Friday, February 29, 2008

More Updates on Upcoming Gunpla

More updates on upcoming Gundam merchandises:

MGSwordStrikeMG01
MG Strike Gundam with Sword and Launcher packs.

HGUCNuMG01
HGUCNuMG02
HGUC Nu Gundam

MGSwordStrikeMG02
HG 1/144 Trojan Noiret's Customized Gundam Astray Green Frame
Images above are from Model Graphix April Issue scan.

HGUCNuBoxArt_s
Box cover for HGUC Nu Gundam.
Images from Toysdaily.

SHCMProMG02
Jumbo Grade 1/35 Zeta Gundam

SHCMProMG01
SHCM-Pro Char's Zaku II

HCMProMG01
HCM-Pro Gouf Custom - April release, 2,415 Yen.

HCMProMG02
HCM-Pro Tieren Ground/Artillery Type

00RegionExiaMG_s
Upcoming GFF - Gundam Mk. III from Z MSV. No information on its price or release date yet.
Click to view 00 Region Exia as well.
Images above are from Hobby Japan April Issue scan.

HGOverFlagNewNew01_s HGOverFlagNewNew02_s.1
HG 1/144 OverFlag
Images from Toysdaily.

SDDestinySF01_s
SDDestinySF02_s SDDestinySF03_s
SD Destiny vs Strike Freedom set.
Images from Toysdaily.

SDCCASet01_s SDCCASet02_s
SD Char's Counterattack set - a very vintage box cover design. ^^; If not mistaken, this will be the first time SD Geara Doga is released in blue (Rezin Schnyder's colors). The initial release back in 1994 only featured the mass productive type.
Images from Toysdaily.

For more information on the price and release date of these upcoming Gundam merchandises, please refer to this previous posting.

On the other hand, the most anticipated Gunpla - HG 1/100 Virtue/Nadleeh is now available on Hobby Search!

HG1-100VirtueManual02_s
HG1-100VirtueManual03_s
HG1-100VirtueManual01_s
We get to see all the images from the model's box many moon ago ^^;

HG1-100VirtueManual06_s
Huge leg armors!!

HG1-100VirtueManual07_s
A huge slide of foil sticker as well, probably the most to be used among the four 1/100 Gundam Double O Gunplas.

HG1-100VirtueManual04_s
A single-piece part for the entire feet doesn't look good for its articulation.

HG1-100VirtueManual05_s
My greatest questions about this kit - is the V-fin going to get its 'armor' which can be detached in Nadleeh's form? Looks like the answer is no. You'll have to swap the V-fin between the two modes.
Notice that the red chin of Virtue comes from a huge piece of foil sticker ^^;

Well, some drawbacks here and there, but the sheer size of this monster and the ability to convert between the two modes are reasons good enough to get this kit for me ^^

Finally, a bit of updates on the bad news mentioned yesterday, regarding Bandai's plan to raise prices on future Gundam merchandises. :( Here's the extract from Gunota Headlines:

"ITmedia News reports Bandai is looking into a mark-up on the price of Gunpla. According to the news, the reason for this is a steep rise in the cost of materials as a result of high oil prices. When the change in pricing might occur, exactly what merchandise it will affect, and how much it will be is not known. Bandai's PR department is quoted as saying, "The details haven't been decided but there is a change in merchandise specifications which has added cost to new parts & booklets for Gunpla and we will be repricing."

A week ago, Aoi Model Shop, a blog said to be run by an employee in a hobby shop on the outskirts of Akihabara, claimed there would be a 10-20% increase in HGUC and MG kit prices beginning around May. Oil prices were cited as the reason. Furthermore, the site said it looked as though old merchandise would also be marked up as it was reissued. As with the official news, it was said there were details yet to be settled."

Well, with the huge hike of petroleum price all this while, it's a matter of time when more and more things in our life get pricier, and finally it hits Gunplas as well. Is this going to affect your interest in collecting Gunplas?