Suit Details
Model number: RB-79
Code name: Ball
Unit type: combat support mobile pod
Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
Operator: Earth Federation Forces
Rollout: UC 0079
First deployment: UC 0079
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in body
Dimensions: overall height 12.8 meters
Weight: empty 17.2 metric tons; max gross 25.0 metric tons
Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 400 kW
Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 24000 kg total
Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 0.96 G
Equipment and design features: sensors, range 4000 meters
Fixed armaments: 180mm recoilless cannon, mounted on body
With the Federation on the offensive and taking the war to the Principality of Zeon's home territory, the Earth Federation Forces needed to field more guns to support its somewhat limited number of RGM-79 GM mobile suit units. Their answer was to refit approximately 1200 civilian-model SP-W03 space construction pods with armor plating and a 180mm recoilless cannon. Despite their limited firepower and low maneuverability, the Federation Forces would deploy this RB-79 Ball as mobile fleet defense units, protecting the Federation's ships while the GM mobile suits went on the attack.
Suit Build
As this model was built for a competition and I decided not to reveal my model until it was finished there isn't really a construction diary for it. However, there are some construction pictures which are shown below.
For the competition build I decided to do something a little different from the normal scheme for the Pod. As it was originally meant to be a construction machine I decided to return to it's roots and come up with a revised version. The background story I wrote is copied below:
At the end of the war the Pod Ball's which had been pressed into military service were no longer needed for front line action and a new use needed to be found for the large numbers which had been built and never seen action. Those which had survived the war were generally in bad shape and could be used only for parts.
The Earth Force Construction Division had a number of orbital construction yards, from which many of the Pod Balls had been pulled in the first place, so it was only natural that they were returned to their original purpose.
This particular Pod Ball now serves in the Dendrobium Construction Yards, having been modified for civilian service by JCB (that's the Jovian Construction Bureau). In this particular scene the Pod Ball has removed the hatch from a main power conduit to adjust the power regulators of this new completed ship.
Build Information
The main construction of the pod is pretty simple. The main ball this makes was finished off and sprayed in a light gray. There is a superstructure over the top of this which can then be clipped into place, which was painted silver.
The motor rocket covers were painted red for a bit of variety.
The parts were then sealed with a coat of Klear and a thin oil wash applied over them to give some shading and to highlight the details.
This was potentially a bit of a waste of time as the interior parts of the ball wont ever be seen unless the outer panels are removed. Although they weren't glued into place I don't really play with the models once they're finished, so unlikely all this work will ever be seen again.
Other changes which I made were to remove the gun. As this is a construction pod it wouldn't be needed. Instead it was replaced with a couple of sensor parts from the Wave accessory packs.
In addition a new set of decals would be needed which reflect it's role as a dumper truck. The sheet below was designed to fit this need and was printed off onto ink jet decal paper. This paper is not ideal but for things like this were it's only in black it works fine.
Apart from that it was just a matter of paining all the remaining parts up in yellow (not my favourite colour to use it must be said, because it never seems to have any coverage and it takes several goes to get a good finish).
Complete
