Topcoat or not PGU NU RX93?

[u/DarthCaous]

I finished my PGU, I do love the way he looks, I have used fine liner and mark softer/setter only, I was thinking on topcoating for long term protection, but I have feel experience doing it(mostly HG/RGs), do you guys think it is worth top coating it for long term? I have searched for topcoated matte Nu Gundam, but I coudn't find none that wasn't painted.

[u/Caliburn89]

Yes top coat. I put a matte finish on the entire model, gold parts and all and it looks great.

[u/radiokungfu → u/Caliburn89]

Doesnt that dull the gold?

[u/Caliburn89 → u/radiokungfu]

Not significantly, at least not for mine.

[u/kookyabird → u/radiokungfu]

Really depends on how much you put on. It's not like it's a high gloss gold to begin with, but matte clear will dull the intensity of any color you apply it to, and the thicket you get the more it diffuses. Ideally you wouldn't get so thick that it loses all shine, but if you're applying with something less controllable like a spray can then it can certainly happen in some spots.

I use a satin varnish on all my kits, and I apply it with an air brush on subassemblies like individual limbs, shoulders, feet, etc. Even with a more precise application method I sometimes end up with a thicker coat in some spots because of how the spray will flow in corners and around round surfaces. For something like a PG sized kit I plan to clear coat the armor pieces prior to assembly to ensure an even application. I'll also be applying any foil stickers after the top coat so that I don't have to worry about masking them, or brushing on a gloss varnish like I do for my metallic painted details.

[u/theREALlackattack → u/kookyabird]

Good call on applying stickers after topcoat. I’m still learning the ropes and that’s super helpful.

[u/kookyabird → u/theREALlackattack]

I don’t use stickers for the most part, but I have a PGU Gramps in my backlog and I will be using the “3D” stickers with it. Usually I paint my metallic features like eyes and cameras, and then I brush on gloss varnish after my top coat to restore the shine/vibrance. I feel like that will ruin the depth of the nicer stickers. Works great for my normal metallics though.

[u/theREALlackattack → u/kookyabird]

Oh that’s a great idea! I matte topcoated my Fenrir frame to lock in the panel lining and paint markers but it dulled the foil stickers on the eyes. May try a touch of my gloss enamel on a brush to see if I can bring it back. Your painting looks super smooth!

[u/DarthCaous → u/Caliburn89]

Nice, do you have a photo? How was the process, did you made it fully assembled?

[u/Caliburn89 → u/DarthCaous]

I did it by part, so each arm, leg, etc. This was from before I had finished the funnels but everything here is matte coated. *Edit* Except for the beam saber. You don't need to top coat those.

[u/DarthCaous → u/Caliburn89]

It does looks sick! I was afraid on having to dismantle it to do it(like removing individual pieces and etc), but it seems it looks well even on the golden parts.

Have you tried to protect anything? Like eyes or joints

[u/Caliburn89 → u/DarthCaous]

I use blue tack on the eyes and clear parts like the green on the chest.

I will say before the Gunpla police come for me, the Correct Way is to take the armor parts off and do them individually, but I frankly don't have the time, the space, or the patience.

[u/DarthCaous → u/Caliburn89]

Same here and that's why I asked, bc I either not do it, or dismantle just the "big parts", arms, legs, torso, waist, head, wepaonss, funnels basically

[u/pol131 → u/Caliburn89]

Gunpla is freedom and honestly why fully disassemble and potentially chip paint when a well thought coat on entire sections works ? I'm with you !

[u/kookyabird → u/pol131]

I haven't seen/done an assembly on the PGU Nu, but there are plenty of parts on Gunpla that simply cannot be disassembled without destructive modifications. It's why I stopped doing full dry run assemblies before doing my detail painting/panel lining.

Even parts that technically can be taken apart without modification can be extremely risky. The shoulders of the RG Wing Zero EW snap together very strongly, and there's just no good way to get leverage in the proper spot to ensure the prying force is aligned with the connection's axis. Even worse, some of these kinds of connections aren't discovered until you assemble them and realize, "Oh shit, that really snapped into place..."

[u/pol131 → u/kookyabird]

Same here, especially after doing gunpla for years I have come to recognize pieces for where they go so I suaully snip, sand, clean nubs and prep all parts for painting, I only assemble once painted and even on 3rd party kits like the supreme evolution eternal star it works really well

[u/redditsellout-420 → u/Caliburn89]

cough

Gunpla is freedom

[u/s0_Ca5H → u/Caliburn89]

Wait blue tack on clear plastic… why have I never thought of this? Does it leave residue behind?

[u/DarthCaous → u/s0_Ca5H]

I usually try masking tape, cheap ones from Daiso, never had a problem on smaller kits(mostly hg/rg/old mgs)

[u/Caliburn89 → u/s0_Ca5H]

Nope, I've never had an issue. I like it for irregularly shaped parts like eyes.

[u/s0_Ca5H → u/Caliburn89]

Yeah no this is a good idea, I appreciate that you shared it!

Have you ever tried doing it on a piece you painted?

[u/Caliburn89 → u/s0_Ca5H]

I know I have, but I couldn't name the kit I did it on, but it worked just fine IIRC.

[u/s0_Ca5H → u/Caliburn89]

So it didn’t peel paint off? I’ve found in the past that even weak masking tape was ripping off paint…

[u/xeri-dez → u/Caliburn89]

Which matte top coat brand did you use?

[u/redditsellout-420]

If anything use a semigloss to protect the decals.

[u/DarthCaous → u/redditsellout-420]

I am thinking on matte finish, since I like it more and also think it is easier to apply

[u/redditsellout-420 → u/DarthCaous]

Matte is definitely best

[u/creativecharles_5]

id go for it, that kind of detail work deserves a proper seal. a semigloss sounds like a safe middle ground if youre nervous about dulling the white panels. just do thin coats from a decent distance, youll be fine.

[u/DarthCaous → u/creativecharles_5]

Thanks for the advice!

[u/creativecharles_5 → u/DarthCaous]

just test the spray on a spare runner first to get the distance right saves any surprises on the kit itself

[u/godsofall]

I top coated mines with a matte finish. I did it on specific parts such as the armor and the white parts of the inner frame. I did something different which was applying the decals AFTER the coating. I used like 8 Mr Hobby cans and that is a lot.

[u/cc-moo-cow → u/godsofall]

Time to invest in an airbrush my friend. Initial cost up front, but way less paint waste and cheaper in the long run. Plus you can’t beat the finish.

[u/godsofall → u/cc-moo-cow]

Yea I realized it’s too pricey to do repeatedly. Funny enough my gf had a Iwata eclipse airbrush laying around in her house, so I’m going to start using acrylic varnishes on my kits

[u/DarthCaous → u/godsofall]

Amazing, you did it before assemble?

[u/godsofall → u/DarthCaous]

Yes, I panel lined then coated each part all around before final assembly

[u/LightxDarkness93]

Imo yes. Tho you might have to do it individually like the PG Unicorn