RMS-117 GARIBALDI ß 1/144 BANDAI PLASTIC KIT Modeling: Lewismaster Photos: R. Petti

	The RMS-117 is one of the three main mobile suit models (the other two being the Hizack and the Gm II) that equips the Federation and Titans forces at the beginning of the Grips conflict, in U.C. 0087, as presented in the Z Gundam series. This mobile suit is the natural development of the exceptional MS-14 Gelgoog and of the prototype MS-17 Garibaldi a, both Zionist products. It's a fast and reliable weapon, but it has no chance aginst more powerful mobile suits, like the Gundam mk.II or the Z Gundam.

	This kit is well sculpted and proportionated in all of its parts. It needs some working, of course, but not so extensive as in other models. I found it a good and quite easy model, very appropriate for a newcomer. In fact, this was one of the first models where I applied modifications from the very start of the building process, in contrast with other where modifications were made in subsequent rebuidings. HEAD -  To enhance the slenderness of the head I extended it about 1 mm in height and length, using putty and plasticard. I replaced the visor with a transparent one, using a white plastic speck to simulate the eye. The head movement is insured by a B-joint, inserted in a completely reconstructed neck. As in other early models of mine, I used copper wire rolled up on itself to simulate the tubes around the neck. BODY - I cut out the fixed skirts and made them mobile using more copper wire (I really used a lot of that!), threaded in small holes drilled in the waist. Looking at this model after a while,

	what comes to mind that I could have easily made a rotating torso. Well, maybe in the next rebuliding… LEGS - I used two B-joints for the hip-leg connections, opening two larger housing in the upper thighs and modifying the lower part of the body to drill the holes for the joints. I cut out about 3 mm in lenght from the lower part of the legs, to permit a wider movement to the feet. Those feet were extended about 5 mm frontally, using more plasticard. The soles were redrawn and rebuilt,  too.

	DETAILS - A few holes were drilled here and there, a new grid was added on the backpack, all the rest is from Bandai. PAINTING - I used Humbrol enamels, as usual. The main colors are Crimson Red (HUMBROL Matt 180), Service Brown (HUMBROL 10) and Aluminium (HUMBROL 56). The whole model was finally covered with Humbrol Satin Varnish. WEATHERING - Being this a space mobile suit, I didn't feel the "dirty look" would be very suited. So I used only some Silver on the more worn out parts.

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