MG Deathsycthe Purchase

Made a quick visit to the hobby store and got myself the MG Deathsycthe.

The instructions look pretty basic. This would probably take a day or two to assemble, provided the nub marks would be easy to clean.

I've also finished assembling the main unit of the MG Destiny. I'd probably assemble the wings and weapons after I have finished the MG Deathscythe.

I guess this means I'm officially on a High Grade hiatus after getting two MG Kits. I was planning on getting the HG QanT, but after the MG announcement I decided I would wait for November to get the bigger guy. My next HG purchase would probably be the HG Sinanju. I've been eyeing the HG Unicorn for quite some time now so I guess I'd buy the rival units when Sinanju comes out.

HG GN-X

Here it is! My very first airbrush project is finally done. I was actually able to finish painting this kit almost two weeks ago. I got very busy so I wasn't able to finish it right away.

Since this is my very first time to airbrush, there are lots of room for improvement. The inner parts of the kit were painted in gray. It got pretty thick because I actually applied 3 different layers of gray until I was satisfied. Painting on the black parts were delayed too because I ran out of paint. The purple was done by mixing red and blue, and a bit of white to make it lighter.

I'm dealing with a lot of paint scratching with this model. At first I was using the Tamiya thinner for acrylics, then I decided to use 70% Isopropyl Alcohol for the purple. The purple was very flat, so I guess what they say about Isopropyl alcohol giving off a flat finish was true. It dried off pretty quickly too, and it only took a few coats to get the desired effect. The paint with the Tamiya thinner takes a bit of time to dry up, and the coating was thicker compared to the IA. I don't know, maybe the paint to thinner ratio I did was incorrect.

After the paint has dried, I left the parts on my old computer desk and waited for them to totally cure before topcoating. I wasn't able to topcoat right away and the parts were attracting dust/lint. I did the topcoating yesterday, and I was recovering from a mild fever. I bought a Bosny clear acrlic spraycan. I transferred some of it in a tamiya glass jar. I wanted to apply it using my airbrush, and mix it with IA to fight off the glossy effect.

To avoid flooding the page with a single post, I decided to post my albums in Multiply. You can view the rest of the pictures HERE. Please comment here, or in Multiply if you do have an account =)

Quick Udpate 09/12/10

My cam's memory card is being a pain in the you-know-where again. Many WIP photos for this update was deleted. Anyway, here is a quick update.

I'm currently building MG Destiny, and I'm almost done with the first airbrush project which is the HG GN-X. I forgot to mention before that I already sold my MG Victory. I needed the cash, and I had no time to finish it.

Practicing with the airbrush has been fun. I'm still trying to get used to mixing paint, coating the part, etc. I have also realized that masking is a huge pain in the, again, you-know-where. I also practiced seam removal as you can see below.

Still has room for improvement. I just hope that I can get used to these tricks just in time for the Gunpla World Cup. Still not a hundred percent sure if I will join.

I'd probably be done painting the GN-X by tomorrow. Then hopefully, the review will be out before the week ends.

Bandai Model Kit World Cup 2010

Got this in my mail today! The info for the Philippine leg of the model kit contest.

BANDAI MODEL KIT WORLD CUP 2010
GUNDAM REGIONAL FINALS
EASTWOOD MALL ATRIUM, LIBIS QUEZON CITY
NOVEMBER 5 TO 7, 2010


I- PRIZES AT STAKE:

PROFESSIONAL:

Open Category:

1ST Place:

· Medal, certificate & Gundam showcase worth P 15,000 inclusive of limited Gundam and will be the official representative of the country in BANDAI MODEL KIT WORLD CUP 2010 Finals on December 2010 in Hong Kong, with free 1 round trip ticket and accommodation.

2ND Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 12,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item, plus medal & certificate

3RD Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 9,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item, plus medal & certificate

Junior Category:

1ST Place:

· Medal, certificate & Gundam showcase worth P 6,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item and will be the official representative of the country in BANDAI MODEL KIT WORLD CUP 2010 Finals on December 2010 in Hong Kong, with free 2 round trip ticket and accommodation.

2ND Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 5,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus medal & certificate

3RD Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 3,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus medal & certificate

NEW CHALLENGER:

Open Category:

1ST Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 9,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus medal & certificate

2ND Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 6,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus medal & certificate

3RD Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 3,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus medal & certificate

Junior Category:

1ST Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 4,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus medal & certificate

2ND Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 3,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus medal & certificate

3RD Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 2,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus medal & certificate

EXPERT CATEGORY:

1ST Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 10,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus medal & certificate

2ND Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 8,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus medal & certificate

3RD Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 6,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus medal & certificate

GROUP CATEGORY:

1ST Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 10,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus trophy & certificate

2ND Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 8,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus trophy & certificate

3RD Place:

· Gundam showcase worth P 6,000 inclusive of limited Gundam item plus trophy & certificate

SPECIAL CATEGORY:

Best Sangokuden entry

Consolation prize (4th to 8th place)

PROMO MECHANICS:

II- The contest is open to all Gundam enthusiasts except employees of Bankee Trading Inc. their advertising and PR agencies, including their relatives up to second degree of consanguinity or affinity.

III- The contest has two (2) major categories :

· PROFESSIONAL:

1. Open category - 15 yrs old and above, birth date should fall on or before December 31, 1995. Gundam enthusiasts who are amateur modelers or have already joined the previous Gundam model kit contest, willing to compete with professional Gundam modelers.

2. Junior category - 14 yrs old and below, birth date should fall on or after January 1, 1996. Gundam enthusiasts who are amateur or have already joined the previous Gundam model kit contests, willing to compete with Junior Gundam modelers.

· NEW CHALLENGER:

1. Open category - 15 yrs old and above, birthdate should fall on or before December 31, 1995 Gundam enthusiasts who never joined any of the previous Gundam Model Kit Contests.

2. Junior category - 14 yrs old and below, birth date should fall on or after January 1, 1996. Gundam enthusiasts who never joined any of the previous Gundam Model Kit Contests.


IV- Special Categories:

· EXPERT: - Open to expert modelers, to include previous top 3 winners in the past Gundam contest.

· GROUP: - Open to all, group must have 3 or more members.


V- Interested participants can paint, remodel, modify, or create a diorama using Bandai official Gundam model kits including SD/BB. All participants may pass their entry either in DIORAMA or SOLID MODEL KIT form. Maximum size of entry is L50cm X W50cm X D50cm. MAXIMUM OF THREE ENTRIES PER PARTICIPANT IS ALLOWED.


VI- Entry form(flyer) will be available at the following:

1. Toytown Stores Stores

2. Bankee Trading Inc. website. ( www.bankeepromos.com )

All participants are required to fill up an Entry Form and send us a scan copy at marketing@bankee.com.ph from October 1 to November 3, 2010. Registration number will be provided after the confirmation of entry has made.


VII- Participants should submit their ACTUAL ENTRY for exhibit on November 5 (11am to 8pm) and November 6, 2010 until 5pm at Eastwood, Libis Quezon City. Participants are required to present original Gundam kit boxes for authentication purposes. All entries must not have been used or submitted in any local or international competition. Upon submission of entry, applicants are required to sign a certification form that the entry was made by the applicant himself/herself. Participants shall be provided a copy of entry form to be presented during the judging and claiming of entries.


VIII- Winners will be determined by a panel of judges; judging will start at 2pm on November 7, 2010 at Eastwood Mall Atrium, Libis Quezon City, with a presence of a DTI Representative. Announcement of winners and awarding ceremony will be on the same day after the judging of entries. All participants are encouraged to attend the judging and awarding ceremony, in which all entries can be claimed after the ceremony. In claiming the entries, participants should present a valid ID and a copy of entry form. In a case were the owner/maker of the entry is not available to claim his/her entries and/or prizes, an authorization letter, copy of entry form and a valid ID should be presented before the organizer shall release the entries and/or prizes and being claimed. If entries and/or prizes are not claimed after the announcement of winners, participants will be notified through registered mail. Unclaimed entries and/or prizes can be claimed at the Marketing Department of Bankee Trading Inc. Head Office #6 Rest Haven St. SFDM Quezon City; a valid ID and a copy of the entry form is a must to claim the entries and/ or prizes.

· CRITERIA for JUDGING (BANDAI MODEL KIT WORLD CUP Point System):

Open , Junior, Group & Expert Category:

1. Painting skill 100% Line painting, Body decoration

2. Modification 100% Use of other parts, Remodeling

3. Creativity 100% Originality (Pose, Color & Concept) Total Look of Diorama

TOTAL 300%

- Prizes are transferable but not convertible to cash or in any other form.

- Unclaimed prizes and/or entries within (60) days from notification shall be forfeited in favor of Bankee Trading Inc. with prior approval from DTI. Grand prize winners from Professional category must bring their actual entry and should secure travel documents (one month prior to the actual date of competition in Hong Kong); other related expenses shall be shouldered by the winners. The trip is valid only during the BANDAI MODEL KIT WORLD CUP 2010 FINALS competition in December.

For more info please dial 407-8299 or visit our website www.bankeepromos.com or e-mail us at marketing@bankee.com.ph

Per DTI NCR Permit # 4527 Series of 2010

Wing Love

It appears that Gundam Wing is getting some brand new love and attention.


Gundam Wing was the very first Gundam series that aired in the Philippines. But I was already aware of the anime even before it aired locally because actually saw a few episodes during a visit to Japan when I was a kid. I loved it for the fact that it was about giant robots, and then I also got hooked on the opening song "Just Wild Beat"! I was very happy that a local channel aired the series here, and I believe that is how the rest caught up with the gundam hoopla. My first two kits were the 1/144 Wing and Shen Long. After assembling the kit, I felt like I was ripped off because the toy doesn't look anything like the images shown on the box. But still, I was happy to have the gundams of the two best pilots (in my opinion), Heero and Wufei.

I can still remember spending an awful lot of time staring at gundam boxes in convenience stores and malls during our stay there. I was intimidated by the 1/100 kits and didn't bother asking my mom or sister to buy me one.

I'm glad that Bandai is showering GW with a lot of attention recently. The MG Wing first, then now the Deathscythe. So according to Ngee Khiong, the design of the MG Deathscythe was based from the new Wing manga series "The Glory of the Defeated", and it is possible that the other 3 units will be released based on the new manga design as well. Wing looks like the MG Ver. Ka release so I guess no more future MG release for that. Shen Long looks like the old school design, and Sandrock looks like the one from EW. Heavy Arms appears to be the EW "Kai" version, but is using the old school color scheme. The Heavy Arms is my favorite unit from Wing. I got the 1/100 HG version, and I'm having big plans for that old kit.

I really like the grunt units from GW as well, and I hope Bandai would release MG versions of some of those mechs. My favorites are the Aries and Virgo. Maybe the Aries can be a transformable kit, and the Virgo can have shield effect parts for the shield discs on its shoulder. Or better yet, a Mercurius and Vayeate combo in a single box.

So there, I'm really excited about the future gunpla releases for the Wing series. I'm also excited for my first airbrush project which is the HG GN-X. I shall post updates about that soon.