RX-104FF “Penelope” – 01
The 1/144 scale kit of the RX-104FF “Penelope” by “High Grade Comprehend”, or HG if it was a Bandai kit, makes a bold statement right from the start. The box is large, closer in size to a Master Grade (MG) than a typical High Grade (HG), and packed with runners. Each runner is carefully organized, minimizing the risk of warping or damage. The dominant colour is a clean, bright white, and the surface detail is impressive: crisp panel lines and subtle textures that promise a rewarding panel lining experience. The sheer scale of the kit hints at a substantial finished model, and the anticipation builds as you sort through the parts.
Assembly begins with the head, a relatively simple subassembly but one that sets the tone for the entire build with minimal inner structure. Rather than following all the manual’s, or pre coloured runner colour scheme, I decided to personalize the look. The main head components remain white, but I used mid-grey enamel for panel lining, carefully working the paint into the recesses to accentuate the recessed details. To avoid a monotonous finish, I selected Vallejo White Grey ( 69.002) as a slightly different shade for three panels, adding subtle visual interest.
For the yellow accents, I took a multi-step approach: first, a white primer to ensure even coverage, then seva couple of light coats of Vallejo’s “Premium Color” Yellow applied with an airbrush for a smooth base, and to give these parts a metallic sheen, I finished with a couple of coats of “Premium Color” metallic yellow from the same range. The result is a rich, lustrous yellow that stands out against the white armour.
Stickers have always been a pain point for me, especially on my painted kits. The eye stickers included with this kit were oversized, with black borders that did not conform to the raised eye details and tended to peel at the edges. Instead, I opted for a painted solution: using clear colours (originally intended for aircraft lights), I carefully applied the paint to the eyes with a cocktail stick. This method allowed for precise placement and a more integrated look, with only a minor touch-up needed for a small overflow.
The remaining head pieces received custom paint as well with Cobalt Blue and Carmine Red. As is often the case with painted kits, I had to scrape paint from the pins and peg holes to ensure a snug fit which is an expected trade-off for a fully painted build. The head came together smoothly, and the finished effect matched my vision.
As you may already have seen from a couple of the photos one thing is starting to show, and that’s how thin, and easily bent some of the parts seem. The V fin had a bend on the end that I was able to adjust very carefully.
Moving on to the chest, I encountered my first major decision: should I build the base RX-104, or go all-in with the full FF (Flight Form) armour and equipment? Since I do not plan to repose the kit after assembly, I chose the more dramatic, fully equipped option. This required fitting the larger shoulder joints (A1-7 and A1-8) to accommodate the extra armour instead of instead of parts C36 and C37 .
The core of the chest lacks a traditional inner frame, but I still took the time to prime and paint it with Vallejo “Gun Metal,” adding accents in Aluminium and Pale Brass. Even though most of these details will be hidden, I find the process satisfying and a good opportunity to practice my painting skills.
The shoulder and neck joints were painted with AK’s “Dulaluminium” Xtreme Metal, which airbrushes on very smoothly and avoids a thick looking finish. I added highlights in Pale Brass to the recesses for extra depth. The main blue panels matched the head’s Cobalt Blue, with dark grey panel lining to bring out the details. For the yellow and red parts, I followed the same approach as before, though I left the yellow without the metallic topcoat this time for a bit of variety.
An important tip for building this kit is to pay attention to the top shoulder covers (B10 and B11), as they are designed for the left and right sides. If you swap them by mistake, the assembly won’t fit together properly. In addition, when installed properly, the shoulders sit back at a slight angle, as intended by the design.
The first stage of the chest assembly went together easily, and the extra detailing really helped bring out the depth and complexity of the armour. For practice, I also assembled and painted the back panel for the base RX-104 version for practice, as well as the lower torso, which slots neatly into the chest.
