HGAC Wing Gundam

Hi there!
In last post I said that my next project will be including HGUC Nu Gundam + Sazabi. But I have to postpone that project T-T mostly because I could not find any shop that sell those two. Sigh..
Anyway, I decided to buy a hot item from bandai: HGAC Wing Gundam!
Wing Gundam will always be in a special place in my heart. Mobile Suit Gundam Wing was my first Gundam anime series. That show brought me to this hobby. I love the characters, especially Heero Yui, and I think the mecha designs are awesome. So when Bandai released new HG for Wing Gundam I was thrilled with a nostalgic feeling.
I have the old 1/144 No Grade version of Wing Gundam, and it is full of flaws. Can't be helped because the old technology it has. Compared to that old model, this new kit is much, much more advanced. Honestly, I think this kit is one of the best HG 1/144 models recently. Let's see closer:
When I opened the box I got a manual, 1 sheet sticker, 8 runners (6 colored plastics, 1 clear part and 1 polycaps). The interesting things were the stickers and polycaps. Both came small in number. Minimal amount of stickers indicated that this kit has good color separation. And minimal amount of polycaps, is actually caused by new tech developed by Bandai. They do not use polycaps for elbows and knee joints anymore!
Building this kit was fun. It wasn't too difficult, Bandai took a good way to keep this kit simple to build. Yet they invented some improvement in joints (like I explained before), arms and legs departements. No more plastics slapped together: this kit's arms and legs have 'semi-inner frames'. Almost like Nu Gundam (nooo don't make me remember that thing I could not have T-T) . And as I tought, the color separation is awesome. So accurate, almost perfect!
Look at this finished model. So beautiful yet still menacing. The articulation is very good: with 00-style thighes, this kit can do split. The neck has 2 joints so it can face up so high, it is very helping for flying-pose. The joints are quite sturdy, except for the left arm. I do not know why but only that part kept falling down -_- maybe just my kit's problem? I have to glue the connector in order to thight up the friction. The v-fin also popped off easily, but again loose v-fin is common problem in many models. Just glue it, and done! Out of those two problems, this kit's sturdiness is almost perfect.
This kit came with 3 accessories: the buster rifle, a beam saber, and a shield. Nothing special with the buster rifle. It is just two plastics slapped together. The new buster rifle is longer than NG ones, though. The new beam saber has long, green clear plastic blades. The shield is so much improved: you can fold it to save/reveal the beam saber handle. So cool!
Transformation to bird mode is easy, no different than the old NG model. Turn the lower body, stick the buster rifle into the shield and then stick the shiel onto the back. Nothing new except the new HG is much more stable in bird mode than the old NG.
Conclusion:
Good things: good detail, simple yet sturdy design, nice gimmick (shield folding and transformation).
Bad things: nothing big really, it has some joints stability issues but you still can do something about it.
Score: 9 out of 10
Suggestion: just buy and build it
! Hehe.
There is some pic of it, and comparison with my HG Wing Zero Custom (Endless Waltz)

HGUC Ex S Gundam + HG Gundam Astray Red Frame [Flight Unit] + my next project

Hi there! This time I will show my latest photography works, featuring HGUC Ex S Gundam and HG Gundam Astray Red Frame [flight unit]. Just simple works actually. But I hope you'll enjoy it. Well, for my next work I will have a rather big project featuring 2 main MSs of Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack. Yes, the famous Nu Gundam and Sazabi in HGUC grade! Unfortunately I have to save and collect more money for this project, so it will be a rather slow and long project. Maybe this one will costs me over 100$ (including extra accesories). Yeah it will be a pain in the ass but I think I will enjoy working this project. So... wait for me will ya?

HGUC MSA-0011 [Ext] Ex S Gundam (Gundam Sentinel)

I want to make some difference in this post. This time I will do some review of gunpla instead just show you my photography work.
I just bought and built a very cool gunpla. Or rather: A VERY BADASS GUNPLA. This kit is more than able to make other kits run and hide in fear. Let me introduce: The HGUC 1/144 MSA-0011 [Ext] Ex S Gundam from Gundam Sentinel photo novel.
This Gundam was one of the first designs made by Hajime Katoki. You can see the Katoki's signatures in this gunpla: extreme detail, very mechanic, blocky, and realistic. This is actually a 'successor' unit in the story (Gundam Sentinel), developed from MSA 0011 S Gundam (S is acronym of "Superior"). Ex S ( usually read as "Excess") is acronym of "Extraordinary Superior". I know, what a cocky name. But it just fit with the Gundam's appearance. This Gundam is literally a "walking gigantic arsenal". Enormous in size. Full of beam weapons.
Ok, enough for the introduction. Now let's jump to the review.
Once this kit arrived my home (I bought it online) the first thought I had in my mind was WTF is this?? The box is HUGE! More than HGUC Nu Gundam's, and I think it has same size with HGUC Sazabi's. When I opened the box, I  got a manual, 9 runners (2 PCs) and 2 stickers (color and decals).
There was nothing special about the built. This kit was definately not an easy one, but I had worked more difficult kits before. But for a HG I could say this kit is pretty challenging.
What made it difficult was not the design: it was the plastic's material. This kit has poor plastics. Very breakable. Maybe because this is old model (this kit was released on 2002). When I worked on it, I broke several parts and I needed glue to repair those. I suggest everyone who want to built this kit to be careful, especially when you cut the parts out of the runners. The parts are exceptionally big but again, THESE ARE VERY BREAKABLE.
Aaaand after breaking and reparing continuously, I finished this bastard. And just like the box, this thing is HUGE. It almost look like MG. And it looks so menacing, not just because its size, but also the proportion. HG Nu Gundam maybe has the same size, but the proportion is just right so it just look like normal HG with some expands. But this kit has small head and torso, also big leg and shoulder. This extreme proportion make its look like "monster". The weapons, well... I don't know that Katoki was beam maniac. 4 on the backpack, 2 on side skirts, one on hand, plus one at the head. Not including 2 beam reflectors at knees, 4 vulcan guns at the head and 4 others on backpack. Phew. Oh, did I mention 2 beam sabers? And i-field generator at beam smart gun and the torso?
Ok, let's see the detail and articulations. I must admit, as old kit this thing is pretty detailed. Only the cheeks, the wings, the smart gun, the beam sabers and the feet are not in original color. Newer HGUC kit usually has more detailed color (thought by stickers). But it is not a big deal. The biggest flaws on the detail is the incapability of this kit to transform into mobile fighter. Man, not cool. This gundam is originally able to do that.
What about articulations? VERY LIMITED. This thing actually can only stand and carry weapon. That's all. Even the head can only turn 20 degree side by side. That because the bulkiness, no one can help it. Sigh....
Another problem with this kit is the balance issue. The backpack is so heavy. It can stand without support only after you put it in right position, with efforts of course. But after that it is still easy to fall even with gentle touch. So I suggest you to stand it with some supports (maybe the wall or action base).
What about stability? Well this kit is pretty stable, almost every parts fit in secure, except the armpit joints and the i-field generator on beam smartgun.
Long review, eh? Why don't we resume that?
Good points: nice design, good details, a lot of weapon acessories, pretty secure parts.
Bad points: poor material, balance issues, limited articulations.
Score: 7.0 out of 10.
Suggestions: be careful when cutting parts, be careful not to lose any polycaps (you will use them all).

MBF-P02 Second L Gundam Astray Blue Frame Second L

I know, SEED (Destiny) was horrible but I must admit that the mecha design is awesome! Especially Astray series. And this is my favorite Astray: Blue Frame 2nd L. I just bought it yesterday in HG 1/144 scale and it is awesome. I took some pictures to show you how cool is it.

Eternal's Hangar (feat: Freedom and Justice)

Ah, Freedom & Justice. Two legendary Gundams in SEED series. Always love them. When i bought Kotobukiya's Mechanical Chain Base, I decided these two should be the first ones to pose with it. Besides, I always wanted to recreate the Eternal's hangar with these two... enjoy! 

Strike Noir + Justice Gundam in hangar base (with figurine)

So, i decided to try some diorama-style photography after saw some of that style on internet. I used part frames (i mean those frames which hold the parts you usually find in a brand new gunpla box) as hangar frames. Originally i used to have 3 figurines (one from RG Mk II, one from RG Zeta Gundam (Camille and Haro), one from HG Valvrave I (Haruto)). But i only found the Haruto, i guess my mom trashed the other 2 -_- anyway i hope you like my work!
The first one is the Strike Noir. I wanted to make it looks like Sven Cal Bryan from the Phantom Pain is preparing himself to ride the gundam.
The second is Justice Gundam. I intended to make a impression that Justice is under a repair, so i put the right arm on the stand.

Freedom Gundam

This is one of my favorite MS. Freedom is awesome! The wings, the HiMAT... just make any pose and it will turn out great!
Model: HG Remaster ZGMF X10A Freedom Gundam
Camera: Canon 400D