Showing posts with label Gunpla. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gunpla. Show all posts

Friday, April 22, 2011

Lunar Gear: 10 Thing you might not know about Gundam

  • The series was originally set to run for 52 episodes and was cut down to 39 by the shows sponsors due to the fact that the show rating were so low that according to the survey of that time very few people tune in to watch the show. Luckily, the staff was able to negotiate a one month extension to end the series with 43 episodes.
Original Title screen from Original Mobile suit Gundam


  • In both American TV showings, and on the American DVD release, Episode 15: Cucuruz Doan's Island was cut out. It was felt, even by Tomino (The Director) , that this episode was not up to par with the rest of the series and so it was never dubbed, making it into a "lost episode" of sort. And this might be origin of the Sunrise's "Stuck on the island" plot which were used so many time in Gundam series and Other Sunrise's series. The scene worth mention is the Episode in Gundam Seed where Arthrun and Cagalli was struck in an island together. While in Code Geass Zero and Yuffie end up struck on the island as well as Kallen and Suzaku.
Above few scene from Ep. 15 Cucuruz Doan's Island
  • First Gunpla that is produced by Bandai. It was 1/144 Gundam, the first Gunpla is totally white and don't have much detail but cost 300 yen. It was released back in 1980, and the sale were so bad Bandai never thought they would profit from this new line of plastic model kit. But when the series ended and were about to be rerun, the sale of Gunpla sky rocket to the point that Gunpla become one of Bandai most profit toy line.


The Box Art(left) and Assemble guide featuring the painted version of the kit(right)



  • G-Armor the bulky armor that enable RX78-2 to fly, were not intend to be include in the original show. It were insert into the show to boost the toy sale. The Clover DX Gundam Gatai Set is the first major toy for Gundam Franchise, it include gundam and the G-Armor with Gatai(combine) gimmick. The G-Armor were replaced by Core-Booster on the Gundam the movie. In Gundam Origin (Manga series) the Core-Booster was redesign as gundam Sub-Flight system instead so that Gundam can ride on it.

G-armor


FF-X7-Bst Core-Booster


  • Most Weapon feature in SGT. Keroro, were design base on Weapon feature in Gundam Series. For Example Kerone-Ball are design base on Zaku II cracker grenade. and Giroro weapon arsenal are the redesign version of many iconic weapon from gundam universe. In the show they are going as far as having an armor that resemble to Gogg and Z'gog


Giroro(Red ) holding Gundam Beam rifle and Garuru (Black) holding shield GP02A Gundam


SD version of Gp02a Gundam with it unique shield




Gundam wielding it 4 main weapon from the top left Gundam Hammer, Beam rifle, Beam saber and Hyper Bazooka


  • Most Gundam TV Series, their will be an Character that wear mask or sunglasses to disguise themselves. Like Char who wear mask to disguise himself from Zeon family, or When he join AEUG wearing only sunglasses and call himself Quartro Bajena. The First Character to ever wear the mask is Char Aznable, the mask he wear is actually the eye protection mask given by his friend at military academy before he start the student riot.
    All masked character from tv series

  • Most main protagonist will upgrade "gundam" during the course of the show, like Kira Yamato's Strike Gundam to Freedom in Seed. The first main protagonist who the first to ever upgrade to another gundam is Kamille Bidan from Gundam Z, By first piloting Gundam MkII to Zeta Gundam. However Tomino (director of Gundam) planned for Amuro to Upgrade from RX78-2 to RX78-3 which was waiting for Amuro at Jaburo. The plan were scrapped because Gundam unit 3 might be 1.5time faster but it is basically gundam with grey color, the toy company think grey color gundam will not popular as a toy. But in order to keep the original storyline Amuro were given magnetic coating which speed up gundam unit 2 by 1.5 time.
On the left is Gundam Unit2 on the right is Gundam Unit 3


  • For Asian Viewer back in the 80 might get to watch Gundam on their local channel. For Thailand it was aired on channel 7 back in 1981. Ironically for the real robot theme anime receive a very Thai super robot name "อภินิหารกันดั้ม" which roughly translate as "the mystical Gundam". While In US first gundam ever-air is Gundam W on CatoonNetwork in year 2000, under the toonami time slot which feature only Japanese animation. after the premier of Gundam W, it became the most popular show in Toonami time slot and last almost the full year, only to be push down the rank by the legendary Dragonball Z
Gundam W logo which originally used in CartoonNetwork channel


  • Censorship is the most mortal enemy of TV-Show. Back in year 2001 the original gundam tv series were aired halfway through the series, but after the 9/11 the show banned due to censorship under unknown reason. while other show with similar theme were able to be air but not Gundam. In US many gundam from G gundam and Gundam W series were rename so that the name is not referencing any thing religious or racist and appropriate for young audience. To name a few God Gundam was turn to Burning Gundam, devil gundam to Dark gundam, or Gundam Heaven Sword to Raven Gundam.
Devil Gundam/Dark Gundam


  • Haro is the mascot for Gundam series, Haro have appear in many gundam series since the first series. Haro was originally a toy robot owned by Amuro Ray since he was a kid. The original haro cant accomplish much since it practically a toy. While in the later series even small haro in Gundam seed have a useful function like hacking and unlock military war-shipped prisoner bay lock, while in Gundam 00 it could be used Gundam meister personal mechanic and even nurse during surgical procedure.


Haro as appear in original Gundam doing nothing

Lockon's Haro use in Gundam 00 as co-pilot for Dynames Gundam

Thai Plastic Model Kit Review

Monday, April 18, 2011

Plamo 7 day Challenge - Day two: GN-XIII [ESF Type]


Info
Unit type: general purpose mass production mobile suit
Overall height: 19.0 meters
Overall weight: 69.8 metric tons
Equipment: GN Tau Drive
Armament: GN lance w/rifle x 1, GN vulcan gun x 2, GN claw x 2, GN shield x 1, GN beam saber x 2, GN beam rifle x 1, GN bazooka x 1, GN grenade

Note: The Main Unit use by many faction in Gundam 00 season 2, this unit color is used by ESF or Earth Sphere Federation Army. The Red Color of this unit were used by A-law. Overall performance of GN-XIII seem to be quite higher than original Gn-X that use in season one. Gn-XIII can be armed with assort of Weapon and GN Tau Drive which able them to surpassed the old mass produce model such as Tieren use by HLR, Over Flag used by Union and Enact used by AEU. GN-XIII achievement in battle field is that a squad of GN-XIII under A-Law command were able to fight with the previous generation Gundam ( Gundam Exia R).



Box Art



GN-XIII as appear in anime




GN-XIII Armed with the main weapon GN-Lance (Lance Mode) and GN Shield

Showing Range of articulation

Armed With GN-Lance (Gun mode) on the right hand and GN Beam Rifle on the left hand

Review Score
Color: 4/5 { Color is very similar to what appear in anime, only few sticker is needed}
Detail: 3.5/5 { only few part that different from previous GN-X kit }
Equipment: 3.5/5 {Only GN lance ,GN beam rifle and two beam sever were included)
Articulation: 3.5/5 { Standard HG articulation, and every part is holding well allow ranges of movement }
Price: 4/5 { for 1200 yen price, it an standard price for HG }

Review Note: This kit is practically a repainted version of GN-XIII A-law type which released before this one. The kit come with everything the come with the A-law type as well, so in my opinion if you already brought the A-Law type, you might want to skip this guy.otherwise this is an OK kit but it would be better for both A-Law and ESF type kit should include the Long-Range rifle part in the kit like GN-X did.


Thai Plastic Model Kit Review

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Plamo 7 day Challenge - Day one: Gundam Astraea Type F



BOX ART


Info
Unit type: prototype general purpose mobile suit
Overall height: 18.3 meters
Overall weight: 55.1 metric tons
Equipment: GN Drive, Trans-Am system
Manufacture: Krung Thep
Pilot: Fon Spark
Appearance: Gundam 00F/Gundam 00P/ Gundam 00I (side story)

Note: Gundam Astraea (including Type F/F-2) is the Prototype of Exia Gundam which manufacture back 10 year before the Gundam 00 first season story take place. This Gundam were originally equip with Original GN Drive, meaning it can able to access Tran-Am ability. But when Fon Spark found type F, it were equip with innovator modifies Tau Drive. Type F original color were black, which Fon Spark change the color to red and equip it with ton of weapon. Type F actually have Gundam face but equipped with mask in order to disguise it Gundam status. Type F achievement in side story consist of able to annihilated a squad of GNX-III, and Able to Fight a squad of MS pilot by Innovator.







Standard Stance

Type F with Proto GN Sword

Fully Equipped Type F (GN Launcher, GN shield, GN Pistol x 2, GN Hammer, GN Beam Rifle, GN Beam Saber x 2, NGN Bazooka, GN Hand Missile)

Type F with NGN Bazooka Proto GN Sword

Type F with GN Launcher and GN Beam Rifle

Review Score
Color: 4/5 { Color is almost exact match to the profile page, only few minor detail is missing }
Detail: 3.5/5 { Few overlook minor detail, like the opening hole in the shoulder area }
Equipment: 4.5/5 { I will give 0.5 point more if they gave me pair of GN Launcher and GN hand Missile)
Articulation: 3/5 { Standard HG articulation, but some part is too lose like the chest armor }
Price: 4/5 { for 1800 yen price, it worth every yen }

Review Note: This kit actually more like a set of Exia Gundam with Dengenki's magazine Astraea Part combo pack with collection of weapon. Since Original Exia cost 1200 yen, Dengenki's Magazine price cost 1200 yen so total cost is 2400 yen alone excluding weapon. for 1800 yen price, i would say it worth every yen if you are collecting the HG00 line. For this Gunpla using Exia as base meaning it also suffer from the same problem as the first Gunpla in HG00 line. The joint that attach L&R chest piece to shoulder is too loose/weak to hold it in place when posing. While their is also minor detail problem like hole in shoulder part where the Exia arm cable suppose to be. The trade off of this problem is that you can actually construct a complete Exia with given part with all original weapon and shield.

The equipment given with this kit is good in both quantity and quality. This kit include the weapon that was equipped by other MS in the show, such as GN hand Missile use by Gundam Kyrios during the Laboratory raid in season 1 and NGN Bazooka Use by GNX-III in season 2. And for fan who cant afford the GN-Arm Type-D , this kit also include the GN pistol and Holder that is used by Gundam Dyunames in season 1, which used to be only included with GN-Arm Type-D. As mention earlier if they Include another GN Launcher and GN hand Missile and increase the price to 2000 yen, this kit will be perfect.



***side note***

My apology for being late with this project for my Blog, Due to the Song Klan Holiday my family shop is very busy during this season. And I'm on Holiday from college, so i have to help with the family business. so during the day time i don't really have time to assemble and take photo of the Gunpla i planned to review. It also that i injured my finger since Sunday. So it hard for me to assemble Gunpla or even use a mouse.

Thai Plastic Model Kit Review

Monday, April 11, 2011

Crimson Demon!!!


Comming Soon.......


Thai Plastic Model Kit Review

Saturday, April 9, 2011

7 Day Plamo Challenge!!!

For the up coming week i will try to complete 7 set of Plamos for each day of the week. Then post a review for each of them on this blog.



I will put up the poll on the side of my Blog, so everyone can decide which Gunpla would be my blog first review item. For the first entry will be post on April 11, and second on the entry of thepoll will be post on the following day and so on. i will remove plamo that i already review from the poll, so their is no confusion.


Here is the list of Available Gunpla and It Box-Art



HGUC 1/144 'GM' & HGUC 1/144 'Ball'




1/144 Gundam Astraea Type-F



1/144 00 Raiser [Condenser Type]



1/144 HG00 Tieren Ground Type & Space Commander Type





1/144 HG00 Ahead & Ahead Smultron




1/144 HG00 GN-X & GN-XIII ESF Type





More Update is coming, but so far this is only available in my collection

Thai Plastic Model Kit Review

Monday, April 4, 2011

Gunpla Grade


For Gunpla Line, there are many scale to choose from as well as grade. HGUC, HG00, RG, MG, are just a few grade available to choose from. But what does it mean, what the different with been them.




    • SD: Super Deform series normally aim their audience to young collector. this line is very simple to put together with out any tool (snap fit), this line mostly have small gimmick hidden inside each set, like weapon can be combine together to created an unique weapon or shared part with other set.


    "SD Unicorn Gundam NT-Destroy Mode"


    • SG/FG: (Speed Grade/First Grade) The cheapest gunpla series. These line normally consist of easy to assemble gunpla, normally a set would contain one to two runner. The scale is quite vary ranging from 1/144 to non-scale. Mostly come in one color and very bad articulation.


    "Assembled 1/144 FG Exia Gundam"


    • HGUC/HGAW/HGFC/HG00/HGSEED: High Grade series is middle range price gunpla. This is one of the biggest line in Gunpla series. HG series mostly consist of 1/144 scale. A box of HG would contain 3+ runner while color are separated, which don't require painting afterward, while few minor detail could be add afterward with sticker (included in the box). This line would require an beginner to average skill in gunpla to complete.





    "1/144 HGUC GM Type C"



    • RG: Real Grade series is a mix between HG and MG series, the scale available so far is 1/144, while the detail and articulation is MG quality. while the price is on the same level as MG.

    "1/144 RG Char's Zaku II Custom"

    • MG: Master Grade second largest series in Gunpla Line. MG series are consisted of Scale 1/100, The gunpla in this line have very high detail, articulation. A box of MG would made up of 10+ runner. While cost is quite high when compare to other line. Most of model in MG series would require time and effort to complete, this series were recommended to those who experienced only.


    "1/100 Gundam Epyon EW version"

    • PG: Perfect Grade, most expensive Gunpla line so far. The scale of all PG is 1/60. The detail on the model is very close to actual Mobile Suit in Anime. The articulation of this line is so flexible that all post and movement that can be see in Anime can be imitate, with out any problem. Only classic MS would be include in this line.


    "1/60 PG Double O Riser"

    • HardGraph: This line is very similar to military model and scale model line. In this line are mostly consist of 1/35 model, which depict many of vehicle like tank ,jeep and scout hovercraft that appear in Gundam series. Some of the set also feature a miniature model of soldier which is very similar to military style of modelling. the detail is very high on the level of MG series, this series is not fully snap fit, and would require paint to complete.


    "UC HardGraph Ramba Ral's commando set"

    • Ex: the forefather of Hard Graph series. This series consist mostly of MA and Figther Plane. some tank and spaceship is also available. This set is persume to be discontinue, since their is no newer set being release for few year now. Due to expensive price tag and need very high skill to complete, this line is not quite popular among Gunpla fan.


    "1/144 EX model Oggo "

    • NG:No-Grade series consist of two scale 1/144 and 1/100. This series is quite cheap when compare to the model in the same scale but different grade. This series have lower detail and lower articulation.


    "1/100 No-Grade Astray Gold Frame Akamatu Custom"

    LM: Limited-Model series, this series consist of many scale and series of Animation license to Bandai. This line of model were first released back in 1994 as a campaign in market to released cheap line of model that aim toward late night anime audience. This model detail is very low as well as very few articulation to none. Number of model in this series are unknown while most of them are made up of robot and character that only appear in this line only. For today collector ,model in this series is quite rare.


    "1/144 LM Mobile Suit Leo"

    Thai Plastic Model Kit Review