I'm surprised Bandai hasn't capitolized on this yet, but there are a lot of recolor potentials for some of the Season 1 grunts. I'm hopefully beating them to it, but whatever. My collection of HG00 1/144th stuff wasn't all that big. 2 Tierens, Dynames, Exia (Converted to Astraea). Then I recently bought a second Exia for my Exia Repair project. I was thinking of going post Season 1 Pre Season 2 with my collection... at least for a little while. I'm already planning purchasing a GN-XIII Squadron, perhaps an Ahead too, but then also pick up a few Season 1 Grunts to convert into Katharon forces and have the rouge Exia Repair in there just to even things out a bit (though I'm not sure historically if Setsuna was actually working with Katharon in that 4 year gap).

Still, here's what I've got so far:
Tieren Ground Type x 3
Union Flag x 1 (on it's way)

Here's the full list of Katharon MS that HomelessGal was able to put together:

Of those, they've only made kits of the following:
AEU-09T AEU Enact Commander Type
SVMS-01 Union Flag
MSJ-06II-A Tieren Ground Type
MSJ-06II-E Tieren Space Type

Which doesn't leave me much else to get at this point. I really wish they had made more of the earlier Grunts in 00. The Anf, High Mobility Type Tieren, Realdo, Hellion... it would've been great. For now, this is all my Katharon Forces can amount to.

In any case, I've pretty much pinned down the Katharon Blue I'm going to use. French Blue seems to be the right hue for their forces, so I'll be repainting my Tierens and my Union Flag to Katharon Colors.

How unlikely do you guys think it would be that Katharon have an Overflag? I personally think that suit would look cool in Katharon Blue and it'd be another kit I could add that's NOT an HRL suit. I need to pick up an Enact too. I'll post pictures once I get my first few painted.

I kind of hope they leave it up to the fans. I mean, we already have 2 blue Tierens and 1 blue Enact. Plus at the minute Kataron haven't done anything that noteable, so we probably wouldn't see a kit unless a recurring Kataron ace develops. Plus I think if we do see a Kataron kit, it'd be if they eventually develop their own MS like Karaba did in Zeta. Maybe they'll get lucky and steal some GN-Xs once the A-Laws are really pushing designs like the Ahead and Gadessa?

As for your question- depends. Were the Overflags only produced for the specific squandron? I don't think we've even been told how Kataron got their forces. Some say they were brought by defectors. My personal theory is that Kataron started stealing them and the government said 'Eh, doesn't matter. Our GN-Xs can pound em'. Plus the Overflag guys were apparently instantly transferred to the Union's GN-X supply, so that suggests they were just suddenly gathering dust somewhere (unless the government handed em down to the next tier until they had enough GN-Xs to replace them with).

I realized this is more of a discussion for another thread, but it'll be helpful to know for this project.

To add something more on topic- I do love a blue MS :D That makes half of my custom designs A-Laws target practice.

Speaking of designs, shout out to HomelessGal. If you could generate Lineart of the MS we don't have lineart for Kataron from yet, that'd be awesome. Or at least get me how they colored their Union Flag and Tieren (since those are the first two I'll be doing). I know they're mainly blue, but I just wanna get those spots that aren't blue down and I know you're the master!

I have Finals all next week, but I'll see if I can find some time to put something together.

I understand. I do too... and it's unlikely that I'd have time to work on them anytime this or next week anyways.

I just placed an order to add some AEU-influence to my Kataron Forces. It's Ali's Enact, the blue version. I always wondered what happened to his Enact when he ditched it to kill the Thrones. We've also seen some custom Enacts that are like it in 00F, so I figured it'd be an easy addition to Kataron. Planning on having it be more of a lead unit than a Kataron Grunt. Eventually I'll get the normal Enact and paint it Kataron Blue too.

Once all my stuff gets in, I'll have this for my Kataron Forces Lineup:

1 Union Flag
1 Enact Custom
2 Tieren Ground Types

Which isn't a bad start. I want to convert one of those Tierens into the High Mobility type, but I'm afraid if I do that, Bandai will go ahead and make a kit of it. Wes Murhpy's Law of Gunpla... we've already seen it in action a few times with 00 Gunpla. I remember Zeonic Marine working on a Enact Custom when it got announced a few weeks later. I started work on my Exia Repair only to find there'll be a Super HCM-Pro of it now.

Anywho, this week is dead week at my university, so I've gotta study. I might take a break and paint one-o-dem Tieren's in blue just to make sure I got the right Hue.

You mean molding them all in blue, yeah that would be pretty lame. It would be worse than the trans-am models they are releasing.

I don't think it'd be lamer than the Trans Am Versions. At least Katharon recolors would be relevant to Season 2 and actually release some kits for them. Right now, all we've got are Celestial Being and A-LAWS stuff. We're getting just one kit from EF so far and nothing for Katharon.

I've got the solution to my "not-so- legit" inclusion of Ali's Custom Enact in my Katharon Forces. In 00F, they've got units similar to his but they just use the basic Enact Rifle. However, on the Space Type Enact that Katharon uses in the first episode, it's based off a standard Enact but it has a rifle that's closer to the Ali's Custom version. When I pick up a standard Enact, I can convert it to the Space type and swap rifles with the Ali's Custom and bam.

That's for a later date though. Right now I'm focusing on building Katharon's ground forces. There's less to work with with the space forces right now since we've only seen the Enact, Space Tieren, and Realdo and they only have kits of the Enact and Space Tieren.

My Union Flag got picked up today. I've just finished building it OOB. The package with my Custom Enact should be here Friday.

Here are two of the kits I'm prepping for painting tonight.

Getting back to this; near as I can tell, with the Flag and Ground Tieren it really is as simple as swapping the main color (Purple and green, respectively) to Katharon blue.

http://img389.imageshack.us/img389/4914/svms01qz8.jpg
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/8774/msj06iiasi6.jpg

The Enact appears to be the same situation, with one exception. These two shots display it with the grey spot on the back of its hands painted Katharon blue as well:
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/936/snaps...11224213ke5.jpg
http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/9644/sn...11224437vi4.jpg

Follow the color guide from the Hobby Japan article on the AEU Enact Space Katharon version.

And we have that on hand, of course.

I could've sworn the legs on the Flag were different. I thought instead of that black stripe down the middle, it was just a black knee armor with all blue down where that stripe would've been. I think in that reference shot with the Hellion and the Flag in the hangar, it shows that color as blue.

Checking through everything; they actually are consistent about that blue stripe on the Flag legs, so yeah, my bad.

It's cool. I sorta already started painting and had painted that in anticipation that it'd be right. It's kind of a neat look to it... but odd that this is the only change they made.

So I've had my kits for awhile and so far I've painted the Flag in "French Blue" as a test. It turned out pretty good, though I don't have it completed just as I want it yet. I've also got a Tieren ready to paint.

I also have Ali's Enact (in blue) built OOB. It's a little darker than the French Blue I've chosen for my forces, so I've repainted him too. Expect pictures of the Flag at the very least sometime this week.

For now, here's a shot of the Tieren, Flag, and Custom Enact in their Katharon Colors. I've got a few more details to paint on them, but it is basically how they'll look for now.


Excuse the quality of this picture. I'll have more detailed/better quality pictures of them later this week.

I've just gotta get my friend to send me the pictures we took of the Trio of Katharon forces taken a few days ago, but while we wait, I've ordered some more Gunpla to expand my Katharon Forces Project.

I've picked up an Overflag and a Tieren Space Commander Type. The Overflag I just plan on painting identical to my existing Flag. The Tieren Space Commander Type will kind of go both ways. I plan to eventually make a Space forces group too, but until then, my focus will be ground forces. I know it's not a confirmed type, though I think at this point, any Season 1 Mecha are acceptable for Katharon, I'm gonna build a Tieren Ground Commander Type.

Traditionally, the Commander types on the ground we've seen have been High Mobility Types. However, until I can successfully create legs for such an endeavor, I'm just going to give my space Tieren (not painted yet) a Commander head and the shoulder shields. Maybe even those pointed heels on the feet we see on the Commander Variants. I'll keep the Space parts handy so I can switch him over to Space-faring mode, but for now, my Second Tieren will be a Ground Type Commander.

Again, pictures once my buddy sends them to me.

I'm thinking of doing my forthcoming spare Flag as a one armed Katharon colours one. The backstory would be it lost the other one in a battle and hasn't had the parts to replace it. Maybe even give it some ace pilot nickname...

"The Bandit", perhaps? :P

Alias One Eyed Willy

Alias The Snake

Sounds neat. The French Blue I've used on my 3 so far looks spot on, so I'd suggest using that for the base color. I use Gunmetal for the black parts.

Thanks to calubin's findings of theoretical Model Numbers, I think a MSJ-06II-AT Tieren Ground Commander Type is my best bet until I can develop some High Mobility Type B legs to turn this machine from Theoretical to a confirmed in-animation type.

Finally! Got those pictures from my friend, Eleri. The Flag is complete. The Enact is nearly complete, and the Tieren needs some detail paint (orange on the torso, the lights on the shoulders, the gray joint color on the inside of the thigh). The colors look a little brighter than they should in these pictures, but you get the point. My last batch was too dark, these are a little too bright, but oh well!

These are just 3 of the many I plan to make for my Katharon Ground Forces.





Coming soon!

Overflag and Tieren Ground Commander Type!

Also, I have planned to pick up a normal Enact as well as

Pleasantly surprised to read this. I've been putting off my customizations of the Flag and Tieren, and now that Katharon exists, I have more of a reason to paint them blue. Maybe. ^_^

As for ideas...

Correct this old fool if wrong, but are you suggesting giving a Flag the Graham Custom rifle aka giving a Flag kit the spare one you'd have if you own all three or the Overflag?

If so- I like that idea. Very creative :)

===

After swiping the shoulder joint, started work on my Katharon Flag. It occurred to me that I have some M1 Abrams parts (was using them for parts for my 1/100 Hildolfr). Maybe I could apply them in someway, suggesting a patch up job with older weapons.

A Tank Flag? Sounds like something geared towards making a Shell Flag. Or you could make a hand-held cannon or something heavy for the Flag to carry? That wouldn't be too hard.

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. Rather than the slightly wonky idea of a one armed Flag, Katharon had at least tried to patch it up with odd parts they got hold of from non-MS weaponary (MS obviously being difficult enough to obtain and maintain) :)

Additionally, what's your opinion on markings? I know on Sergei's bear you didn't like the idea but I have some old Games Workshop markings (skulls, griffins, etc). I was considering using some on this but I think it'd go against the whole uniformity we see with the Katharon MS all just being decorated in plain blue.

Why does everyone who opposes A-LAWS have to be in Katharon? You could always make some junk guild/freelancer type MS. Yanno, some Mercenaries or a clan of some sort? In it for the sake of just protecting their villiage or what-not, and not really out to defeat A-LAWS (like Katharon) but really just defending their land.

But I like blue and your idea is good ;_;

Honestly, I like Katharon. Anyone that will willingly pilot older cool looking MS against GN monsters is escapist fantasy I can get behind.

Yep.

I've also started a few of the conversion bits. Now I won't say what it'll be when I'm done, but I can say a couple of things:

• 6x Maverick Missiles from a 1/144 F-16C kit
• Sawed-off the Union Flag rifle to a more pistol-sized version
• F.A.S.T. Packs (yes, they exist in real life, see F-15 and "Conformal Fuel Tanks"

All this talk of custom loadouts for Katharon had me develop a "Heavy Sniper" variant. It uses the Xeku Eins HGUC gun as the base with the handle moved to the side. It also has the Tieren's Ammo Drum feeding it instead of those gigantic rounds the Xeku Eins uses.

http://www.hlj.com/product/BAN952370 600 yen Space Tierens for a limited time.

Completed the Katharon colors Flag. Took some action pose pictures along with some group shots. I've still got the Enact and the Tieren to finish up a bit and then it's on to my Tieren Ground Type Commander Variant!

That looks great! Nice job!