Rebuild of GAT-X – MG Buster Gundam build retrospective

The GAT series were some of the kits that really defined me as a builder, I’ve always wondered – What would they look like if I built them today? Ever since I upgraded to lacquers and a DSLR I’ve always been meaning to build them with the skills and tech I’ve learned since then. So six years later and thanks partially to the downtime I’ve gotten from the whole COVID situation, my recent experiences with Gundam Extreme VS Maxiboost ON, I’ve finally decided to embark on this project to recreate the four SEED GAT-X models.

For this rebuild, I used almost exactly the same colour mixes as the original build, except this time I’m using the lacquer line instead of the acrylics. I also changed the frame to metallics as per my style nowadays. I’m fairly happy with how the end product turned out, except for maybe the Green. I just wished it was slightly brighter like my original, but again, it’s hard to say whether it’s more down to the photography and lighting.

As with my original build of this kit I experienced quite a few dramas while building this kit for the second time. As such I now consider it somewhat of a cursed kit. The Buster has quite a number of small ABS parts which can easily break if you don’t mask off connection points. In this particular instance, connecting the weapons to the backpack involves an ABS on ABS ball joint connection which I carelessly broke when I tried to assemble it. Mercifully, the replacement parts which I acquired in Yellow Submarine in Japan back in 2016 actually included the entire Beam Rifle and I had a spare handy.

For the decals I used the official Bandai sheet that came with the Providence special edition. To add to the drama, I botched the placement of some of these and had to replace them with some from Delpidecal.