1/100 MK2 MG 2.0 Part 1 - Backpack and Beam Riffle

This kit was purchased on the first day of its release in Japan back in 2005. I now want to complete it for the Vanpla IPMS diorama group build. I will build it some what OOB and add some minor details. Nevertheless, the first thing to do is to custom color-separate parts for airbrushing purpose.

The back pack is color-separated by cutting the blue booster supports from the back pack hinges. These two items could have been easily design with two parts. I don't why Bandai designed it into one. The beam riffle is easily color-separated by cutting bits from the blue parts. The top transparent scope is cut into a c-shape so that it can be inserted into the main gun body. The part is very fragile and is carefully cut with photo-etch saw. The final scope part is tilted forward a bit. It is fixed by scraping the back of the dark scope part.