Graham

About a year or so ago, there was a Japanese artbook released which focused on anime motorbikes (variable and otherwise). I didn't buy it and can't find it now. Sort of regret not buying it now. Anyboy have it? Graham

Yeah, I know, I've owned both the MMM Aile Strike & Sword & Launcher Strike for quite a long time already. Nice, toys, shame about the too long neck though, sorta kills the look of the toy IMO. The only HCM Pro I have is the Titans RX-178 MK I Gundam, which was a present from somebody. As others have said, these are all ABS, no PVC, so quite durable and very poseable despite the small size. Definitely recommended if you like UC MS. Graham

Here's the latest pics of an unpainted test shot. Before you all start complaining about the use of black plastic for the chest, please note that the black plastic used is not the final color. Test shots are made using whatever color plastic the factory has spare. Graham

Yeah, the GQ (Gundam Quality) MMM toy looks nice. Should be out around the middle of this month from what I've heard (either 16th or 18th in HK). Very little actual die-cast metal content though. Pics of the unpainted prototype in the Japanese hobby mags show that basically only the feet are die-cast. I'm definitely getting one Force and one Sword version and also the Blast if they make it. Graham

OK, thanks. Graham

Shawn should hopefully be back towards the end of December. Graham

Just saw on Gunota that it looks like Impulse & Zaku Warrior HCM Pro toys will be released next year. I'm going to be all over those. Graham

I actually bought a Strike Rouge MSiA two days ago. Also bought an MSiA Aile Strike as well. Not bad toys, although I find the ankle articulation is far too limited. Also, I wish the Aile pack's wings had been made of the same hard plastic as the Force Impulse wings. Regarding the Strike Gundam's big sword. I had a great deal of difficulty getting the main pink beam blade fitted. The two end tabs are a pain in the ass to get into the slots and once you do get them in it's apparent that the blade is too long so that it bends or sags. In the end, I ended up cutting both end tabs of the beam blade slightly shorter. Doesn't help much though, the blade still sags. Bandai should have made the beam blade wider like on the Sword Impulse. Can you tell me how is the Ginn MSiA, any problems? As I'm thinking of picking one up today. Graham

Heh, I haven't gotten any toys from Yamato for about a year now. They don't talk to me anymore. As for what I do for MW. Well, the answer is not much at the moment , as my baby takes most of my time. What little free time I do have these days I'd rather spend relaxing some other way, rather than sitting in front of a monitor for hours on end updating a website. Anyway, It's not just Shawn that updates MW. For the last year or so since I finally got round to mastering Dreamweaver, all of the updates on MW have been by me since Shawn has been absent. As for what I've done in the past, well: - A great deal of the content of MW was provided by me, including most of the magazine scans, toy pic, book pics, CD pics etc. All the toy reviews were written and photoed by me. the last 5-6 toy reviews were also upload to the site by me, since I got the hang of creating and uploading web pages. The MW Custom Toy gallery pages were created by me. I've been the one updating the magazine section for the past year, since Shawn has been absent. In the past, I used to provide the news lettters as well. Hopefully, if and when Shawn ever comes back he'll have more time for updates. I think (hope) that in another 6 months when my baby is 1 year old, I may have more time to work on MW as well. Alternatively, if Shawn is willing, he may want to consider allowing some other trusted members access to the server, so they can also contribute updates. Graham

I've sorta been considering buying the Blitz MSiA, so my MSiA Strike Gundam has somebody to fight. The Blitz is a nice looking MS, but Nicole was such a sissy character, that I'm not sure I can justify buying it Actually, I'm not even sure was Nicole male or female? Graham

I miss Jack-In-The-Box. They pulled out of HK about 3-4 years ago and closed down all of their about half-dozen branches . I used to love their Ultimate Cheese Burger. The only burger joint we have in HK now is bloody McDonalds . We used to have Wendys & Burger King as well, but they also closed up shop several years ago, run out of town by the corporate monster that is Micky-Ds. HK has nearly 200 branches of McDonalds believe it or not and you are rarely more than 5-10 minutes walk away from one. In some shopping malls here, there are even 3 McDonalds within about 2-3 minutes walk of each other!!!! Actually, we still have a few branches of Hardies, but they have also closed most of their branches in the last year or so and have very few left. Sorry, rant mode off. Graham

The latest Dengeki Hobby magazine (the vol.3 mini-issue that comes with the Gundam Hazel II kit), features a pic of an unpainted test shot of the VB-6. I'll try to get it scanned and posted tonight. If Yamato are at the test shot stage and given the lead time of print magazines, the VB-6 should be nearly ready, unless that is Yamato encounter serious problems with parts fitting and so have to rework the molds. Graham

Aww...that's cute. Graham

Heh, this is one of the many reasons why I stick purely to consoles for my gaming needs. Insert disk, press power on button....voila! Instant gaming. Graham

I'm pretty sure somebody (maybe Nanashi?) has already translated these pages into English. Definitely seen an English translation online somewhere before. Graham

Yep, those pics are several months old already . Graham

Yeah, I've also read about the separate accessory sets to be released later, but I just think for the price the toy Scopedog is selling it should include more than it comes with. Way overpriced IMO. Graham

It's true, it's all true! Arghhh.......the shame. Runs away to hide in the closet, head in hands. Graham

Just saw the Yamato 1/12 scale Scopedog toy today in the Nelson Street branch of Animate in Mong Kok. Nice box. It's great that Yamato is actually doing proper painted box art, not just a photo-shopped image of the toy like they usually do for their Macross toys. As others have commented the matt finish plastic used on the toy looks nice. Still at HK$1,280 (US$164), it's a bit more expensive than I'm willing to pay, being only a casual Votoms fan. Now, I'm a notorious impulse buyer (as I suspect are many MWers) and I buy all sorts of useless junk (toys) that I don't really want or need , but that price is just so unattractive, especially as the only accessory the toy comes with is the rifle. Now if it had included the pilot figure and Round Mover or Parachute Zack for that price I might have considered buying it. As it is, no thanks Yamato, keep your overpriced Scopdog. I'm waiting for the inevitable Red Shoulder Custom version and hopefully a more reasonable price. Judging from the limited number of posts to this thread, I think it's safe to say that this toy is not going to be very popular, well at this price anyway. Is the US version really only going to retail for only US$60? Graham

OK, thanks. I'll pass on ordering those books then. Graham

I'm perfectly happy with traditional cel animated character and mecha anime thank you very much. I'm even happy to accept a mix of cel characters and CG mecha ala Macross Zero, although I tend to draw the line at CG characters. As I've stated many times before, I just don't see why there is this desire to remake much-beloved anime into live-action? I just don't get it. The anime not good enough or something? Anway, I seriously doubt this would work. All the live-action Gundam I've seen from the atrocious G-saviour to the extremely camp PS OYW Gundam game with gaijin actors has just been one big joke. Graham

Just wondering does anybody have these 3 books and how are they? vol.1 Vol.2 Vol.3 Graham

Plus, it transforms into a box for convenient storage! Always hated the look of the Pyscho Gundam. I mean, it's a big ugly trobot that transforms into .....err, a big ugly robot sitting in a chair! Graham

Bit OT, but can anybody recommend a good artbook with lineart of SEED mecha? I'm not interested in character art, only the mecha stuff. Seems like there's lots of different SEED art books and I've no idea which to buy. Graham

Which DVD (if any) does the Sword Calamity appear in? Graham