Just today, the final year project of my MA study has been granted the green light, so there is plenty of work ahead of my gang. At least I should be glad that we are able to proceed at this stage, some more delay will probably push us to madness with just another seven weeks before everything must be completed.
Anyway, this blog entry is not exactly about my assignments. The prologue above is just bits of my rants to readers of my blog who can’t respond real-time:-) Tell another student in Swinburne that you are busy with your assignment, and you’ll be flooded with ten fold back from him/her. Not the best of consolation session to have at all.
Right now, my MG GM (a palindrome! o_O) is enjoying some fresh air out of the crowded shelves
A friend of mine asked me this question after reading the last entry, "So, just how many Gunpla you have in total?" I could only say around 120 back then, since I was not sure of the exact number myself. I used to keep a list of all the purchases I made, so don’t think that I actually went and counted all the Gunplas or boxes to find out the answer. You think I’m so free now is it? Blah blah blah… … (Please refer to first and second paragraph of this entry)
Here're the list mentioned. Hell, I'm going to need a new sheet to continue~
So, the magic number is 120, which is actually inclusive of two non-Gunpla models.
120 models in 10 years~ Quite a long way actually.
When I started to collect Gundam models back in 1997, many of my friends couldn’t believe that I would actually spent so much on this interest of mine. It was fine when they went about with, "Wah~ so expensive ah~" or something like that. Sometimes I got frustrated with people who said that I’m wasting my pocket money on "toys that should have been left in my childhood". For them, the idea of collecting Gunpla as a common interest in Japan, even in West Malaysia was as absurd as the universe of Gundam itself, no matter how logical the story could be for sci-fi fans.
"Why not go for reading leh? Can gain knowledge bah~"
Well, buddy, if reading as an interest is only for books which can give you knowledge, then the only solution for you is the Encyclopedia boh~
If you are happy with your interest, and it makes you feel good, then why must you find a justification for it?
Of course all that was back then. There are still people who say nasty stuff about Gunpla, but at least there are friends around me who know better. Some of them even pick up the interest because of me. Hehe~ Anyway, I’m spreading no Gospel about Gunpla. They must like it because they really like it. So, I’m not to be credited nor blamed at all.
Also, there are more and more stores selling Gunpla now, I mean genuine stuff from Bandai, not 'Bendi' or '1-144 Scale'. In 1997, there are only four places that sell Gunpla in Kuching, all of them in famous shopping complexes in the city center. I used to backpack around those places to buy the models I like. The selection was really poor. Before the set-up of A Discovery in Sarawak Plaza (not in business anymore), the only models available are HG 1-144 Gundam Wing series, a few Macross models, and many Zoids kits.
Master Grade? What Master Grade? Never heard of such thing until 1999.
Prices are becoming more and more competitive of course. Some people asked me if I regretted buying so many models at such high prices in the past. Well, can’t say I am happy, but I didn’t foresee the rise of Gunpla in Kuching back then. My interest would most likely died off after a while if I kept holding my wallet back in the past.
I’m hoping to see more Gunpla in Kuching in the future, and hopefully I can see shelves and shelves of Gunpla on display outside the shops too. For now, please lah~ I really don’t want to walk into a shop filled with models of Strike, Freedom or Impulse Gundam anymore. For shop owners in Kuching, there are hell lot of coolsome models other than the SEED and SEED Destiny series, and there are fans (like me) who love to buy them.
Some facts about my Gunpla collection which you might like to know:
1. The 120 models I have consist of 3 PGs, 33 MGs, 67 HGs (18 HGUCs, 9 HG 1-100 scale kits, 39 HG 1-144 scale kits and 1 HG other scale kit), 2 FGs (First Grade), 11 SDs and 4 other plastic models.
Here's an easy way for people who are afraid of numbers. Had some fun on my first touch of Microsoft Excel after two years. Muahahaha~
2. The four models categorized as "Others" on my list are 1-48 Akatuki Custom from Martian Successor Nadesico, one Zoid Lizard model (can’t remember the name), a 1-400 kit of Big-Wig (Hi-Zack plus Mega Launcher) from Dengeki Magazine and the simple assembly Gundam collection series 1-144 Astray Red Frame.
3. The first Gunpla I bought is 1-144 Gundam Epyon from Wing
4. The latest Gunpla bought is SD Titans’ Gundam Mk. II last year
5. First MG is AEUG’s Gundam Mk.II and the first PG is Titans’ Gundam Mk. II (what a match!)
6. Complete MG series of the four Gundams from UC0083: Stardust Memory; GP01, GP01Fb, GP02A and GP03S
7. I have the complete five Gundams in 1-144 scale: Wing Zero, Sandrock, Deathscythe Hell, Heavyarms and Altron Gundam
8. Complete series of G-Unit, a side-story of Wing Gundam in manga. Five Gundams: Geminass 01, Aesculapius, L.O. Booster, Griepe and Hydra
1-144 Gundam Geminass 01 is one of the earlier Gunpla in my collection
9. One kit is not available to complete the five Gundams (1-144 scale) from the Endless Waltz OVA, which is Altron Gundam, which I have in 1-100 scale
10. One kit away from completing the MG G Gundam series: Gundam Spiegel
11. One PG kit away from completing the Gundam RX-78-2 family (PG-MG-HG-SD)
12. One MG kit away from completing the Titans’ Gundam Mk. II family (PG-MG-HG-SD)
All in all, I have 6 Gundam Mk. II of different scales and series in my collection. Sorry for the key chain figure, but the little guy is not counted
13. Have both MG AEUG’s Gundam Mk. II (Ver. 1.0) and Super Gundam, which uses the same kit of the Gundam (exactly the same)
14. Have both MG ZZ Gundam and the Full Armor version
15. Have both MG S Gundam and Ex-S Gundam
The giants occupied the top level of the display shelves. S Gundam (left) will get his Action Display Stand soon
16. Have SD, HG 1-144 scale, and MG version of Norris Package’s Gouf Custom
Gouf Custom, as coolsome as coolsome can be~
