Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

Discuss models, figures, Blu-rays and more.
User avatar
gunform1010
Posts: 815
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 3:29 am

Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

When it comes to Gunpla, which scale should I use for my stop-motion videos, and why?
"Gunpla is freedom!" -Meijin Kawaguchi III

Love Live/Gundam Build Fighters semi-crossover/spin-off in works
User avatar
Omega
Posts: 1577
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:21 pm
Contact:

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

In this case, I'd say 1/144, even though the best choice for stop motion would be MSiAs or Robot Damashiis.

Reason for 1/144 is more the price tags making them affordable. Now... Robot Damashiis are recommended for the very reason of the 1/144's main fault. Gunpla can break if you aren't careful.
User avatar
Gundam420
Posts: 148
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 11:48 am

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

Probably best not to use MG's or RG's. While their posability is great, you'd have to take extra care to make sure they don't break. HG's are sturdier (for the most part) but you'd still have to be careful. Go with Robot Damashii's or MSiA's. Or any Gundam figures that aren't models will do.
PSN: (Japan Account) gundaminator
User avatar
gunform1010
Posts: 815
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 3:29 am

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

I want as much mecha available as possible on that scale though, because I'm trying to retell the UC stories.
"Gunpla is freedom!" -Meijin Kawaguchi III

Love Live/Gundam Build Fighters semi-crossover/spin-off in works
User avatar
Gundam420
Posts: 148
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 11:48 am

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

Then 1/44 scale is probably the better solution because of the variety of mobile suits. Even then there are suits you won't find. Like the Denan Zon and the Denan Gei from F91, and the Crossbone Gundams are available as Robot Damashiis.
PSN: (Japan Account) gundaminator
User avatar
gunform1010
Posts: 815
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 3:29 am

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

What's the approximate scale of the MSIAs and Damashiis?
"Gunpla is freedom!" -Meijin Kawaguchi III

Love Live/Gundam Build Fighters semi-crossover/spin-off in works
User avatar
Omega
Posts: 1577
Joined: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:21 pm
Contact:

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

Robot Damashiis and MSiAs are equivalent to 1/144 Scale gunpla in size.
User avatar
Zgok
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 8:29 pm

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

Omega wrote:Robot Damashiis and MSiAs are equivalent to 1/144 Scale gunpla in size.
That is actually incorrect. Robot Damashii are around 1/144 but slightly smaller. This comparison from Ngee Khiong's blog demonstrates this. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3547/580 ... 24b277.jpg and http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2530/580 ... bec602.jpg MSiA's are about 1/200 scale, pretty small. http://smg.photobucket.com/user/listman ... s.jpg.html
User avatar
Gundam420
Posts: 148
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 11:48 am

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

No, MSIA's are a little bigger than 1/200.
PSN: (Japan Account) gundaminator
User avatar
Zgok
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun May 18, 2014 8:29 pm

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

Gundam420 wrote:No, MSIA's are a little bigger than 1/200.
Hence why I wrote "about" as I was unsure of the actual scale for MSiAs. I thought 1/200 would be the closest estimated guess. :wink:
User avatar
Gundam420
Posts: 148
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 11:48 am

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

Zgok wrote:
Gundam420 wrote:No, MSIA's are a little bigger than 1/200.
Hence why I wrote "about" as I was unsure of the actual scale for MSiAs. I thought 1/200 would be the closest estimated guess. :wink:
Sorry, guess I typed at the same time. My bad.
PSN: (Japan Account) gundaminator
User avatar
Calubin_175
Posts: 1105
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:06 pm

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

With non-scales, it means they're not strictly to scale between characters in accordance with theoretical heights. However, Robot Damashiis do have proper proportions within a given figurine.

MSiA on the other hand, suffer from non scaling between figurine and weapon, hence there were many oversized rifles.
User avatar
gunform1010
Posts: 815
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 3:29 am

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

Calubin_175 wrote:With non-scales, it means they're not strictly to scale between characters in accordance with theoretical heights. However, Robot Damashiis do have proper proportions within a given figurine.

MSiA on the other hand, suffer from non scaling between figurine and weapon, hence there were many oversized rifles.
So you're saying I trade flexibility with weapon show-accuracy? Scrap.
"Gunpla is freedom!" -Meijin Kawaguchi III

Love Live/Gundam Build Fighters semi-crossover/spin-off in works
User avatar
Calubin_175
Posts: 1105
Joined: Sat Oct 27, 2007 8:06 pm

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

With stop motion videos, since each frame is fixed at a certain angle, the proportions don't matter too much, treat it as if they are 2D for the key frames.
User avatar
gunform1010
Posts: 815
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 3:29 am

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

What about bigger machines, like the Elmeth, Big Zam, etc.? And starships?
"Gunpla is freedom!" -Meijin Kawaguchi III

Love Live/Gundam Build Fighters semi-crossover/spin-off in works
User avatar
mcred23
Posts: 4200
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2006 2:12 pm
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Contact:

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

As an FYI for MSiA, their size is roughly 1/170, at least according to the old Animerica guide book most people are familiar with. Obviously, the exact scale varies from figure to figure, as the Wing and early UC figures were all about the same size even if the suits in question were different heights, and IIRC the G Gundam stuff was slightly larger, as were the later Version 2.0 stuff (Which I think may have had better proportions of everything, as well as being more detailed).

For ships, mobile armors, and such bigger stuff, your biggest issue will be the various sizes they come in. A bunch of the big mobile armors are 1/550 scale, while warships tend to come in 1/1200, 1/1700, and 1/2400, with some other sizes thrown in just to make it even more wacky. The ships are pretty good, and some did come with tiny little MS and shuttles that were scaled to them, but the selection of ships overall is kinda limited...
I must betray Stalindog!!!

RPG TRINARY: Mash
Die Anti-brutale Kraft: mcred23 (Call me 'red', not 'mcred')
User avatar
gunform1010
Posts: 815
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 3:29 am

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

mcred23 wrote:For ships, mobile armors, and such bigger stuff, your biggest issue will be the various sizes they come in. A bunch of the big mobile armors are 1/550 scale, while warships tend to come in 1/1200, 1/1700, and 1/2400, with some other sizes thrown in just to make it even more wacky. The ships are pretty good, and some did come with tiny little MS and shuttles that were scaled to them, but the selection of ships overall is kinda limited...
What should I do, say, if I want to do fights like the Gundam vs Elmeth fight?
"Gunpla is freedom!" -Meijin Kawaguchi III

Love Live/Gundam Build Fighters semi-crossover/spin-off in works
User avatar
mcred23
Posts: 4200
Joined: Sun Mar 05, 2006 2:12 pm
Location: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Contact:

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

Well, like the ships, the 1/550 scale kits do also come with 1/550 scale MS as well. Just glancing at the pictures on HLJ, unlike the figures with the 1/1200 ships which are just a single solid piece of plastic that aren't pose-able at all, the ones with the 1/550 do seem to be able to move their arms at the very least. For example, the 1/550 Elmeth comes with Char's Gelgoog that can be made to grip the Elmeth's antenna, or at least move its arms to make it look that way. And just looking at the pictures on HLJ, the proportions on that lil' Gelgoog seem weird...

The good thing with those old MSG kits is they are very cheap, being just a couple of dollars each. The downside is you obviously have to glue them, and some require painting even for their base color. For example, the 1/1200 Salamis comes in an odd teal-ish color that is nothing at all like the color they are ever shown in any show, and the tiny GMs and Balls it comes with are the same color, so getting those to their proper colors may be time consuming...

And unfortunately, those older kits are either the best or only way you'll be able to get some mobile armors and pretty much any ships. For the Elmeth, for example, your only options I think are the 1/550 kit, which like the other old MSG stuff they keep putting out a few times every year, or the MSiA figure which will obviously be much more expensive (HLJ says it retailed for a bit over $60, and the only one on ebay is $85) and is considerably harder to find.
I must betray Stalindog!!!

RPG TRINARY: Mash
Die Anti-brutale Kraft: mcred23 (Call me 'red', not 'mcred')
Kratos
Posts: 1100
Joined: Wed Jul 11, 2007 3:57 pm
Location: BC

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

They actually have (or had, anyways, I haven't been in a week or so) the MSiA Elmeth at a secondhand store in my town. But yeah, it was pretty close to ¥10 000. Good luck getting that one for cheap.
"The beast of opportunity finds its master and soars through a shaken cosmos"
User avatar
gunform1010
Posts: 815
Joined: Sun Apr 27, 2014 3:29 am

Re: Stop Motion- Better to use 1/100 or 1/144

The Elmeth is an Asian exclusive, so I understand that one.

How about people scenes (like the gun fight on White Base)?
What should I do for those?
"Gunpla is freedom!" -Meijin Kawaguchi III

Love Live/Gundam Build Fighters semi-crossover/spin-off in works
Post Reply