NG 1/100 LV-2GMF-X23S Vent Saviour Gundam - Unboxing

This is the modified and repainted version of the original Saviour Gundam which appears in Gundam Seed VS Astray series.

Front/top/bottom/side view:





Back of the box contains information and illustration depicting the summary of VS astray story:


Major differences of this Vent Saviour from the original Saviour are the wings mounting position have been shifted from the beam cannons to the shoulder armour. Vice versa the beam sabers mount is now on the beam cannons. The head is re-designed, and the armour panel behind the head is now fixed in position, unlike the original which can slide downwards. Other than those mentioned and the new colour scheme, everything else is the same as with the original Saviour.

Contents:


*A total of 11 runners in this kit

Manual:




I have finished snap fitting this kit and currently in progress of painting it. Current progress I've only painted the beam rifle and shield, still sanding down most of the body. Stay tune for more updates =)

News on Mcmodel's next gunpla kit!

There's news stating that the next gunpla kit to be produced by the China company, Mcmodel possibly could be a SD MSA-0011（EXT）Ex-S Gundoom!

Pictures of the prototype:




I'm usually not a fan of SD kit and I didn't buy Mcmodel's previous SD, Nightingale. However I'm a great fan of S Gundam and it's variants, especially (Ext) Ex-S variant, I'm definitely looking forward to this kit! What's more is it's said to come with Deep Striker variant parts too!!! Awesome news if it's true!!!

Source of news is from a chinese forum:
http://www.xiaot.com/vbbs/viewthread.php?tid=94589&extra=&page=1
You can check out Mcmodel's website, http://mcmodel.cn/ too, but I advise against it as the pages take ages to load and it's a problem to navigate if you do not know mandarin.

Loots, loots, and more loots

I've decided to make my 1/100 Vent Saviour Gundam as my first painted kit. I don't really like the original colour scheme and the colours separation aren't that good. This kit is also 'affordable' to try my first time spray painting. Since I don't have airbrush tools, I'll have to make do with spray cans.

These are the spray cans I bought last weekend:

List:
ACE Premium Primer - Gray (RM18.90)
Nippon Paint Pylox - 128 Clear (RM9)
Nippon Paint Pylox - 100 White (RM9)
Nippon Paint Pylox - 109 Black (RM9)
Nippon Paint Pylox - 108 Yellow (RM9)
Nippon Paint Pylox - 136 Dolphin (RM9)
Nippon Paint Pylox - 308 Sea Blue (RM9)
Bosny Acrylic Paint - 535 Royal Blue (RM7.90)
Bosny Acrylic Paint - 549 Steel Gray (RM7.90)
Bosny Acrylic Paint - 519 Orange Yellow (RM7.90)

I bought the paints separately, some from ACE Hardware store in Midvalley, others from Ikano's branch as some are not available in the particular branch. I got the primer from Midvalley's branch, where it is the cheapest, but went to Ikano's branch only found out there are cheaper primer paints priced below RM10 =_=.

Last weekend I went to Uniqlo @ Fahrenheit 88 to check out their new Gundam Illustrations T-shirts. I bought 3 T-shirts at RM59.90 each, and here they are:

A lot of the designs are very nice and I will buy few more next time. For Gundam fans, especially UC fans, these T-shirts are definitely must buy!

As for today, I finally decided to buy the Tamiya Sharp Pointed Side Cutter after some consideration. A lot people gave good reviews about it and are recommending it. Since my cheaper Tamiya cutter is getting blunt, I took the plunge and bought it today from Graffiti Toys @ Berjaya Times Square. More over I'm told that Graffiti Toys are selling it at RM96 only instead of the usual price RM120, a worthy bargain.

That's it for my loots of past week and today. I wanted to buy the 1/60 Wing Gundam 0 from Gamers Arena @ Berjaya Times Square since they just restocked, but priced at RM122. I vaguely remember that it was RM109 previously, maybe I was mistaken, need to check up on it.

New Gundam Series - Gundam AGE

Looks like the hot topic for Gundam/Gunpla fans these few days is the announcement of a new Gundam series - Gundam AGE. If you didn't already know from various sites on the internet, here's the article on the announcement of Gundam AGE:


Apparently majority of Gundam fans are raging over it, criticising that the Gundam AGE's design is a combination of recycled designs from various Gundam. Most people are also fuming over the chest design, which looks like jet engine intake according to some. Not only that, they are complaining that the storyline is too childish, it's to cater for younger audiences, especially that the lead character is a young kid.

I'm not really excited about it when the announcement was made, but nor was I particularly hating it. After watching the promo trailer, I'm now pretty looking forward to watch it, as it's pretty nice in my opinion =).
I don't understand those people who criticised this new series before even it was even aired. They are basing their opinions on the not-so-much information about the series and bashing it up before they know the full extend of the story. Ironically, when Gundam 00 was announced, the same thing happened, but now most of the criticism died out, with a large fan database some more. Some of them happened to be those who criticised it in the first place =_=.

Enough said about my opinions, here is the promo trailer:


Official Gundam AGE site

Here's a short summary of the story:

The new series will have three generations of "father, child, and descendant" as the lead characters. The main characters pilot the Gundam unit to fight against an unknown attacking enemy (UE) and save Earth in a "One Hundred Year War" — an apparent homage to the One Year War of the first Gundam series.
The first main character is Furitto Asuno, who developed the Gundam AGE-1 mobile suit (humanoid mobile weapon) equipped with the AGE System (a self-adapting computer). The second main character is Asemu Asuno, Furitto's child. The third main character is Kio Asuno, Furitto's descendant who inherits the Gundam. The Gundam AGE-1 can be augmented as the Gundam AGE-1 Titus for more power, or as the Gundam AGE-1 Sparrow for more speed.
Other characters include Emily, Furitto's friend since he was 7. Guruudekku is a Commander in the Earth Federation Forces and the captain of the battleship Diva. Mireesu is a Lieutenant (junior grade) in the Federation Forces aboard the Diva.

The Gundam featured in this series is obviously Gundam AGE. Seems like Gundam AGE has artificial intelligence embed based on this sentence:

The Gundam AGE-1 is the main characters unit. Although it’s a machine, surprisingly, the Gundam grows with the “AGE SYSTEM”. It’s form seems to change with growth from experience in battle!

Gundam AGE will also have 3 different battle/armour configuration:

GUNDAM AGE-1 NORMAL
GUNDAM AGE-1 SPARROW (Speed Type) – A cool blue unit is the highlight. The enemy is torn to shreds with the cutting edge of the sharp Sigl Blade.
GUNDAM AVE-1 TITUS (Power Type) - Though it doesn’t appear to carry weapons, with it’s unbelievable destructive power it crushes the enemy.

Seems like Bandai is going all out to promote this series as they have already produced Gundam AGE gunpla kit of various grades! Surprisingly, or shockingly for some, that a MG kit of Gundam AGE is already in the works while other more popular Gundams/MS from older series don't even have MG kit yet!
Apart from the usual HG 1/144 kit, a Mega Size 1/48 kit is also announced, with another 2 new grades: AG 1/144(Advanced Grade) & GB 1/100(Gage-ing Builder).
Apparently GB kits are figure kits embed with a Gage-ing chip, used at GAGE-ING BATTLE BASE in Japan, a kind of arcade game. This seemed to be aimed at children market, another reason for older fans to grumble, lol.

For more information, please check out my source of these information:
gundamguy.blogspot.com

Loots From 2011 2nd Litt Tak Warehouse Sales

Here are what I've purchased from the warehouse sales:

List:
NG 1/100 LV-2GMF-X23S Vent Saviour Gundam (RM93)
MG GN-0000 + GNR-010 Gundam 00 Raiser (RM250)

Initially I planned to buy MG Unicorn Gundam OVA, but it had sold out, only left 1 box of MG Unicorn HD + MS Cage when I went there. =(
I also wanted to get the NG 1/100 Astray Mirage Frame 2nd L since I already had the 1st version, but that had sold out too.
At first I thought that NG 1/100 Vent Saviour had sold out too, but after some digging through the pile of gunpla boxes, I managed to find the last box of it, albeit badly dented, but I bought it anyway.

Then, I wanted to get the MG Hi-Nu, but thinking it'll be quite boring to assemble a similar model so soon after I just got my Mcmodel Hi-Nu Gundoom recently, I choosed to get the MG Gundam 00 Raiser instead.
I did consider getting MG Sinanju Ver. Ka, but I've decided to try my luck and wait to see whether will there be a MG Sinanju OVA.

I knew the MG 00 Raiser is overpriced, AND even knew that Gamers Arena @ Berjaya Times Square is selling it at RM235, but I thought since I was there at Litt Tak warehouse, buying at RM250 is the same as paying extra for transportation fee to Berjaya Times Square.
THIS IS WHERE I WAS MISTAKEN
My "smart" thinking made me into buying MG 00 Raiser thinking I'm not overpaying,
HOW WRONG WAS I!!!

Later after I've went home, I got info through my facebook contacts that some hobby shops are selling it at below RM220!!!

Price list of MG Gundam 00 Raiser of various shops:
Gamers Arena @ Berjaya Times Square - RM235
Time Machine @ Plaza Berjaya - RM215
Fantasy Toyz @ Low Yat Plaza - RM213

I was like facepalm-ing all the way when I saw this!!!
Ironically the shop which is usually the most expensive is now selling the cheapest, while the one usually cheapest is the other way round!!!
Damn I was so regretful for buying on impulse without patience.
This will be a lesson for me to survey prices of every shops first before making a purchase, damn.

I also got info that there was MG FAZZ(Sentinel) being sold at the warehouse sale for RM200 only, but since I didn't find any, it must be sold out.
Another disappointment as I wanted to get MG FAZZ(Sentinel) badly.