Qubeley Mk II Elpeo Ple Custom

1/100 AMX-004-2 Qubeley Mk II Elpeo Ple Custom

This is the resin kit from G-System. It was supposed to be my entry for the 2011 e2046 contest, but I finished it a week too late to make the deadline. Oh well.

The main color is Allclad II Chrome with Alclad II Hot Metal Violet sprayed over it to create the purple. The decals were set with Gunze Mr. Mark Setter and Mr. Mark Softer (my two best friends for decal work). Primer, chrome, and color, took almost 90 hours total split up over multiple days to give the paint a chance to set.

The pink is a custom mixed color made from Model Master enamels that luckily I mixed just enough of so as not to run out before completion.

Of particular note is the "Qubeley" name decal on the MS' right shoulder. That decal (including the text next to the name) is ONE decal. It was applied over the three open spaces, allowed to set a couple minutes, and cut so that it could settle into the openings. A lot of massaging with Mr. Mark Softer was required for this. Probably one of the most terrifying decals I've ever applied considering the paint job underneath. After it was set and had clear coat applied over it, the pink insert was put in.

Also of note are the eyes. The kit doesn't come with eyes, just openings for the included LED to shine through. After some fiddling, I ditched this idea to use the LED in another project (to be completed in a couple months) and decided to fill in the openings and create the eyes myself. One of the most noticeable things about the Qubeley is its weird crocodile eyes and the items I made from Tamiya epoxy putty worked perfectly.

The model is supposed to be posable. However some of major load bearing joints are on resin pins. This thing weighs a ton, so the resin pins were ditched for custom stainless steel pins. Even so, the strength of the knees isn't very good for this very top-heavy design, so I knew early on that I wanted it in a hovering pose on a stand. How often do you see a Qubeley standing on the ground anyway?

I had nice plans for the base, but the person I was going to contract to make it, didn't have the required laser cutting equipment. Instead, while visiting my father, I decided on having him make up a wood base and putting a cut out of the Neo-Zeon insignia on it. A lexan rod with a lexan cradle I designed to hold the Qubeley was put on the base and the whole thing came together. The Qubeley is still removable from the base for easy transport, etc., but until I decide to glue the knees or something, it's gonna stay there permanently. As for that original base idea, you'll see it in a future build on the 1/72 Kshatriya.

This was a tedious, but rewarding build-- and to date, is truly my personal masterpiece. And despite all of the photo preparation time, some dust and finger prints still managed to show up in the pictures. (sigh) More photos to come...

Enjoy!