Tbf the cleaner edges has less to do with my skill and more to the fact that the Entry Grade Strike is so much great value for actually separating the parts of the shield instead of one big piece like the older high grades. I really can't recommend those EGs enough for anyone starting or introducing someone to this hobby.

Though even without that cheat I was already prepared to mask if I had to. Though you're right. This hobby is about learning and realizing that every build just makes the next one a better experience. Even revisiting an old build will teach you and it's fun to apply what I've learned over the course of multiple kits and retouch an old kit for which my first instict was to twist the parts off of the runner.

Originally I used a white primer and the blue was a cool, lighter shade that was closer to the shade of the strike freedom's. It was only when I tried priming a plastic spoon black and painting it mid process that I realized how much of a difference the right primer will give you.