Away Briefly

Image from Random Curiosity

I will be away from Hong Kong briefly for the first week of September. As I will be fairly occupied I would probably keep my net activity down for a while, and will be back on 7th September.

Have been a little weary recently, and this trip I'm on isn't for recreational purpose unfortunately. Hope I'll get to refresh myself after this, and go back and enjoy building gunpla, watching anime, as well as going through the blogs again! Read More!

August Purchase & Backlog

Have been a little tired recently so I'll make this short.

First off 1/100 MG Exia Ignition Mode and 1/144 HG Trans-Am Raiser. Found both at relatively good prices so I thought it's a deal and bought them (at seperate occaisions).

I've noticed that I haven't talked much about my own gunpla. In fact I have been building some this month, namely 3 1/144 HGUC GM Commands and the limited 1/100 Exia Roll Out Colour. I feel like doing a random post about them in general one day.


My 1/100 Exia Roll Out Colour version is near its completion - just getting its signature GN Blade 'blinged' up like those in MG Exia Ignition Mode. I lack paints and masking tapes so I'm just using normal cellotapes and my sister's nail varnish to help me get the job done. Compromisation ftw lol -_-;;

Will probably make a review of it in mid-September, as I will be away for a short while.


You may have already noticed that there's someone sitting on top of Trans-Am Raiser's box. It's Revoltech Reycal Orichalcum that I've mentioned last month. Doesn't shine as much as figmas, but it's ok. Will make a review of her after Exia Roll Out Colour.


Now off to the backlogs. For gunpla it's not too much, but I need to think about what to do on next, as I haven't made an MG for myself before. After completing the Exia Roll Out Colour I may go for another limited grey Gundam - the MG G-3 OYW version.


I'm starting to fall behind on anime too; Haruhi 2nd season (?) and Toradora! got stalled while I am still keeping in touch with Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood (I haven't read the manga) and Valkyria Chronicles (it's not bad but I heard that the original PS3 game is much better). I probably won't watch anymore Haruhi after 2 iterations of the notorious Endless Eight "arc" until it finishes airing, and I have no idea why I keep stalling on Toradora!; it's not a bad series at all so I don't understand what keeps me from going through it... orz

Have been a bit less active on the Internet too, which means I would be behind on blogs naturally orz Am probably just getting a bit weary as I have many things that I want to do, yet so little time. Heck I still have betatesting to do for a game mod too, and unfortunately they all have to wait as I will be away soon (I'll make a post about it tomorrow), *sigh* T_T




Footnote:


I haven't gone that far into Haruhi, but what's with Haruhi's face getting similar to K-ON!'s? Apparently it's not for one episode only. What's going on? :\

Screenshots from Random Curiosity
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figma Signum

This review is kinda overdued, as I've got her way back in ACGHK convention. Anyway let's get onto the accessory-abundant figma Signum.


Signum comes from the 2nd and 3rd part of the Nanoha series, namely A's and StrikerS. Released sometime late in July, she's one of the more expensive figmas due to her large number of accessories, as shown in the picture above.


There's a piece of paper on using the correct hand for the sword, part swapping for her weapon Laevatein, and using the correct hand for holding the arrow.

The special hand for holding the sword is actually similar to that for figma Shana.


Signum drawing her sword from the scabbard.


Signum with Laevatein in Schwertform (Sword form). Here you can see that I have wrongly used the normal hand instead the special hand, which only holds the sword loosely as a result.


Laevantein engulfed in flame, basically a powered up version of the Schwert Form (after loading with magical cartridge according to the lore).


Part swapping for the Laevatein is easy. However for some reason the end cap of mine is kinda loose and can fall out easily. Anyone got the same problem?


Laevatein in Schlangenform (Snake form). I only recall this being used in the second series though. The metal wire is pretty sturdy and can hold up pretty well by itself.


And I do mean pretty well - look how high I can pose it~ ^^

Btw did anyone notice the similarities between this form and Ivy's sword from the Soul Calibur game series?


Signum comes with 2 hair pieces, but I kinda find this odd as they are almost like mirror images to each other.


The fans' anticipated Bogenform (Bow form). Wow this bow is even taller than she is o_o


Posing with Laevatein in Bogenform. Kinda find the parts stiff so I didn't push one part of the bow fully into the handle for the fear of getting stuck or even breakage. Again like the Schlangenform I only recall it being used in the second series A's.




Action poses


Final picture of Signum standing next to Fate.


Despite being a little more expensive than normal figmas, Signum is surely a nice get with plenty of accessories for you to play with. She's not my favourite character in the series but she is surely respectful, as well as being mature, cool and levelheaded. It's worth a get even if you don't know the character :o


Reviews are also available from:

Animatic Figmation

Actar has a video review for it too:


Please let me know if you or someone else has a review of her too and I'll gladly add it here~
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Tsukiji Fish Market

Tsukiji Fish Market (築地市場, Tsukiji shijou) is one of the largest wholesale seafood market in Japan, situated in Tsukiji of central Tokyo. One of its most well known products there is the fresh tuna.

I recall that no JR lines pass through this area, but you can get off from Ginza and walk there, or take other lines such as Toei Oedo line or Tokyo Metro line to get there.

More info such as the history etc can be found on Wikipedia.


As a tip, come in Tsukiji fish market in morning, and you'll get to appreciate the lively and busy market life there. Might as well stop by for some of the best tuna for lunch :o

We came a bit too late this trip, so most of the shops were closed by the time we've arrived. The pictures without my watermark on the bottom right are from my older picture hosting account Picasa.


These straight looking things are no seafood; they are in fact wasabi on sale


These odd transport vehicles are known as Turret Truck (ターレットトラック), which are a common sight in the fish market. Heard they exist in other areas such as factories, warehouses, and railroad stations too but this is the only place I've spotted these vehicles.


No smoking sign in Tsukiji. Different districts have their own no smokiong signs.


Now onto what I've eaten - too bad I do not know much about sushi types, but they're here anyway to get you hungry (unless you're not into raw seafood) ^^;








Tekkamaki (鉄火巻き)


Salmon roe sushi


This vegetable sushi is wrapped with bacon topped with mayonnaise. Unusual, but nice~











I remember that this particular tuna sushi is very expensive compared to the others


The damage in total... Don't wanna remember the price anymore >_<

When we've asked for the bill, rather than counting the dishes individually, one of the waitress used a machine to scan through the dishes and got the price in one sweep - never seen this outside Japan before :o


If you want to taste the fresh tuna sushi or just appreciate the atmosphere of a fish market, then Tsukiji fish market is definitely worth visiting.

Do be polite when visiting the fish market though, as the vendors and fishermen take great respect of their stuff - don't randomly touch things, and apparently one should refrain from using flashes when taking photos too. The market has banned foreign tourists from visiting before, so we have been warned. But if we play by the rules, then the visit would be an enjoyable experience.

However, it is apparently said that the fish market will be moved to Koto area in 2012 due to several reasons, including asbestos contamination, hygene, and other environmental issues. I have not found confirmations on this yet, but should this really be the case, there's only a few more years left before Tsukiji fish market to become mere memories not only for the locals, but to us as well.
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ACGHK 2009 Part 2

Following up from the ACGHK 2009 coverage, here comes the entry models from Hong Kong Dengeki Gundam Model Tournament. Like last year there are a lot of good work on display.

There are also a lot of great coverages from various blogs and sites, including Asuka (who went with me to the convention), Danny Choo with pictures from Avan, and Ngee Khiong who has coverages from various sources, be sure to check those out too!

Will be slowing adding captions to some of the pictures when I have time, meanwhile enjoy the photos!


1/144 HG RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 30th on display


MG Gundam Exia on display


MG Gundam Exia Repair (from Ignition Mode)


Official images showing that MG Guntank is to be released in September


Official Dengeki's models for MG Sazabi, as well as Geara Doga and


Gouf Heavy Arms Type, modified from MG Gouf ver 2.0


MG Gundam Real Type Colour


Now off to the entry items:


1/35? Gundam EZ-8's head


1/144 HG 00 Raiser



I have no idea what this is made from, but this black beast surely looks fearsome! o_o


An inn setting for the BB Senshi Sangokuden series


A sniper variant for the GM Custom?


A very oriental style of the Nu Gundam


Enact Suille Palace Guard Type - was kinda surprised that somebody actually made this Enact variant which only appeared for a few seconds in the anime :o


Repainted Gundam Rasiel


Dunno who he is, but the monoeye looks ferocious!


A nice blue accent for the Masurao/Susanowo


MG Musha Gundam posing proudly on top of a pwned Zaku


A custom plated Gundam Unicorn :o


Thought it was the 1/400 NZ-000 Quin Mantha/Queeen Mansa on first sight, but turns out to be NZ-666 Kshatriya (modified from Quin Mantha presumably) from the Gundam Unicorn novel!



Two Zakus with Bonds of the Battlefield logo~


MG Force Impulse dashing across the water


A 1/144 Tieren taking up a firing position


A rather interesting Flag with a bow-like weapon


O Gundam after getting pwned at the end


Nanoha Gundam - lol Nanoha is often nicknamed by fans (jokingly) as the "White Devil", which is a reference to Amuro Ray, pilot of Gundam and Nu Gundam. Couldn't believe that somebody actually materialised it XD



Cheridum Gundam with shield bits deployed. Its sniper rifle seems to be modified with some M4 rifle attachments, including EOTech sights and M203 grenade launcher.



Another Cheridum Gundam, this time using its shield bits as... Surfboard?!


Custom made ORX-005 Gaplant TR-5 [Hrairoo] in 1/100 scale


Custom painted 1/100 MG Zeta Plus which resembles the one for the limited GFFMC version. I think I saw this in a local shop near me before it got submitted to the competition


Wing Zero Custom



1/144 Sefer Rasiel Form 4


A heavily damaged Neue Zwei


Custom made 1/100 Exia Repair (not the MG version)



Another Cheridum, with lots of inner details o_o


A Ground Type GM Sniper, appearing to be posing to shoot some aerial targets


An evil-looking Destiny Gundam ^^;



Custom paint scheme Strike Freedom Gundam, which resembles the colour scheme of the Unicorn Gundam in Destroy Mode - looks pretty nice to me~ ^^


A Zaku with a Gundam shield?


... Only to be taken back by the Gundam itself ^^;


Custom paint Astraea with Astray's katana


This beautiful scene resembles the final scene that appears in ending theme for second season Gundam 00 "trust you" by Yuna Ito.


1/60 Marasai, modified from 1/60 PG Zaku II


A car surface like shiny Sazabi


A modified Hambrabi


A heavily weathered and worn out Nu Gundam


MG Sianju


1/60 PG Astray Red Frame with


An interesting hybrid between Gundam Exia, Dynames, and Astraea


Can't remember where it is from exactly, but this Zaku's design is based on a particular designer's works, whose mecha are all featured with long armoured skirts


A 00 Raiser Statue?


A Ground Type Gundam supporting its comrade after a battle





This Wing Zero Custom looking shrine is simply... Gorgeous and magnificent O_O



Greater Zeong. This has some very nifty design concepts behind it. For example remove the legs and you have the Apsalus III on top, with Big Zam on the bottom half.


A GM trying to save its comrade from a cruel Z'gok in a volcanic scene


Custom made 1/100 Type-61 tanks battling against the Zakus



Keroro's gunpla room. Man you gotta admit that these miniature rooms are just crazy!


A white Zaku (namely the White Ogre from MS IGLOO 2 series) surrendering to the Gundam




Gundams vs an army of grunts and antagonist units, the Gundam Musou style


Custom made Tieren Recon type


RX-78-2 firing


RX-78-2 taking up position... Or it has fallen down clumsily?



A Federation soldier with a rather unsightly and unglorious death. This dark and realistic diorama is likely to be inspired by the first episode of MS IGLOO 2 series to show the cruelty of war.



Federation Type-61 with a ruined Zeon Wappa hoverbike nearby




Federation soldiers taking a break next to a rusty Zaku head - I just love military dioramas, which take a lot of effort to look right and realistic



A rather interesting model, which uses a 1/35 HG Hardgraph Wappa hoverbike, 1/144 HGUC Zudah, as well as a 1/144 Ex-Model Oggo. All these models are from the MS Igloo series


A custom made Innovator machine. Possbily a hybrid between the Garazzo and the notorious suicide unit Gaga


A knight-looking Gundam coming out from its throne. Apparently the throne is from a Saint Seiya figure set, which costs lots and lots and lots of money to buy. I heard a guy swearing how the modeller is willing sacrifice this expensive throne to model ^^;


A custom made GN-X


A 00 Gundam girl!


Exelica Gundam Exia in GN Arms ^^


These two are the only Gundam girls 'featured' this year. Want or do not want? ^^;


A monsterious creature s







Last but not least, this group work custom made Guntank-lookalike is monsterous in size - the GM Sniper and Gundam next to it look like midgets next to it!

Phew... That's 100 pictures! It was not easy pushing through the crowds to take these pictures, as well as sorting them out @_@ Coincidently this is my 100th post too, which I haven't noticed until posting. Again lots of good work this year too, and it's hard to compare them to last year's. I wonder which entry will make it through as the winner though - am anticipating to know~

This post has really drained me out; I ought to hit the sack now zzz...

Flickr Gallery available here:
Hong Kong Dengeki Gundam Model Tournament 2009
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