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With the construction, clean-up, and major modifications now complete, this week also marked the beginning of the painting stage.

As with most projects, the first step was priming. The model initially received a coat of Tamiya grey primer from a spray can. This helped reveal any remaining surface imperfections from the earlier preparation work. Once these areas had been identified, additional clean-up and sanding were carried out where necessary before a second primer stage using Vallejo Mecha Color black primer applied through an airbrush.

After allowing the primer sufficient time to cure, the entire model received a coat of Vallejo Metal Color Duraluminium. This served two purposes. Firstly, it provided a bright and reflective surface beneath the subsequent paint layers, helping support the vibrancy of the final colours. Secondly, it created a metallic underlayer that could remain visible in areas subject to friction and wear during assembly, posing, and handling. While paint wear cannot be eliminated completely, exposing metallic tones beneath the paint is far less distracting than exposing bare plastic and fits naturally within the weathered aesthetic planned for the Gatekeeper.

From there, the project moved into the main colour application stage. The majority of the painting was completed using an airbrush, although some smaller details were painted by hand where appropriate. Vallejo Model Air, Vallejo Mecha Color, and a number of vintage Badger Air Opaque colours were used throughout the build. Despite the paints originating from different manufacturers and product lines, they mixed and sprayed well together when thinned using Vallejo Mecha Color thinner with added flow improver.

The colour choices were driven largely by the project narrative. Most of the armour was painted in a warm sand-white tone, representing the original Ez‑8 armour and matching the overall military aesthetic of the 08th MS Team setting. In contrast, the beam rifle, machine gun ammunition drums, shield details, and other selected components were painted in a cooler white tone to preserve some of the colour distinctions seen in the original design.

Additional armour panels were painted green to represent salvaged components originating from a Ground GM Sniper. To reinforce the story, these colours were applied only to armour panels that already exist on both machines rather than to the newly added armour plating. This helps the panels read as genuine donor parts rather than later field modifications.

The custom auxiliary backpack was painted in a distinctive orange colour. Within the project narrative, I imagine this unit as having originally been developed for use on a Ground GM before later being adapted for integration with the Gatekeeper's backpack rack. The external cables linking the backpack to the mobile suit help support this interpretation by suggesting a degree of field adaptation rather than a purpose-designed installation.

Several areas required masking during the painting process. This included sections of the custom backpack, where yellow markings and details were added, as well as portions of the shield and beam rifle where the age of the kit and part breakdown made colour separation difficult without masking. Additional masking was also used for various yellow and red details across the mobile suit.

The eyes were painted using a reverse-wash approach. The eye component was first painted in the final eye colour before a black Real Touch marker was applied around it. Any paint that encroached onto the eyes themselves was then removed using a cotton bud, leaving the surrounding areas dark while preserving the brighter eye details.

Throughout the painting process I also made use of Gaahleri Color Lab as a colour-matching reference tool. By uploading manual artwork and colour guides from the Ez‑8 and several potential donor units, I was able to use the colour picker to estimate the relative proportions of colours required to achieve the effects I was looking for. Although I ultimately used paints already available in my collection rather than sourcing the exact recommended colours, the tool proved very useful when planning mixes and evaluating different colour options.

With the base colours, highlights, and masking work complete, the Gatekeeper concept has finally begun to emerge visually. The contrast between the original armour, salvaged donor panels, and custom backpack now helps tell the story that has been guiding the project since the very first update. The next stage will focus on bringing those elements together further through decals, weathering, and final assembly.