A Successful Dinosaur Hunt!

1st stop HKIA

As said a few months ago, I was travelling to Singapore & Hong Kong in mid August. One of the objectives was hunting for some collectible Transformers. The then (there is actual news as of September '13) very hard to find Masterpieces were among them. De citytrip started with a four-days stop in Lion City Singapore.

Botanical Gradens

My brother hasn't been in Singapore yet. Since the city has much in common with it's rival city Hong Kong, it was both a new and familiar experience for him. Aside from the usual sightseeings, we were also hunting for TF collectibles.
Our first attempt was at the Funan Digital Life Mall. Although it is a mall for electronics, there are some good shops to get some TF's. My brother got his superbargain: Encore 05 Ratchet for SG$ 25,00 (about US$ 19,00).
I also got my Encore 18 Skids.

1st batch

The next day we got our first Hasbro Masterpiece, Thundercracker at the Toys 'R Us in Harbour Front - Vivio City. We were planning to get this one in HK, but the price was also lower than expected, so we picked up this one here. On the third day we went to the famous China Square Central. This mall has a somewhat steryle impression. We got there actually too early. Like in HK, the shops aren't open untill noon. But we had to go in for some cover as it was raining outside. We decided to come back later that day/evening.
Guess what......I found my piece of gold MISB at the shop: Ace Ventura (2nd floor).

Gundam docks at Hong Kong

The same day my brother found his MISB MP-08 Grimlock at the MRT location of Simply Toys! We were both very happy to get these MP's since they are hard to find in MISB for half the price on ebay! After these acquisitions, our city-trip was a success already and there was much more to come.

Barely surviving the shipment per AIR!

The total amount of collectibles is quite a long list. I'll put it on the bottom of this blog. In Dragon City Hong Kong we bumped on the Gundam statue at Times Square (Causeway bay). The project Gundam docking at HK was running from July 26th till the 1st of September. We got a lot of TF's and Gunpla hobby stuff at Mongkok area (Hobbybase at Sino Centre) and at In's Point (Yau Ma Tei). Our main targets are Masterpieces (from MP-08 on till current issues. The pre-MP-08 issues are in my opinion not worth collecting, since I want them all in de same scale), TF Encore G1, Generations/United, Henkei and Classics. I also picked up a few MP's I already owned, but this was just for my webshop Morgenroete Inc. to resale.

Totalled box of MP-12, shame on you HK Post!

The MP-09 Hotrod/Rodimus Convoy was also a bargain in a set of 2 consisting MP-09 & MP-10. The most valuable items were carried in my suitcase, but a large batch had to be shipped per Airpost by HK Post. They have dissapointed me. The M4 package arrived in terrible condition and the box was nearly totalled although the box was very strong by itself. Luckily, my brother advised me to let the items in their respective plastic bags!!! So the damage was reduced to some Encore boxes (Devastator) and 1 MP-12 Lambor. This was a bummer, because it was an item to sell. I had to reduce my asking price since the item wasn't MISB anymore. The outerbox was damaged, but luckily the item itself was in perfect condition. 

Aside from the TF huntings, I got some other stuff like MGS - Legacy Collection for PS3, Some Gunpla, an extra battery for the DSLR and a 1:43 scale model car of the Super GT - Xanavi Nismo Z.


So the conclusion for the hunt this summer is a successful one. Especially my hunt for the Dinobot Grimlock MP-08! It was truely a good Dino-hunting!

Below are some impressions and items acquired.
You can click on the images to enlarge.Sorry for the last picture which is somewhat blurry.

 

HK skyline seen from ICC (Kowloon West)

CBD Singapore

Comfortable flights

Encore & Giant Type-61!

Dutch glory Doutzen Kroes!

 

Size difference G1 & Giant-Type 61!

Generations VC + DC & G1

2nd batch!

Whole bunch (both)

   

    







Listing:
TF Masterpiece
- MP-08 Grimlock
- MP-09 Hot Rod/ Rodimus Convoy
- MP-10 Convoy (for sale)
- MP-12 Lambor (for sale)
- MP-12T Tigertracks
- MP-14 Red Alert
- Hasbro MP - Thundercracker

Encore/G1/Classics/Universe/Commemorative series
- Devastator (Encore 20)
- Skids (Encore 18)
- Hoist (Encore 14)
- Insecticons (all 3 - Universe G1)
- Astrotrain (Commemorative)
- Wincharger (G1 loose)

Generations/United
- Tracks (United)
- Warpath (United)
- Springer (voyager class)
- Sandstorm (voyager class)
- Jazz (Deluxe class)

3rd party & misc.
- TFC - Uranos : Blackbird + Phantom ray
- TF Autobot bag

10th anniversary Gundam Seed: New Seed MG 1/100 kits

2012 is the 10th anniversary of Gundam Seed. To celebrate this happening Bandai announced a whole bunch of releases in addition to their HD Remastering of the series. February of this year saw the release of the MG 1/100 GAT-X102 Duel Gundam Assault Shroud. At the end of 2011 I was a bit suprised because there wasn't any news from the Seed line for a while.

But the announcement was a welcome, especially for the Duel because over the years I started to appreciate this model by it's simple design and in the series the Duel has been pushed to the limit by it's pilot Yzak Joule. Next month (June 2012) will be the release of the GAT-X207 Blitz Gundam which I'm also looking forward to it. Simply because the design and possibilities are way better than it's NG 1/100 counterpart. September will see the release of the GAT-X103 Buster Gundam and the GAT-X303 Aegis Gundam will probably following in November or December this year.
 





At this moment the prototype of the Buster is ready and shown at the Shizuoka Hobby Show in Japan. 
Hopefully Bandai will continue MG 1/100 releases of the Seed series. Some of the wishes are the Justice, Providence and the 2nd generation G-units: Raider, Calamity and Forbidden, whereas the latter one would be really awesome.

Although the first MG Seed models, GAT-X105 Strike (+ all Striker variants and sister unit Strike Rouge) and the ZGMF-X10A Freedom marked the 2.0 frames era way back in November 2003, the frames of those are a little outdated in comparison with, for example the GAT-X102 Duel.
The community including myself demands a 2.0 version of both the Strike/Rouge and the Freedom.

Hereafter are some pics of the Shizuoka Hobby Show.

Are you looking forward to the Gundam Seed MG 1/100 releases?

Gundam Fall 2009

The currently running Gundam Big Expo reveals a lot af interesting kits for coming fall. The most forward looking kit for almost a year will be the MG 1/100 RX-75 Guntank. With this MG kit Bandai finally completes the Operation V team. Even the Box-art is ready. Release of the MG Guntank will aproximately be late September. At this moment I don't know yet if the MG Guntank will come with new gimmicks like flash LED's or anything else. Bandai has becoming known as the source of the Chaos Theory lately due to the unlogical strategy of release of kits. Now it is revealed that there will be a MG re-incarnation of the MBF-P03 Gundam Astray Blue Frame 2nd L revise (Lowe Gear), which already has a HG 1/100 version. Just half a year after the Release of the PG Astray Red Frame. It is the second MG kit that comes after a PG version. The first one was the Gundam Wing Zero Custom. My guess is that a MG Red Frame release will be realised in a distant future. I will probably get this kit anyway, due to the originality and technical quality of the design. Speaking about design........ I am a great fan of the Cosmic Era (Gundam Seed), but the future releases of Seed vs Frame Astray makes the C.E. a little ridiculous and insults the current line-up. Look and make up your mind. From left to right: NCYS Providence; Hail Buster; Gail Strike and the Regen Duel. The Buster and Strike will be released on August 24th, the Providence and Duel will be released late September. Designs are very undelicious in my opinion. It looks like the designs are coming from an artstudio with some rookie students. Every one can redesign this through replace the MS parts on a different location. I do not wish my future car will be one with the wheels on the roof....defenitely a No No to me.

For now the last fact: This is the first glimp of the next Perfect Grade kit - The Gundam 00 Raiser.
Probably a very good design and a very large kit, since it will come with the 0-Raiser.
My expectation is that the box will has the size of his successor PG Red Frame and the earlier PG Zeta and Strike Rouge + Skygrasper.
Although I'm a major fan of the PG kits, I think it is a little overkill with in mind that the last PG Red Frame release was just 8 months ago by the time the 00 Raiser will arrive.
The timelag between the PG Red Frame and the ultimate frame PG Strike (+Strike Rouge) has been 4,5 years! What has Bandai been doing all these years?
There is no doubt the PG 00 Raiser will be a succes, since the meta series Anno Domini Gundam 00 is a commercial succes. I wonder if the Gunpla fans can catch up this tidal wave of new and good releases.
Time will tell......

All kits will be available at Morgenroete Inc.

Do you like the Seed vs Astray models design?

Gunpla releases Summer 2009

Amongst of the releases, the main focus this month is defenitely on the MG 1/100 GN-001 Gundam Exia. There is also a different kit, MG Exia Ignition Mode. This kit is a limited release with extra parts to make the Exia Repair II mode. Lots of gunpla builders are looking forward to it. So do I. But all other releases are also very interesting and can be ordered at Morgenroete Inc. for Benelux Gunpla builders.
The first batch has arrived!

Second batch is following very soon!

Do you like the MG 1/100 GN-001 Gundam Exia?

Macross Universe

The Gundam Universe (1979) is probably the best known franchise of all Real-Robot mecha anime from Japan. Still, the Macross Universe (1982) is the second longest franchise running along with Gundam and has an equally impressive library of stories.
Most European / North American watchers will recognise the stories Macross Plus (OVA, 1994) and Macross 7 (TV series, 1994).
Macross Frontier (2007) is about human journeys through space to discover new area's and (what a surprise) colonisation. It is chronologically subsequent to Macross 7. In contradiction to Gundam, the 'enemy' seems not to be coming from human itself, but from alien races which also are weapons itself, similar to Battlestar Galactica 2003.
The colonies are not like the Gundam version, O'Neil cylinder shaped, but more like a big oyster, followed by little sibling colonies.
Backbone of the N.U.N.S. military are variable fighters. The ordinary military has only common fighters. The private organisation S.M.S. has just deployed the newly developed VF-25 Messiah Valkyrie to support the N.U.N.S.
Soon, the S.M.S. proved to be invaluable. Spectacular fighting scenes and animation with good music are returning elements in this series.
In 2008 the first kits has been released and are equal to the Gundam's Master Grades series in terms of quality. I'm planning to collect these kits as well. Another refreshing point of view is that the Macross forces are primarily fighters and NOT humanoid fighters like Mobile Suit Gundam. The fighters do have a secondary humanoid (Battroid mode) and even a third mode (Gerwalk mode) which is an intermediate of the 1st and 2nd mode.

A few days ago, the long awaited Armored Messiah Ozma Lee Custom has been released by Bandai and later this month, Alto's version will follow.
While Alto Saotome is the main protagonist of MF, I do like Ozma Lee, best supporting character, more. The relationship Alto Saotome-Ozma Lee can be compared to Gundam Seed's Kira Yamato-Mwu La Fllaga, with a note that Ozma is more hotheaded than Mwu. That makes Ozma's Armored Messiah (also commander unit) for me, the coolest VF-25 fighter throughout the series.

Do you like the Macross Frontier Models? And which one is your favorite?

How the Gundam madness began...again...

As a long time fan of Sci-Fi like Transformers back in 80's (Only G1, the rest was crap), Battlestar Galactica TOS and Battlestar Galactica 2003, there was also place for Anime. In the 90's there were besides Anime, Manga. This is a different style and fundament, but that aside of it.
As a kid I've watched many Cantonese versions of Anime like Mobile Suit Gundam (Not aware of all the storylines, but the action was great), Dairugger XV - Kikoukantai, Six Gods, LionBot and so on.

At the end of 2005, after purchasing a HD-DVD recorder to record BSG 2003, my brothers attended me that the series mecha do have a lot in common with Mobile Suit Gundam Seed, and more importantly, have a good and decent storyline.
After buying the first 2 DVD's (10 Phases) to give it a try, I was completely hooked. That was about Jan. 2006, a time-span of 22 years since the first show of the Transformers. A lot has happened.
While searching for some information on the internet, I remembered my brother purchased some kits from Gundam Seed way back in 2004 in Hong Kong SAR. The kits, HG 1/144 Freedom & Justice made me curious about the franchise and before I realized what has happened, I had a tons of kits. Thinking about being able to build just one kit at a time, the idea to sell Gundam Model kits was born in no-time.
Since then, there is not many left untouched of this franchise and grew out to a serious hobby of mine, again.....

Launch United Emirates of Orb - Morgenroete Inc.

To say that it is a life-changing day, is probably somewhat excessively. But with the launch of this Blog, there is another expansion of my view on Gunpla modeling, the world of otaku, videogames, traveling.
The Blog's name is derived from a faction from the Gundam meta-series 'Mobile Suit Gundam Seed'.
Since the vision and the mobile suit ad battleship designs of Orb are very inspiring to me, I decided to use these terms as well aside of my Gunpla webshop Morgenroete Inc..

Therefore, I hope this Blog will also inspire other Bloggers, Gunpla-fans etc.
It's one of the many ways of life.
Have fun.