Hi World, Gunjap Interviews today with Miko Matsing !!!
Hi World, Gunjap Interviews today with Miko Matsing. Let’s Start!
[G: Gunjap]
[M: Miko Matsing]
G – Who is Miko Matsing in the Gunpla Modelers World? And where do you come from?
M – I’m a relative unknown hailing from the far, far away land called the Philippines, Just an average modeler who’s into a lot of building and learning with each new build. Miko Matsing is just my online name though taken from my nickname and from the name of a popular children’s show character here in the Philippines. I prefer to keep my professional identity and hobby identity separate on some occasions but it feels very satisfying when my students or work friends find out about my little passion based on what they come across online.
G – When did you start building Gunpla?
And when did you made your first Custom?
M – I’ve been building kits since I was four years old (blame my parents lol) and I began with SD kits. Later on I built zoids, and collected other toys. When I was in my teens I briefly returned to gunpla with the HGUC line and HG seed kits (I loved the designs) I just did snapfits and some gundam marker painting but not very well.
(I guess I should probably mention I have a preference in scale, mostly HG 1/144 scaled stuff. Which is why I’m also fixated in painting, building and photographing figures, vehicles and dioramas in that scale as well.)
That was in 2004-2006.
I got into customizing mainly from customizing, repainting, and modifying old transformer toys, GI Joes and Kamen Rider figures, but only recently came around to taking my gunpla builds seriously after a trip to Baguio, Philippines to observe the IPMS Philippines Baguio Chapter Invitationals. The Baguio builders were a big, big influence on me getting back into the hobby. It’s because of them that I tried building planes as well (haha)
As for my first custom gunpla it was way back in 2004, I badly glued an antenna and a Guncannon shoulder cannon to a HGUC GM, didn’t even bother to clean the glue marks (which discolored over time) and called it a day. I’d have a pic but that kit was cannibalized for another build I made recently (MSV GM Sniper Custom)
G – Do you have some inspiration for your creations?
M – I take inspiration from all over. I see builds on sites like fg-site, Modelers-G, other Japan blogs and hobby magazines, I get inspired by some local builders as well and of course from the series itself (I’m mainly a Universal Century fan). And of course my many friends in the hobby, both local and online.
When I build, I want the models to seem to fit the look of that series, which is why when I conceptualize I consider the timeline a bit, check the Gundam Wiki or other sources for variant colors or units, try new building techniques like weathering, etc, or like right now, I’m researching how to apply camouflage on some future builds. I know, I know this makes me sound a bit boring as a builder, but I ask that people try building from the canon perspective as well to round out their experience. It can be fun sometimes.
G – After you have finished snap-fitting a model, from where do you start to mod it?
M – I mostly start with what kind of look I want to do, So I ask myself if I wanna follow the color manual, or apply mu own take on it. If it’s the latter I begin to check other sources.
So I look up MSV, the animations themselves, custom units for pilots (both canon and my own fan-made ones), or builds that to my mind would fit the timeline. Then I begin planning which parts will get sectioned based on color and which parts will get the seams removed or which ones will have added detailing. The actual painting and finishing process takes me a variable amount of time though. My usual motivation is either I’m watching the show where the model was featured, or if I’m pressed with an impending deadline, or if I get chided enough by my friends in the hobby.
G – What do you think about Gunpla in all the World? modelers, attitude, modelers behavior etc..
M – I think sometimes people take things too seriously with the hobby they’re meant to enjoy. There are a ton of issues I’d love to touch on but would take too much time to discuss. All I will say is that people need to enjoy more and to not let others get in the way of their enjoyment, as well as not getting in the way of the enjoyment of others.
G – What do you think about GBWC Event?
M – Definitely a good venue for builders who want to take their builds to the next level (I’m planning on joining this year). I just wish the kit selections/choices available from our local distributor would be more… expansive lol.
G – Please some advices for modelers that wanna start building a gunpla for the very first time!
M – Like what I always read in the 4chan /toy/ Gunpla and Plamo General thread; you will screw up the first time. But that’s okay because we all do, and when you look at what you did wrong, you have an idea how to do it right and proceed with how you build.
But if you really want to get good results on the first try, nothing beats the old adage “Be Curious”. Find people who have built for a longer time and ask for tips, experiment on your own and expand your mental filebook on building model kits try different model kits as well, not just gunpla.
Browse Google for good articles on how to build, and most of all, be patient and don’t stop. You might be surprised, looking back after your third or fifth kit, how much you have improved and learned. And of course if you want to present your work to everyone it’s a good idea to research how to do figure photography (Don’t ask me how, I’m still very much learning this lol).
G – Have you a Website/Blog to show your Works?
M – Yes! You can follow my shenanigans (from time to time) over at http://micromatsing.blogspot.com/
I also keep online galleries up on two sites:
Fg-Site- http://www.fg-site.net/members/113138/
Modelers-G- http://www.modelers-g.jp/modules/myalbum/viewcat.php?uid=9892
G – Future Projects?
M – Right now? A lot of stuff actually, Finishing some local contest entries, planning a camouflage variant of the HGUC Victory Gundam, An HGUC Guncannon, HGUC F9, HGUC MSV GM Sniper Custom, Cannon, Guncannon II, A display diorama I want to finish this summer (hopefully), many more backlog kits… And maybe another try at the HGUC RX-78-2 Ver. Ka.
G – Many Thanks to Miko Matsing for this Interview 
See You soon for the next!
GUNJAP
