I'm so dumb.

So I've wanted to get into garage kits for like years and years. I just never really felt brave enough to invest in the tools and things to put them together. But, armed with an unhealthy bout of fearlessness of cancer for all the dangerous vapors and powers I'll inevitably breathe, I'm gonna put an effort in.

One of the kits I got was this one. I also got a nurse. These characters look alright to me, but I wanted to get something I wouldn't LOVE because it wouldn't be too heartbreaking if I fucked it up royal.

I spent the last week of spare time trimming and sanding the warriorish chick. I have all the stuff I need to do a proper sanding but I just wanted to do a rough one so I can gauge the work involved and how complicated it is. Naturally I picked the more complicated of the models to try that out. And, it's not hard to do. It just takes a little common tool sense. I guess I was sort of lucky buying from Hobby Fan because their recasts are really really nicely done.

RECAST?! YOU SCOUNDREL!

Well, it's either $30 for a recast of something I don't like which I may cause to go FUBAR, or I spend $120 for an original that I could barely buy not knowing Japanese or where to go to get it and fucking that up and feeling more like I wasted a bunch of money instead of just feeling like I have NO artistic talent. Sure I can live with both outcomes, but confirming I have no artistic talent to go with my callings sounds a lot better when I save a c-note with which I can use to rent a stripper who will make me forget about those misgivings. :D

Anyway, I did a quick passthough and decided I should probably clean it before doing anything more so I can look over my work and do a fine-grit pass and see if I missed anything. I read about people using Castrol Super Clean to easily remove the mold release. During my lunch at work I popped over to Pep Boys and looked for it but could not find it. I settled on some other purple degreaser, figuring I'll probably be ok. And to store? I can't exactly keep a vat of chemicals anywhere here, so I got some cheap Gladware at the supermarket.

First problem: The Gladware isn't water tight. I tilted the canister and degreaser dripped out. Really slippery stuff, too. But I can deal with that. Next day decided to dump the chemical and try to dry the pieces off.

Second problem: I'm an idiot and I left the drain open. Look at the parts picture for this model and you'll see a little baggie with three small parts. I think you know where I'm going with this.

*SORROW*

The sides of her torso have two, um, whatzits. Sharp and pointy. I should know. They were a pain in the ass to trim and file. Yes, file, because they didn't have any rounded portions with seam lines and I just can't get sandpaper in there without shrinking my hands. Also her hair, for some reason, has two locks in a separate piece. I'm thinking it has something to do with the way the model is built. Scientificly speaking, you probably can't really mold an object with more than one predominant curve direction because the smaller of the directions just won't fill up with resin.

All three are now either stuck in my drain (no I'm not willing to learn to be a plumber to get them out) or are floating about in a sewer somewhere (no I'm not willing to-- well, you know). The hair I could probably swing by using epoxy putty and just jamming it in there and sanding that down until it looks natural. But those little spiky things? Bullocks. I'm going to have to file off the guides on her torso and "sculpt" what's supposed to be there. Either way I'm probably going to ruin the sexy hips.

*SORROW*

Also worth noting is that the kit doesn't come with a stick for her weapon. It comes with the weapon and the end of the stick, just not the stick itself. Well, I lost that end of the stick, just not down the drain.

Problem-before-first-problem: I tried sanding this tiny 3mm x 2mm x 1mm resin piece while standing up. I didn't even hear it hit the ground, let alone find it.

And the stick? Sure, epoxy putty. But my craftmanship can't possibly make one that size and have it come out well. I still don't know what I'm gonna do about that. At least this putty is really easy to machine when it dries. If I had a lathe I'd probably give it a whirl. But I don't.

...

*SORROW*

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