If you're into Gunpla, chances are you've dabbled in all sorts of customization techniques – from painting and cutting to weathering and beyond.
We've previously featured the master builder Nicovol (@nicovol48) for his incredible paintwork on a Bandai Shokugan "God Gundam". Now, he's back at it, showcasing his insane skills once more! This time, he's taken an old-school 80s Gunpla kit – the "1/144 Dom" – and given it a mind-blowing "illustration-style" paint job that has completely transformed the vintage model, leaving netizens absolutely stunned.
Nicovol's canvas for this project was the "1/144 Dom" model, originally released in the 1980s. Part of an early wave of Gundam model kits, it's affectionately known as a "Kyū Kit" (Old Kit) in Japan. And while it might be a vintage piece, it still gets re-released today, holding a special, nostalgic charm for many seasoned builders.
This time, Nicovol is showcasing his "1/144 Dom," and his big idea was to paint the entire model with a stunning "illustration-style" finish.
He even shared the wild build process, which included thickening the chest and thighs with putty, completely remaking the lower leg parts, sculpting the hands into fists, cutting and slightly narrowing the waist, and even adjusting the elbow joint positions. Plus, he swapped out the joints for Poly-Caps to give the model a more natural "A-stance." Seriously, this was a full-blown custom job!
From the crisp edge lines and bright highlights to the seamless gradients of shine and shadow, and even the numbers and markings on the mobile suit – everything is meticulously rendered to look like a flat, two-dimensional illustration. It's an absolute masterclass in painting!
Nicovol revealed that his goal was to preserve the inherent bulkiness of the vintage Dom kit while tweaking its proportions for an even more striking look. As for the paint job, he patiently built up shadows and highlights using brushes and sponges, then meticulously hand-painted each marking. He even shared photos from different angles, quipping, "No matter which angle you look from, it feels like it's staring right back at you."
Beyond this incredible vintage kit, Nicovol also shares tons of other amazing works on his X account. So, if you're a fan of models or Gundam, definitely give him a follow for some serious custom paint job inspo!
via： X帳戶ニコボル