For all you Gunpla builders out there, you've probably tried every trick in the book: painting, cutting, weathering, and even mixing in other elements to unleash endless creative possibilities.
But this story comes with a fun twist! X user Narisawa (@NarisawaY) got a special request from his son's classmate, and it totally fired him up! He went all out to help craft a custom paint job for a "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX" Gunpla. When he shared the results on X, it garnered massive attention, with netizens praising his incredible skill and generosity.
Narisawa, a prolific Gunpla builder, often shares his custom and painted Gunpla creations online. One day, he received a handwritten letter from his 6th-grade son's classmate, along with a GQuuuuuuX model from the anime "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX."
The letter explained that the classmate was planning to make a GQuuuuuuX-themed diorama and hoped Narisawa could help repaint the model to closely match the official promotional art's color scheme, adding battle damage, scuffs, and other weathering effects. Upon receiving the letter, Narisawa didn't hesitate: "How could I say no?" He immediately got to work.
After about two weeks, he unveiled the finished photos, showcasing the front, back, and close-up details. He also explained how he used light and shadow contrast to give the model a heavier, more substantial feel. For extra detail, he even added brass antenna screws and enhanced the shield's luster, making the overall texture incredibly realistic.
Since the official visual art has a dark, heavily shadowed feel, here's how he approached the paint job:
To achieve a dark, weighty texture → Start with EVO black primer.
To make the shadows more pronounced → Use Ex White for a "color blending"-like highlight treatment.
Finally, to make it slightly brighter → Mix pearl powder into the matte clear coat for the top layer.
For the finer details, the eyes, the center of the antenna, and the chest sensor were all painted with fluorescent paint, giving them a ready-to-activate vibe. The metallic blocks on the antenna were created by securing brass wire with super glue and then trimming it. Many body parts also got quick detailing with 3D metal stickers.
Given the in-show lore where the shield blocks beam attacks, he imagined it as a "beam coating" and applied a glossy clear coat over the entire surface. Additionally, the slit-like parts near the back of the calves, while not as deep as in the design sketches, were sharpened up a bit for a more dynamic look.
Netizens who saw the finished product flooded the comments with praise: "That sense of weight and texture is incredibly cool!" "With a craftsman-level dad like that, his son must be bursting with pride!" "His son's friend is definitely going to feel the passion and spirit!"
The backstory of his son's classmate's request made this custom paint job even more compelling, earning widespread praise from netizens. Narisawa also shares many of his works on his X account, especially his painting techniques. If you're a fan of models or Gundam, it's definitely worth checking out for some serious inspiration!
via： X 帳戶ナリサワ