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Kampfer - Desolator Team

By Paulo Gatchalian

This is a heavily customized Master Grade Kampfer, built from the 30th anniversary re-release that comes with extra runners of clear armor parts in addition to the regular blue ones.

The concept was based on chemical warfare, drawing inspiration from Red Alert's Desolator unit, and the "ooze" from Ninja Turtles. I made "radioactive canisters" by filling glass fuses with green hair gel. This was done by carefully drilling one end and injecting the gel with a syringe. The hole was then plugged up with a green LED and sealed with hot glue. I made 13 canisters: 3 for each shoulder, 1 for each arm and knee, and 3 for the weapon.

The shoulders were doubled up and a backpack was built out of the extra clear parts that came with the kit. The double shoulders have magnets for mounting points and are made to conceal the batteries for the shoulder canisters. The model appeared a bit squat, so I extended the torso using plastic plate and putty, with some hydraulics made from tubes added in for detail. Hatches were cut out of the forearms for the arm canisters, and a metal belt runs from the shoulder to the arm to conceal wiring, with some guitar string added for detail. The batteries for the knee canisters are hidden in the shin armor. The feet have also been opened up for wire mesh. An LED replaces the plastic mono-eye, powered by a battery inside the torso. That totals up to 9 LEDs powered by 5 hidden batteries. It was designed this way to retain articulation and have the model power itself.

The weapon was kitbashed from various kits, including double gatling guns from a high grade Gundam Heavy Arms Custom, and also carries 3 canisters. For the thrusters, I used metal ballpen tips and wheels from a high grade Gun Tank, adding IC pins for igniters. The thrusters on the shins are ointment caps. Pin heads, IC pins, panel scribing and other detailing can be found all over the model. The armor was painted in chrome, and then several layers of clear green and clear yellow, followed by several layers of clear gloss for a candy green finish. The inner frame was painted gunmetal, and the rest is in gloss white. Minor weathering was done with Tamiya weathering kits, and custom waterslide decals were applied in addition to generic Zeon markings.

The base was built from floppy drive casings, plastic sheets and tubes, and was painted in flat grey with some weathering. Modified and painted Mage Knight miniatures were used for the crew.

The project took about 3 months to complete. It was submitted as an entry for an online gunpla competition, taking 3rd place in the modified-advanced category.

Image: Back

Image: Chest

Image: Another look

Image: Left Arm

Image: Left Foot

Image: Right Arm

Image: Right

Image: Front

Image: Left Front

Image: Top

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