51st All Japan Model & Hobby Show

The Bandai booth! Photos are from the this year's Japan Model and Hobby Show

Images are courtesy of Bandai. Click the link to enjoy the pics!

http://bandai-hobby.net/site/20111013hobbyshow3.html

Thanks for viewing!

Gunpla Assembly Icon Guides

Ever wondered what are those icons in our gunpla manuals? I had came accross to this image below. (Gosh I forgot what the site was.) Hopefully, the translations will speak for the icons themselves. Especially, if you're a newbie in dealing with the different parts of the runners, gates, and etc. I remember my first encounter in assembling my new kit. I was quite hesitant at that time in every gate that I cut and every part that I snap fit. the instruction manual was really Japanese and solely intended for Japan use only - as Bandai had written in cover.

Full Cloth Shin Musha - Sengoku Jin Version 2

As I had posted earlier, here is now the complete review of my Shin Musha. It's not the actual Sengoku Jin kit that normally you would buy in the market but I have created my own version on top of the basic Shin Musha kit. Initially, I was itching to buy an Exia MG kit from the 00 series. But whata hell... I found this kit that caught my attention. There was however a Sengoku Jin available, but it was really quite pricey. Anyway, why not create a sort of a diorama that will be a customized version?

After tinkering with the parts of the unit including the kind and colors of the paint to be used, it took me more than 2-3 weeks to finish everything. Of course, I have to deal with the kit only after my work from office which I have to spend up to the wee hours of the night to assemble the kit.

A Prelude to Full Cloth Shin Musha

I am posting now some test shots to a Full Cloth Shin Musha that I am still currently working. It's probably almost nearing its completion. I tried to make some poses and gave a thought of some of its other potentials. Anyway, here is a couple of other photos. I just really love the details of the pistons in its leg. One attribute that cuts an MG kit above the rest.



Astraea Type-F Review in Full Detail

A side story to the Gundam 00 Series is the Mobile Suite Gundam 00F. The Astraea Type-F piloted by Fon Spaak. The manga never made it to the anime. I just hope Sunrise would do someday. This is an interesting piece of model kit compared to the other Non-grade gundam kits I have seen and have assembled. This one is far better than other older MG kits or equally at par with the current MG kits nowadays. The package has lots of runners! Also, since this is a different version of the Astraea, it has some parts of the Exia as well. Most of all, I like its articulations including its weapons - GN rifle and GN bazooka!

Because I custom made this, I veered away from its stock red color. I used a different paint scheme. I prepped the kit especially the joints with graphite spray paint and then have it finished with a Yamaha Red Spray paint. The tricky part in the painting is having the two mixtures of paint react evenly together. So in effect, the red translucent paint has to eat-up with the graphite's mixture.

But before I further discuss later the customisations I did, here are the pics! or see them featured at hobbylink.tv

Deathscythe Hell Custom HG-The Review

Here is a jump to my 3rd gunpla. Not posting yet about my second one which I finished almost a month ago, I think there are some quite interesting details which I will discuss later on my next blog. I haven't had the time to post anything for quite such a long time since my 00 Raiser. But for now, here is the menacing Deathscythe Hell Custom from the Endless Waltz movie piloted by Duo Maxwell. From my experience of assembling gunpla kits of the 00 gundam series, I would say there are a lot of flaws that I have seen in the joints, articulation, and panels of the parts in this High Grade from way back 1998. I can easily compare for example like the knee articulation alone that even the No Grade version of the 00 series beats this HG. The knee cap  exposes the joint way too deep. It separates from the movement of the joint. Unlike from the 00 Raiser the knee armor cap goes along with the movement of the joint.  Nonetheless, it's a point of interest to anyone who would make kits from the Wing series.

But anyway, a positive thing about this kit is its look and peculiarity. Some may say its awkward because of its bat wings look a like. But personally, I find it unique and creative for the designer of this kit to conceptualize and produce this in the 90's much more so if it is an MG. I added only a few details for this kit. I put stainless cylinders on the shoulders, drilled  holes on the panels, coil overs at the sides of the abdomen- these customisations I will discuss on my next blog. Paints are spray cans and gunmetal.