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Saturday, March 31, 2012

April Fools' Warning

A Public Service Announcement from Mech9

Just going off track a bit to announce that it's April Fool's Day tomorrow. So be wary of pranks and don't take anything at face value, especially on stuff posted on the Internet.

Bandai HG 1/144 Zaku I Sniper Type (Yonem Kirks) English Manual & Color Guide

HG MS-05L Zaku I Sniper Type (Yonem Kirks) English Translation Color Guide & Manual

Yonem Kirk's Zaku I Sniper Type from Episode 4 of the Gundam Unicorn OVA. Such a tragic mobile suit the Zaku Sniper of Yonem Kirks was. For me, it was a character well played in Episode 4. Everytime I see a tragic sniper scene it reminds me so much of the heroic sacrifice of Sargeants Gordon and Shughart from the Battle of Mogadishu that were immortalized in Ridley Scott's Blackhawk Down movie.

Friday, March 30, 2012

Decommissioning Space Shuttles

Decommissioning Space Shuttles

Just saw this photo essay at the Atlantic's online site of the Space Shuttles being decommissioned and can't help but feel a part of my childhood tearing up a little inside. Upon retirement of the Space Shuttles, the existing shuttles are being shipped to various museums for display.

Bandai MG 1/100 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee English Manual & Color Guide

MG RX-02 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Color Guide & Manual

From the currently showing Gundam UC OVA comes the 1/100 Master Grade RX-02 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee of Marida Cruz. People familiar with the last episode of Gundam UC will have it blotted in their retinas the image of the Banshee coming down on Banagher's Gundam Unicorn as it was the cliffhanger clip of that episode. Bandai released this model kit this month. Prior to that they already released a 1/144 High Grade model kit of the Unicorn Gundam Banshee in Destroy and Unicorn Mode.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Bandai HG 1/144 Gundam AGE-2 Double Bullet English Manual & Color Guide

HG Gundam AGE-2 Double Bullet English Translation Color Guide & Manual

This March has the release by Bandai of the 1/144 High Grade model kit variant of the Gundam AGE-2 Double Bullet from the latest Gundam anime series, Gundam AGE anime. This is a variant of the titular Gundam AGE-2 mobile suit of the series. This particular variant is unique because it can convert to wave rider mode that allows it to reconfigure itself into a more suitable flying form.

Kotobukiya Frame Arms SA-17s Rapier Zephyr English Manual & Color Guide

1/100 Frame Arms SA-17s Rapier Zephyr English Translation Color Guide & Manual

From Kotobukiya's original 1/100 scale Frame Arms line of model kits is the SA-17s Rapier Zephyr. This model kit was released in November of 2011. Whenever I see the head design of this mecha I can't help but think of Harley Quinn *snicker* There is an option however in the kit to install a different head style design (mono craft or blade type).

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Kotobukiya 1/72 Mirage C05-Selena English Color Guide

1/72 Mirage C05-Selena from Armored Core English Translation of Color Guide

Mirage C05-Selena by Kotobukiya from the Armored Core video game series was made into a 1/72 scale model kit and released in 2005. This particular model kit stands approximately 15.5 cm tall. It comes equipped with shoulder cannons, bazooka and a shield. I find the shield size of this design kinda silly however *snicker*

Kotobukiya Frame Arms NSG-25 Strauss English Manual & Color Guide

Frame Arms 1/100 NSG-25 Strauss English Translation Color Guide & Manual

The dinosaur looking NSG-25 Strauss is a companion unit to the 1/100 Kobold and were released together on the same month by Kotobukiya for their original Frame Arms line of model kits. Together, the Strauss and the Kobold can merge to form the Weisheit robot that is an amalgamation of their different parts.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Kotobukiya Frame Arms NSG-12 Kobold English Manual & Color Guide

Frame Arms NSG-12 Kobold English Translation Color Guide & Manual

Released last year by Kotobukiya for their Frame Arms line of 1/100 scale original model kits was the NSG-12 Kobold. You might think that the Kobold looks lame but together with another Frame Arms kit, the Strauss, it can be recombined to build the awesome looking NSG-04 Weisheit.

1/60 Perfect Transformation VF-1A Cavaliers up for Preorder

1/60 Perfect Transformation VF-1A Cavaliers up for Preorder

Announced today on most major Japanese Online Hobby Shop retailers is the availability of the 1/60 Perfect Transformation VF-1A Cavaliers by Yamato Toys for Preorder. The said toy will be available for release by May of this year.

Monday, March 26, 2012

Bandai HG 1/144 Genoace II English Manual & Color Guide

HG RGE-B890 Genoace II English Translation Color Guide & Manual

Newly released this month by Bandai for their Gundam AGE line of model kits is the 1/144 High Grade Genoace II from the currently showing Gundam AGE anime series. Other variants that preceded the Genoace II were the original Genoace and the Genoace Custom

Sunday, March 25, 2012

1/60 Perfect Transformation VF-1A Cavaliers Official Pics

1/60 Perfect Transformation VF-1A Cavaliers Official Pics

Posted a couple of days back was the announcement for the 1/60 VF-1A Cavaliers at the Yamato Toys site. Then there was also the official product page. This toy is scheduled to be released by May of this year as part of the 30th Year Anniversary of Macross' toy line up.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Top Gun NES 1987

Top Gun NES 1987

While working on my plan to convert our family's old pictures to a digital format, I ran into this interesting piece of nostalgia for me. It's a photo of the ending screen of the Top Gun game on the NES that came out in 1987. Its a bit dark because I used a film camera to take a picture of the TV screen. I did it because I had finished the game and wanted to post proof to my friends that I had indeed finished the game.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Kotobukiya Jehuty English Manual & Color Guide

Jehuty English Translation Color Guide & Manual

Jehuty from the Anubis Zone of Enders was released last year by Kotobukiya as a plastic model kit. The Jehuty is one of the core mecha of the popular video game, Zone of Enders. As a model kit, the Jehuty is non-scale and stands approximately 18cm in height.

Kotobukiya 1/72 Crest CR-C90U3 English Color Guide

1/72 Crest CR-C90U3 Armored Core English Translation Color Guide

Released in June of 2006 was the 1/72 Crest CR-C90U3 from the popular video game Armored Core that was made by Kotobukiya. The Crest stands 16cm tall and comes equipped with a hand rail gun, laser blade, medium sized rocket and multipe warhead missile.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Kotobukiya 1/72 Rayleonard 04-Alicia Unsung English Manual & Color Guide

1/72 Rayleonard 04-Alicia Unsung from Armored Core Color Guide & Manual from Armored Core English Translation Color Guide & Manual

The 1/72 Rayleonard 04-Alicia Unsung was released by Kotobukiya in 2009 for their Armored Core line and is scheduled for re-release again this month. Standing at an impressive 18 cm, this Armored Core unit comes packed with an Assault and Laser rifle. It also comes with PM Missiles, Stabilizers and a Plasma Cannon.

Sayonara Noboru Ishiguro

Sayonara Noboru Ishiguro

Just found out via this tweet from HobbyLink Japan that Noboru Ishiguro, a director of Macross, Yamato and other notable anime had passed away already. Thoughts go out to his family.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Kotobukiya 1/72 Mirage C01-GAEA English Color Guide

1/72 Mirage C01-GAEA Armored Core English Translation Color Guide & Manual

Released in 2005 and 2008 by Kotobukiya was the 1/72 Mirage C01-GAEA from the Armored Core video game. If I'm not mistaken, this is the first ever Armored Core kit released by Kotobukiya for their 1/72 line. The Mirage C01-GAEA stands approximately 16cm tall and is packed with an impressive set of weapons.

Kotobukiya 1/72 Nineball = Seraph Armored Core English Manual & Color Guide

1/72 Nineball = Seraph Armored Core Color Guide & Manual
The 1/72 Nineball=Seraph was released in 2008 by Kotobukiya and is being re-released in March of this year. This model kit is part of the popular Armored Core game, which is also a model product line of Kotobukiya. What makes me like this design, aside from the color scheme and its lines, is the fact that it stands at over 21 cm in height

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Bandai MG 1/100 Gundam AGE-1 Titus English Manual & Color Guide

MG Gundam AGE-1 Titus English Translation Color Guide & Manual
Released in March of this year by Bandai is the 1/100 Master Grade variant of the Gundam AGE-1 Titus from the currently airing Gundam AGE anime series. The Titus variant of the Gundam AGE-1 is a close quarter specialist and the designers of this mobile suit made sure to emphasis this point by giving it an overall beefy appearance *snicker*.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Kotobukiya HMM 1/72 RZ-007 Shield Liger Bang Ver. English Manual & Color Guide

1/72 HMM Shield Liger Bang Ver. English Translation Color Guide & Manual

Released in December of 2011 by Kotobukiya was their 1/72 HMM version of the Shield Liger from Zoids Chaotic Century. This Shield Liger belongs to series protagonist, Van. Included in the model kit are two sets of 1/72 figures of Van, Fiona and Zeke which are in the riding or standing position. There is an option to mount a generic pilot included in the kit instead of Van in the pilot seat of the Shield Liger.

Bandai RG 1/144 Sky Grasper English Manual & Color Guide

RG FX-550 Sky Grasper English Translation Color Guide & Manual
Released last month by Bandai was the 1/144 Sky Grasper of Mu La Flaga as a Real Grade Kit. This aircraft came from the Gundam Seed anime series but also made a reappearance in Gundam Seed Destiny. Primarily it acts as a weapons platform to carry additional striker packs for Kira Yamato's Strike Gundam, but can also function as an offensive unit. The Strike Packs included with this kit can be outfitted to the 1/144 Real Grade Aile Strike Gundam model kit that was released in March of last year.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Kotobukiya 1/72 Nineball Armored Core Ver English Manual & Color Guide

Nineball Armored Core Ver English Translation Color Guide & Manual

Released in December of last year was the 1/72 Nineball from Kotobukiya's Armored Core series of model kits. The Nineball is part of the Variable Infinity series that allows you to interchange parts and weapons with other kits within the series. Armored Core of course is the popular console game where giant piloted robots battle against each other. Armored Core always had a soft spot in my heart. Not only because of the great designs but primarily because Shoji Kawamori of Macross fame designed some of the mecha in the game.

Darth Maul's Revenge

Darth Maul's Revenge

This week's The Clone Wars episode continues from last week's. Titled "Revenge", it picks up from where Savage Oppress finally locates the disfigured and maniacal Darth Maul. Darth Maul was long thought dead after he was sliced in half by Obi Wan Kenobi's light saber in Episode 1: The Phantom Menace.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Cannonball - The Breeders



Just couldn't get this old song from my youth out of my mind...bannered by twin sisters Kim and Kelley Deal, The Breeders hit it big in the early 90's. Kim Deal however has been famous already prior to being in The Breeders with her stint as the bassist of The Pixies.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Metal Gear (1988) Walkthrough



In its time Metal Gear was really a ground breaking game because of its style of gameplay. I was one of those who were trully entertained by this game. In the game you play a special forces character, Solid Snake, who has a mission to destroy the Metal Gear weapon of the enemy. As an infiltration game a lot of the skills required is stealth, so its not necessary to kill everything that you see.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

In Remembrance of the March 2011 Earthquake in Japan

In Remembrance of the March 2011 Earthquake in Japan

Today's the first year anniversary of the March 11 Earthquake that struck Japan last year. Today on this site, we pause and reflect in remembrance of the memory of those who were lost and condole with their families.

The Return of Darth Maul

The Return of Darth Maul

Sooooo, it turns out that Darth Maul isn't really dead as according to episode 21 of Season 4 in the Star Wars CGI animated series: The Clone Wars. The episode continues the saga of Savage Opress after he was ordered to search for his brother, Darth Maul, by Mother Talzin after failing to kill Count Dooku in Season 3. I don't bother to look at the episode previews over at the official StarWars site because I want to be genuinely surprised while watching the episodes.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Bandai HG 1/144 Delta Gundam English Manual & Color Guide

HG MSN-001 Delta Gundam English Translation Color Guide & Manual

March got off to a good start with the release of the MSN-001 Delta from Mobile Suit Variations as a 1/144 High Grade kit by Bandai. Based off the venerable Hyaku Shiki of Quattro Bajeena, this mobile suit varies by being able to convert to a wave rider mode that gives it better manueverability and speed. Its quite expensive than your average garden variety High Grade kit, most probably due to the gold reflective color scheme that the kit has.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Bandai HG 1/144 Zeydra English Manual & Color Guide

HG Zeydra Color Guide & Manual

Released in February of this year by Bandai is the 1/144 High Grade Zeydra from the latest Gundam anime currently showing, Gundam AGE. Am really not familiar with the Gundam AGE anime series because its targetted for a much younger demographic than us older Gundam fans that hopes to entice newer and younger Gundam fans into the fold. Despite that however I'm surprised that this enemy craft has "standard" looking beam rifle, not the fancy alien looking ones that I've seen in previous Gundam AGE mecha that come from the opposite side of the Earth Federation.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

1/60 Perfect Transformation VF-1D w/ Option Parts for Pre-Order

1/60 Perfect Transformation VF-1D w/ Option Parts for Pre-Order

In line with the 30th Anniversary of Macross, Yamato Toys is re-releasing their iconic rendition of the VF-1D from the original SDF Macross anime series in 1/60th scale. Pre-orders have already started with the toys being set for release by next month (April of this year). The VF-1D is a tandem seat VF-1 Valkyrie and could be seen in the first few episodes of the Macross anime.

And We're back....

Took a forced hiatus from this blog after our internet conked out last week due to a problem with the ISP's equipment on their side of the fence... was happy to find out this morning that our internet had gone back ON... woohoo!... hope it stays on this time *snicker*

Friday, March 2, 2012

Bandai MG Gundam AGE-1 Normal English Manual & Color Guide

MG Gundam AGE-1 Normal English Translation Color Guide & Manual

The titular mobile suit of the currently showing Gundam AGE anime series by Bandai gets released as a 1/100 Master Grade model kit. Prior versions of this that we've seen released were a 1/48 Mega Size, 1/144 High Grade and an AG class that's targetted for younger model kit builders.

1/60 DX VF-171EX Nightmare Plus EX (Alto Saotome ver) up for Pre-Order

1/60 DX VF-171EX Nightmare Plus EX (Alto Saotome Model) up for Pre-Order

Was doing the rounds of Japanese based online hobby shops and I saw that some of them had the 1/60 DX VF-171EX Nightmare Plus (Alto Saotome ver) up for pre-order already. Bandai really shocked us with the announcement earlier this week that they were releasing a DX Chogokin of the much coveted VF-171EX Nightmare Plus of Alto Saotome from the Macross Frontier anime series.