Sinanju "Ver.Ka" Poster

Trying to scan these things and I want a proper archive of them here.  Blogger won't let me upload the full file size (3200x2400) and re-sizes it down to 1600x1200.  I don't really want to keep them on my Flickr because access to that is temporary.  Oh well.  I'll think of something.

FA Gundam - Ver.2.0 vs, Katoki

I really like the FA Gundam.  Hell I have a FA Gundam T-Shirt.

But I don't really like the ver.2.0 RX-78-2. Yeah I know the frame is amazing and all but I'm just not really feeling the anime proportions and roundness. I want something more menacing. Something like the Katoki version.

Above is the Kyoshiro remix coloured FA Gundam.  GFF version and Ver.2.0 frame version recoloured.  I know they had to go with the newest frame but I have to admit that I'm a bit dissapointed.  I guess if I want my Katoki fix I just have to go for GFF stuff!  Below is a MSV-R version FA Gundam which I also think would look much better in the Katoki style.  Let's face it!  The man is genius.

From Dengeki Hobby Japan - Aug 2010

So where do you fall on this debate? 2.0 or Katoki? Blue or green? 1 or 1b?

Side note I've enjoyed hearing all of your opinions on the last couple topics.  Thanks for letting me know! Helps to see how in touch I am. Or out of touch as the case may be! haha

LM312V05+SD-VB03A V-Dash Gundam

I'm still not done with my "Those Who Were Left Behind" series, about my Gunpla that I've left back home in Canada. Today I bring you the 1/100 HG V-Dash Gundam.



So hard to find good box art these days. Sorry couldn't find a better pic.

Technically this model is the V-Dash Gundam, but it just looks like the regular Victory here. I have the "Dash" parts but there are so many problems with this model that I just left them in the box because they don't exactly fit right anymore.

This model was given to me by someone who found it at a garage sale. Who knows who the original owner was. This was the condition that I got it in.

Also another comparison of flash vs. no flash pictures.



I'm not sure if I'll ever upgrade this thing but I kind of want to just to say that I did. I mean... what a disaster. Loose, exposed and broken joints, random parts are glued together, lame hands, uneven sticker application, gaping, dirty seams in some places, not to mention some random parts are missing. It'd take a lot of work to make this look good but... it'd be a challenge and it would be fun to try and make it into a MS that I could be proud of.

Upgrade outline: My goodness where to start. I'd seriously go back to basics on this kit and get rid of all the seam lines, intense sanding and make the surface flawless as I could for painting. Get rid of those terrible hands. Lower the visor with pla-plate or putty. Shoulders will need a lot of work. Re-work the face... There are a lot of things that I'll have to do just to get this model functional, never mind the painting part. I really don't think I'd change the colour scheme much for this. The traditional colours seem to fit. Either that I'd make the red and blue parts different shapes of green, just for the sake of being different.

Rating: 2/10. I can't do anything with it! It barely stands and it took at lot of effort just to get it into this pose! Poor guy. Even with a massive retooling he couldn't be anything more than average by virtue of his design.

I thought it might be kind of fitting to talk about this now considering the news that a Katoki version of V-Gundam is now slated for release.


Look at this thing. What do you think?


Me? Totally not feeling it. I mean all those curves! Thick in the wrong places, straight in the wrong places... What's the point of releasing this outside of appealing to the V-Gundam fans? I look at this thing and I think... boring. Blah. Maybe it's just me.

Never was a big fan of V-Gundam anyways. I hear it's a really depressing series and hated the fact that the main characters name was "Uso" which means 'lie' (as in fib) in Japanese. That and I fell asleep during the first couple episodes. Just didn't capture me. Not even a big fan of the mecha designs to be honest. It's not high on my list of Gundam series to watch.

Here's a pic of the V-Gundams evolution through the series courtesy of Dalong's message boards for all you fans though.

Tamashii Nation 2009

I have returned from the Otaku Holy Land.

First I will start with Tamashi Nation 2009. What's that you say? Not sure what that is? Take a look here.

And you can also see an ad for it from an image in my previous post.

Now I initially heard about this when I was browsing this months Hobby Japan and I saw some really cool T-Shirts that use some of Katoki's GFF lineart. I wanted it immediately.

Looking in greater detail I noticed that the event was being held this weekend. Coincidentally the weekend I was planning on going to Tokyo to catch up with some old friends. So since I was in town why not stop by and check it out.

A lot of stuff was sold out by the time I got there and I didnt' get a chance to see all of the exhibits unfortunately but I did get my T Shirts!

And the Psycho Gundam - Hong Kong Night ver. looks amazing! I'd love to see more Gundams with this reflective mirror/metal look. It was quite stunning.

While I was in town I decided to pick up a couple accessories. Things are so cheap in Akihabara... I'm still surprised. I bought a small stand for 1/144 models, a clear LED and a Kotobukiya weapon set that I'm planning to use with my GNX-III... someday.

Anyways, while I was browsing I came across a showcase of the actual models used in the Hobby Japan magazines! They look AMAZING in real life. The level of detail is shocking when you see them in person. Taking pictures of the displays is prohibited so sorry, I have nothing to show you. If you ask me, the real crime is NOT letting people take pictures of these works of art. It should be shared with everyone as far as I'm concerned. Oh well.

I like Akiba. It's a bit extreme for me though sometimes but it's better to have more options than less. Easy to go through money there though. Especially for folks like us. I've been going for about 6 years now and it's changed a lot over the years but... the parts that matter are still the same.

And now... It is time for me to spend a nice romantic evening with my PG Red Astray.