Dream Machine: Eagle Blade RC Helicopter

Update: My suspicions were correct, it was indeed the charger plug that was defective. Read on below to see how I was able to fix the problem.


My son got an early Christmas gift from his grandmother, which was a Dream Machine: Eagle Blade. Its one of those China made R/C helicopters that you see in the mall as well as for sale in Alibaba. I've always wanted one but never got to buying one because of its steep price (around $80). I'm very thankful that I didn't plunk down any cash for this as things didn't really go as planned in terms of enjoying this toy. This toy is recommended for kids 8 years or older, but as with any RC toy, check first if your kid has the proper dexterity and fine-motor skills to control an RC toy.

Kotobukiya 1/72 HMM EMZ-15 Molga AA & Molga Carrier English Manual & Color Guide

Molga AA & Molga Carrier from Zoids made into a 1/72 High End Master Model kit by Kotobukiya. This particular model kit was released by Kotobukiya in 2009. The Molga AA is the one that's decked out with anti-aircraft guns while the Carrier functions as a delivery truck.

Test Shot of Yamato Toy's 1/60 VF-17S at this month's Dengeki Hobby

Yamato Toy's put out a clarification with their twitter that the fire red 1/60 VF-17S Nightmare featured in this latest issue of Dengeki Hobby is not a prototype of Milia's VF-17 Nightmare from Macross 7.

Bandai HG Gundam AGE-1 Titus English Manual & Color Guide

Released by Bandai this month was the 1/144 High Grade Gundam AGE-1 Titus from the Gundam AGE anime series presently airing. The Titus is one of the Gundam variants of the AGE-1 and specializes in close quarters combat.

Bandai RG 1/144 Freedom Gundam English Manual & Color Guide

Kira Yamato's Freedom Gundam was released this month as a 1/144 Real Grade kit by Bandai. Freedom Gundam came out in the latter part of Gundam Seed and at the beginning episodes of Gundam Seed Destiny. It differs from most of the mobile suits in its era by the presence of a nuclear reactor in it's frame allowing it to function indefinitely. It is notably armed with Rail Guns and Plasma Beam Cannons sticking out from its waist and from its wings. The Freedom Gundam was suceeded by the Strike Freedom Gundam in the Gundam Seed Destiny anime.

Bandai HG 1/144 MS-18E Kampfer English Manual & Color Guide

Released in 2008 by Bandai was the 1/144 High Grade model kit of the MS-18E Kampfer from 0080 War in a Pocket OVA. One of the most spectacular looking Mobile Suit designs in my opinion. In the anime, this mobile suit was used by a Zeon infiltration unit to attempt to destroy a new Gundam prototype that was secretly being tested in one of the space colonies. In order to sneak it in they had smuggle it inside the colony unassembled. Bandai also released a Master Grade version of the Kampfer.

Kotobukiya 1/60 Break Blade Delphine English Manual & Color Guide

Released in 2010 by Kotobukiya was Rygart Arrows Delphine. The Delphine was the titular mecha of the Break Blade (marketed as Broken Blade in some parts) OVA that was originally based from a popular manga series. It is easily identified by the broken blade at its back.

Kotobukiya 1/60 Break Blade Eltemus English Manual & Color Guide

The 1/60 Eltemus model kit by Kotobukiya that was taken from the Break Blade(also released as Broken Blade in some parts) 6 Part OVA. This kit was released in July of 2010. This particular mecha belongs to the Athens Commonwealth and is a part of the squad commanded by Zess.

Bandai HG Genoace Custom English Manual & Color Guide

Released this month by Bandai was Wolf Eniacl's Genoace Custom in 1/144 scale High Grade form from the ongoing Gundam AGE anime that's designed for kids. There was also an AG version of the Genoace Custom released earlier than this which is easier to build for kids just trying out Gunpla for the first time.

The Clone Wars Season 4 Episode 10 - Carnage of Krell

I told myself that I wouldn't post anymore about The Clone Wars but this episode was just too good to not post. Plus its the conclusion of the 4 part Umbara invasion story arc that started in Episode 7.

Gundam Unicorn Episode 4 - At the bottom of the Gravity Well

Just finished watching Gundam Unicorn Ep 4: At the Bottom of the Gravity Well. It picks up from where Episode 3 finished. Banagher Links and the Unicorn Gundam were plummeting to earth after fighting with the Sinanju of Full Frontal. It is seen in the episode that Banagher was able to survive by taking shelter with the Garencieres.

Bandai 1/144 HG Seravee Gundam GNHW/B English Manual & Color Guide

Seen in the latter part of Gundam 00 Second Season was the GNHW/B variant of the Seravee Gundam of Tiera Erde. This 1/144 High Grade model kit was released by Bandai in September of 2009.

Bandai 1/144 HG Gundam Arios GNHW/M English Manual & Color Guide

Released in August of 2009 was the 1/144 scale High Grade Arios Gundam GNHW/M by Bandai. This particular variant of the Gundam Arios of Allelujah Haptism came out in the latter part of Gundam 00 Season 2. The Arios Gundam replaced the damaged Gundam Kyrios of Allelujah at the start of Season 2. Like the Kyrios, the Arios serves as the high speed air interceptor and air support of the secret organization known as Celestial Being.

Back in Black-AC/DC

Cool Song from AC/DC that was featured in the first Iron Man movie. Jon Favreau chose the sound track well, Hard metal for an Iron Man!

Autodesk 123D Catch

Announced a few days back was the release of the Beta version of Autodesk 123D Catch. Its a software that will allow you to convert photographs into 3D models. Check out the video above for the intro. It's basically a rebranding of the Photofly project that they announced before.

1/60 Yamato YF-21 Transformation English Manual

One of the most amazing kits to come out of Yamato Toys, the 1/60 Perfect Transformation YF-21. I only found out about how awesome it was recently, after acquiring the toy, since I was always partial to the YF-19 of Isamu Dyson. The YF-21 and YF-19 came out in the Macross Plus OVA in the early 90's and is the cannonical sequel to the Macross franchise as its production was helmed by Shoji Kawamori, famed mecha designer and co-creator of the Macross Franchise. My review of the 1/60 YF-21 can be found here.

The Death of Roos Tarpals

This is kinda an old post, forgot to write it up. Episode 4 of Season 4 of the Clone Wars had a very shocking ending for me. That was because of the death of Roos Tarpals. In Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, he was the level headed friend of Jar Jar Binks who helped his friend stay out of trouble. By the time of Season 4 of The Clone Wars series, Roos Tarpals had risen to the rank of general of the Gungan Army.

Steve Neill's The Big E Story: Scratch Build Star Trek Enterprise

Been a fan of professional model maker and special effects artist, Steve Neill's work. More so when he announced last October 2010 that he was going to build a 5.5 ft long Star Trek Enterprise from scratch in his blog. You can read the entire process of how he did it at his blog. Steve Neill is truly a master in the craft of scratch building and model making.

The Clone Wars Season 4 Episode 8 - The General

I just had to post about Episode 8 of The Clone Wars titled The General. In the previous episode The Republic had taken to invading the planet of Umbara in order to prevent more planets from joining the separatists. Anakin SkyWalker and Obi One Kenobi's Battalions play a pivotal role in capturing the capital according to the battle plan. Before however the battle gets into full swing, Anakin Skywalker is called back to the capital on the orders of Chancellor Palpatine himself. This left Rex and the rest of Anakin's Battalion under the command of Jedi Pong Krell.

1/60 YF-19 & YF-21 by Yamato Toys

Just playing around with some camera settings again in order to take some test shots. This time the subject I used was the 1/60 YF-21 and 1/60 YF-19 by Yamato Toys. Both variable fighters were featured in the Macross Plus OVA that came out in the early 90's. The YF-21 was piloted by Guld Goa Bowman while the YF-19 was piloted by Isamu Dyson. Both fighters were pitted against one another to see who would be the new frontline fighter for the UN Spacy that would replace the aging VF-11.

Cobra Jet Pack

Released in 1987 by Hasbro for their GI Joe toyline was the Cobra Jetpack. The toy didn't come with a figure. I always considered this to be the upgrade to the old Cobra CLAW that Cobra used for infiltration. In the literature it was a one man jet pack armed with machine guns and air to air rockets.

Bandai MG 1/100 Gundam Sandrock EW English Manual & Color Guide

Released last month was Quatre Raberba Winner's Gundam Sandrock from Gundam Wing Endless Waltz anime. This version was a 1/100 Master Grade model kit. This mobile suit carries two heat shotels as its primary weapon along with a shield that can be configured to be the cross crusher.

Watch Mobile Fighter G Gundam Online

Saw this a few days ago, just forget to post about it. You can now watch Mobile Fighter G Gundam Online courtesy of Gundam.info's Youtube Channel. The episodes are English dubbed so very convenient for those who don't like subtitles. Episode one is the video posted above. For more episodes as well as other Gundam anime, check out Gundam.info's youtube channel.

1/60 Perfect Transformation YF-21 by Yamato Toys

Update: Transformation Manual for the 1/60 YF-21 was translated to English and can be found here.

Got this recently from HobbyLink Japan, the 2010 re-release of the 1/60 Perfect Transformation YF-21 by Yamato Toys. This toy was first released in 2008 then re-released by Yamato Toys in June of 2010 with a different box art and without the fast packs. The 1/60 Fold Booster & Fast Packs for the YF-19 & YF-21 however can be purchased as a combined set