Confession Of a Bootlegger

Too often, there will be war in Facebook; war knocking on keyboard, about original vs bootleg gunpla kits.

While they r pretty entertaining to read, and occasional put oil into fire n see the flame explode again, there s something very interesting about bootleggers (Well, these r names they call each others, the opposite camp s bandai purist or something).

First, i must make it clear that i am not a  purist. I am guilty of buying n building unlicensed products; mainly are aftermarket base, weapons, or in general, products that uses copyright images as packaging, & recast of out of production resins etc.

While i am a user of unlicensed products, I know I am guilty. I know well I am doing something that is not being fair to the original licenser though i can find a thousand reasons to justify my action. Oh well, this is the part i find interesting about many bootleggers.

During any discussions/argument/keyboard-war, I just cant help but to notice how bootleggers are actually feeling the guilt of their action, feeling inferior about it, trying to convince/lie to himself until he seem to be completely believe it. Especially when they try to find reasons/excuses to justify their action: buying a pirated copy.

So what would one say when they r confronted for supporting bootleg? I ll list out the following three, which i think r the stupidest among all, with my version of explanation how ridiculous these reasons sound like:

"I can't afford the high price of the original"

This is ultimate bullcrap that deserve a big "FUCK YOU" followup with a "HAHAHAHA" as response. While a bootleg is probably 1/4 or lower of the price of a original, when u see a bootlegger owns30~40 bootleg kits n say they cant afford the original. This is not about the question of being affordability, it about being cheap n greedy. U might own lesser kits, but if u do respect all the effort the design n R&D team has put in in making the kit available. But NO, u prefer to have your 20 kits n not supporting the people who make it happen.

"Bootleg, if u wanna brush up your skill"

For a while I couldn't even swallow this, as the statement is so dumb.I dont think Lee Chong Wei will use a RM5 china made wood racket during training to boost his skill to another level; nor will Lewis Hamilton driving a Chevy pickup truck in training for the same reason to win him 2017 Championship too. Same for skill in modeling, i dont think the same methodology will work too. & people are quoting this, recommending this to others as if they truly believe it. Maybe they do, after too many times telling themselves.

"Gunpla if FREEDOM"

Well, sometimes i m not even sure the "freedom" they r saying means that winged gundam in Seed series. Honestly, this is ultimate facepalm; so bad one can have a palm plantation on his face n start having export of palm oil to earn his country some extra income. I am not having any explanation on this as i dont even know how to.

As a bootlegger, my reason is simple: I am freaking CHEAP. 

When I first have this realization is at one time I was building a diorama base which in total, I need to use 6 pcs of kotobukiya mechanical chain base. I was counting: 1 pc cost about RM50 in Mlaysia, 6 boxes will cost me RM300. Being a natural cheapskate, though i know i can ultimately afford it with a tight budget that month, i d decided to go for china made, look almost similar, cheapskate people version of it: which cost about 40% of the original's price.

Yes, my reason is being cheap. At least, I admit it. I am not standing on a moral high ground, n i dont deserve to be on it. However, while i thought i am the lowest life form in plastic modeling, i realize there r these people who dont even want to admit the real reason of their choice in choosing their model kits.

This is like the awkward moment when a sewer rogue or a embezzler sees another fellow member saying they steal to save the world.

Probably provide more laughter is a way of saving world. I think this part, at least they do.

P/S: I try to write something about the purist too, which i find equally childish n funny; but since i m not a purist, it is quite hard for me to write without prejudice.....

HG 1/48 Martian Successor Nadesico - Artillery Battle Frame Aestivalis

This project initially s a project i did to join the 2017 Tetsujin organized by HAG Singapore, n yes, it is one of the 2 consecutive FFK (missing the deadline ) projects i had end of last year n early of this year.

This is also a kit i choose to do again after the first one i made more than 10 years ago. The only comforting thing about this project is, i can compare it against my 10-year-old work, and realize i have indeed made some improvement over the years....




After the pre-1980 released model kit GB, I had decided to make one kit to join in the fun in Tetsujin 2017 Singapore, despite knowing according to my estimation, I have just enough time to get it done, without any buffer time, & with a lot of stuff that i need to forgo. As usual, January's workload is outta my expectation, and i have had about one more week's work when the deadline hits.

About the model:

Basically I have made some proportion modification, as the usual old mecha kit, this kit looks kinda short n bulky. The first thing i did s to extend the waist, and upper arms. I d planned to do something on the feet too, to make them stand taller yet compliment the upper body proportion. Howeverm the feet isn't a straight forward kinda humanoid feet, the folding s designed to tilt n adjust the angle of the knees (the long range weapon), and also to hold n release the stabilizer at the back.

Since i find the original length of the feet actually aint too much  conflict with my modified upper body; and time's limited, i d decided to keep the original feet's proportion. Just minor mod on the joints.

Overall, since this is a simple project, not much to talk about except a few little things here n there:

Finally! I gotta use the aftermarket photo etch vent i bought dirt cheap years ago, and honestly, i love the effect.

The base is a total unexpected thing. Initially i was only planing a simple dried land with some rocks n minimal vegetation; in the middle, a friend was trying on making cracked land like in anime. So butt itchy, tried it out myself.  However, it was last minute, rush, and lack of planning; in the end, the effect aint exactly what i like, and worse, i forgot almost entirely  about the color until i have had set pretty much everything in...

Also please do not mind the main weapon, with 2 types of magazines. Hoho, just plain lazy to mod that....

Anyway, i realize i am really rusty in doing weathering now.. just cant get the feel of control brushes n paint as i used to. Gunpla's coloring process is just very technical n once u have the initial stuff planned out, basically can shut n relax the brain from making judgement during spraying. Weathering just suddenly reminded me that painting process i cannot be a zombie... Hahahahah

Anyway, the photos r below, C & C s utmost welcome!!!

P/S: BIG thank you to the good friends who aided me in this project, especially to Kirin to given me valuable advices on weathering.