Introduction by Metal Slime.

Even though most of the MSs were designed to be all-purpose for all terrain, but in the extreme locations like on the burning heat of desert sand, or icy snow field, customized Mss proved to be perform best. Owing to the fact, both EFF and Zeon had developed quite a handful of variations for this specific purpose.

The RGM-79D was the one and only variant for cold district location from EFF's GM production line. The main design framework is focused on an antifreeze generator, and a joint system that could be operated under harsh environment of the North Pole. Additionally, it features better resume time and reliability after a period of system halt, coupling with the hi-efficiency long range communication system that can endure even a blizzard storm.

The backpack was inherited from its predecessor, the RGM-79C "GM Kai" and its main body parts was based on RGM-79G/GS "GM Command". Due to the limitation
in generator specifications, its weapon system had to be downgraded to shell-firing 90mm machine gun (a design based on British machine gun, Stain Mk II) and grenade launcher.

Source:
1. Gundam Weapons 0079.
2. Gundam Weapons

Conversion

Like the GM Sniper Custom II, B-Club released an add-on resin parts to convert normal GM Command kit into this cold climate type, around the same time. Parts included were head, backpack, machine gun, some additional detail-ups like minus molds for the knee, and a 'bonus' Zaku's heat hawk. The manual sheet instructs modeler to use a modified GMII's shield, instead of including one. Overall, Bandai/B-Club could simply sell the head alone, or perhaps as part of a head collection set and be done with it, as all other parts are more of a 'filler' to have a respectable number of parts thus justify them releasing a 'kit'. Not surprisingly, this kit is long out of production. And sorry, I have no idea where to find one these days, so please don't e-mail me about it. ;)

Installing the parts here is a lot less complicated than for GM Sniper II. There is not much modification required, except, perhaps, for the cables behind the knee joint. Details are done by either filling up panel line, or creating a new one.

The Approach

The basic look of almost all the GMs I made are decidedly centered around the look of GM Kai, thus some of the basic elements like backpack, skirt will be shared for continuity purpose. This GM Cold Climate is no exception. I've chosen to omit some parts that comes with B-Club kit, and opted for ones copied of GM Kai garage kits, while the chest armor is intended to resemble GM Cannon II type armor.

Again, the basic procedure regarding proportion of the model is the same as the GM Sniper II. I raised the torso, and shoulder armor a bit. I also extended the front skirt armor to a comparable length with GM Sniper II's.

Detail

I tried to keep the detailing to a more subtle level, but they're there if you really look. :) Most of the work is altering/exaggerating existing details. Some of the the things I still remember include:

-larger vernier behind the legs
-thicken the top of the heel
-adding thickness to the little bumpers in front of the leg
-using minus mold as a knee joint
-shield mount; same as what I did on Sniper's
-replace the shoulder vernier with a better-detailed one

Painting

Here, I decided to give the dark gray area some pseudo camouflage painting. After all the basic painting is done, the final touch is the brushed-on of diluted white enamel (not exactly a dry brush) for some weathered snow effect.

Apparently, I wasn't willing to go to the length of installing a clear plastic visor inside this resin head. So, the next best thing to do is to make the finishing really glossy in contrast with all the flat paints. Start with aluminum base color, and flat black for the shading, then I apply Tamiya clear green enamel with brush in a rather thick coat. After the paint dries, I cover it with clear gloss (only on the visor).

Here is the construction details. >>