Mew Zakuro Construction Log

Here are some in-progress pictures of a figure kit I've built. She is Mew Zakuro (Fujiwara Zakuro), from the Tokyo Mew Mew, anime (more info here). The pose comes directly from episode 21, where Zakuro sits on a light pole, while her companions are swept by in the floodwaters from the defeat of this episode's monster.

This build log is a bit different than others, as it is of the second copy of the Zakuro kit I've built. I sculpted the master, and a friend made silicone rubber molds from that and cast the kit parts. However, I didn't think to take pictures of scupting the master or building up the first version of the kit. So, we only get the second build-up here. The kits are available from him at Back to the Garage. If you're just interested in the final product, she's at the end of this page.

Click each thumbnail to see picture and caption. Click the picture there to see full-resolution image.

So, I begin with an official picture of Zakuro, and some shots of the master I sculpted, from which the kits were made.

 
  Scene from episode 21 that started this all. Zakuro from the cover of DVD #5. Master parts breakdown Master parts breakdown Master, parts assembled to see how they look  
 

 
  Master, parts assembled to see how they look  
 

After sculpting the master comes the RTV silicone-rubber mold made from this master. A friend did both the mold-making and the casting. Here are pictures of the mold. Actually this is the second mold, as he decided that he'd improved his technique and made another set.

 
  Mold's for Zakuro's parts, open. All are two-part molds, except for the streetlight lens which only needed a one-part mold. Mold's for Zakuro's parts, open. All are two-part molds, except for the streetlight lens which only needed a one-part mold. Mold's for Zakuro's parts, closed up. Mold's for Zakuro's parts, closed up  
 

Next, I skip several steps, including pictures of the mold and of the actual kit parts. Here are some pictures of the first kit of Zakuro I built. This was of parts from the first molds, not the ones pictured above.

 
  First build of Zakuro (photo by Matt Goldman) First build of Zakuro (photo by Matt Goldman) First build of Zakuro (photo by Matt Goldman) First build of Zakuro (photo by Matt Goldman) First build of Zakuro (photo by Matt Goldman)  
 

Next, I again skip right to the middle of assembly of my second Zakuro kit. At this point, I've cleared off the inital flash from the pieces, cleaned up the mold parting lines, and given the first rough coat of primer.

 
  Parts cleaned up and primed Trial assembly of first pass at cleanup and priming Trial assembly of first pass at cleanup and priming Trial assembly of first pass at cleanup and priming Trial assembly of first pass at cleanup and priming  
 

I did a little more cleanup of places that the primer showed needed a bit more work, and also put together the base and light pole.

 
  Primed Zakuro, test fit on her lamppost Primed Zakuro, test fit on her lamppostIt looks like I need ot fix her leaning to the left. Primed Zakuro, test fit on her lamppost Primed Zakuro, test fit on her lamppost  
 

Next step after some further cleanup was to finish the base plaque and prime some areas in white to give better flesh tones and "white flace".

 
  Primed Zakuro, test fit on her lamppost above mostly finished base. Primed Zakuro, test fit on her lamppost above mostly finished base. Primed Zakuro, test fit on her lamppost above mostly finished base.  
 

Since the original episode has Zakuro sitting above flowing water, now is the time to start putting a field of water on the base. Also we start painting Zakuro herself for real.

 
  Base with start of the water laid down Dry brush some highlights onto the water on the base. And a couple LEDs and connector to try lighting the streetlight. First stage of painting. The flesh is already painted and things are mostly masked to airbrush the red. First stage of painting. The flesh is already painted and things are mostly masked to airbrush the red.  
 

 
  Now lets test-fid Zakuro with some paint on her base. The white water will dry clear later. Now lets test-fid Zakuro with some paint on her base. The white water will dry clear later. Now lets test-fid Zakuro with some paint on her base. The white water will dry clear later.  
 

A little more painting, mostly hair, and some experimenting with flash and backgrounds.

 
  Zakuro of the lavender hair.The open joint on her arm is because I forgot to push it fully closed for this shot. It hasn't been permanently fasened yet. Lets' try with a lighter color tan background. You can also see a couple pinholes hin her hair that need filling. Zoom back a bit and use the flash. It highlights Zakuro, and throws the background into darkness. Same shot as before, but with no flash and a longer exposure. Let's take a look at her left side. You can see some spots on her left ear that need touching up where the masking pulled the paint off.  
 

 
  Here's looking at you. I need to correct that blank expression in her eyes.  
 

More painting, especially the face, but touching up all I could see. Now let's see if these pictures turn up anything I feel I must correct.

 
  Here's looking at you.This is a bit closer than normal viewing distance if you look at the full-size image. Zakuro looks calmly back at us from her perch on the lamp pole. Closeup of her left side And the full view of her left side. Hmm, that lower mounting pin is obvious, as are scuff marks on her boot. Zakuro's full left side I think I just didn't push the joint together enough here that pin is visible. Overtaking Zakuro from the rear. 10:00 high. Are we really looking down on her?  
 

And now, Zakuro is fully glued together and onto her lampost perch.

 
  Here she sits, ready to leave home. Here she sits, ready to leave home. Here she sits, ready to leave home. Here she sits, ready to leave home. And a close up of her right sideagain this is a bit closer than normal viewing distance if you look at the full-size image. A close up from the front.  
 

 
  Close up of her back Looking down from above Looking down from above From the left From the right  
 

 
  From the right rear From the left rear From the front From the left front from the right lower side And the bottom side of the base, just to be complete  
 

And here are three versions of Zakuro, gathered toghether for a group photoshoot. This includes the original master which I sculpted, the first kit of her that I built, and this latest build which is documented here.

 
  Zakuro, finished, with the original master behind her Zakuro, finished, with the original master behind her Zakuro, finished, with the original master behind her A trio of Zakuros, from the left: the first kit I built, the master that started this all and this copy of the kit Let's put the newest build in the middle, flanked by her two older sisters.  
 

 
  The same trio, from the back: old, new, master. The same trio, from the back: old, new, master.  
 

And so this build log comes to an end, with Zakuro settling into her packaging getting ready to take her next journey through the postal system.

 
  The box, with just the power adapter for lighting, carefully taped in place so it doesn't come loose in transit Zakuro lying on her bed of ghost poop Zakuro snuggling into her cushioning bed And sleeping quietly, safe beneath all the soft packing  
 

created with igal + ghr patches