Gundam 00 Celestial Being Gundam GN002 Dynames

Busy days at work and took a 2 months hiatus from the blog. However, it wasn't all work and no play, picked up (again) Gunpla modelling and am amazed how advance the technology went since the last time I put down my cutter and keep it for good about almost 20 years ago.
GN002 Dynames (pronouced "Dee-Nah-Miss") are the 4th 1/100 kit I build since coming back into the hobby. It is an astutely designed Gundam and is such a shame that it is only available as a NG (No Grade) for 1/100 scale. The previous 3 I build were all MG (Master Grade) and that means little worry of having to paint some of the parts. Stickers are also sparse for this kit. All in all, NG are the poor man's choice if 1/100 scale is the thing for you.

I really love how Dynames turned out and it is a very well proportion mobile suit. The green is a departure from the customary blue for a standard Gundam. But since Dynames main role is of a sniper, green is aptly right for it. I have originally wanted to paint the green but part laziness makes me decide on it's original plastic green.
Both pistols and the sniper rifle were given some degree of paint job. Otherwise they are a boring piece of dark grey plastic. I am especially happy on how the sniper rifle turned out. Gave it a semi-gloss seal after the painting and the panel lining. Pistols container were also painted which gives it a 2 tone. It is a wonder how a little paint gives added dimension to the otherwise dull model.
However, paint wasn't the only enhancer here. Panel lining is equally important. I got a 0.05 tip standard marker - from stationary shop which only cost me $2 - and used it for most of the lining here. I think it is water based and when you over lined or out-of-line, it is easy to wipe it off with your fingers. For thicker lines, I have the Gundam marker which I paid $4.
Lastly, decals is something you MUST include in your model to put in the final touch for details. As mentioned earlier, the kit doesn't provide and body decals. I'm using decals from my earlier kit for Dynames. No, it wasn't anime accurate. Just apply whatever I think makes sense and works. "02" on the right shoulder because Dynames is no.2 mobile suit with Arios and Virtue as 03 & 04 respectively.
The other decals are to be place based on our own common sense. Not too many, not too little, just enough. And don't underestimate the small text pieces. When place strategically, they enhance the details.

The kit also came with the additional armor that shields Dynames from the front from flak. It was mounted here and has 3 hinges part that fit the 3 pieces a side together and allows some poseability.
This basic No-Grade kit has pretty good articulations. I would say it doesn't lose out to a Master Grade and because it has less parts, posing is much easier without the hassle of parts falling off from the more detail laden MG kits. In another words, more fun to fiddle with and to play with. Posing is fun and hassle free.

Here I have the armor position in a way where Dynames is facing head on to enemy fire. While it is not entirely in defence mode, the middle panel can open up for Dynames to fire back.
And the top picture show in full glory the plastic green. Some point of time later, I may just buy a can of matte top coat spray to have the entire Dynames matte up. Is it worth a try?