You are currently browsing the category archive for the ‘Mecha’ category.
And, truth be told, one was completely expected. But the past week has been pretty good for my model collection (and not so good for my “to do” pile).
The end of last week saw the delivery of my Limited edition TriggerHeart Exelica Enhanced for the PS2, so you know what that means…
Nendoroid Exelica!!!!
The other thing was a complete surprise. A while back (over a month ago) I ordered a macross item from Hobbylink japan as they were doing a special offer of giving away free decals so I took the plunge. Normally, it takes 1~2 weeks to arrive in the UK so when twice the amount of time elapsed, I had pretty much given up hope and assumed that the useless morons at royal mail lost it in transit. Turns out I was wrong (luckily) and the useless morons at royal mail were just sitting on it for ages while trying to work out the customs charge. But it’s here now, My VF25 Alto Custom with SHERYL DECALS!!!
Yes, I know that they are doing a second promotion now with ranka decals, but I would never dirty my VF25 model with Ranka Decals. Sheryl, the Galaxy Songstress all the way!!!!
As well as producing the exceptionally desirable (at least for me) perfect change dangaioh, Studio halfeye have also been releasing other mecha figures with obscene pricetags. Their first one was the perfect change Getter Robo and, more recently, they have been working on the 3 main Mecha from the Remake series Gaiking: Legend of Daikyu Maryu.
The show was a remake of the old 70s super robot show (which I loved) but kept nothing except for the design of Gaiking and Daikyu Maryu.
She’s finally finished. The last bits were only really minor (just a few really small detailing and panel lines) but I didn’t want to do a photoshoot until everything was complete. But here it is. After over a year since I actually purchased it, here’s ALTEISEN!!!
This one is the 1/100 scale model kit of the original Alt, not the upgraded riese (which is pretty much unmakable anyway) from Kotobukiya. At present, I believe there are only 3 1/100 kits in the SRW line. Alt, R-1 and Wildwurger.
While building the kit, it quickly becomes apparent that Kotobukiya still have a way to go before matching the kings of this type of model kit, bandai.
The jump to 1/100 scale did solve a few issues which I had hangups on with the 1/144 kits I have built but for the most part, the strengths of the 1/144 kits show up in the 1/100 Alt, but also a lot of the problems…
It seems that I’m spurred on to build my outstanding mecha kits whenever I’m about to receive a new one. Destiny was built because Infinite justice arrived (and I still need to build one) and now, as I await the arrival of my VF-25 Alto Custom with Sheryl Nome decals, I have started work on the 1/100 Alteisen from super robot wars impact/OG
In days past I used to be able to rattle a mecha kit out in the space of one evening. Looks like those days are over. I’ve had quite a lot going on recently and my free time has diminished to the point where, in 2 whole weeks, I’m only able to do this much!!!
I’m in the final stretch now, but it is a little galling to see how long it has taken me to get this far, esp since I still have the detailing to do after this!!
I’ll keep this post short as I think it would be best to leave my final thoughts until after it’s completed, but I will say this much, Kotobukiya still have problems with the design stage and Bandai are still Kings of Plamo.
It’s just lots of little things, like how the fit of some parts are too loose or far too tight. The legs especially, gave me lots of varying problems and are also very stiff around the parts which are meant to bend. In fact, one part holding the feet actually broke off. I had to do an impromptu repair job with a metal rod and poly cement glue.
Next week, I think I’ll write up my thoughts on resident evil 5 (I finished it on co-op late last night) but by then I hope to finish Alteisen and get back to work on Mirei-san (yes, she’s progressing, albeit very slowly).
For those who have been collecting Gunpla for a while, you may remember that bandai had an extra line of models above the master grade. Called the Perfect grade, this small number of kits were the cream of the crop in terms of gunpla. 1/60 scale and with a level of detail and poseability which was, until recently, unmatched by the other grades.
Time passed and the High Grade 1/100 kits became more and more like the master grade kits of old in terms of details and posability while the Master Grades took ideas from the Perfect grade line, although never reaching the heights seen before. But that left the PG line pretty much stagnant. The last new Kit in the perfect grade line was the Strike gundam which was released way back in November 2004. They followed it up with the strike rouge (a repaint with skygrasper and aile pack) a year later and then nothing…
Fans like myself have probably been questioning if bandai had abandoned the PG line in favour of the MG. Afterall, the latest MG kits do have ridiculous pose options and provide a fair amount of inner detail. The inner frame design seen in all MG kits since the god gundam came from the PG line afterall…
But after 3 years of silence, we finally have an answer to the question, and that answer is a resounding NO!!!
It was announced a while back but now bandai have updated their site and made it 100% official. We’re getting a NEW PERFECT GRADE KIT!!
And it’s RED FRAME!!!
Thanks to Subaruhess over at DC.com for the heads up.
Personally, I’m really happy about the news since this is the first PG kit in 3 years!! Think of how many MG kits have been released in that time! heck, we’ve had 2 full gundam series aired since the last PG with another still going!
The cynic in me is a little disappointed in the choice of mobile suit, since the PG instructions for the strike gundam showed that it shared a lot of parts with the other original seed gundams (except Aegis) and the Astray frames, so don’t be surprised if Red frame shares a large number of parts with the PG strike gundam.
But in any case, I’ll be buying one of these, and a PG strike rouge and, of course, the studio halfeye Dangaioh!!!
Economic uncertainty and my bank balance be damned!!!
Red Frame is slated for a march 09 release.
I actually had this all prepared last week and was going to do a double post with the Valkyria chronicles review but various the DNS problem and various other things got in the way.
So here it is, a week late but still kicking. Here’s Destiny Gundam!
Rather embarrassingly, I bought this kit when it was released last christmas or thereabouts but only got around to building it recently, spurred on by the imminent arrival of my MG infinite justice gundam.
The parts were washed and sprayed while still on the sprue to provide it with a minor paint job, and that is why the grey parts of the kit appear darker than how it otherwise would. I decided on a slightly darker shade to distinguish it more fully from Strike Freedom. Aside from that, There were just a few touchups with panel lines and that was it.
The kit was also the full burst version which came with the wings of light and silver joints. I didn’t mind the silver as much as the gold ones, so I kept them in.
I must admit that I’m not that big a fan of the destiny gundam, although I do like it more than Strike Freedom. Part of my lack of enthusiasm stems from the fact that it’s just all the impluse/strike gundam packs rolled into 1, something the freedom gundam was meant to be originally. It’s just the timing, after having 2 gundams with all the packs over 2 series, having one which combines them all just feels like “too little, too late” in terms of design. Giving it a God finger like attack and V gundam-esque wings of light didn’t help much either.
Thought I would take a little break from figure making and go back to a quick spot of mecha building. And so, taking into account the fact that I am spending a little time in the boonies (Wales) along with the majority of my gundam collection, I thought I would take advantage of the fact and build the Launcher/Sword Striker pack so I could pose it with my Aile Strike Gundam.
Introducing (rather late but meh) The Strike angels. *cue cheesy 70s music*
Excuse the poor photos. I didn’t have access to my usual tools for the group shots.
Just a minor update this week to show that I haven’t forgotten about the other model kit I was working with (sort of) along side Ignis.
The main body is now complete with the major detailings done as well. The skirt which goes over the hips have also been done but have not been attached as that would make sticking the legs on rather difficult.
The reason I haven’t attached the legs to the body yet is because I’m not 100% certain what angle the body needs to be at for the correct posture. The central midsection is actually curved so it’s not as simple as straight up! I’ll have a better idea when the head and at least 1 arm is completed.
Unfortunately, the last body part used up the last of my custom gold mix, so now I have to try and make more (and hope that it isn’t too dissimilar to what I have used up until now). I still have the recipe so it should be ok. The main issue will be the cleanup and priming of the next batch of parts. It took several layers of primer for these parts simply because it would not stick. I blame the resin quality.
I’m also in the planning stages for another project. You probably won’t hear from it for a while because I want to save the best part for last, but it will be the first thing I need to do. If I pull it off though, it’s going to be great!!
On another note, I managed to catch Hellboy 2 tonight. Damn good film. Not a major blockbuster nor film of the summer but very enjoyable and recommended. Iron Man still rules as best movie this summer. And yes, I have seen wall-e and the dark Knight.
And on a final note, Macross Frontier 20: DAMMIT!!!! I knew it was coming but it still hurts… Poor Klein Klan.
This cute face is now going to cry… a LOT!!!!
This little bit of news was first broken by Subaruhess over at Dannychoo yesterday but I wanted to wait for a few more confirmations from other sites before posting (a sort of safety measure) but it’s 100% confirmed by several sites now!
Gents (and ladies), we’re getting a master grade infinite justice!!!!! Release is scheduled for October.
Well, I’m getting one, although I’m a little concerned about the paint job. Salmon pink isn’t the easiest colour to get right. and while we’re wooing over the Infinite Justice, I thought I’d post my Obligatory “WHERE’S MY MG V2 ASSAULT BUSTER GUNDAM!!??” (a Gundam double X is fine too)
I think everyone who has seen the nadesico movie have the same opinion of it. (it was pretty poo) but there were some good points. Personally, I liked the Astromeras which was seen very close to the end at the “concert” but the main mecha was, without a doubt, the black Sarena. Piloted by everyones favourite cook Akito Tenkawa (oh wait, was that a spoiler?).
This model was released in March and is part of the Soul Of Chogokin line. Normally, the SoC line deals mostly with super robots but they created a special line for the “real” robots called the SPEC line. Currently, it’s dominated by the Evangelion mecha but they also have Dragonar Unit 1 and SPT Layzner in the lineup as well.
The black sarena is the latest release in the line which offers the same attention to detail and die cast construction one expects from the main Soul of Chogokin line. So how does it fare?
Through the Looking Glass 