Bandai 1/48 Mega RX-0 Unicorn – 03
Building the Mega Unicorn Gundam: Waist, Hips, and Body Detailing
Time to tackle the waist and hips on this massive Mega Unicorn Gundam! Unlike the more complex MG or PG kits, this section only uses two large parts for the entire waist and hip assembly, making the process refreshingly straightforward.
For consistency with the legs, I airbrushed both main pieces using AK Interactive’s Xtreme Metal “Gun Metal.” I did run into a minor hiccup with the polycaps (PC4)—they were a tight fit at first, so a bit of careful adjustment was needed to get them seated properly.
Once assembled, I brought out the details on the hip and torso joints with highlights in Pale Brass and Stainless Steel. The front armour, which sits atop the psycho-frame, was painted white and then panel-lined with a mid-grey for subtle definition.
Both the front and rear skirts were also sprayed white and highlighted to match the rest of the build. The two thrusters that fit into the rear skirts received a Stainless-Steel finish before being snapped into place. The skirts themselves went on smoothly, with no issues. For easier handling and storage (especially with such a large kit), I held off on attaching the legs and side skirts at this stage, following the manual’s advice.
The body construction is surprisingly simple—just eleven parts, not counting the neck. According to the instructions, only the lower neck and its connection to the waist will be visible once the kit is complete. That’s where I focused my painting, using Gun Metal and adding Steel highlights from Vallejo’s “Metal Color” range for extra depth.
For the neck, I chose Pale Brass, while the white armour was mostly done with Halfords White primer. A few pieces got a light coat of acrylic white to create a subtle variation in tone. As always, I finished up with mid-grey panel lining for crisp detail.
The Mega Unicorn thrusters are a very visible part of the kit, so I wanted to do a good job with them. They were primed with satin black paint, then three thin coats of Stainless Steel from the “Xtreme Metal” range made by AK Interactive. It is very shiny, and just slightly duller than a pure Chrome shade.
The backpack is a standout feature: a single, large piece of clear red for the psycho-frame, surrounded by outer armour. I went with Vallejo’s “Premium Color” Cobalt Blue (the same shade used for the feet) and added medium grey to the recesses to tie in with the rest of the kit’s highlights.
At this stage, the build is shaping up to be a seriously impressive chunk of blue plastic, but the extra effort on the moulded panels really helps break up the mass and add visual interest.
