To return http:// to the url bar:
1. Type about:config in the URL bar of a new tab (a warning may appear, but you can ignore it).
2. In the filter bar, type: browser.urlbar.trimURLs
3. Double click the preference that appears. The value should change to “false”.
4. Close the about:config tab and refresh your open tabs. “http://” should now appear at the beginning of all your URLs

That was the problem. Setting network.http.sendRefererHeader to ’1′ means that the header is sent ONLY when clicking a link. The default setting, ’2′, sends the header when clicking a link AND loading an image. Not sure how this got changed, but resetting it solved everything.

So, how to change the setting?
1. Type about:config in the URL bar of a new tab (a warning may appear, but you can ignore it).
2. In the filter bar, type: network.http.sendRefererHeader
3. Double click the preference that shows up.
4. Enter ’2′ in the box that pops up and click OK.
5. Close the tab and refresh the offending page.

The browser should load images properly now.

Since then, it’s been laying around in my closet and I thought I’d get started on it over winter break.

You can easily see the how the innovations in the MG Strike Gundam have filtered down through the lower grades, especially in the shoulder joints’ flexibility.

The kit came with some black stickers but I opted to just color them with the fine liners. That uses a bit of ink, but I’ve got extra pens. I really should’ve brought my black paint down with me; capillary action just isn’t the same with a pen.

When I first started, I followed Danny Choo’s guide and sprayed all the parts while they were still on the runners. After snipping them out, I sanded them to remove traces of the nubs, but this ended up leaving areas of uneven paint on the edges of flat areas when I sprayed a second coat. I’ll have to rethink my method of painting for the next model. Either that or I could get an airbrush.

It still doesn’t have any arms, actually.

Since I snipped off the heel’s assembly pegs for easy test fitting, the foot has a tendency to come apart if I pull on the foot when transforming. The best way is to slide the red/grey thruster assembly on the back of the leg instead. I’m not sure if that was the original design idea, but whoever thought of it is a genius.

I’ve also completely neglected the rear skirt thrusters. Just from looking inside the arm cavity, I have trouble believeing that the entire arm/launcher assembly can fit in there. We’ll see…

The mobile armor mode is 9 inches long and tail heavy, which causes some problems with the Action Base’s pivoting mount. It’s perfectly fine in mobile suit mode.

Winter break is coming up and I’m not sure I want to spray in cold weather. I might start on the 1/100 MG Aile Strike or the 1/144 HG Dom Trooper if I have time.

I’ve done a little work on the model since the shots were taken, such as the port wing with it’s missile/fuel tank, attaching guns, building the backpack/tail binder and shoulders, and snapping off the antennas. The last bit was purely unintentional. I tried to glue it back, but it looked bad, so I just snapped the other one off. XD

Temporarily assembled shield and upper body.

Note the intact antennas. They didn’t last long after that.

A pretty good angle, I think. The Action Base v1 is pretty handy for shots. I still haven’t painted the head; I ended up rescribing some panels that got painted out, and now it’s waiting to be sprayed, along with with a few other parts.

Just a note, if you didn’t know already: I tend to post full-size finished shots on my dA. I’ve also got other assorted shots and images. Link is right over there —->

As shown, the original seam line followed the green line. I used Testors Contour Putty, which some people online dislike immensely. For me, the only problem is that it dries too quickly, which can be solved by mixing with a little bit of thinner. The left side is pretty smooth, unlike the pitted right side. I would’ve kept trying to smooth the right side, but I want to finish this before the Fall semster starts.

It’s going much slower than I anticipated, but that’s mostly because I’m still learning and am only working on it in the evening for a few hours.

I painted the runners almost a month ago. I picked the ReGZ kit for my first time, because the light blue color looks terrible. Using mostly flat Tamiya sprays, I’ve colored it haze gray and navy blue.

I got to this point and then realised I didn’t get masking tape and putty from the hobby store when I went today. XD

Anyhow, I’m going to bed before I sleep though my alarm clock tomorrow morning.

So far, the joints have been nice and tight, including the hands. Hopefully, the right arm is the same (the double gattling is quite bulky). Still, it is not without problems: the front shoulder launcher frame has a large gap (circled in red). It doesn’t show up in the pictures, so I’ll assume it was a manufacturing problem. In addition, there seems to be a small gap in the front skirt armor sections, but it’s not as large.

I might finish Heavyarms this weekend if I have time. After that it’s the Re-GZ until I return home and bring back a MG (probably the Aile Strike).

Tonight, I started on a HG 1/100 Gundam Heavyarms Custom from Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz. Two of the first gunpla I built were the HG 1/100 Wing Zero Custom and Deathscythe Hell and the quality wasn’t terribly great. In particular, Wing Zero Custom had terribly weak knee joints and the backpack with the wings kept popping off. Deathscythe’s hands were so loose, it had trouble holding the dual beam scythe.

Just the standard plastic runners, sticker sheet, and figure (Trowa’s bangs are a separate piece XD). With my internship this summer, I’m a bit strapped for time, so I only managed to finish part of the right leg.

I’m not painting this one because I don’t have an airbrush and don’t have the correct spray colors (though I have started a custom colored Re-GZ). There’s a little bleeding where the two halves of the lower leg meet, so I’ll probably go back to inking the pieces individually.

More updates soon. :)