MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 3.0 Preview

Since 1995, Bandai's 1/100 scale Master Grade (MG) Gundam model line has produced various versions of RX-78-2 Gundam. Just prior to the Shizuoka Hobby Show, news leaked that Version 3.0 is to be announced. Let us have a look what it offers.


MG 1/100 Gundam Ver. 3.0 in a glance is an upscaled version of the RG 1/144 Gundam, which was based on the 1/1 scale Gundam now standing in Odaiba.



Computer generated graphics of MG 1/100 Gundam Ver. 3.0. Similar to the RG 1/144 counterpart, different shades of red and white will be used in the plastic parts.


Sliding armour parts incoperated at arm and leg joints, as well as on backpack.



Sliding armour parts as seen on the leg. I remember that this is implemented on MGs as early as on Aile Strike Gundam back in 2003.


LED unit, decal sheet, and weapons such as hyper bazooka, Gundam hammer, and beam javelin will be sold separately in an expansion set. This expansion set has to be pre-ordered from Bandai Hobby Online Shop or via proxy services. Price and release date TBA.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojtotzVnb9E

Here is a feature video for the MG Gundam 3.0 from Bandai Hobby's website to sum things up.


----

MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam Version 3.0 will be released in August. According to AmiAmi online hobby store, the price will be around 4500 Yen or 4725 Yen with 5% sales tax.

With the latest iteration of Gundam announced, how many people are looking forward to buy and to build it? From my observation, while some are excited to it, others seem to get tired of seeing RX-78-2. For me, while I am not particular big on the original Gundam itself, I am a little surprised that the additional weapons are to be sold separately as a web shop item, which is quite a major departure from the usual patterns for past Gundam iterations. Nevertheless, the mechanical details do look quite immaculate, and fans should be pleased that a 1/100 scale version of the 1/1 Gundam in Odaiba to be avaialable soon (I hope).


Sources:
AmiAmi blog
AmiAmi online shop
http://bandai-hobby.net/site/mg_evolution/index.html
http://ameblo.jp/digitamin/entry-11530836715.html
Read More!

New Gunpla in 52th Shizuoka Hobby Show

Image from @sake_online via twitpic

It's that time of the year - the annual Shizuoka Hobby Show is back, where a lot of companies showcase their latest models. Let us see what Bandai has to offer for the Gunpla this year. :o


Every year there is always a spotlight among all the Gunpla shown in Bandai's booth. This year's spotlight is the MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver 3.0, whose information happened to have been "leaked" out yesterday.


MG 1/100 Aile Strike Gundam RM Version, already released, 4410 Yen


MG 1/100 Geara Doga, Jult release, 5040 Yen


RG 1/144 Gundam GP01 Zephyranthes


RG 1/144 Gundam GP01/Fb Zephyranthes Full Vernier


HGUC 1/144 Gerbera Tetra, July release, 1890 Yen


HGUC 1/144 Base Jabber Type 89 (support flight unit), June release, 1260 Yen


HGUC 1/144 Doven Wolf (Unicorn Version), August release, 2310 Yen


HGUC 1/144 Zogock (Unicorn Version), September release, 1780 Yen


HGUC 1/144 Messala, June release, 3150 Yen


HG 1/144 Astray Red Frame with Flight Unit equipment, August release, 1785 Yen


HG 1/144 Astray Gold Frame Amatsu, September release, 1890 Yen


Caledfwlch (an alternate name for Excalibur) for HG 1/144 Astray Red Frame w/ Flight Unit, to be released in October issue of Hobby Japan on 25th August for 1200 Yen


With the newly redesigned MG RX-78-2 Gundam, how many people will be looking forward to it? The other new ones seem to be mostly 1/144 models from the Universal Century series as well as those from SEED Astray side story. I may have my eyes on the Doven Wolf, but otherwise not much else at the moment.

Pictures are from AmiAmi's facebook album and Degitamin blog
Read More!

Lotteria Ramen Burger

Fastfood chain store Lotteria will release a new type of burger from 20th May to mid-June in Japan - the ramen burger, which is pretty much ramen sandwiched by . It is a collaboration with ramen chain store Menya Musashi (麺屋武蔵).


Menya Musashi Ramen Burger (麺屋武蔵ラーメンバーガー) will be sold for 634 Yen each, which consists of a burger bun with ramen inside as well as char siu pork. The burger is also complemented with soup to go with the ramen.


If that is not enough for you, you can add an extra 100 Yen for extra portion.





While Lotteria's ramen burger is amusing in a way, I think I personally will be more interested in Kitakata ramen burger (喜多方ラーメンバーガー) instead:

The Kitakata ramen burger is from the city of Kitakata in Fukushima prefecture, which is known for its distinctive ramen according to Wikipedia. Using ramen as the buns of the burger, with other bits and bobs sandwiched in between. It's like taking everything out of a ramen bowl sans the soup, and shape that into a burger.


Lotteria Ramen Burger images from Lotteria

Kitakata ramen burger from:
http://yamazaki-3.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2009/07/post-27bf.html
Read More!

Mega Man Merchandise Questionnaire

Image from pixiv

Capcom has a questionnaire up asking fans which character from the Mega Man (aka Rockman in Japan) franchise that they want to see being made into merchandise.

You can find the questionnaire here:
https://www.capcom.co.jp/form/rockman/chara_goods2.html
Questionnaire is open until 15th May, and results will be announced on 25th May.

Find out what characters are open for poll after the jump.


Mega Man (Rockman, Ariga Hitoshi sensei's version) from manga adaptation of the original Mega Man game series
Image from the mangaka's twitpic for celebrating the franchise's 25th anniversary



Proto Man (aka Blues) of original game series



Roll (8 bit version) of original game series



X's Second Armour from Mega Man X2



Metal Man from original game series



Iris from Mega Man X series



Mega Man Vollnut (Rock Volnutt) from Mega Man Legends series (aka Rockman DASH in Japan)



Black Zero from Mega Man X series
Fanart from pixiv


Mayl Sakurai (Sakurai Meiru) from Mega Man Battle Network series (aka Rockman EXE)



MegaMan.EXE (Rockman.EXE) from Mega Man Battle Network series



Axl from Mega Man X series



Ciel from Mega Man Zero series



Zero from Mega Man Zero series



Servbot (Kobun) from Mega Man Legends series



Beat from original Mega Man game series



Model X from Mega Man ZX series



Lan Hikari (Hikrai Netto) from Mega Man Battle Network series



Eddie from original Mega Man game series



Star Force Mega Man (Shooting Star Rockman) from Mega Man Star Force series



ProtoMan.EXE (Blues.EXE) from Mega Man Battle Network series



Rush Jet from original Mega Man game series



OVER-1 from mobile social game Rockman ×over (pronounced "crossover")



Copy X from Mega Man Zero series


And finally Vile's (VAVA's) Ride Amour from Mega Man X


----


If you don't find a character you wish to be merchandised, there is also a field for you to fill in your favourite character.

As mentioned on top, the questionnaire is open until 15th May, and results will be announced on 25th May.


Image from Rockman Unity blog

Sigma is one of the latest characters confirmed to be merchandised, though unlike the other characters before him, he will not appear under D-Arts as a poseable action figure, but a static figure under Figuarts ZERO line. He was ranked 2nd in the previous questionnaire. A slight catch though is that Sigma will only be exclusively available in Bandai Premium's Tamashii Web Shop.

I personally voted for Black Zero and VAVA's ride armour, but I also hope that Colonel from X4 will also make an appearance one way or the other. Hopefully if they do appear that the chance for them to end up as web shop exclusives won't be too high, but one can only hope.
Read More!