How it feels like to finish building a model kit...

This is how I feel like after finishing a grueling model kit build that stretches out for months with the paint tone and pictures finally coming out the way you want it to. For at least a short span of time, you can allow yourself to get lulled into that euphoric feeling that all is good in the world.

Yamato Toys 1/60 VF-17S Nightmare (Diamond Force ver) Transformation Video

Saw this reference at Yamato Toy's Twitter page wherein they posted a link to a video they uploaded at their youtube page. The videos explains the transformation sequence for the 1/60 VF-17 Nightmare (Diamond Force ver) that's scheduled to come out this month. The video above is for the transformation from Fighter mode to Gerwalk mode, while the video below is for transformation from Gerwalk mode to Battroid mode.

Bandai HG 1/144 Beginning D Gundam English Manual & Color Guide

Beginning D Gundam from the Gunpla Builders series that was targeted to entice the next generation of Gunpla builders. Unlike most Gundam anime's where the hero is the Gundam and the Newtype pilot, here the protagonist is the Gundam Model kit and the kid who built it. This was released this month as 1/144 High Grade model kit by Bandai.

Bandai HG 1/144 GPB-X80J Beginning J Gundam English Manual & Color Guide

Released this month is the 1/144 High Grade GPB-X80J Beginning J Gundam from Gunpla Builders. Its quite novel what Bandai did in introducing the Gunpla Builders Series of anime.

30th Macross Anniversary Official Logo

Update: Turns out that this logo was already unveiled a few months back

Yamato Toys twitter is a buzz because of new information regarding the 1/60 VF-17 Nightmare (Diamond Force ver) that's being released this month. Maybe the most interesting piece of the post was at the bottom, where Mr. K of Yamato Toys posted the official 30th Anniversay Macross Logo. That's the SDF-1 Macross from the Macross Do You Remember Love movie.

Leader Class: Sentinel Prime

Leader Class: Sentinel Prime by Takara-Tomy/Hasbro from the recently released Transformers:Dark of the Moon Movie. In the movie, Sentinel Prime was one of the Primes that crash landed on the dark side of the moon that according to the fictional account of the movie was what set off the race to the moon. He was voiced by Leonard Nimoy who also voiced Galvatron in the Transformers movie that came out in the eighties.

Bandai HG G-Exes [WMS-GEX1] English Manual & Color Guide

Wolf Eniacl’s G-Exes from Gundam AGE was recently released as a 1/144 High Grade model kit by Bandai. The G-Exes comes from the currently airing Gundam AGE anime series targeted for a newer generation of fans. Wolf leaves behind his Genoace Custom and takes up the G-Exes as his mobile suit.

Bandai MG 1/100 G Fighter English Manual & Color Guide

Released in January of 2009 was the 1/100 Master Grade G Fighter from the original Mobile Suit Gundam Anime. In the anime it was piloted by Sayla Mass and Sleggar Law.

Crusader: No Regret Christmas Easter Egg

Was playing with Crusader: No Regret this morning and I noticed upon changing to the next level the game music changed from the normal soundtrack to one with a Holiday Theme. Found it weird playing through the violent nature of the levels with Christmas Carols blaring in the background... hehehe

Watch Gundam Seed Episode 1 HD Remaster Online

Just saw this post at the official Gundam site. Announced yesterday, of the much touted Gundam Seed HD Remaster version, episode 1 can be watched online via their page at youtube. The said episode has English subtitles on it and is not an English dub.

Yamato 1/60 VF-1S Valkyrie (Macross DYRL ver) with GBP-1S

Just playing around with camera again and trying out some different settings. For my subject I used the Yamato 1/60 VF-1S Valkyrie of Hikaru Ichijou from Macross DYRL on whom the Yamato 1/60 GBP-1S armor is worn.

Bandai HG Baqto [OVV-A] English Manual & Color Guide

Released this month by Bandai as part of the Gundam AGE line of Model Kits was the 1/144 High Grade scale Baqto [OVV-A]. The Baqto is one of the mobile suits of the UE (Unknown Enemy) that serves as the antagonist of the series. Like most UE mobile suits, the Baqto can also transform to another mode aside from its robot one to give it a tactical advantage in the battlefield.

Amiami Revises Site Design

If you dropped by the english site of Amiami yesterday you probably noticed that they changed their site design. Not sure if its entirely new or they copied it from their Japanese site? They also wrote a post on the changes to expect in the newly revised site.

The Dark Knight Rises 2nd Trailer

Just saw this today via Wired Magazine. I'm so looking forward to watching the last movie of the Christopher Nolan Dark Knight trilogy that's scheduled to come out next year.

GI Joe 2: Retaliation

Scheduled to be released on June 29, 2012 is the sequel to the GI Joe Live action movie; GI Joe 2: Retaliation. Judging from the trailer, the action scenes look spectacular. But that's all I'm going to say about that.

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

Released recently by Bandai was the 1/144 High Grade Gundam AGE-1 Spallow from the currently showing Gundam AGE anime series. Prior to this, Bandai already released the High Grade variants of the Gundam AGE-1 Normal and Gundam AGE-1 Titus.

Yellow Ledbetter - Pearl Jam

Heard this at the end of the 50/50 movie. It's actually an old song of Pearl Jam's. I find the arrangement and sound of this song so soothing. Also, 50/50 was a great movie, go watch it if you get the chance.

Kotobukiya Clone Trooper ARTFX+ Two Pack Giveaway by Kotobukiya

These might be the clones you are looking for. Kotobukiya announced on their Facebook page that they are having a Clone Trooper ARTFX+ Two Pack Giveaway promo. To join, just post a comment on this page stating which StarWars character you would like to be made into an ARTFX, ARTFX+ or Bishoujo before December 31, 2011.

CDJapan Free 1000 pts promo for Paypal Purchase over 5000 yen

CD Japan just announced that they have a Holiday promo of free 1000 pts to your account if you purchase anything using Paypal that goes above 5000 yen. More details of this promo can be read here. Promo will last from December 13, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

George Takei Calls for Star Wars vs Star Trek Truce

Saw this today via CNET. In light of the recent bickering between William Shatner and Carrie Fisher as to which is better, Star Trek or StarWars, George Takei comes in with a video of his own calling for an intergalactic truce in order to fight the common foe. George Takei is one classy guy in my book.

Men In Black 3

Saw this via Reddit. Scheduled to come out in May 2012 is Men In Black 3 which will reunite Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones in the 3rd movie of the Men In Black Franchise.

Bandai 1/35 UC Hard Graph EFGF MS[G] Platoon Briefing Set English Manual & Color Guide

Featured in the 1/35 UC Hard Graph EFGF MS[G] Platoon Briefing Set of Bandai's is the M353A4 Bloodhound hovercraft vehicle from the Mobile Suit Gundam 08th MS Team OVA. This was released in January of 2007 and is part of the UC Hard Graph line of model kits that are 1/35th in scale. This line of model kits could be likened to the popular 1/35 Armor series made by model kit manufacturers. This isn't your regular snapfit kit as some glue and skill is required when building.

Bandai 1/35 UC Hard Graph: Zeon Mobile Scout Set English Manual & Color Guide

From the UC Hard Graph line of model kits by Bandai was the Zeon Mobile Scout set that was released in 2006. This is a 1/35 scale model kit that comes with a Wappa bike-like hover craft that can fit 1 person sitting. The kit also comes with another figure in a standing position with binoculars on a tripod. This particular unit was used during the One Year War when Zeon forces descended on Earth for an invasion.

Bandai EX Model: 1/144 YMT-05 Hildolfr English Manual & Color Guide

An old kit by Bandai that came out in 2007 is the Hildolfr. The storyline of the Hildolfr was one of the tragic but truly great episodes from MS IGLOO. The Hildolfr is an experimental high speed hybrid tank whose upper half has the torso and hands of a mobile suit.

Bandai EX Model 1/144 : MP-02A Oggo English Manual & Color Guide

Made into an EX Model by Bandai and released in 2007 was the Mobile Pod Oggo from MS IGLOO. If you haven't watched MS IGLOO yet its a great CGI anime that dwells on the prototype weapons of the Principality of Zeon. I have to warn you however that most of the episodes end in tragedy. On my part, it kinda changed my perspective of the forces of Zeon after watching it.

Bandai EX Model: Red Tail Mono Carrier English Manual & Color Guide

Considered a very old kit already as it was released in 2002 by Bandai was the 1/72 Red Tail Mono Carrier belonging to Faye Valentine from the Cowboy Bebop anime. The Red Tail is a flying vehicle with machine guns on both flanks of its fuselage. Its bulbous canopy reminds me a lot of the OV-1 Mohawk that flew in the 60's during the Vietnam War.

Bandai 1/35 U.C. Hard Graph E.F.G.F. M61A5 Main Battle Tank English Manual & Color Guide

I've always loved the UC Hard Graph series of Bandai, most especially the M61A5 Main Battle Tank that they released in 2009. The model kits of the UC Hard Graph series aren't your garden variety Gunpla Snapfit kits as these more often than not require glue in order to build.

Nothing more beautiful than a....

Closet full of Yamato Toys....saw this in one of their blog posts during one of their showroom engagements. In the pictures you get to see the recently released 1/60 VF-19S Excalibur of Emerald Force from Macross 7, and of course the highly anticipated 1/60 VF-17S Nightmare of Diamond Force that's scheduled to be released this December. There's also the 1/60 VF-19 Fire Valkyrie equipped with the Sound Booster that's also out for sale already.

HobbyLink Japan Sci-Fi Modelling 2012 Competition

Been a day late posting about this, but yesterday marked the start of HobbyLink Japan's Sci-Fi Modelling 2012 competition that they announced in the previous episode of HobbyLink TV. This time its not limited to Gundam model kits, but this time you can enter any sci-fi model kit into the contest

Bandai HG Zedas English Manual & Color Guide

Zedas from the latest Gundam anime, Gundam AGE. The Zedas is part of the unknown enemy that is antagonist in the series and it is up to the Gundam AGE team to fight them off. Bandai released this 1/144 High Grade model kit of the Zedas last November. Apart from its mobile suit mode, it can also transform to another "flying type" mode.

Bandai HG 1/144 MS-06 Zaku the Ground War set English Manual & Color Guide

Bandai's Zaku the ground war set is a good buy in my book, because you not only get a 1/144 High Grade mobile suit, but also a string of miniature figures and vehicles. Released in February of 2009, the set comes with a high grade Zaku that has an extensive weapons portfolio, two Earth Federation Tanks (with option for battle damage), a Zeon Wappa hover craft and some Federation and Zeon soldiers.

Bandai HG 1/144 MS-21C Dra-C English Manual & Color Guide

Released last month by Bandai was the 1/144 High Grade model kit version of the Dra-C from Gundam 0083 Stardust Memory. I just love the superb detailing in this kit, specifically at the underside of the shield. Everytime I see the Dra-C's picture I can't help but hear that obnoxious voice from that Disney Channel segment that asks where the hidden Mickey is *snicker*

Traxxas XO-1 the 100 MPH RC Car

Saw this on an article at CNET. Its the Traxxas XO-1 that's guaranteed to go 100 mph (160.93 kph). More info could be found at the XO-1's product page. Traxxas is known for producing a lot of great competition grade RC's and they've been in the business for a long time already.

Bandai HG 1/144 Zee Zulu English Manual & Color Guide

Seen in Episode 4 of the Gundam Unicorn OVA was the Zee Zulu. This was also released last month by Bandai as a 1/144 High Grade model kit. This post would not be complete without me mentioning that Gundam Unicorn Episode 4 had spectacular fight scenes in them depicting this mobile suit in action.

Kotobukiya 1/60 Break Blade Fafnir Baldr's Golem English Manual & Color Guide

The Fafnir of General Baldr from the Break Blade anime(marketed as Broken Blade in the English version). This was made into a 1/60 model kit by Kotobukiya and released in November of 2010. The Fafnir is a Golem from the country of Krishna, or what we anime fans commonly refer to as a "mecha."

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

Released in August of 2010 was a 1/60 scale Fafnir by Kotobukiya from the Break Blade anime that was marketed as Broken Blade in some parts. The Fafnir is a Golem, or the common term for a quartz powered mecha from the Break Blade universe. The Fafnir is the cannon fodder mecha of the Krishna nation that was under siege by the forces of the Athens Commonwealth.