| 這台戰蟹(又稱愛爾蘭魔蟹)是高達世界中自護軍首部水陸兩棲機動戰士，而大河原邦男的設計亦盡量流線型，故此它的一雙手臂甚至可以收藏縮起。這個縮臂形態在萬代 HGUC 系列的戰蟹模型中雖然也能做到，但這模型的縮臂方法與八十年代出品的戰蟹模型一樣，需要把手臂的一截拿去才可「縮臂」。但在2003年六月出品的 MG 版戰蟹模型中，一雙手臂在準確的設計下童叟無欺地縮藏入它巨大的身軀內，成為模型圈中一時佳話。平心而論，MG 版戰蟹的外形遠比 HGUC 版為佳，但它的體積大了，簡樸的線條看上去就顯得簡陋了，故此雖然我在2004年買下這模型，但一直也想不好怎樣去處理它。 | Gogg is the first amphibious MS created by the Zeon, thus it is also one of the first amphibious MS designed by Kunio Ogawara for the Gundam universe. As a result, it looks very streamlined, and even rather simplistic in terms of graphic design. Nevertheless it comes with a gimmick, namely its flexible arms can be retracted inside its huge body. Although the very first Gogg model in the 80s can also re-create the underwater cruise mode, i.e. retracted arms, it is done by removing a long section of each arm. The arms' retraction in model was faithfully re-created when Bandai released the MG version of the Gogg in June, 2003. I bought this model shortly afterward but I did not start building it until 2005. In my opinion, the MG version looks much better than the HGUC version. However, due to an increase in size, the MG model looks more simplistic than its smaller sibling. As usual, the lack of surface details becomes a real issue in a big model like this one. |
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| 這幾年我在加拿大的夏理法斯市工作，有機會近距離見到加拿大海軍的潛水艇，第一個印象是潛艇表面有很多刻線。經考究，軍用潛艇的表面通常是鋪滿了約一尺乘一尺的隔聲橡膠磚(Acoustic Tile)，故此它的表面才有那麼多線紋，而且沒有金屬感。所以在製作之初我就決定了需要替這部戰蟹模型作大量刻線。替這部戰蟹的表面增加刻線，自然比很多模型更難，因為它的所有表面皆是曲面，直尺或 Dymo 帶等工具很難用得上；所以最後決定靠眼力徒手刻上，現在出來的效果似乎還可以！而因為這是一部水陸兩棲機動戰士的關係，不能加上一些凸起的裝飾(以減少水中阻力)，所以刻線的功夫只可以靠加上凹陷的裝飾去稍稍減少。(題外話：為了減少水中阻力，有些真潛艇甚至會在高速航行中把前面的水平翼縮入艇中；所以我沒有加上凸起的裝飾是有一點根據的。反觀很多兩棲機動戰士的設計太花巧而不合理。) | I have a privilege to observe some VICTORIA Class submarines of the Canadian Navy at close range after I moved to Halifax in 2003. These military submarines reduce their acoustic target strength (analogous to radar cross section for aircraft) by using acoustic tiles. These rubber tiles cover most of a submarine's surface, thus the surface of a military submarine does not shine like metal. Panel lines are all over its surface as a result of the tiles. Because of this, I decided to scribe a lot of panel lines on the surface of this Gogg model. The challenge of scribing on this model is its streamlined body. Most of the surfaces of this model are not flat, fortunately they are not concave surfaces neither; nevertheless it is difficult enough to put new panel lines because there are many surfaces and tools like dymo tapes, rulers and calipers are not effective in this case. As a result, I decided to scribe these lines without using any aid. Extra caution was exercised, and I am quite happy with what I did after all. On top of the panel lines, I also put some recessed decorations because raised accessories obviously raise the drag of the MS while it is moving underwater. |
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| 至於在外形方面，以自己所見，很多戰蟹的修改設計都會把雙臂雙腿加長；而我這部戰蟹的雙臂是加長了，但雙腿卻改短了。把它的雙臂加長的原因是向高戰蟹的設計靠攏，要知在「0080 口袋裡的戰爭」一片中出現的淺藍色高戰蟹是這台戰蟹的近親，雖然兩者的設計很不同，但我希望可以加強一些共同的特徵。亦因為這個原因，我把模型的大腿和小腿改短了一點，看上去手臂會長一點和帶一點穩重的霸氣。另外模型的頭部亦改小了一點，顯得身軀更龐大。 | The proportion of the model also underwent modification. For one thing, I lengthened the arms whilst the upper and lower legs were shortened. The reason for doing so comes from the design of Hy-Gogg from 0080 War in the Pocket. Although Hy-Gogg looks very different from Gogg, the two are close relatives. It is quite impossible to make the Gogg looks like Hy-Gogg. (Nobody would do so by the way, otherwise it will beat the purpose of having two different designs.) However I would like the two MS designs bear more resemblance. This is why my Gogg has long arms and short legs. Moreover, the head of this model was made smaller in order to create an illusion of a bulgy body. It is quite pointless to make the Gogg look agile because of its design feature. Thus I turned it into a strong and sturdy amphibious MS. |
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| 我在增加手臂長度方面可謂無所不用其極，如果看倌擁有一部 MG 戰蟹模型的話，與下面第一幅圖比較，可見我把手臂與身體連接的橫枝向下移了大約3mm。在未有裝上啡色裝甲之前，下垂了3mm的手臂的確還可以縮進體內，但當我花了一番功夫改造後，才發現裝上了啡色裝甲後會阻礙手臂回收入體內，於是乎唯有把裝甲的一部份磨去(見圖)。這部戰蟹的手臂伸縮結構其實設計得很緊密牢固，要改造得能把加長了的手臂全縮回體內實在很艱難，但若然它的雙臂不能回收入體內的話，未免浪費了萬代這個巧妙的設計，於是折衷的方法是加長雙肩的護甲，以便完全覆蓋突出體外的手掌。而加長護甲首先需要把它鋸開，我選擇鋸開的地方是護甲接近身軀的一邊而不是護甲的中段(見圖)，這樣做的話我只加上一截弧拱形膠片就可以把原來護甲的內部雕刻完全留用，不必大量修補它的內部(見圖)。 | It is not very difficult to lengthen its arms, I simply used 1.0mm (or 1.2mm?!) plastic board to elongate each section of its arms. The real challenge is to lengthen the arms without sacrifing the retraction mechanism. Bandai did another engineering wonder by creating the arm's retraction mechanism. It is a shame if the Gogg cannot retract its arms into the body. However the retraction mechanism inside the body is so delicate that it is difficult to modify it to house a pair of lengthened arms without compromising the structural strength, which is important for a transformable model. Consequently I gave up on modifying the mechanism and left the arms partially retracted. However I enlarged the two shoulder armours in such a way that these armours cover the exposed arms and hands. The following pictures captured the extension work; I will leave them to do their work. |
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| 至於其他的改裝，包括加尖了十根手指，把背後的推進器改得比較流線型，與及在臀中央加了一條「尾巴」。不少軍艦及潛水艇的後部都裝上一種拖動式聲納探測器群組(Towed Array SONAR system，正式中文譯名不詳)，這群組由數以百計細小的聲納探測器所組成，每個聲納探測器藏在一條細長膠喉中。這條膠喉只有手臂般粗幼，但長度可達一公里以上；在不需使用時可圈起收藏在艦艇之內。故此以1:100比例而論，這種聲納探測器就似一條十多米長的幼電線一樣，實在難以用於這個比例的模型上。因此這台戰蟹的「尾巴」只是汲取這種聲納探測器的形神而變化出來而已。 | There are some other minor modifications on this model, including the ten fingers, backpack and a "tail". Some military submarines and surface vessels are equipped with a kind of passive sonar system called towed array sonar. It is a long flexible tube of about one kilometre long but only a few inches in diameter. The vessels, either surface or under water, tow the sonar array behind it and listen to the underwater environment. Thus this type of sonar inspired the “tail” on this Gogg model but it is not a faithful representation because a 1:100 scale of towed array sonar looks like a thin wire of more than ten metres long. Nevertheless it is quite interesting to have a "tail" on the Gogg. |
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| 在這模型的塗裝方面，因為表面刻了很多線，所以選色比指定色較淺，以便清楚顯示那些線條。模型的底色是黑色，淺啡色是郡氏肉色(H44)，深啡色是加了白色的戰蟹專用深啡色，而機械色今次採用了田宮啞鋁色(XF-16)。因為機械色是很淺色的關係，所以模型附屬的黑色軟膠關節套變得很礙眼。因此我用了 Irisawa 廠出品的白色 V Color。這種顏色需要用天拿水稀釋，稀釋程度比起一般油性油要更稀，而且不要用細噴咀噴塗，否則會阻塞噴筆。這油雖然在使用上要小心一點，但它的附著力確是很強，噴在軟膠關節套上的 V Color 半點也沒有掉下來。(當然，用力刮的話還是可以刮掉塗漆的。)但因為這種模型油的強附著力及以天拿水稀釋，在噴塗時我建議使用合適的口罩以及在空氣流通的地方作業。 | This model was painted in lighter colour than the official colour scheme because I spent much time on its surface and I would like the surface details easier to be seen. The light brown is GSI's Hobby Color H44 and the brown is the GSI's Gundam Color for Gogg plus a little bit of white. Since the two shades of brown were lightened, I also painted the colour of the joint in something lighter. In this case it is Tamiya's acrylic flat aluminium (XF-16). The model comes with some rubber parts for the joints but they are in black. It looks absolutely awkward if these parts are black on this model. As a result, I painted them in white using Irisawa's V Color, which is formulated for rubber parts. |
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| 正如先前所說，軍用潛艇的表面通常並非金屬，隔聲橡膠磚之下才是精鋼鑄造的外殼。而因為在水中只消下沉十公尺便會驟增一個大氣壓力的緣故，潛艇的外殼需要抵受很高的壓力。所以在製造時外殼故然造得堅固，而且在服役後還要經常檢查以防滲漏。正因為這兩個原因，這部戰蟹模型只做了極輕微的舊化，以反映頻密的保養及非金屬的外觀。 | Real military submarines are high-maintenance platforms. They are kept in good shape in order to be operated safely, and remained low signature. As a result, I did little weathering on this model in order to convey this idea. |
| 最後承蒙不棄，這件作品亦被刊載於阿蟹兄的我們的模型力量當中。另外這件作品在 Shearwater Aviation Museum the 9th Annual Spring Hobby Show 之中僥倖獲獎，特此鳴謝大會。 | Finally it is my honour to have this work first published on crabchiu's model web site. Also this work won a price at the Shearwater Aviation Museum the 9th Annual Spring Hobby Show, special thanks go to the Hobby Show Committee. |
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