First, I'd like to wish all fellow modelers a Happy New Year! May you acquire an abundance of models in the Year of the Rabbit.
Today, I'm excited to share the ARCANADEA Velretta from Kotobukiya. I purchased the special edition, which came with a rather large storage box. This box is perfect for storing unused parts, or even the entire figure itself, haha!
This is my first time assembling a Kotobukiya model of this type. The assembly experience was significantly simpler compared to Gunpla. The part count for this model is noticeably lower than other models I have, such as the Megami Device Asra Nine-Tails and Susanoo.
The most challenging part was probably seam line removal. If you plan to paint Kotobukiya models to enhance their visual appeal, seam line removal is unavoidable. Compared to Bandai's "black technology" (advanced engineering), Kotobukiya models are less beginner-friendly for those who prefer straight builds.
This model was completed before the Lunar New Year, but I hadn't had time to post about it. Taking advantage of the rare holiday break, I organized the content to share with all forum members.
This is the first Kotobukiya "bishoujo" (girl) model I've completed. After finishing it and doing a studio photoshoot, I finally understood why so many modelers are obsessed with Megami Device and similar lines, even collecting entire series. The assembly process is secondary; the true charm lies in posing and photographing the completed figure!
During the photoshoot, even my wife commented, "Why are you constantly giggling and completely engrossed when photographing a model? I've never seen you this happy when shooting robot models or toys." In my mind, I could only think, "My dear wife, you just don't understand, haha!" Below is a simple overview of the build process. Yes, the entire process was very straightforward, with just a few pictures to share. I hope you enjoy this build.
▼【KOTOBUKIYA】Kotobukiya ARCANADEA Velretta Special Edition Simple Build
▼The box art is incredibly cute. Velretta is the second release in this series.
▼The main body can be displayed in two forms: light armor and full armament.
▼Furthermore, the articulation is excellent. Another characteristic of these models is the abundance of adorable, irresistible interchangeable face plates. Different expressions combined with various poses are simply heartwarming! (Just kidding)
▼Painting is essential, and seam line removal is a must to enhance the visual aesthetics of the finished product.
▼To speed up the process, I used black and white instant glues from Dispae. These two glues, when paired with their quick-hardening solvent, allow for complete drying and sanding within five minutes. After drying, sanding is very easy; it's not too hard, and excess glue can be effortlessly removed with sandpaper. Remember to store the glue in the refrigerator after use and take it out when needed next time.
▼Introducing the paints used this time:
1. For the stocking parts, I directly purchased a close color and spray-painted it, choosing the OB series from Yudian Guan (pre-thinned for spraying).
2. Large gold parts were painted using GAIA 010.
3. For small gold parts, considering the need for seam line removal after assembly, and to avoid the hassle of painting first, assembling, then masking, I opted for Juji's water-based model paint for touch-ups. It can be applied directly with a brush, and the color development after complete drying was quite surprising – unexpectedly beautiful!
4. Before painting the main color, I applied a layer of GAIA Gray Primer to check for seam lines, then after GAIA EX-02 dried, I sprayed GAIA EX-04.
5. An additional paint not shown in the photos: the main body's white parts were brush-painted using Spanish water-based paint.
▼It's quicker to show pictures directly. The image shows the completed light armor form.
▼The image below shows the full armament form. Comparing the two images above and below clearly reveals the differences between the two forms.
▼Light Armor Form
▼Full Armament Form
That concludes this simple build. I hope you enjoyed it! I still have two Megami Device kits left: one Asra Nine-Tails and one Susanoo. I'll find time to complete them later. Below are some simple studio shots – yes, even the studio shots are just a few simple ones, haha!
▼Studio Photos
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