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

PG 1/60 ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam 1st & 2nd batch - UPDATE

Today the first batches of the long awaited Gunpla kit PG 1/60 ZGMF-Strike Freedom Gundam has arrived. Along with it, a PG Strike Rouge + Skygrasper kit.

At the time of shooting this picture, several PG kits were already shipped to customers.
This is what's left for now. Of course amongst them, one is kit is mine ;-)

UPDATE:
3rd batch has arrived and this week there are some interesting offers on
Morgenroete Inc. Gunpla store!!
Will you get this PG kit for Christmas?

Poll Results

Again, the poll has already been closed for a while. The results shows that amongst the High End line of Bandai's PG series, the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam is the most popular version of all. If we look closer to the second place, the MBF-02 Strike Rouge, we'll learn it is the same frame. So, actually the G-frame owns 63% of the votes.
Final results:
GAT-X105 Strike - 36 %
MBF-02 Strike Rouge - 27 %
MBF-P02 Astray Red Frame - 18 %
XXXG-00W0 Wing Zero Custom - 18 %

Thanks for voting and a new poll about the Macross Frontier kits has been added.Picture: Thanks to Danny Choo.

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 Frontier

Today I received a sh*tload of awesome kits from Macross Frontier.
The long awaited VF-25S Armored Messiah Ozma Custom and many others like Super Messiah's
(both Alto & Ozma) and Michel Blanc's sniper version.
These pics are taken with a compact camera, so the quality seems to be a little inferior.

I have also ordered a Super Pack parts kit & 2 S.M.S. version of No. 1 Action Bases.
Next week Luca's Reconnaissance RVF-25 Messiah will arrive and in July the Armored Messiah Alto Custom will follow.

I do hope they also will release the VF-27 Lucifer, VB-06 Konig Monster and the mass productions like VF-171 Nightmare (including the EX and Plus version).
A lot of wishes.....

Benelux customers can order these kit at Morgenroete Inc.

If you have Macross frontier kits, are you planning to modify them like Gunpla?

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?

SD Mods

One of the great things about the Gunpla is the opportunity to modify the kits.
Especially the SD kits are good kits to mod.
The inspiration came from my brother which started with Gunpla at the same time. His first mod was the SD Strike Gundam. Since he already owned a normal version of the SD Strike and purchased the SD Strike + Striker Weapons System, he didn't know what to do with the extra Strike at first.
After a good brainstorm, he decided to make a rarely seen SD Strike Rouge. He has turned into a SD mod specialist ever since.

The first kit I've had modified was the SD Gundam Astray Red. I've had a SD Astray Red already build, wondering why Bandai didn't milk this one out, I made a recolor and the SD Gundam Astray Blue Frame was born.


To find a fitting color wasn't that hard. I decided to use the Tamiya Spray TS-44 Brilliant Blue. Now the hard thing was to get the details also in the same color.
Since there is no acrylic version of the TS-44, I had a solution that was just as easy as brilliant.
I took an empty acrylic bottle and sprayed a couple of ml in the bottle and made sure that it was well closed after every use.
I could have even the polycaps painted. (See all above)


After the release of the SD Gold Frame, the Astray Team was complete.

My second mod was a very good one, almost a masterpiece. This was the SD Blaze Zaku Phantom (Rey version) turned into worlds first SD Blaze zaku Phantom - Dearka Elthman Custom.
Below the results.




This is one of my better works. The irony is that, again, my brother started to mod his Rey version into a Heine Westenfluss version.
8 months later Bandai had released such a version themselves.
I wonder whether Bandai releases my SD mod.........

Do you moderate your SD kits?

The first, the latests....

Since this site is about Gunpla too, I thought it would be good to post some of my works.....
Well, the first photo is from August 2006. Just finished my first Gundam kit. It's a good model and not too difficult. The HG 1/144 ZGMF-515 CGue hasn't been painted yet and I was trying to find my way in de world of Gunpla and painting.
So the details are limited to some panelline markings and a little painting. The thrusters on both sides of the chest are painted,
so are colors the pink and German Grey (Tamyia).
The grey I used was mixed on feeling. Being a teacher in Physics has some advantages I guess....

My latest works are the MG 1/100 RGM-79Q GM Quel (on the background another masterpiece: Gundam Mk II Titans) and the HG 1/144 TMF/A-802 Mobile BuCue
As you can see, all the parts are painted. The details are done with old school paint and the larger parts, such as armor plates are done with spraycans. It's easy, faster and, most importantly, economic.
All my Master Grade (and the pending Perfect Grades) have also undergone a Top Coat-Flat treatment, this is to wipe out the chaep plastic-looks from the kit. The flat version makes the kit look very precious and 'heavy'. I've decided the Top Coat treatment to be prohibited to the MG & PG kits. The SD and HG are in my opinion, not worth it (yet, although there are some exceptions).
The GM Quel is a relatively old kit from December 1999, almost a decade. Though it is a good kit to start or, what I did, enjoy as a funny project between the serious works.

The BuCue (2007) has more articulation and details than the CGue (2004).
It has good beam weapons and two backpacks. Either a twin-rail gun and a 13-pod missile launcher.

More projects are coming up. in the future I will upload the best of my works till now. The next project is still unknown, due to the investigation of the Macross Frontier kits. So, the next kit could be a MF kit.

All the photo's till now are taken with an ancient digital compact camera Sony DSC-P8 (2004). This is because the 3.2 megapixel isn't that spacious as the 10.2 megapixel from the Sony-Alpha 300 DSLR. Therefore, soon I will switch to this camera due to the much higher qualities and possiblities it has.

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.