March GET!

Been a while since I did anything for this blog and it seems quite dead this year - due to my new life priorities and how Facebook became more central as a form of online communication. Of course that doesn't mean I'll abandon this blog.

For now, aside from the piles of cards, I finally bought some Gunpla again. Too bad AGE-2 Normal ran out but I'll get Double Bullet thanks to the most recent episode. XP

That's all for now. ^^;

posted from Bloggeroid

RD/NG 1/60 Gundam Exia Review EX via Samsung Champ @ 1.3MP

Note: RD = Real Detail, NG = No Grade. They are both correct ways of calling this type of model kit.

Price: 4500 Yen

Today's post will be rather different and unusual. All photos are taken via my current phone - Samsung Champ @ 1.3MP. That's right, 1.3 Megapixels. A far cry from my Canon Ixus 105 @ 12MP but I wanted to test the limits of my phone's camera and how well additional, adjusted, light from my LED lamp can assist in photo-taking. I'm also using my old white backdrop once again as it has a lower noise potential than a black/darker backdrop. This isn't a problem with a better camera though. (If you're wondering, I did take some backup shots with my usual camera.)

This post is also an extension for a practically unfinished review from 2 years back. Yes, 2 years worth of procrastination for this very review. You can read the original review here. It mostly covers the building process and very few finished shots. That will be corrected in this post. Some of my opinion might be changed due to experience and time too.

~Specifications~

GN-001 Gundam Exia
Pilot: Setsuna F. Seiei
Height: 18.3m
Weight: 57.2t
Armaments: GN Sword/Rifle, GN Long Blade, GN Short Blade, GN Beam Saber (2), GN Beam Dagger (2), GN Vulcan Gun (2), GN Shield

Probable required reading due to some wording references.

1. MG 1/100 Gundam Exia
2. NG 1/100 Gundam Exia
3. HG 1/144 Gundam Exia
   

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Robot Damashii Gundam Avalanche Exia! :O

Note: The GN Short & Long Blades are at the wrong side for the rear shot. ^^;

Price: 3800 Yen (roughly RM140~150 for us here)

WTF?! RD decides to make an Avalanche Exia?! O.O Considering how great the normal RD Exia was from my own review, I'm looking forward to this, unless they decide to make the Dash parts too (and I hope they won't be limited like the Repair versions). :S

Oh yeah, I'm currently busy doing this;
Right now I can say it is merely an attempt since the dead line for the tribute book is really creeping up closer as I started doing this very late. Just 5 more days before the 31st bust with my semester break still going on, I may be able to do it finish quite "fast" (it will still take hours though). Okay... FIGHT-OH!

Robot Damashii Gundam Exia Review - Part 2

Quickly continuing the previous part of the review, here's the rest of it.

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Robot Damashii Gundam Exia Review - Part 1

Price: 2800 Yen

Now, time for more Exia! If you are a FB regular, you might already guessed that this review is next up but anyways, here's the review.

I bought this for RM90 at Hobby Kingdom (Star City, KK, Sabah) and it was the very last box. Never thought I could get one but luckily I was. A big thanks to Evaritus Lau, once again, for this opportunity. :X
This is my 13th Gundam Exia and, well, that's quite a lot and I'm still missing the HG 1/144 GN-Arms Type E, NG 1/100 Gundam Avalanche Exia, MG 1/100 Gundam Exia (Normal), MG 1/100 Gundam Exia Trans-AM (only if I can get that 80% discount...)... yeah. Not really going to gun to get them all but just those I come across. Not crazy enough to go all out. XP

Gundam Exia, one of the most shown Gundam on this blog needs no introduction anymore. It is piloted by Setsuna F. Seiei and it comes with seven swords. One of the most extreme sword motive Gundam to date, if I'm not mistaken.

This first part covers the box, box open, articulation and gimmicks. Action poses and the conclusion will be covered in the next part. Most of the photos were taken in a room at the Promenade Hotel Apartment before my camera was sent off. So, you can see the annoying black spot at the following photos. ^^; That also explains the lack of comparison shots minus the mint bottle which I bought while I was there.

EDIT: Forgot to insert neck shot in this part.

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HG 1/144 Gundam Avalanche Exia' (Dash) Review - Part 2

This is a continuation of the first part here!

First and foremost, I like to wish everyone a Selamat Hari Raya! Hope you will all enjoy your day today visiting friends and family's houses or just plain enjoying the public holiday.

At any rate, here's the second part of this review! FYI, there's no omake but there are 90 images in this post. There might be an omake later on since I have a slight idea on what I can parody though it might be a little exhausted already... or not (not AHEAD inspired).

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HG 1/144 Gundam Avalanche Exia' (Dash) Review - Part 1

Price: 2000 Yen

It has been more than a week since the last actual post and I'm much better now. I still need to recover my body somewhat due to some side-effects from the initial fever (which was a high fever) at the beginning of last week. ^^;

MS Brief
The Gundam Avalanche Exia is an alternate configuration of the same Gundam Exia you see in the Gundam 00 anime season 1. The purpose of this add-on is to increase Exia's boosting speed and flight since it doesn't have the proper propulsion configuration in the first place (or something like that). Anyways, this add-on is pretty much null and void once the Exia was upgraded to the R2 spec whereby it gains thrusters practically everywhere. This configuration needs about an hour (not sure if I remember this part correctly) to charge the condensers before use and it can only last for 10 minutes before it needs to recharge again.
However, the Dash or ' add-on add-on gives it even more boosters, claws and a way to fight Arche Gundam "toe-to-toe".

MS Specs
Pilot: Setsuna F. Seiei
GN-001/hs-A01D
Height: 18.3m
Weight: 65.9t
Armaments: GN Sword/Rifle, GN Long Blade, GN Short Blade, GN Beam Saber (2), GN Beam Dagger (2), GN Vulcan (2), GN Claw (2)

Read on!

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I Wish Setsuna Would Use This in the Movie

Switched the shoulder "verniers" with the GN Drives from the 007S/G and put on the weapons you see above. Whatever that can fit though. XD

After completing this kit, I totally love this alternate configuration of the Exia though the legs are a bit bulky and not so easy to move about. Well, more on that on a review post later.

~Rant~

Considering how the Exia R2 only lost an arm and a GN Sword in the last episode of Gundam 00, I don't get the reason why it isn't available in the movie from whatever we have seen so far. Besides that, the 00 Raiser is very beat up (arguable that it was fixed up as the 007S/G in the 00V Senki) yet it can refitted with GN Condensers that can do Trans-AM Burst. Well, maybe Exia was used to make the 00 Qan[T] since Celestial Being faced a financial crisis... or so the Gundam with a mass amount of weapons tells us otherwise (Zabanya).

~End Rant~

Enjoy the teaser post~

FYI, my break is over already so I'm back to school again. Not so busy just yet but considering how I don't really post that often even during the break, I don't think there will be a problem with my blog postings, not anytime soon anyways.

Filler Post: Darn I'm Busy

Been busy this week since I was making my passport, attending meetings and doing an event this Friday for the club/school. O.o That and school will start back next week so I'll try my best to do that long promised three way by this weekend since that'll be the only free time I'll have left. XP

Anyways, I recently got the HG Avalanche Exia Dash (obvious) but only managed to build the upper body, head and arms. Exia's old mold really needs lots of detailing here and there but the Avalanche parts are quite alright. Maybe I should've just use the stickers instead of going with the markers since I was kinda tired when doing it earlier this week (I really wanted to build it though). ^^;

For now, some filler content...

Gundam Avalanche Exia "Triple" Dash

Now with THREE GN Drives! XD
The connections are compatible so you can do this with no problems at all!

00 Raiser "Condenser Type"

Might as well, right? XD

Drawn on an A4 paper with an exam grade 2B pencil just now. This is the Voldus G.I.N. (General Inspection Navigator) Type 2 Custom. Refer to this previous post if you don't get it. I only thought of the full name recently. Not an expected name, eh? XP

Okay, that's all for now. I'll be busy until Friday so I can't even do that HG Gaddess post I thought I would do this week before the battle omake. But I'll try to squish that in by the end of this week. Fwah, I'm pretty tired now actually. ^^;

I Just Made a Parody Comic

For those who do pay attention to my secondary blog would've known I've posted something up there already. Nonetheless, I better say it here as well since most would read my main blog.

The reason why I posted it there was due to bandwidth related reasons. Specifically, my photo hosting bandwidth. To make the comic easier to read, I used higher quality JPEG which resulted in higher file sizes. The images were too man for me to host on Flickr as Flickr doesn't have the easy functions for external posting in bulk.

Okay, enough babbling, read the comic here.
It is essentially a parody of the first half of the first episode of Gundam 00. XD

Finally, My Semester Break Starts!

Phew! Since I didn't or barely got any time off during the end year of 2009 due to the mandatory Summer Semester, I am finally happy and relieved to be able to get my break. =)

I won't be doing much this break but I like to do quite a number of stuff such as build the remainder of my un-built Gunpla (as well as reviewing them), go driving (I lack much experience ^^;) using my father's old car (Proton Saga!) and taking a nice relaxing break before my first year in degree starts (as long as everything goes well) in March.

I wonder if any else is having a break now?

Besides that, I did something totally random to my TT HG Exia just now. Not so random but the thought to do so kept haunting me while studying the day before. Well, anyways, here it is!

Some beam saber action using TT HG Virtue's beam saber and then...

"Pink is lame! RED is better!"
*beam saber turns red*
"Yes! Red beam saber! Me like!"
Oh noes, what had become of Exia?

Err, yeah. It's just a quick paint job for the condenser parts using the metallic red Gundam marker and (after shaking a lot) for the "toothpick" that came with the Exia (plus some part of the GN Drive though not shown). ^^;

I didn't want to peel off the already stuck on stickers so I couldn't paint some of the other parts even though it would make the Exia look oh so much more awesome (in red)... *_*

Ah, err, wait... *runs*

MG 1/100 Gundam Exia "Ignition Mode" Review - Part 3 - Finale (Repair Mode)

First of all, I like to thank the comments for part 2 as it made me quite happy to read them. I truly appreciate your compliments and it really is nice to know that I can take good photos of my favorite Gundam. ^^

Part 1: Box, Box Open, Runners, Building Process & Some Gimmicks
Part 2: Articulation, Action, Gimmicks & Comparisons
Part 3: Gundam Exia Repair & Conclusion

At any rate, this last part of the review is fairly short as I found out there aren't that many poses for the Exia Repair to snap.

Read on for Exia Repair and my final conclusion which hopefully will give you a more in-depth opinion on the MG Exia than my early conclusion in part 2.

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MG 1/100 Gundam Exia "Ignition Mode" Review - Part 2

Continuing from part 1.

Part 1: Box, Box Open, Runners, Building Process & Some Gimmicks
Part 2: Articulation, Action, Gimmicks & Comparisons
Part 3: Gundam Exia Repair & Conclusion

Read on for part 2 of the review! There's also an early conclusion since I'll only be able to review the "Repair Mode" by the end of this week by the earliest as I have to prioritize on my assignments after I'm down with this. =/

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MG 1/100 Gundam Exia "Ignition Mode" Review - Part 1

"Premium" Price: 5000 Yen

Normal Price: 6500 Yen

This will be quite an extensive/long review as the MG Exia shows quite the number of gimmicks and points of articulation. But most of that will be covered in part 2.

Part 1: Box, Box Open, Runners, Building Process & Some Gimmicks
Part 2: Articulation, Action, Gimmicks & Comparisons
Part 3: Gundam Exia Repair & Conclusion

Pilot: Setsuna F Seiei
Height: 18.3m
Weight: 57.2t
Armaments:
1x GN-Sword/Rifle
1x GN-Shield
1x GN Long Blade
1x GN Short Blade
2x Beam Sabers
2x Beam Daggers

Read on for the first part of the review! =D

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HG 1/144 Gundam Exia R2(Repair II) Review

Price: 1200 Yen

Now, to post something other than Daicon 2009. XP Final post of Daicon 2009 coming up next as long as my Internet connection holds up by then. X.x

I bought this earlier this month right after my exams were done. I just really could not pass up the this model kit. I simply love the Exia. Damn you Bandai and your ridiculously good marketing scheme! D=

At any rate, the Gundam Exia Repair II or simply Exia R2 appears at the very last episode of Gundam 00 Season 2 for a final showdown with the final boss... more on that when I get the other model which pairs up with the Exia R2.

Unlike the original Exia, the R2 only comes with three swords, namely the GN Sword Kai and 2 GN Beam Sabers. With that, the R2 is slightly lighter than the original. Why is it called "Repair II". Well, the reason is that there was a Repair version of the Exia in the very first episode of Gundam 00 Season 2 which had only one arm and one weapon, a broken GN Sword. The Repair I was badly damaged by the end of episode 1. Somehow, Celestial Being engineers managed to overhaul the Exia.

Pilot: Setsuna F. Seiei
Height: 18.3m
Weight: 56.9t
Armaments: GN Sword Kai, GN Beam Saber(2), GN Shield

Read on for the full review and n00b painting attempt. =P

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RD 1/60 Gundam Exia Review

Price: 4500 Yen

I actually bought this a while back, so the runners and building process was not snapped fully, just partially to highlight the sheer size of this model kit. I tell you, when you are building this, you will feel that its incredibly huge for the price(that price is pretty much MG standard price). XP

Also, I only snap-fitted this kit and it roughly took 2-3 hours. I did take my time to hide the nubs though. =P I might do simple panel lining in the future though, or maybe sometime this month since I have some free time. =D

If you want further details about the Gundam itself, just click here to go to an earlier review I did on the HG Exia. =)

Now, onto the short review.
Note: References; "HG" is to the "HG Exia" while "NG" is to the "NG Exia". =)
EDIT(22/7/09): Fix some typos and added some better comments. More pictures hopefully by end of month after I finally finish panel lining the arms... =P

Note: RD = Real Detail. RD is also known as the No Grade(NG) 1/60. Not to be mistaken with the other RD - Robot Damashii.

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TT Hongli HG 1/144 Exia

Before you read this review, please go to this link and this link and read on the original HG Exia first.
Just like the review on the TT Hongli HG 1/144 Union Flag, I will now be reviewing the TT Hongli HG 1/144 Exia.

I bought this at the same time as when I bought the Union Flag in Miri and it costs me RM19. Quite reasonable as the original only goes as low as RM45 now as well as the R2 version being similarly priced. Off course, if you have the original or the R2, there is no point in buying this, or is there? I bought it because I thought that maybe I might mod it later on when the tools are readily available to me and create something. Hehe. =3

Well at any rate, here goes the review!

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BB Gundam Exia - Side-Project Part 1

Here's a small side project I've just started and only can be done during free days, mostly during weekends though.

Yesterday I went to the local hobby shop to see if there were any new Gunpla are available, yes, I'm looking for you MG Sword Impulse. Though completely obvious it was not gonna be available so soon, I just came to ask when it was possible for it to be available. Looks like I have to wait till next month. Ah well.

At any rate, I kept thinking whether to deviate from my budget planning a little to buy the SD Exia, in a sense to fill up my Exia collection, which is almost done, just need a few more. ^^

After 20-30 minutes worth of standing in the shop and a little bit of chatting(since there were my seniors there, one of them works there), I decided to buy the SD Exia, so that I do not walk in and stand awkwardly in a shop then go out without buying anything. I did want to buy a second cutter, but I was afraid I might not have enough cash for when the MG Sword Impulse comes out later, or some other budget planned Gunplas. At the same time, I managed to get a sneak peek at the Dengeki Hobby April Issue, just a little bit, since it does not belong to me. ^^

So, I bought the SD Exia, thinking of building and painting it a bit yesterday, but my body has felt come really painful cramps due to holding something heavy for long periods of time. Gah.

So, today I start this little side-project, which might take 3-4 weeks if I just do on the weekends. Oh well, better than never.

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HG 1/144 Gundam Exia Review, Part 2 - Finale

Okay, I got some free time right now, so I'm gonna finish up this review and showing off my newb experience in painting with a Gundam Marker. XP

Read the first part HERE.

Exia and all of its armaments and alternate left hand. Yep, 1/144 scale Gunpla are quite small when you put a bottle near em' and can be quite fragile(So you'll have to hold em' a bit more carefully!).

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HG 1/144 Gundam Exia Review, Part 1

Since I have much lack of time as of late, I would not be able to build many models(then again it is impossible for me to buy so much) for the next few... years. Though, July seems to be free and there are some Gundams I want to get at that time, both being HGs. ^^

This particular model took me 4 days to complete, built after I got back home right after classes has ended. Even if it is a HG, it took me a while, as I tried to "level-up" my Gundam Marker skillz, which, personally, has ways to go.

For this review, which is not entirely a review, as I'll give comments on my building process and what not. Another thing is that this Exia, is not the previous Exia I shown which is the special edition one, which I dare not play much with as it might do damage to the coating. Coating versions actually are preferred not to be built but left within their boxes for braggin' rights. XD

Now, onto the first part.

Gundam Exia is the main Gundam of the newest installment to the Gundam franchise, Gundam 00. It appeared in the first episode od Gundam 00 defeating an ace pilot from the AEU(forgot what it means, sorry) with great ease, using its main weapon, a huge "gun-sword", the GN Sword. The pilot of this short-range/melee Gundam happens to be Setsuna F. Seiei(also known as Soran Ibrahim), who happens to specialise in close quarter combat(and sucks like hell in shooting).

The Exia is my total favorite Gundam of any Gundam series, due to the fact it is most a melee suit and has a big sword. Who doesn't love big sword warriors? XD It also has the most special design of any Gundams ever seen, making it even more special. I was especially happy when Exia R2 came out in the end of Gundam 00 to fight the final boss, it was just, awesome(comming out June).

But, enough of the walls of text, onto the review and building process!
Note: The pictures has been re-sized to 10% of original size to quicken up uploading, decreasing bandwidth usage and to not show you my "suckiness" in painting that much. >_>

Price: 1200 Yen

Gundam Exia, GN-001
Height: 18.3m
Weight: 57.2t
Armaments:
1x GN-Sword/Rifle
1x GN-Shield
1x GN Long Blade
1x GN Short Blade
2x Beam Sabers
2x Beam Daggers

Exia is also known as the Seven Sword Gundam, since it incorporates the seven sword system, whereby it is equipped with seven swords and all are used as they have specific uses(though, it is mostly a throw fest for Setsuna XD).

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