PG 00 Raiser Thoughts

Through out my stint in Gundam building I have mainly dealt with MG scales and SD models but have also built a fair share of 1:60 Large Scale, PG and 1/144 models. Previously I thought that Perfect Grades were an overglorfied, oversized and overpriced product line. I held this biased opinion after being disappointed by the PG Evangelion Unit One.

I can't find a completed picture anywhere but this was a progress pic I took for another forum I regularly visit.

 As of late I started to frequent more blogs to keep ODU at the forefront of release information and everywhere I went an ananimous agreement was made that the upcoming Perfect Grade 00 Raiser shown at various conventions is simply amazing! If this is the new benchmark for PG models I'd like to see what Ban Dai has to offer in the future. Firstly lets start with the box art. Magnificent! Its huge the only box that can compare with this one in size is the 1/144 Dendrobium.

PG 00 Raiser Box

1/144 Dendrobium Box (1/100 Gundam placed for comparison purposes)

The first thing that made my jaw drop when I did my scouting was that the model comprises of 56 runners! I would not want to think how many PC joints will be in the model or how many individual parts would make up this 30cm tall sculpture.

                                       

00 Raiser Runners

From my observation as a seasoned gunpla builder the mouldings on the 00 Raiser are very detailed more so than alot of the previous PG incarnations I've seen previously.

                                       

                                                                

A selling point of Gundam MG models is the internal frame which adds support and posability. Perfect Grades also have internal skeletal frames and 00's is magnificent its capable of achieving a full crouching position which is quite a feat considering the mass and size of the model.

00 Raiser's internal frame

In terms of gimmicks the 00 Raiser is also feature packed its got revolving GN Drives and LED lighting effects. Fortunately for us all this edition comes with all the accesories. I have seen too many releases where the only difference is an extra weapon. The PG release will come with the GN Sword II, Beam Sabers, the Exia style GN Sword III and a clear beam blade cover to reproduce the trademark Raiser Sword attack. This elementary release model would also include a special display stand which has been shown above.

This model gets my seal of approval. It will definitely be at Hobby Dream so don't miss your chance to take advantage of the premium batch price and special stand, later production units will not have a stand and will be more expensive. The Perfect Grade 00 Raiser is slated for a November release in Japan and should arrive in Australia by December PREORDER NOW!

Fate Unlimited Codes - Saber Lily Distant Avalon Figurine

After months of waiting, I finally received my long awaited 1/7 scale painted figure of saber Lily from GoodSmile Company. Without taking it out of the box, I was already very pleased and impressed with the detailing on Saber. Compared to some of the box art that I have seen in the past, I really liked this one (this is one box that I'm planning to keep). There are pictures around the box which shows the different angles that the figure was taken from.

The figure comes with Excalibur, Caliburn and the scabbard Avalon, also there is an extra left hand if you do not wish to have the scabbard on display. The base where the figure stands on is really well done. It matches with the white dress and the silver armor. Further to the checkered pattern, the box image doesn't reveal the presence of the title to the series, but it is clearly imprinted in silver on the base.

The one thing that helps to determine whether or not I like a figure is by the looking at the face, and comparing that to what I have seen from either the anime or any other official artworks from the producer. Saber Lily does not escape my scrutineering process here. I didn't really need to look too closely to decide if I was to like it or not. After coming home from Japan, I tried to find out as much information on the release of Saber Lily and any other details that was available. Fortunately for me, there were, and my near instantaneous decision to get it didn't turn out to be a bad choice. Looking at the face and comparing it to what is shown in the actual anime series, I am impressed by how close the detailing of the figure is to the series. It is by far the most attractive face on any of Saber figurines that I own, and I have five not including Saber Lily.

Even though Saber is in her battle stance, she still looks graceful with an angelic aura about her. I feel sorry for which ever enemy servant happens to be in her way. The white dress is beautiful to say the least. It was only after having a proper 360 degree view of the figure that I realized that the extra fabric on the white dress is arranged in the shape of a lily flower.The points that secures the figure to the base is very solid, so there is no need to worry about the figure tipping over if you bumped it suddenly.

Of all the Saber figurines in my collection, this is by far my favourite. I was able to obtain my figure overseas, but I decided to check back two days later to see how things were going. I knew that the figure was popular, but I was surprised to see that within two days, it was out of stock. Fortunately, if you are in Sydney, and would like to have your very own Saber Lily hop on down to Hobby Dream. They will have some in stock within the coming weeks.

Gundam 00 Movie teaser design

As those who have watched Gundam 00 know all the Gundams were heavily trashed by the end of the season. Which means Ban Dai have an excuse to make more Gunpla! On the official Gundam 00 site a teaser image has been spotted sporting a design which can be called an amalgamation between 00 and Exia it doesn't take a genius to figure out that this could be Setsuna F Seiei's newest Gundam. What will it be called Gundam 000, Gundam Exi0? Whatever it will be called expect the airy fairy effects which 00 Raiser was capable of!

EDIT: I looked around the Internet and it seems like the slated name for this unit is Gundam Quanta and it would have funnel type weaponary like those seen in UC series, DRAGOONs in Seed and the GN Bits/Fangs used in the 00 series

Jamming Room

I set a room aside in my house to start jamming. My gear to date comprises of

1. Epiphone Les Paul Standard
2. Orange Crush CR30R 30 Watt Amplifier
3. Asus laptop with Guitar Pro and Chord Charts
4.420 Watt RMS Sony DJ Deck

K-On! Mania

As of late I think I posted quite a few music related posts. So lets continue in that fashion! The extreme moe anime, K-On! sure has picked up quite a following. It's fun, witty and the music is great it is no wonder it is one of the best selling Blu Ray releases in Japan. 

Once again an external collection is on display. It really surprises me... Do the Japanese really get paid that much? How do they afford all this neat stuff? Various K-On! DVDs/CDs, Blu Rays etc, a Marshall amp and the guitars used by Yui, Asanyan and Mio. Just the musical instruments are well in excess of $10000 AUD and thats already a gross understatement.

Les Paul purchased

As an update from my earlier post I am confirming that the guitar has been purchased. I got a blue Epiphone Les Paul Standard.

From now on I will upload the progress of my guitar playing learning curve hence the new label Guitar has been added. My influences are Santana and Satriani and as I reach improvement I'll try to play songs from anime I aim to be able to play the guitar sections of God Know's from Suzumiya Haruhi no Yuutsu and One Winged Angel from Final Fantasy Advent Children.

An Otaku's Internal Struggle

I think you guys heard enough of our term "Internal Struggle". Let me take you through the story where this term was coined. One day out of boredom I went to Hobbyco after work. I happened to stumble across a BEAUTIFUL (I am not exaggerating here) girl by the name of Cecil. She was making these whining and cute grumbling noises as she stared at the cover art of the SD Wing Zero Custom.

Anyhow I decided to mind my own business and started to look at the 1/144 0 Raiser and was tempted to complete the 1/144 00 Gundam that was already at my desk at work but as you do I wanted to hold back.  Like Cecil I had the box in my hand for a while and turned it over WAY too many times. Cecil turns to me and asks,

"Internal struggle?" So I smile and nod in reply she turns her box around and asks me,

"Isn't this Gundam so CUTE! I love those angel wings! Should I buy it? I got too many SDs already!"

So in the end Cecil ends up buying the kit and the term Internal Struggle was official linked to Otaku Economics. An Internal Struggle is when you're confronted with awesome goods but are trying to be "good" and restrain from making the purchase. As the economic golden rule says,

"Humans will always have unlimited needs but limited resources."


Okay let me run you through all the goodies I want but restraining from getting

This was only a display sample but a chibi Kallen dressed up as her Knightmare Frame the Guren MKII is cute as!

Being heavily influenced by Power Rangers in my youth I have an eye for quality tokusatsu shows my favourite to date is Kamen Rider Kabuto...Simply because he is OP and pwns. Who else in the superhero department would go into battle pointing into the sky and citing quotes from his grandmother and has a cool name like Tendou Souji.

"He who rides the path of Heaven and rules over all."

The SIC Vol52 Kamen Rider Kabuto