HG Alyzeus/Mass-Produced Nu Gundam

My main goal here was to depict the Alyzeus/Mass-Produced Nu Gundam as it appeared in the climax of Gundam Hathaway 2. My plan for the build was to try to capture the two sides of how the suit is portrayed. One is that it's a low-spec trainer mobile suit with a bunch of gear tacked on to it, inevitably being bullied around by the Xi Gundam. The other is how, to Hathaway Noa, it exists as a stand in for the ideological counter to his actions as Mafty Navue Erin. During the battle against Lane Aim, Hathaway begins to hallucinate the image of the Nu Gundam superimposed on the mass-produced Nu and sees himself instead being pitted against Amuro Ray.

To do this, two things hand to be nailed: Lane Aim's desperation as he goes head to head with Hathaway Noa, and the effect the silhouette of the (real) Nu Gundam has on Hathaway's psyche. The posing I went with is to have it pulling up and away from its target. Lane is playing defensive; he's on the ropes and is fighting for his life. The sub-arm beam sabe comes out defensively and the forearm gatling is its last resort firepower. The Alyzeus parts are falling off and being stripped down to reveal the mass-produced nu underneath. Attaching the phantom nu parts (done with magnets) is meant to change the image. The fin funnels attach onto the shelf nozzles and the shoulder armor is extended by the shield. The distinct v-fin of the nu becomes visible. Another fin funnel sits deployed over the shoulder, ready to fire. My aim was to project a larger and stronger image with the phantom nu parts visible.
Build Highlights:
Nu Silhouette
To achieve the silhouette of Amuro's Nu Gundam, I used an RG Nu that I had lying around and kitbashed various parts of it. I wanted to be able to swap between the mass-produced nu and the silhouette modifcations, so I used magnets to allow for swapping the parts in and out.


I used SMS Galaxy paint, with some highlighted whites to get that sort of phantom-like effect for it.

Body modifications
In addition to the add-on parts, parts of that Real Grade Nu were used for the skirts (front and rear), as well as replacing the feet. The feet that the kit comes with have pretty bad hollowing, but the joint size is just the right size to allow the RG feet to slot right in.

Knee/shin part was modified to be two parts.

And some detail scribing/pla-plating was done. The small group of lines on the shoulders were meant to mimic the design language of the edges of the Xi gundam's dorito bits in the katoki design. The same detail can be seen on the Alyzeus parts as well. My idea was to give it some consistency with the Anaheim Electronics design language of this period in UC.

More scribing/pla-plate details


I'm generally committed to accuracy, and am hesitant to do any full-custom builds. I like to keep things close to canon but am fine with taking some artistic liberties. The Circe no Majo mass-produced nu gundam design omits the blue shoulders of the MSV design to go for a design closer to RX-93 Nu Gundam. I personally prefer the MSV coloring.
Also added the bars on the shoulders. The Alyzeus/Mass-pro Nu is a trainer x prototype craft so maybe these could be practical. I think they help round out the design.

Main body finished. I tried to pick decals that emphasize the prototype/trainer aspect. I went with EFSF decals for the mass-produced Nu, and EFF for the Alyzeus parts. The idea is that the mass-produced nu gundam would have been made for the Space Force, but was repurposed for the land forces for the development of the Alyzeus and the Penelope.

Sub-arm customization
The sub-arm out of box is a little boring. It's just one stiff piece. I used parts from the Ballden Arms to make the saber movable on a ball-joint. Additionally, I added some rivet like details using runner parts



Other details
Some sharpened details, made to look more pointy and less plastic model-y.

Also some pla-plating and custom bits on the Alyzeus knee parts + detailing and hollow-filling on other parts


Arcing beam saber effect. Left it in boiling water and then kept it bent in place until cooled. Pairs well with the sub-arm modifications made above.

The Base
Australian outback-type style. The final act of the film takes place around Ayer's Rock so it was easier to get references.
Started with AK Terrain neutral basing with some Army Painter rock bits

After that, painted with Army Painter Fire Giant Red speed paint then dry brushed with Army Painter Violent Vermillion. Bush effects from Gamers Grass.

After a protective coat, another layer of drybrushing in brown, including on the bushes. Then some dry brushed black for the bits closest to the smoke effects.

The falling shoulder piece and the phantom funnel are also free standing on the base.


Effects
The effect parts were done using cotton balls with watered down PVA glue



Thruster bits painted with yellow -> orange -> red -> light grey -> dark grey

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