NC-16: The Thing about Modelling

Actually, now as I recall, I am beginning to understand why I decided to pursue a line in engineering. Ever since young, while young kids were spurging on Barbie dolls and condoms, I was buying those DIY models such as cars, bikes, and even robots.

The first ever model I build from scratch was a Tamiya car which mindless kids, like me, would buy and every weekend, as long as Power Ranger wasn't on air, I would be at the shop racing my car away.

Soon, I got sick of it or rather, I got sick of buying new cars over and over again. The reason was simple. My Tamiya car would always run out of track and end up either in 3 pieces under a van, down the drain, or somewhere which my huge tummy then inflicted on me a certain difficulty in chasing. In addition, building a Tamiya car was getting too easy for me - much more easier than laughing at my English teacher.

And so, I decided to move on and get something which would pose a higher level of difficulty to build and yet won't move. That's when I started buying model bikes. A bike then would cost me around 30 SGD which to a 13 year old kid, was rather a huge sum. I did massive sacrificing by downsizing my 3 burgers during recess time to only 2 servings of burgers.

You should have seen how skinny I was then.

The challenge was, building these type of bikes required a special glue which cost about 3 SGD then. I did the most logical thing. I.... Well just say somehow, I managed to get it for free =)Soon, after building 4 model bikes and 2 model cars, I decided to try something new again. Robots or more specifically, Gundam robots whose anime shows were rather popular among students then.

The thing was, that were so many different versions and variety of it that I lost count of how many I bought, and how many that are lost.

Up to date, the only surviving models I have and displayed proudly is one Strike Freedom which I bought 4 years back or so. 2 years ago, a new version of Strike Freedom appeared in the market and back then, the price put me off and I didn't had the courage to buy it I was seriously dying inside to get it but too bad.

At that time, I was a recruit - brainless and definitely penniless. But few days ago, I finally did something which I waited for 2 years...

Introducing the new version Strike Freedom. Scale 1/100 and Master Grade version. I got this on Friday night and on the very same night, I set up my work station, got all my tools prepared, and started tearing apart the huge box.

These were the pieces awaiting to be fixed up together. Don't you just orgas from the sight of it.

As I had little sleep the night before, my 3 cans of Redbull were only enough to last me till 430am and as reluctant as I was, I had no choice but to hold the assembling till next morning.

My workstation.

Halfway through assembling - forming just the main body itself.

Part of the wings.

Coupled with the wings.

And finally, after 10 hours and 20 min, I finally pieced up every single piece although some mishap happened in between the assembling. I didn't realise how strong I was and accidentally fractured the Strike Freedom's finger.