Bandai HG 1/144 Adele (Diva Color) English Manual & Color Guide

Released in April of this year is the 1/144 High Grade variant of the Adele (Diva Color) from the currently showing Gundam AGE anime series. The Adele is a mass production mobile suit of the Earth forces. Interesting picture shown in the manual is the ability of this model kit to wear the arms and legs of the HG Titus (sold separately).

Bandai HG 1/144 Nemo (Unicorn Ver) English Manual & Color Guide

Released in April is a 1/144 High Grade model kit of the Nemo variant from Gundam Unicorn. The Nemo appeared in Zeta Gundam anime and is a derivative of the venerable GM of the original Mobile Suit Gundam Anime series. The Nemo is a mass produced mobile suit of the Earth Federation Forces and thereby forms the bulk of their mobile suit army.

Latest info on 1/60 VF-4G Lightning III posted by Yamato Toys

Was nice to see this tweet posted at Yamato Toys official twitter pointing us fans to this latest dev page post on the 1/60 Perfect Transformation VF-4G Lighthing II that they are developing as part of the product release for the 30th Anniversary of Macross.

Bootleg CAT Mini Tough Tracks toy

Another bootleg I found while looking through those seller stalls in the Mall was a CAT Mini Tough Tracks toy. The original of this was made by Toystate and is targetted for pre-school kids.

Bootleg Strike Gundam Figure

Saw this in a stall in the mall a couple of days back. A couple of Bootleg Strike Gundam Figures. I saw three variants available that look like the Strike Gundam configured as Aile Strike, Sword Strike and Launcher Strike. The toy stands approximately between 4 to 5 inches in height. Not sure about the price though as I didn't see any posted on, must be newly stocked or my eyes are beginning to fail me already *snicker*

Bootleg Leader Class Optimus Prime

Along with the largest bootleg Transformers toys that I saw while walking in a mall was a Bootleg Leader Class Optimus Prime. Since my son has a Leader Class Optimus Prime it was easy for me to tell from what toy it was copied from. I couldn't understand however why the toy came with spare fenders (right side of the packaging). The thing was selling for about $8 plus.

Largest Bootleg Transformers Toy

I have to say that these are the largest bootleg Transformers toy that I've ever seen to date. Saw this at a stall in the mall and the toy seems to stand at about 2 feet in height. These are pictures of a bootleg Optimus Prime and Ironhide that were selling for about $72 each. There was also a Bumblebee there but I didn't want to call attention to myself by taking too many pictures *snicker*.

Bandai HG 1/144 Shaldoll Custom English Manual & Color Guide

Released this month by Bandai is the Shaldoll Custom. The Shaldoll Custom is another 1/144 High Grade model kit for their Gundam AGE line of merchandise. This mobile suit is part of the mass produced cadre of mobile suits seen in the anime series. Like most mobile suits in the Gundam anime, it comes equipped with a beam saber, shield and the unique Dods rifle that can be seen in the Gundam AGE anime series.

Last Flight of Discovery Space Shuttle

Posted a while back on how sad I felt watching the Space Shuttles being decomissioned. Now here's another great photoset posted at the Atlantic showing the last flight of the Discovery Space Shuttle as it piggyback rides on a 747 for its ride to Washington DC where it wil be housed in the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum.

1/60 Yamato VF-1S Valkyrie TV Version with Optional Parts for Pre-order

Posted a couple of days back at Yamato Toys official site and up for pre-order already at the major online Japanese hobby shops is the promo page for the 1/60 Perfect Transformation VF-1S Valkyrie TV version with optional parts.

1/60 Yamato VF-1J Valkyrie Hikaru Ichijo with Optional Parts for Pre-order

Up for pre-order already in some Japanese based online hobby shops is the 1/60 Yamato VF-1J of Hikaru Ichijo w/ optional parts. This release is part of the 30th Anniversary of Macross which is celebrating it anniversary this year. This product differs from the various VF-1J releases by Yamato Toys by having the optional parts included in the kit.

Iron Man 2 suit was 3D printed

Interesting article at CNET that talks about how Legacy Effects used an Objet 3D printer to make an Iron Man suit for use by Robert Downey Jr. in some scenes of the Iron Man 2 movie.

Kotobukiya Frame Arms XFA-01 Werewolf Specter English Manual & Color Guide

One of the great things about the recently released 1/100 Werewolf Specter is that you actually get 3 model kits for the price of one. That's because it can be built as either the Werewolf Specter, the Type 38 Ryurai or the Type 32 Gourai. The Werewolf Specter was released last March as part of the 1/100 Frame Arms line of model kits by Kotobukiya.

Hot Wheels Classics The Redline Era by Angelo Van Bogart

Found this in a bookstore, Hot Wheels Classics The Redline Era by Angelo Van Bogart, then bought it for my son. This book was published by Krause publications and released in 2009. Quite an interesting collectors book for Hotwheels enthusiasts. The book showcases, in 223 pages, the Redline era from the period of 1968 to 1977 that these diecast cars were a part of.

Kotobukiya HMM 1/72 RZ-014 Godos English Manual & Color Guide

Kotobukiya released in November of 2011 the 1/72 Godos for their very impressive 1/72 HighEnd Master Model line of Zoids mecha. Although this looks like a cannon fodder unit in the Zoids Universe, I was actually quite surprised after reading the assembly manual that you can buid this as a commander variant by choosing the appropriate option parts in the kit. There is also an option to build the small flying boat craft from pieces of the Godos.

Kotobukiya Frame Arms NSG-X1 Hresvelgr English Manual & Color Guide

Released in January of this year was the 1/100 scale NSG-X1 Hresvelgr from the original Frame Arms line of model kits by Kotobukiya. Like all Frame Arms model kits, the NSG-X1 Hresvelgr uses a common Frame Architect as an inner frame where the unique parts can then be attached. Unique about the Hresvelgr is that it can transform itself to a flying mode form from its robot mode. The NSG-X1 Hresvelgr is definitely one of the most colorful kits to come out of the Frame Arms line of Kotobukiya.

Watch Gundam Unicorn Episode 4 (At the Bottom of the Gravity Well) Online

Saw this posted a few days ago at the official Gundam site at youtube. Its Episode 4 of the Gundam Unicorn OVA titled At the Bottom of the Gravity Well. Time to knock off an hour off of my life again *snicker*

Bandai HG 1/144 Juaggu (Unicorn Ver) English Manual & Color Guide

Seen in Gundam UC episode 4 was the aquatic mobile suit, the MSM-04G Juaggu. It comes equipped with beam guns and a triple rocket missile launcher. This particular High Grade kit was released by Bandai last month. I usually don't want to state the obvious, but what the heck. The freaking thing looks like an elephant *snicker*

Soul of Chogokin GX-04S Grendizer "King of Space Set" available in July

Got excited to see this in the major Japanese online hobby sites. A posting that the Soul of Chogokin GX-04S Grendizer "King of Space Set" will be re-released by Bandai in July. This was first released by Bandai in 2002. I've always been a UFO Robot Grendizer fan, having watched it as part of the Force Five series released in the United States by Jim Terry Productions.

4th Attempt at making a base Part III

Wow, after almost a year, I finally got to working on my 4th experiment of creating a diorama base for the model kits I make. The previous post on this could be found here. I had some free time during the evening and I spent it painting the base with cheap acrylic paints.

Macross on Google Trends

Was checking on Google trends the volume of searches conducted that are related to Macross. Being the 30th Anniversary of the anime, Macross, I'd expect some web activity already from the fans. So far just a blip during the tail end of 2011.

Kotobukiya 1/72 Mirage YC07-Cronus Vixen Ver English Manual & Color Guide

Released in 2006 by Kotobukiya was the 1/72 Mirage YC07-Cronus Vixen ver from their Armored Core line of model kits. The mecha comes equipped with a laser rifle and laser blade for offense and stands about 16.9 cm in height.

Watch Gundam UC episode 3 (The Ghost of Laplace) Online

Just saw this today via Gundam.info official site, that they posted on youtube Gundam Unicorn Episode 3 (The Ghost of Laplace). Not sure however how long this will stay up. This video has English Subtitles so that you can understand the Japanese dialogue.

Bandai HG 1/144 Marasai (Unicorn Ver.) English Manual & Color Guide

Released in March of this year was the 1/144 High Grade model kit variant by Bandai of the RMS-108 Marasai from the Gundam UC OVA. This wonderful looking Zeon mecha design comes uniquely equipped with a Fedayeen Rifle and an Umihebi.