Hey there, fellow builders! Ever feel like your model kit backlog is piling up faster than you can tackle it? And what about all those leftover runner frames after you've snapped everything together? Most of us just toss 'em, right? But what if there was a genius way to put that "trash" to good use?
Recently, Japanese modeler ねこうさ (@neko_usagi) blew up on X (formerly Twitter) with their incredible solution. They took those discarded plastic frames and transformed them into a mind-blowing "ENTRY GRADE Doraemon" cutaway mechanical model! Their seriously impressive craftsmanship has earned them tons of praise from netizens.
The ENTRY GRADE Doraemon kit itself has been around for a few years, designed to be super easy to assemble—even for a three-year-old—with just 13 simple parts.
But ねこうさ took it to the next level, meticulously modifying Doraemon's face and belly with a cutaway design to make space for the intricate mechanical internals.
The internal structure was then painstakingly built using those "waste" runner parts. Of course, these were originally plain plastic, so they had to be carefully assembled to mimic Doraemon's iconic shape, ensuring a seamless and natural look.
Once the structure was finalized, it was disassembled for painting. As you can see, there aren't a ton of individual components, a testament to the ENTRY GRADE kit's simplicity.
Starting with a base coat of silver and gold, the parts already began to take on a realistic, metallic sheen.
Next up: adding wiring! The different colored wires really bring the piece to life, breaking up the monochrome metallic tones and adding an extra layer of mechanical authenticity.
Here's the stunning finished product! ねこうさ mentioned that selecting the right components for the mechanical internals was quite a time-consuming process. It takes a keen eye and experience to sift through discarded runner frames and spare parts to find just the right pieces to fit together and create this intricate look.
And then there's the color scheme. While painting isn't usually a huge hurdle for experienced modelers, achieving the perfect color balance for mechanical internals is an art form in itself. It really challenges your imagination and how well the colors complement the overall piece.
ねこうさ has tackled many such mechanical cutaway models. If you're feeling inspired and want to try your hand at something similar, definitely check out their X account for a burst of creative ideas!
via： X@ねこうさ