Mecha Mad and Figure Fixation

[briareos_kerensky]

I guess the next few pages are going to be solely b_k and Importaku showing off their modelling skills

b_k - are you doing any video reviews that you have done previously whilst doing your new kits?

I will probably do one of Alicia, in between those two MGs or after. I still have to collect the Valken from home, and I really want to start with the Berkut: haven't built an aircraft in ages! But right now "serious" modelling is second place to gaming, at least until I get Love Training out of the way :P

[briareos_kerensky]

Nu completed. Just bare plastic, only a bit of colour here and there to avoid to use some stickers.




This is an "updated" version of the RX-93 Nu Gundam based on Hajime Katoki's redesign for Gundam Evolve 5, which better links Char's Counterattack to Gundam Unicorn by having the Nu Gundam and the Sazabi "transform" like the Unicorn Gundam. And after this kit, I really hope Bandai will give the Sazabi ver. Ka its rightful Master Grade kit.

The main colours are white and dark blue, though the some white armour plates have been replaced by light grey plates, like Real Grades. Some blue plates should be of a lighter shade, but instead of different plastic, there are stickers; I left those out if I ever get around in painting the Gundam.




This is the model fully transformed, without any weapons. In fact, I've come to like this configuration more as it enhaces the MS' look over the massive amount of white that the Fin Funnels are.

The transformation is quite easy, though the backpack has to be removed. There are a lot of small and interesting interlocks that seal the kit in place whenever transformed or not and no limb comes off to change state. Unfortunately when transformed some armour pieces have to come out and must be stored separately.




The legs are awesome, though not my favourite. The thrusters on the back are mobile and the two plastic colours go a long way in improving the kit. Maybe the many openings showing the inner frame and armour junction lines make the model a bit too busy, but they do fit extremely well when the Nu Gundam is all transformed. The pistons on the knee are prone to dislodge if the leg is bent all the way; the ankle is wonderful and allows for incredible freedom of movement while being able to support the model and all its weaponry.






The upper arms are as good as the legs. The shoulder articulation can be literally brought outside to have the arms bend forward or backward and the elbow is quite complex: one piece is not linked to the articulation itself but can be left attached to the upper arm or swung to the middle of the articulation. Why? I don't know, it looks cool. The wrist is however very weak (a simple polycap) and even with just the beam rifle it just won't stay upright.
Hands are built with the same technology as a Real Grade inner frame: you just need to cut them away from the runner and rotate the fingers to get the ready. They are fully mobile (something uncommon on recent Master Grades) and include a peg to secure the weapons: the hands are the best hands in any MG, period.



Silly pose (and the skirt armour will pop off with the leg pushed so forward) but the kit is incredibly posable and stable...something you'll need when placing the Fin Funnels on the Gundam's back. Along with a LOT of patience.
Unlike the previous Nu Gundam (way back in 2001), funnels are universal and thanks to their mechanism, they can be placed in any sequence, at any height. Unfortunately these locks are not very tight and they will fall off. Way too many times. The first Funnel is securely attached to the backpack, but if going for the normal arrangement (six Funnels on one side), expect the third onward to fall frequently; they will also make the model lean very evidently and they will rest on the shield. Unfortunately the Funnels' inner mechanism is not strong enough and when deplyoed "in action" as they should be (perpendicular to the terrain), the lower part will fall.
It's kinda disappointing as the 2001 Master Grade had a better locking solution for the Fin Funnels (though they had to be in a specific order), though the old Funnels have the same problems when detached from the master Gundam. Oh well.
It's also possible to arrange the Funnels in the Double Fin Funnel configuration (three per side...or six per side if you want to buy a second MG only for that), the parts are already present in the kit: one beam saber is sacrificed and the Nu Gundam loses some of its peculiarity, but the Nu won't lean to one side and the Funnels will stick together more easily.

Other downsides: the green Psycho Frame tends to get lost, even with the silver stickers applied on their back. I do prefer this "subtle" design to the Unicorn, but this features is a bit too subtle in model form. The Psycho Frame is printed with transparent plastic and maybe metalized would have been better.
The Hyper Bazooka is foldable and the sliding barrel just doesn't want to stay retracted. Other pieces just don't want to stay in place: the terminal end of the backpack is the worst offender, the beam saber holster on the left hand is an other.
The base provided is an excellent addition but Amuro's "A" is a bit too tacky and would have preferred to have different plastic colours instead of stickers.
Plastic felt a bit brittle compared to other MGs. Many top-of-the-line kits also had the double attachment pin for external parts, the Nu doesn't and due to how the plastic is, I've found myself filing and sanding essentially all pieces. Sanding is also necessary in many Psycho and inner frame components or they just won't fit.

[edit] forgot this: an handful of parts is available in two colours: two breast plates are either blue or white (I went for white), the eyes and the inside of the neck in transparent white or transparent green. The Nu Gundam can be equipped with a LED unit (sold separately) and I think this will affect the light colour and how much light will be transmitted. Unfortunately the lighting only affects the eyes and the frontal camera. The rear camera (as well as the rest of the Psycho Frame, but that's understandable) is a sticker (or in my case silver background with Tamiya's clear green on top).

[importaku]

Nice work on the kit.

[NeoDragoN]

Nice work on the Nu Gundam, this tempted me back into kits but i just can't go back now lol.

Heres a Killing Joke video showing off the lighting and motion sensor, looking very cool indeed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8_EPW0sJAo

A camera flash would have been nice but the moveable spotlight is very cool!

[Super Grover]

Good work there b_k.

Bonus credit for your comprehensive written review too.

[Neon Ignition]

http://m.facebook.com/kotobukiya?id=137679822915089&_rdr#!/photo.php?fbid=573733842643016&id=137679822915089&set=a.573733815976352.149057.137679822915089&%24MURI__user=0

Koto reveals Cyborg as part of the DC52 range. I hate this one, looks like a crap toy from the 90's.

[importaku]

More keropla today, finished the Keroro taii kit. Lots of detail work to paint but it all came out fantastic, found a clever way of doing the slotted eyes as there were no recessed guide marks on the plastic so i used the outer part of the sticker sheet as a stencil, turned out better than i hoped. This kit has a funny piece mainly there's a mini plamo plate with another tiny model that you can actually build if you clip it out. A plamo within a plamo lol plamoception.

Apologies in advance if you're all tiring of these endless Keroro pic posts.

[importaku]

Just woke up to the sound of the parcelfarce driver knocking on my door, the 2 super rare DX keropla kits i was waiting on have finally turned up. Keroro daishogun & king kero ship, had a rummage through the plates & these are going to be a pain to paint, although the kits are huge the detail on the parts is absurd so im going to need a smaller brush & ramp up my painting skill level by a factor of ten lol

[fuse]

Anyone remember how when Dark Souls came out, there were a few pictures of some amazing-looking statues that'd been comissioned by Namco Bandai to promote the game? Well, recently I came across the DeviantArt page of the chap who made them, and I was quite excited to find he's still at it. He's selling a few pieces currently as you'll see on his page, and has now been emailing out some pictures and starting to take orders for an 'Elite Knight with Bonfire'. I've asked his blessing to post the images here, and as such here they are;









As a huge Dark Souls fan I couldn't say no

[Super Grover]

@ Importaku - Parcelforce start delivering from 10am ... And you were still in bed you lazy goat!?!

@ fuse - very nice mate. So have you placed an order for the Elite Knight? - jealous if so!

[chopemon]

Apologies in advance if you're all tiring of these endless Keroro pic posts.

We are not.

[importaku]

Tonight i start on the god keron, a lot of painting needed as its 5 kits in the box so i shall tackle them one at a time. Each pilots robot can transform into 2 forms and then also combine into god keron so more pics than usual once done hehe.

[Neon Ignition]

http://m.facebook.com/kotobukiya?v=feed&refid=17 Kotobukiya reveals they'll be doing Man of Steel products.

[NeoDragoN]

[fuse]

I ended up holding off on Sagat but nnnggghhhhhhh want.