Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:41 pmby Tigertrack
Predaprince wrote:tigertracks 24 wrote:Shadowman wrote:No, I cannot STAND those MS designs. And the concept of an MS Fighting Tournament...It's like they began production on DBZ, then before starting animation, realized it was supposed to be a Gundam series.
What, you can't handle your tequila?
WTF!!??!!?? Is that last one the "Mariachi" (SP?) Gundam???
I'm not ROTFL; I'm ROTF dying!!!
Olé!!!
Tequila Gundam name changed when it hit the US though...
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Aug 28, 2009 5:47 pmby Predaprince
tigertracks 24 wrote:Predaprince wrote:tigertracks 24 wrote:Shadowman wrote:No, I cannot STAND those MS designs. And the concept of an MS Fighting Tournament...It's like they began production on DBZ, then before starting animation, realized it was supposed to be a Gundam series.
What, you can't handle your tequila?
WTF!!??!!?? Is that last one the "Mariachi" (SP?) Gundam???
I'm not ROTFL; I'm ROTF dying!!!
Olé!!!
Tequila Gundam name changed when it hit the US though...
That is f***in' messed up!
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Aug 28, 2009 7:04 pmby Shadowman
Predaprince wrote:tigertracks 24 wrote:Tequila Gundam name changed when it hit the US though...
That is f***in' messed up!
No, it's expected. No one in the right mind would market to children a robot named after booze. At least not in the US, the rules are...
different in Japan. (The original Gundam as well as Zeta Gundam both featured full frontal nudity with several characters, and having naked people appear almost out of nowhere is a long-standing Gundam Tradition)
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:33 pmby Duke of Luns
Ah yes, good old Gundam toys in the American market. I remember they used to sell them in EB Games and Gamestop. Of course, I never really got the models-at first. I watched the shows, but this was before I started collecting Transformers. However, my first model, a Gelgoog Jagen? from 0080, did not leave a very good impression. It was pretty flimsy.
However, thanks to Toys R' Us and a clearance sale($2 each), I gave Gundam models a second chance, SD Models that is
. Ok they're simple, but some of them come with a lot of optional parts, and they're pretty good quality. Also, how else was I gonna get Gundam Unit 3 from 0083 at a reasonable price?
After that, I picked some up from Big Lots for cheap a few years back, and got a few 1/100's(EZ-8, Char's Zaku II, and a GM).
I got a box full of Gundam Action Figures at the Flea Market a couple years ago too. I agree, they are of good quality, and I got a few complete ones, but just parts on others.
I believe I read on a Gundam site once that one of the reasons why Gundam failed to stay popular was because they followed up Gundam Wing with the original series. Don't get me wrong, I love the UC Universe, and it's much better than Wing in hindsight, but the general market who got into Gundam because of Wing probably didn't agree.
Anyway, here's some pics of my Model Kits:
As you can tell, my painting skills are not expert level, but white beam sabers are annoying, and hey, it's fun.
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Sat Aug 29, 2009 5:54 amby Cobalt Prime
Awesome photos, guys!
Now I feel inspired enough to pull a few of my kits out of storage and take a crack at them.
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Sat Aug 29, 2009 9:33 amby Shadowman
Blurrz wrote:
Tieria's first season Mobile Suits were fun to paint. Virtue is interesting as it is a huge freaking Gundam, and you'll see that it is just amazingly big. Nadleeh is okay. It's like a plain white Gundam with hair, although painting it was somewhat fun.
Can you fit Nadleeh inside of Virtue, like on the show?
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Sun Aug 30, 2009 6:17 pmby Strike X105
I really wanted to contribute to this, as I'm a huge Gundam fan personally. I collect only 1/60 scale (HG, RD, PG) and DX and JG size figures. Basically, anything bigger than 12 in. I have everything released to date in big scale including the rare Wing Zero Custom DX figure, Red Frame PG w/bonus parts, Wonderfest 02 Char RX-78-2 PG, and God Gundam Japan only DX. Unfortunately, most of my stuff is packed up at the moment as I'm in the middle of a move, but here's some pics of stuff I had out that was still waiting to be packed. I apologize for the crappy res, but I used my laptop cam for these pics. I'll take better pics when I unpack my camera and the rest of my Gundams. Well, here we go:
Pictured: DX Sazabi (japan release), 15" EVA 03 (Gainax 1998 version), Boxed Zaku II PG, Boxed WZC PG, Boxed MK.II PG, Boxed Strike PG, Boxed DX Nu Gundam, and boxed 1/60 Force Impulse (among other misc. stuff):
Strike Gundam PG vs. Real detail Strike 1/60:
Gundam PG Mk.II AEUG blasting the hell out of imaginary aircraft:
Wing Zero Custom PG. Yes, that's a second one laying on the table, I own 2 regular and one Pearl Mirror version...and the funny thing is it's the worst of all the PG kits:
And finally the last pic is a real treat. One of the crown jewels of my Gundam collection...the ULTRA rare Jumbo Gundam MK.II Musha cloth. These things are nearly impossible to find, and when you do, they're even harder to find in good shape with unapplied stickers like this one. It's totally complete, and for a 1993 figure way ahead of it's time. Fingers move individually, Articulated as hell (head even looks up and down), tons of chrome (2 Katanas, and the big gold spear), light up and sounding beam rifle. To give you an idea of the shear mass and size, next to it is a 12 inch DX Wing Gundam figure. Enjoy:
Promise to take more pics and better quality when I get done with my move including my last custom Gundam, a F91 Harrison custom 1/60.
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:30 pmby Blurrz
Nice stuff Strike.
I've just assembled Gundam 00, I'll post pictures of it soon!
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Sep 04, 2009 12:29 amby Jesterhead
Blurrz wrote:
And the holy grail, MG Freedom. I hate Strike Freedom, so the original Freedom was just pure love when I got it for X-mas. I've panel-lined the hell out of it. I avoided the decals as much as I could, but couldn't resist putting them on the shoulders.
Whats the articulation and inner frame details like on MG Freedom? I've always fancied Freedom and might pick up the kit, since it's pretty cheap nowadays
I'd be pretty temped to paint it in a Cagalli Strike Rouge color scheme!
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Sep 04, 2009 12:32 amby Convotron
I didn't keep up with Gundam past Stardust Memory but I love the designs of all the different Gundam series. I only have a couple of the toys but they were given to me by my uncle in 1996, I think, so they're pretty old. This thread is great. I may have to start looking into Gundam toys and models again.
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Sep 04, 2009 2:33 pmby Jesterhead
My MG Sinanju and MG Unicorn gundam showed up today! While checking the contents of the box I decided to snap a picture to scare myself by the staggering amount of runners. 42 runners between the two kits lol! I've never been happier that it is a long weekend!!
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Sep 04, 2009 3:52 pmby Convotron
Blurrz wrote:The inner frame is just outstanding. much like any of the recent Master Grade figure. The armor isn't something you can take off every day, because the plastic is delicate, and it will take awhile to force off the armor off. The next MG I plan on getting is probably Wing Gundam Zero Custom... that thing is the epitome of Gundam awesomeness.
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Wow, that is so cool. This kind of design is going to suck me into Gundam collecting.
Jesterhead wrote:My MG Sinanju and MG Unicorn gundam showed up today! While checking the contents of the box I decided to snap a picture to scare myself by the staggering amount of runners. 42 runners between the two kits lol! I've never been happier that it is a long weekend!!
Holy cow, that's a lot of parts!
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Sep 04, 2009 6:48 pmby Strike X105
Blurrz wrote:Jesterhead wrote:Blurrz wrote:And the holy grail, MG Freedom. I hate Strike Freedom, so the original Freedom was just pure love when I got it for X-mas. I've panel-lined the hell out of it. I avoided the decals as much as I could, but couldn't resist putting them on the shoulders.
Whats the articulation and inner frame details like on MG Freedom? I've always fancied Freedom and might pick up the kit, since it's pretty cheap nowadays
I'd be pretty temped to paint it in a Cagalli Strike Rouge color scheme!
The inner frame is just outstanding. much like any of the recent Master Grade figure. The armor isn't something you can take off every day, because the plastic is delicate, and it will take awhile to force off the armor off. The next MG I plan on getting is probably Wing Gundam Zero Custom... that thing is the epitome of Gundam awesomeness.
No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do NOT waste your money on the MG Zero...I used to build MG's, and have about 60 or so in a box (I got out of MG around the 2.0 version releases and focused on PG and 1/ 60 exclusively)and MG Zero SUCKS. Disproportioned, tiny compared to other mecha. Only advantage is it can hold the BFG for a while, until the polycap stress becomes to great and it flops. Same with the wings. If you really want a great wing kit, go for the Wing ver. KA, that kit kicks ass, really. Here's kits I'd recommend from my MG days:
RX-79G (although I'm sure a 2.0 is coming someday soon)
RX-178 Mk.II 2.0
GP-03
Zeta 2.0
Zeta C plus 1 (It's so badass really, like a stealth Zeta, looks unbelievable in person, and the frame kicks ass, Test ones are OK too)
EX-S
Sazabi
Nu
OYW RX-78-2
If you ever plan on taking the plunge into PG kits, do it now. You'll never want another MG or HG kit again after seeing that massive gundam goodness and after building a PG, MG's just won't cut it anymore. When you run out of PG's, then you go to G-system like I did and spend about 300-400 a kit and your wallet will hate you, but the 1/60 NT-1 Alex, Kampfer, Guncannon conversion and Wing Zero KA conversion are worth it.
On another note, try the Macross Frontier kits as well. Great little kits. I highly recommend Armored Ozma and Super Alto.
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:38 pmby Cobalt Prime
Damn! Those are some impressive kits, and a far cry from the 1/144 scale kits of Rx-78 and Char's Zaku 2 that I got from this local hole-in-the-wall hobby shop I used to go to (think it was called Westpoint Hobby) in the early 90's. Those simplistic kits were my first exposure to Gundam years before the figures hit in the U.S. I remember picking up some F-91 kits there as well as my Gerbera Tetra and A-Azieru Mobile Armor.
Used to be a guy who worked there who did beautiful work on his kits with automotive grade paint and an airbrush.
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Sep 04, 2009 8:55 pmby Roadbuster
I have a couple of Perect grades in my colleciton. But the price tag is what keeps me form going for more, and shelf space. I mainly go for MG's because I like to have more to work on when building and they're more affordable than the PG's. Also 00 Gundam/Raiser is bypassing the MG treatment and going right for PG if there are any fans of the Gundam.
Also, even if you hate MG Strike Freedom, it's not a bad model. I have both Freedom and Strike Freedom and I have to say, SF has some improvements over the original to allow better posability that the original Freedom lacks. With Freedom you do want to paint the inner skeleton because if assembled, it suffers from loose joints. I actually spent over a week working on my SF, delaing with paint, detail work (save the DRAGOONS, which I do intend to go back and deal with soon). Onc ei get my batteries put into my MG Exia I'll take some pics. It wouldn't be right without the Ignition Mode lighting.
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:21 pmby Blurrz
Well Strike, I'll take your recommendation on passing on MG Zero... leaves me more money on TFs and the HG 1/144 Gundam 00 series..
I'm really pumped for the PG 00-Raiser, although I fear that I'll like it so much that I'll never buy any more Gundams XD.
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Fri Sep 04, 2009 9:33 pmby Roadbuster
Blurrz wrote:Well Strike, I'll take your recommendation on passing on MG Zero... leaves me more money on TFs and the HG 1/144 Gundam 00 series..
I'm really pumped for the PG 00-Raiser, although I fear that I'll like it so much that I'll never buy any more Gundams XD.
Hold your judgement until we finally see the Gundam 00 Quanta and if it gets a PG treatment.
Strike: As for MG Zero. What the heck were you doing to end up with polycap stress? I've had mine over 2 years and it's fine. I like it better than that crappy EW HG version from several years back with the breakable rear wings. Heck the only good model to come from that HG line was the Heavyarms.
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:24 amby Strike X105
Well, just preordered the 00 Raiser...wow that's expensive, but with the Light up GN drive and stand, etc. it's actually not a bad deal, really. Shame they won't make one without the extra crap for less, but oh well. I was torn on this since I like 00 but I'm not a huge fan, but then, my collection wouldn't be complete if I didn't. Between this and Black Convoy MP, I'm done for a while...until they make a blue frame PG which I'm sure is coming in the future...Bandai loves their repaints.
Blurrz, MG Zero was a great kit for it's time. When it came out, MG was really turning a corner from merely being a step above HG to becoming really great. It's just time isn't kind to it, it's not Bandai's fault as much as it is just the design itself. If you really want to get a good Zero rendition, go for the 1/100 HG and add some paint (not as good as the MG, but half the price so if something happens oh well), or just pony up the extra and get the PG (They're pretty cheap, about 100-120 on ebay now), it is the worst of the PG kits, but still superior to any MG or HG out there. If this is your first PG, you'll be blown away by it, however after building the PG Strike/Red frame or MK.II, you'll realize how it falls short compared to them.
Here's a PG breakdown with my observations:
RX-78-2: Granddaddy of all Gundam, and all PG kits. Good kit by today's standards, cheap, and simple, but it's supposed to be.
Zaku: I like this kit, most people don't. Limited by the design itself, but still manages to be capable of a lot of posing. Hose system is ingenious, don't have to worry about the beads falling off like on an MG. Bad news is the feet are limited for posing, as the ball joint for the foot to ankle pops out if you try and pose it to far back. Good side is it's under the armor so it's not visible, and doesn't affect it at all. Horrible LED wiring...
Zeta: Beautiful PG, awesome Transformation (about 45 min), cool gimmicks, lots of posability. The bad is the insane transformation will scare the hell out of you that you'll break something, and it's ultra unbalanced. Be very careful posing it. Static poses are ok, but dynamic poses not so much, make sure you have it solidly planted.
Zero: Ugh...great kit gone bad. Looks amazing, lots of metal in the inner frame to compensate for the backpack, great posability and frame design. But the backpack with the wings wrecks it. Can't hold many good poses, to backheavy, wings with the auto spring spread randomly, this thing would be a lot better with a stand. What was Bandai thinking?! I have made a wooden stand for it that works well. Anyone wants the specs to make one of their own, shoot me a PM.
MK.II: Tedious build up, cockpit is a pain in the ass (The little ball), Bazooka clipped to it's back makes it backheavy. Great kit though, lots of posing, very heavy and durable feeling.
GP01: In regular mode, a good figure model. In FB mode, it's basically a static kit. Looks great with the stand/hangar though, very cool. Not as backheavy as you might think in FB mode.
Strike: Perfection, sheer perfection. The ultimate PG, and quite possibly the ultimate action figure/mecha. Rivals Revoltech posability, very balanced, details are incredible. Armor actually shifts itself via PC's on slides to compensate for bending the legs, arms, etc. Beecraft version also is a plus over the anime version. No pics can do it justice...you have to see this one for yourself. Aile kit is a must too.
Red Frame: Strike retool, almost as good. Looks great, almost the posability of the strike (it's the same frame almost), but the armor hinders it a bit more than the strike. Still easily the secondbest, and the aile stand works on it.
Well, that's it until the Raiser is released. I can also do the Glorious HY2M if anyone's interested in the dom or gouf, or any older 1/60 kits, or RD, HG, etc.
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Sat Sep 05, 2009 9:28 amby Strike X105
Roadbuster wrote:Blurrz wrote:Well Strike, I'll take your recommendation on passing on MG Zero... leaves me more money on TFs and the HG 1/144 Gundam 00 series..
I'm really pumped for the PG 00-Raiser, although I fear that I'll like it so much that I'll never buy any more Gundams XD.
Hold your judgement until we finally see the Gundam 00 Quanta and if it gets a PG treatment.
Strike: As for MG Zero. What the heck were you doing to end up with polycap stress? I've had mine over 2 years and it's fine. I like it better than that crappy EW HG version from several years back with the breakable rear wings. Heck the only good model to come from that HG line was the Heavyarms.
Just different poses on my computer stand. Bandai admitted that the plastic in polycaps does wear and degrade over time, just like PG EVA 01's rubber underarmor. The MG could still hold some posing, but not with the gun anymore. And heavyarms? Tallgeese was far better, D-Hell wasn't bad either as a static kit.
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Tue Sep 08, 2009 7:52 amby Cobalt Prime
I'm really liking Gundam 00.
Does anyone know if there are any 3.5 size action figures (like the ones we had here) available in Japan of the 00 mobile suits? Or is it all limited strictly to model kits?
Re: American Era Gundam Toy Discussion
Posted:
Tue Sep 08, 2009 9:55 amby Jesterhead
Cobalt Prime wrote:I'm really liking Gundam 00.
Does anyone know if there are any 3.5 size action figures (like the ones we had here) available in Japan of the 00 mobile suits? Or is it all limited strictly to model kits?
I think HCM-Pro figures are about 3.5". They are smaller than 1/144 figures, I think closer to 1/200. They look like really nice figures, lots of weapons and accessories.
On another note, I got my MG Sinanju assembled and am beginning painting. Even painted up the tiny little Full Frontal figure!
Not the best picture, but you all get the idea lol.
