.org/u54482917/IMG...12054_edit.jpg

BUT...

When put together there is just something missing. I didn’t want this version I was making to be too dirty like when he was on Tatooine. I was thinking more medal ceremony R2. But when put together you quickly realize that all the panel details are lost in the white plastic. This is where I decided to test out the Tamiya Panel Line product. It’s very interesting how it works. You dab a little in the groove or against an edge and watch it travel. I used R5 as a guinea pig.

R5-D4

Basically he is the same as R2 in almost every aspect but I decided not to paint the blue. After watching Episode IV again, I felt his blue should be a lot brighter. Plus we really only see him when he is quite dirty so I decided to go with the stock blue. The grey parts were painted silver. The only parts that I used stickers were the many squarish silver parts that encircle his dome. The fade effect was too hard to replicate. And also the thin red line details on his dome. I have already noticed the red lines are starting to peel off so may try and paint this one day. I did not paint any of the red parts.

NOTE: be very careful with the R5 antenna. Mine snapped and I had to glue it back together.

As mentioned above, I added some panel detailing to R5 and decided to keep him dirty and kind of random. If I do the same to R2, I think I will removed the excess with lighter fluid and a Q-tip to get a cleaner look. I also toyed with the idea of using Gundam thin panel line markers. I’m sure this would have worked too but some of the grooves are so thin the tip would not get in there. Anyways, something I could compare and contrast another time. I think I will add some more mud and sand effect another time to R5.

http://s29.postimg.org/w0hzus8h3/IMG...13032_edit.jpg
http://s29.postimg.org/6f5ruxl9j/IMG...107_213154.jpg
http://s29.postimg.org/63obi64tj/IMG...dit.jpg‎

This set is great and just looks so amazing alongside 3P0 in the 6 inch scale. I like it so much I decided to make a custom R2-KT for my daughter (see next post). So as you can see, pretty much any colour variant is possible.

Verdict

There is a lot of detail work with this set but I would say it is well worth the effort and blows the Revoltech and Hasbro version away. I would rate this set 9/10 just based on R2 alone. R5 is a bonus. So more like 9.5.

EDIT: UPDATED PIC

I used Tamiya Panel Line Accent (Gray). Uses capillary action to spread. Clean up excess with lighter fluid.

http://i.imgur.com/NUDjorC.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

R2-KT

http://s10.postimg.org/bgb1hny1l/201...75723_edit.jpg

http://s30.postimg.org/bcbpkwald/201...81758_edit.jpg

A little fun...;)

http://s13.postimg.org/e9ba2tesn/201...80638_edit.jpg

http://s13.postimg.org/e6refzb53/201...80940_edit.jpg

http://s13.postimg.org/z7hg0wenb/201...81313_edit.jpg

http://s12.postimg.org/s47lhiz7x/201...81649_edit.jpg

http://s13.postimg.org/hnov57ktj/201..._edit_edit.jpg

http://s13.postimg.org/mqasdqjhj/201...01619_edit.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

LOL

Is your Emperor's throne a custom? I want to make one and watched The Budget Jedi video on his. Similar plans?

PS nice paint work on the droids...looks like ill be buying 2 Bandai kits now.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Might I make a recommendation? If you are buying two kits because you are after two R2-D2 models to customize then why not get one R2/R5 set and one of the newer R2/BB-8 kits. That would get you four figures; two R2 figures, R5 and a BB-8 for the price of two sets. I recently built BB-8 and it's awesome :D

And yes, the Emperor throne is a custom I did recently. It's my own creation. It's made of bubble foam. I never saw the Budget Jedi video before. I really like how he used laundry baskets. What I might do is post in the Hasbro discussion forum what I did if you are interested? I literally made it from garbage.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

The two kits I was planning on were the 3PO and R2/R5 kits.

Yeah, the laundry baskets he used was a great idea, I've been debating making that diorama using his plans as a starting point for awhile now.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Oh gotcha. I misunderstood. 3P0 is such a great figure. I don't think there will ever be a better version of him in 6" scale.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

It was a good recommendation though - I will likely be doing it myself and customizing the extra R2. If it goes well, I may grab a 2nd R2/R5 set and customize both of them as well... start my own Droid Factory!

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

OK OK i'm sorry that is a lot to read through. These kits look fantastic BUT I don't do paint.

How's the articulation? Will it fall apart if I try to aggressively pose?

Cheers!

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

They are not toys. So if you plan on being "aggressive", I would not recommended these.

I would say the articulation is on par or beyond Figuarts. Definitely better than Black Series articulation. I know you like to photograph your toys. These pose very nicely because of the lighter weight.

Maybe you should photograph my models. Just don't be be going all Spaceballs on them :rofl:

https://bandbent.files.wordpress.com...ohfeo1_400.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

I may be the last person to catch up to this stuff, but um... where might one be able to buy a C-3PO Bandai kit? Any Toronto area stores, perhaps? Or would it have to be online somewhere?

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

They are import only due to licensing issues is NA, so If you find one at say a comic or hobby shop the prices will be all sorts of jacked up. Amazon.ca has fair prices on that kit just gotta wait a bit longer than normal due to it shipping from Japan.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

What turtle_power said.

I bought mine from this guy on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw...andai&_sacat=0

BUT, he seems to have DOUBLED his prices since then (only bought them a few weeks ago). I paid $18.20 for C-3PO, $14.40 for the astromechs, and $16.20 for Boba Fett. He's now got the prices up to $39.80 for 3PO, $29.80 for the astromechs, and Fett seems to be sold out now. I did post the link to him back then so maybe he got a lot of orders all of a sudden and now he's running low. He had great service though, and shipping was super fast for coming from Japan.

If you can find the kits for the prices I paid, either on ebay or amazon, then I think that was pretty much the lowest I could find at the time. Remember to factor shipping into the equation too. Prices noted above are all in USD too, so there's the crappy exchange rate to think about as well.

EDIT: Dang, I just did a search, looks like I grabbed the kits just at the right time! I'm not seeing anything much less than $32-40 USD anymore. Maybe stock is getting low on the older kits, or these are the "post-Christmas" back-to-regular-prices listings. Now I wish I had grabbed a few of the other kits while I was at it.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

wow! I was hovering over "buy now" on the 3PO kit just before xmas on amazon.ca for around $38 CDN w/free shipping... it has now jumped to $62

Saw Fett on there just now for $36 CDN though

...damn! Should have given into the dark side a few weeks back instead of trying to be financially responsible. I feel like i missed the bus and now have to wait on the hasbro 3PO with a red arm **insert the price is right's losing jingle here**

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Yah the Bandai kits have really shot up in price lately. Well there is the upcoming R2/3P0 Figuarts and Mafex option. They look really good. They aren't cheap though.

MAFEX
http://www.1999.co.jp/itbig34/10343610b.jpg
http://shishioh-image.sakura.ne.jp/i...mer_1/3-19.jpg

Figuarts
http://s1.tsuki-board.net/image/Zoid...442843152.jpeg
http://i0.wp.com/thefwoosh.com/wp-co...size=421%2C631
http://i1.wp.com/thefwoosh.com/wp-co...rts-C3PO-3.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Does anyone have any of the Bandai ships? I'm trying to figure out how big they actually are. I know they all have scales noted, but that doesn't really help.
If you have any, it would be great if you could post the height/width of whatever you have!

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

I don't own any (slippery slope!) but here is a video that shows the various sizes. I think they also touch upon the distribution issues.

http://www.animeinferno.com.au/2015/...outside-japan/

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Hmm, the size appears to be smaller than I had hoped. They are still awesomely detailed, and look very nice, but I was hoping for something a little bigger yet, maybe 1.5x the size they've done. Though that would take up more room on my shelves. I think I'll stick to trying to pick up a few more of the figures, and stay with my Hasbro ships for now.

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

I just want to send a big shout out to Multiplex for highlighting these kits! I received my sets from Japan over the holidays , and 2 weeks later, they're 80% done (just need to do some decal work):

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...ps6kslvmlu.jpg

This is probably the best 6" C3-PO we're going to get and I'm so happy to add him to my collection. I haven't made a kit since Gundam Wing was on YTV, so I was nervous to start. And while my lines aren't the cleanest, I love the final product.

They fit right in with the 6" Black Series:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...pshkjrpsof.jpg

Thanks again Multiplex! Here's one last shot of the rest of my Star Wars collection:

http://i65.photobucket.com/albums/h2...psqjvpidig.jpg

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Holy crap! That's one helluva display. Special kudos for the original clone wars figures. I love those figures. They are my favorite. I see you even have the 3 pack exclusives.That Bandai 3P0 and R2 and BB-8 look damn good even without any details. Well done and glad you enjoyed them so much. Are you planning on tackling anymore?

Any requests for the next set to showcase?

Re: Star Wars Bandai Kit Thread
 

Thanks! Yes, the animated clone wars was a great series... I just wish the figures had more articulation! It's a pain trying to get them to stand, so it's one of the only times I've needed to use the figure stands.

The Bandai models look fantastic when put together. I was considering giving them a coat of paint as per your guide, but decided to take it easy. It was really the 3PO that I was most interested in adding to the collection and he didn't require a lot of paint work anyways.

The only reason I bought these models was to fill in gaps in the 6" series, so I'll probably stop now before I get too deep lol. I was interested in the 1/12th Phasma for the chromed out look, but the preorder prices are just too high at the moment. Something to keep an eye on.

I'd love to see the work you've done on the Boba Fett kit if you have one complete. Or maybe Vader?