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 Barzam wrote:
I'm going to be nit-picky here, AzazelX. Three of those pics you posted are of toys. The Unicron Destroy Mode, the Banshee Norn Destroy Mode, and that Crossbone X-1 Full Cloth are all Robot Damashii releases, not models. Also, that HG Crossbone that started this thread isn't the X-3 or any of the standard Crossbone Gundam designs. It's a Build Fighters release, which is odd. I wonder why they'd make a kit of a modified design before doing the actual one? It looks similar to the X-1 Skull Heart, but that skull is WAY too big.

I do hope this means that Bandai might finally be paying a bit more attention to the later UC stuff. I'd love to have some 1/144 Crossbone Vanguard suits or some Zanscare stuff.

I'm good with that. I just pulled them off the website that was linked. Still, there's nothing wrong with using high-quality toys as wargaming models, either.

I just want a Gundam Airmaster HGAW 1/144

The closest I have seen is someone doing a conversion using the AGE 2 Normal.

 thehod wrote:
I just want a Gundam Airmaster HGAW 1/144

The closest I have seen is someone doing a conversion using the AGE 2 Normal.

I think you could make a better Airmaster using the HG Savior Gundam as a base, it has a similar transformation and the legs are almost identical. This custom kitbash uses a RG Destiny Gundam to make an "RG Savior" but the torso's are similar enough between Destiny and Airmaster that you could add in the 1/144 Airmaster kit and have a really nice model.

http://www.gundamkitscollection.com/2013/05/rg-1144-saviour-gundam-custom-build.html#.UxPKvIUvl-Q

Joke as it may be some of these are about the size of the knights, pose-able, and probably cheaper!

 Jehan-reznor wrote:
Joke as it may be some of these are about the size of the knights, pose-able, and probably cheaper!

Speaking of size comparisons, here is one that shows how they stack up. The smaller model is RX-178 Gundam MK II in 1/144 scale, and the larger one is RGM-79Q GM Quel in 1/100 scale. Both of these are fairly representative of the sizes of most mobile suits in those scales, although there are several that are larger or smaller.

1/144 is indeed about the right scale for a knight (or a Tau riptide for that matter) and those kits seem to be on average about $30 or less.

And it's crap like that which makes it really, really hard for me to understand how the hell anyone can get behind GW's pricing. The knight shouldn't be more than $50 tops, maybe $75 if you accept the fact that it's GW and they're going to rip you off.

 Sidstyler wrote:
1/144 is indeed about the right scale for a knight (or a Tau riptide for that matter) and those kits seem to be on average about $30 or less.

And it's crap like that which makes it really, really hard for me to understand how the hell anyone can get behind GW's pricing. The knight shouldn't be more than $50 tops, maybe $75 if you accept the fact that it's GW and they're going to rip you off.

Well the imp. knights sold out (also here in Japan) so GW will only increase the price!

 Sidstyler wrote:
1/144 is indeed about the right scale for a knight (or a Tau riptide for that matter) and those kits seem to be on average about $30 or less.

And it's crap like that which makes it really, really hard for me to understand how the hell anyone can get behind GW's pricing. The knight shouldn't be more than $50 tops, maybe $75 if you accept the fact that it's GW and they're going to rip you off.

Its even worse when you consider that many of the smaller gundam 1/144 scale kits are still around the same size as a knight, riptide etc, more detailed, often come with more weapons/accessories items, fully possible (some with multiple
modes like gundam wing) and come with enough decals and stickers that the model will look half decent even it you don't paint it. Not to bash GW or their fans, but I'm generally convinced that the only people who fully support GW's prices are people who have never looked outside of the GW plastic range, their prices just don't compete outside of the miniature market.

Case in point: Zaku II High Mobility Type "Psycho Zaku"


That's $35.95 from gundam planet, no joke:
http://www.gundamplanet.com/hg-zaku-ii-high-mobility-type-thunderbolt-ver.html

Also I fully support the idea of a permanent gundam model thread in the news & rumors section. Maybe it could be a "mecha & sci-fi vehicle plastic kit" thread so people can post any interesting kits they find regardless if their compatible with GW or not, nothing wrong with people expanding their horizons after all.

Sounds good. Get KK to change the title of the OP and this thread can be it!

It's posts like these that make me forget that the rest of the internet doesn't know as much about Gundam garbage as I do.

But then Barzam posts before me and did all the nitpicking I would have before I could and all is right in the world again.

I think Barzam's Gundam knowledge has evolved beyond my own at this point, and folks- THAT IS A SCARY THING.

If someone wants to keep Dakka informed on all the latest out of Japan, I'd subscribe. Beats trolling the Chinese and Japanese blogs for the latest photos and rumors.

And Korean. Dalong has the best reviews/previews.

I'd also like to note that Bandai aren't the only ones in the game. Kotobukiya makes some amazing kits. Their Armored Core sets are absolutely amazing.

thehod wrote:I just want a Gundam Airmaster HGAW 1/144

The closest I have seen is someone doing a conversion using the AGE 2 Normal.

Thank you! My God, someone else who feels the same about Gundam X as I do! Bandai has continued to ignore X pretty much since the initial line. They just put out the Gundams (and half asses the Ashatron) and left it at that. Bandai NEEDS to revisit that series.

highlord tamburlaine wrote:It's posts like these that make me forget that the rest of the internet doesn't know as much about Gundam garbage as I do.

But then Barzam posts before me and did all the nitpicking I would have before I could and all is right in the world again.

I think Barzam's Gundam knowledge has evolved beyond my own at this point, and folks- THAT IS A SCARY THING.

Um, thanks?

Fafnir wrote:And Korean. Dalong has the best reviews/previews.

I'd also like to note that Bandai aren't the only ones in the game. Kotobukiya makes some amazing kits. Their Armored Core sets are absolutely amazing.

Kotobukiya is easily number 2 these days. Sometimes it's worth checking out some of the other former garage kit companies, too. Volks' Five Star Stories plastic kits are things of beauty. Apparently there's also a few Chinese model companies that are worth checking out, like Longoon or Audley. Audley's Kainar series has some pretty cool designs and their kits are supposed to be surprisingly good.

 Barzam wrote:

Thank you! My God, someone else who feels the same about Gundam X as I do! Bandai has continued to ignore X pretty much since the initial line. They just put out the Gundams (and half asses the Ashatron) and left it at that. Bandai NEEDS to revisit that series.

I really liked X, but Turn A is my one true love.

 Kilkrazy wrote:


http://www.hlj.com/product/ban989510

My wife just came in to ask what I was laughing about.

I'm curious about that one chinese company that was doing unlicensed Super Robot Taisen kits. In SD proportions no less!

I've only seen them in person, but the owner of the store wouldn't let me check out the sprues.

Anyone ever come across these? I know they had the Sledgemil or whatever Zanger's first mech was (from way back in SRT Alpha Gaiden).

To this day I still want someone to make the Vertigo from X. That was one of my favorites. Very Quebley like (which has always been one of my favorites for its sheer Nagano-ish elongated designs).

First Gundam kit I ever built, and it blew my mind- first kit I'd done with polycaps, articulation, tons of accessories, and didn't know a lick of Japanese. The thing blew my mind. I think I must have gotten this in the very early 90s, maybe even late 80s. A long time ago. Snickered reading the English name of its pilot.



For the nitpickers and naysayers like Barzam, I am aware that's the HCM and not the actual old 1/144 Zeta kit. Fingers give away its true origins.

Hi guys,
if its more grim dark that you want, I would suggest having a look at the Votoms line of kits that they produce. The kits would be perfect for Titan sized models as they are 1/20 scale, I will be building my scope dog kit soon, so if you are interested, I will post some pictures later down the line!
Just some pics of Votoms painted by various other painters:

 Fafnir wrote:
And Korean. Dalong has the best reviews/previews.

I'd also like to note that Bandai aren't the only ones in the game. Kotobukiya makes some amazing kits. Their Armored Core sets are absolutely amazing.

I just wish Kotobukiya polycap sprues were as commonly available as Bandai's. One of the ankle polycaps for an SRW Huckebein fell beneath my modelling table months ago and I've never been able to find it to complete the model. Swept out the entire area and still can't find it.

 highlord tamburlaine wrote:
It's posts like these that make me forget that the rest of the internet doesn't know as much about Gundam garbage as I do.

If someone wants to keep Dakka informed on all the latest out of Japan, I'd subscribe. Beats trolling the Chinese and Japanese blogs for the latest photos and rumors.

I'll readily admit that I know next to nothing about Gundam and general mecha stuff, and I'll happily bow to those more knowledgeable than I, and happily read a thread with kits and updates etc, regularly.

 Azazelx wrote:

 highlord tamburlaine wrote:
It's posts like these that make me forget that the rest of the internet doesn't know as much about Gundam garbage as I do.

If someone wants to keep Dakka informed on all the latest out of Japan, I'd subscribe. Beats trolling the Chinese and Japanese blogs for the latest photos and rumors.

I'll readily admit that I know next to nothing about Gundam and general mecha stuff, and I'll happily bow to those more knowledgeable than I, and happily read a thread with kits and updates etc, regularly.

While the other timelines tend to be pretty hit-or-miss, I'd say that if you're interested in any of the Gundam lore, it'd be worth watching some stuff from the Universal Century timeline. If you're strapped for time, the OVAs (mini series, essentially) 0080: War in the Pocket, 0083: Stardust Memory, and 8th MS Team are great starting points.
The original series, Zeta Gundam (also a series), and Char's Counterattack (movie) are also great if you have the time, and are the main framework for the entire UC timeline. The original series and Zeta Gundam also have some streamlined movie series, which are actually pretty good.

And if you just want a standalone series, Turn A Gundam is easily the best series of the entire bunch. The mecha designs are also done by Syd Mead, and they look all kinds of awesome.

 Barzam wrote:


Thank you! My God, someone else who feels the same about Gundam X as I do! Bandai has continued to ignore X pretty much since the initial line. They just put out the Gundams (and half asses the Ashatron) and left it at that. Bandai NEEDS to revisit that series.

It has been getting some love of late. Last year they released the X and Double-X as HGUC kits. And they just released the X as a Master Grade kit last month.

http://www.gundamplanet.com/mg-gx-9900-gundam-x.html


As for the comparison between what Bandai does versus GW. They are not just outclassed in terms of size and posability, but in their molding skill as well. A Master Grade kit will come with sprues in at least 4 colors(sometimes multiple colors on the same sprue), and different types of plastic as well. They use polystyrene for the basic elements, a little ABS for the structural elements than need extra strength, and finally the rubbery plastic for the pollycaps. They've even managed to come up with an injection technology that allows them to mold a second plastic layer around another.

More design, more engineering, more base material, a market primarily popular in a single region, and they still handily beat GW in terms of price.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 Fafnir wrote:


While the other timelines tend to be pretty hit-or-miss, I'd say that if you're interested in any of the Gundam lore, it'd be worth watching some stuff from the Universal Century timeline. If you're strapped for time, the OVAs (mini series, essentially) 0080: War in the Pocket, 0083: Stardust Memory, and 8th MS Team are great starting points.
The original series, Zeta Gundam (also a series), and Char's Counterattack (movie) are also great if you have the time, and are the main framework for the entire UC timeline. The original series and Zeta Gundam also have some streamlined movie series, which are actually pretty good.

And if you just want a standalone series, Turn A Gundam is easily the best series of the entire bunch. The mecha designs are also done by Syd Mead, and they look all kinds of awesome.

As a die hard UC fan, I was pleasantly surprised by Double O. The first season was excellent, despite suffering from the over designed toy-like mobile suit design that infects most of the alternate continuity series. The show is also kind of weird as you find yourself rooting for the antagonists throughout a good portion of the show.

RogueRegault wrote:

 Fafnir wrote:
And Korean. Dalong has the best reviews/previews.

I'd also like to note that Bandai aren't the only ones in the game. Kotobukiya makes some amazing kits. Their Armored Core sets are absolutely amazing.

I just wish Kotobukiya polycap sprues were as commonly available as Bandai's. One of the ankle polycaps for an SRW Huckebein fell beneath my modelling table months ago and I've never been able to find it to complete the model. Swept out the entire area and still can't find it.

Well they sell 'm here, which one are you looking for?

 CaulynDarr wrote:


As for the comparison between what Bandai does versus GW. They are not just outclassed in terms of size and posability, but in their molding skill as well. A Master Grade kit will come with sprues in at least 4 colors(sometimes multiple colors on the same sprue), and different types of plastic as well. They use polystyrene for the basic elements, a little ABS for the structural elements than need extra strength, and finally the rubbery plastic for the pollycaps. They've even managed to come up with an injection technology that allows them to mold a second plastic layer around another.

More design, more engineering, more base material, a market primarily popular in a single region, and they still handily beat GW in terms of price.

The Real Grades and some of the newer High Grade kits are sometimes even better than some of the Master Grades, and in smaller scale!

But we all compare against GW, but remember they aren't the only miniature company making expensive Giant Robots either.

Those sure are some nice looking scopedog photos there Techguard!

I have vague recollections of trying to squeeze a Marshydog that I got in the early 90s into a game of 40k with my brothers. Maybe it was a game of Epic. We tended to try and find uses for all of the Japanese kits we were buying back in those days. There had been a hobby shop near my Grandparents' house that had bought out the stock of some Japanese store. The owner could care less about the giant wall of robots, kaiju, spaceships and various other random things he now owned. I'm pretty sure he priced everything by the size of the boxes too, and since there was so much of it, he just wanted to clear it as quickly as he could.

Between the 3 of us we did our damnedest to buy it all. Sadly the owner was a big unhealthy chain smoker type, had himself a heart attack, and the shop closed before we could own everything. I'm pretty sure Pegasus Hobbies in Southern CA bought a good chunk of their stock, seeing as they still own a wall of unbuilt late 80s mecha kits from a variety of long gone companies.

Fafnir wrote:
I really liked X, but Turn A is my one true love.

Turn A was good, but I still feel that the Earth Militia were the actual bad guys of that series. Considering they were manipulating the Moon Race from the very start and were attacking civilians, I had a very hard time sympathizing with them. I think Turn A probably got the shaft even worse than X though in terms of merchandise. They made, what, two whole Diana Counter Mobile Suits?

 Barzam wrote:

Fafnir wrote:
I really liked X, but Turn A is my one true love.

Turn A was good, but I still feel that the Earth Militia were the actual bad guys of that series. Considering they were manipulating the Moon Race from the very start and were attacking civilians, I had a very hard time sympathizing with them.

Remember, this is a Tomino Gundam series. You're going to have a difficult time finding a clear-cut good and bad side. This is the same guy who made the Feddies the good guys in First Gundam, only to turn them into the Titans come Zeta.

I think Turn A probably got the shaft even worse than X though in terms of merchandise. They made, what, two whole Diana Counter Mobile Suits?

It is worth noting that by the time Turn A had come about, Tomino had become tired of having all his works exist just to sell toys. Part of his intentions for the designs of Turn A were to have everything be as difficult to turn into a toy as possible. That said, Bandai did get around to releasing an MG Turn A Gundam, and it looks fantastic. If I had room for it, I'd definitely buy one.

I'd Love some of the Robotech / BattleTech models in 28mm

Warhammer, Marauder and Locust would be brilliant.

 Fafnir wrote:

Remember, this is a Tomino Gundam series. You're going to have a difficult time finding a clear-cut good and bad side. This is the same guy who made the Feddies the good guys in First Gundam, only to turn them into the Titans come Zeta.

But it makes sense that they became the Titans. I mean, they'd just come off an attack by an enemy willing to use nuclear weapons and with numbers that Zeon forces shouldn't have had at the time. Forming a unit dedicated to hunting down and taking out that threat makes sense, just someone in charge took it beyond the logical extreme.

 Platuan4th wrote:

 Fafnir wrote:

Remember, this is a Tomino Gundam series. You're going to have a difficult time finding a clear-cut good and bad side. This is the same guy who made the Feddies the good guys in First Gundam, only to turn them into the Titans come Zeta.

But it makes sense that they became the Titans. I mean, they'd just come off an attack by an enemy willing to use nuclear weapons and with numbers that Zeon forces shouldn't have had at the time. Forming a unit dedicated to hunting down and taking out that threat makes sense, just someone in charge took it beyond the logical extreme.

...Not to mention a colony drop...

But the point is, short of Gihren, most of the people and factions in the UC aren't entirely evil (or good), even if they do a lot of really bad things.

This is getting off topic, discussion of the Gundam Anime series should probably goto the Anime thread in OT.


Back on topic (of Japanese Plamo goods for Tabletop Gamers)

Here are some new detailing sets coming out that would be good for IG Players IMO.


http://www.hlj.com/product/LEGLF1275/Mil


http://www.hlj.com/product/LEGLF1277/Mil


http://www.hlj.com/product/LEGLF1274/Mil


http://www.hlj.com/product/LEGLF1273/Mil

More:
http://www.hlj.com/scripts/hljlist?ItemGroup=LEG1403

I actually can't wait for the MGBF Star Build Strike to come out. I will be picking up the HG kit, but the MG is going to be beautiful.