U-20 Course

The Passage of Time

Tootletubs

I have created a diorama depicting an old remnant of Earth Federation forces where the pilot has been killed by one decisive beam strike, leaving the mobile suit immobilised in place. The passage of time has allowed nature to reclaim the mobile suit. I began creating the base by gluing XPC foam together and shaping the landscape. Using plaster, I carved a large rock to go behind the mobile suit. The rock and landscape are made from plaster. I glued various grades of coarse grit, semolina & modelling sand to create a realistic forest floor texture. The rock was painted, given washes, and dry brushed. Various washes give more depth and texture to the floor, and the rock is detailed with moss. I drilled a hole through the rock that lined up with a planned pose for my kit and then detailed it to look like a melted hole. The trees were made from carved dowels and wire leaves made from various fibres. Handmade static grass tufts and static grass are featured on the ground, with rocks and pebbles. I made flowering trees, and ferns are made from wire, paint, glue and plaster. For the kit, I painted the inner frame a gunmetal gray, and the armour plating is green & turquoise. I detailed various parts of the kit like the verniers, the eye sensor, and the sniper rifle. A hole was drilled through the cockpit to coordinate with the hole in the rock, which I painted. After a gloss coat, I applied decals around the kit and then scratched the decals and around its body. The weathering is done with rust effects around the exposed inner frame and then heavy chip weathering around the edges of the mobile suit. I applied various washes and acrylic effects, complimented with streaking grime. After a third topcoat I started doing texture weathering, adding coarse grit and paint detail, then various pigments to achieve a dirt texture. A matte topcoat was applied over the kit to create the desired sheen and seal. Over this I applied moss and vines made from twine and glued on foliage.