Review: Banpresto Naruto Shippuden DX Figure Shinobi Relations 1 "Naruto Uzumaki"

Character: Naruto Uzumaki

Origin: Naruto Shippuden

Manufacturer: Banpresto

Classification: DX Figure Shinobi Relations

Series/Volume: 1

Material: PVC, ABS

Release: August 2012

Dimension: H=16cm

Box Art: Front | Back

Box Art: Sides

Box Art: Top | Bottom

How I Create my own Painting Tray

Today, I'll be showing you how I create my own painting tray. I call it painting tray because this is where I put my painted parts for drying. If you are into painting, you might need something that works like this. Before, I used Styrofoam for this but the more you use it the foam will start to worn out because of the holes. Now I am using the one made out of used cardboard box.

This is what I made before, but this limits me for about 40 sticks to put on.
So I decided to redo this and make it a bit bigger.

Package No.21

Got loads of new haul this month of April and this will be the last today. This time I only have 2 new figures acquired. I bought Luffy way back earlier 1st quarter of 2013 and I let my friend hold it for the meantime. And recently, I found Ika Musume and decided to buy it then let it ship along with my Luffy.

The shipping fee is a bit higher since my friend declared the item value for the insurance.

Package No.20

Just got my Exclusive MG Tallgeese II today. I ordered this way back when this Kit pre-order was announced.. I am not that excited about this kit since I it just a redo or should I say a recolor of the recently released MG Tallgeese EW. What's new here is just the coloring and the Head to make it Tallgeese II. Should I say, this is just a collectors Item for me. 

Since this is an Exclusive release and only limited slots are available in a local online store, getting this would be hard after the release. I bought it about a quarter higher from the original price of the MG Tallgeese EW though they are released in the same price of 3,800 Yen.

You might be thinking of this Kit being an EW version. This is not an EW kit version of Tallgeese II. This is the one that came from the TV series. As far as I know, Tallgeese II hasn't yet appeared in the EW Manga so there is no way they will release a Kit ahead of the Manga nor the Anime. And maybe the Tallgeese II in the EW Manga is way different from the TV series, so we might expect another MG Tallgeese II kit in the future for the EW version.

Same as my recetly bought Kits. This was sent via Metrowide Courier Express.

Figure Comparison: Authentic and Bootleg

There are lot of people who doesn't have much knowledge in Figure Collecting. Most of them encounters Bootleg prior to the Authentic one. By that, they are easily convinced that they are collecting the right thing. But I don't say that Bootleg collecting is bad. There are lot of circumstances that they prefer on collecting Bootleg because of a low price compared to the authentic one. 

Now I have gathered a bit of comparisons from members of Pinoy One Piece Figure Collectors who apparently have both Authentic and Bootleg of a same figure. 

Bandai Figuarts Zero One Piece For the New World "Monkey D. Luffy"
Bootleg | Authentic

Review: Banpresto Ao no Exorcist DXF Figure 1 "Rin Okumura"

Character: Rin Okumura

Origin: Ao no Exorcist

Manufacturer: Banpresto

Classification: DXF Figure

Series/Volume: 1

Material: PVC, ABS

Release: December 2012

Dimension: H=16cm

Box Art: Front | Back

Box Art: Sides

Box Art: Bottom | Top

How I manage my collection using MyFigureCollection.net

Just wanna do a quick guide on how to manage your collection using MyFigureCollection.net for those who are new to the site.. This guide is for those who already have their MFC account. If you still haven't registered yet, you can register here: MFC

On the search bar, type the name the figure you are looking for.
Much better if you completely enter the name including the manufacturer and the figure line.
Ex: Banpresto DXF Grandline Men Brook

Review: Banpresto Berserk DXF Figure "Guts"

Character: Guts

Origin: Berserk

Manufacturer: Banpresto

Classification: DXF Figure

Series/Volume: ?

Material: PVC, ABS

Release: December 2012

Dimension: H=16cm

Box Art: Front | Back

Box Art: Sides

WIP Part 4: TT Hongli MG 1/100 Zaku II Ver.2.0 Black Tri-Stars Version: Preparation Inner Frame & Weapons

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 |

Just done with cleaning and sanding the inner frame parts. It took me awhile doing this because almost all of the parts has lot of mold line visible that I have to remove. Some parts do have imperfect molds and its hard to fit while testing it. 

I segregated the parts into 4 containers. They are separated in this sequence [Left Arm, Leg] [Right Arm, Leg] [Weapons] [Head, Torso, Backpack]. 

  

Next stop is preparing each parts for painting. Usually, I will hold them on my Alligator Clips holding sticks. I will try to paint this 1-by-1 because most of the parts if you try to assemble has a lot of hidden portions which you cannot reach while painting. I would prime this first and try to sand a bit if somethings went too rough. I am still thinking on what paints will I use for the main colors and the details. First I was planing to use Bosny Chrome but someone told me that it is an Enamel paint. I don't want to use enamel for now so I might go for Bosny Silver. I still need to finalize it after I finish priming. So that's it for now. Thanks for your time.

Package No.19

Just got another package earlier today. Consist of my new addition to my Anime Main Protagonists Shrine. Got this relatively in a lower price than usual retail price. This was sent via JRS yesterday and I kinda amaze how it got here fast. I payed 350 pesos for the shipping fee which I know it should have been lesser since its only an ordinary cargo. Non the less, the package got here safe and no damage at all. Thanks to the store packaging it went out safely. 

How I modify MG 1/100 Zaku II Ver.2.0 Hands

I already started working on my MG Zaku II, starting off with the Hands. Ver 2.0 gives you a nicely articulated fingers but it is quite limited since you will have 3 joined fingers aside from the thumb and fore finger. So here is a bit of modification I made just to extend the articulation for the 3 joined fingers. 

Originally, you only have 4 points of articulation for the 3 joined fingers.
What will I do is to separated those lower joined fingers connected to the palm.

Commission Part 7: Bandai One Piece Model Kit Going Merry Flying Model

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 |

Working out on the remaining parts of the Ship. All parts are pretty much done in terms of weathering. Everything are detailed to my preferences. 

WIP Part 3: TT Hongli MG 1/100 Zaku II Ver.2.0 Black Tri-Stars Version: Manual Preview

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 |

Before I start the actual WIP. Here is the review of the Manual.

Commission Part 6: Bandai One Piece Model Kit Going Merry Flying Model

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 7 |

Haven't done much in the past with this ship. I stopped working on this because of lack in materials. Now I continued working on this with some painting, weathering and applying waterslide decals on the flag. I also assembled the poles and the head of merry. I have done some puttying on some parts of the ship specially with the head. 

I added a pinch of white and black paint to the putty so it won't be that much gray as if I already weathered it.

I weathered the black parts on the side of the ship which I think a metal part with Rust and some scratches using silver.

WIP Part 2: TT Hongli MG 1/100 Zaku II Ver.2.0 Black Tri-Stars Version: Unboxing

Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 |

It's unboxing time!

Manual

Unlike the Bandai packaging. They only packed the runners in 3 large plastic bags all-in-all.

WIP Part 1: TT Hongli MG 1/100 Zaku II Ver.2.0 Black Tri-Stars Version: Box Preview

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 |

3 more days before the commencement of the Pinoy Gundam Challenge. So I'll be starting with reviewing the box of my Entry Kit.

The front box art is same as the Bandai one, but they removed the original text and logos. 

Package No.18

Hi guys, while waiting for my Going Merry Flying Model to be finished. Here is another upcoming Project that I will be doing this Summer. It is a TT Hongli brand, my first bootleg Model Kit and it is my Entry to First ever Pinoy Gundam Challenge. I joined the contest to experience the challenge and of course to enjoy this hobby. Hopefully I can do well in this project.

Special thanks to my newly found friend online for having this Kit. He bought it for me since I am in a far away land and I cannot just buy things like this quickly. The box is wrapped in a plastic bag and were sent via JRS.

Commission Part 5: Bandai One Piece Model Kit Going Merry Flying Model

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 6 | Part 7 |

Just a minor update on what I have done after I finished painting the parts. So far I have assembled the main parts of the ship. I also initially applied weathering on some parts specially on the Deck. I made some dry brushing for the scratch effect on the sides of the ship and to the anchor. Here are some pictures I have taken using my Phone camera only because my sister borrowed my Camera I usually use.

Commission Part 4: Bandai One Piece Model Kit Going Merry Flying Model

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 |

At last, I already finished painting all of the parts except for the large sail. Took me almost a month to finish painting these parts. Most of the time I worked on masking, this kit has a lot of parts which comes in separate color but are molded in a whole part. If this would be a Gundam Model kit, most probably a HG kit because a lot of stickers needed to be applied. 

Paints I used:

White parts = primed with Bosny Primer Gray then painted Bosny White

Gold parts = Bosny Gold

Brown parts = Bosny Mahogany

Light brown parts = mixed Bosny Cream & Bosny Mahogany

Black parts = Bosny Flat Black

Red parts (trims on the small sail and the head comb) = Bosny Signal Red

Yellow parts (trims on the small sail) = Bosny Cream

Blue parts (window glass) = Bosny Blue

I also used Tamiya Acrylic Gun Metal for some parts that are to be metallic.

Package No.17

Finally! Here they are. My first haul this year. The package was sent via Metrowide Courier Express, I think it is handled by LBC as you can see in the packaging tapes used. They we're packed in a 3 separate XL Pouch and as usual the box got dents when they arrived in my place. That's one of the common things you will encounter when shipping in pouches. Other than that, the what's inside is in good condition. I haven't checked it yet but I am sure nothing seems to be broken inside by the looks of it. 

Commission Part 3: Bandai One Piece Model Kit Going Merry Flying Model

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 |

Just updating my WIP on this ship. Finished painting the hull. Took 4 days on this including painting and masking. Mainly, the paints I used here are White, Flat Black and Mahogany. I only work at night before sleep so 1 color per night and in the morning I have to mask it in preparation of the next painting session. So far I am satisfied on the paint job I did despite on my first time using an Airbrush. It's a bit messy though because of the masking tape I used. I have to clean that later on. Here are some images I took test fitted the whole ship Hull:

How I decant spray paints

Can't wait for tomorrow so I go ahead and did the Decant for the paint I will be using. Here is how I decant spray paints.

You will need: Empty Jar, Drinking Straw, Foil, Rubber band and the Spray Paint.

Commission Part 2: Bandai One Piece Model Kit Going Merry Flying Model

Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 |

It has been a week since I have prepared this Kit for WIP. I had problem choosing paints for some of the parts of the ship. I only have Bosny as my source of paints that I use every time and it lacks of color to choose from. Yesterday, I bought Bosny No.7 Mahogany and Bosny No.33 Cream for some test run. At first I have doubt on the Mahogany since it looks more Maroon in their Color Chart that is why I bought Cream along with it so I can tone down the color of Mahogany. Gladly, Mahogany turned out well without the Cream for toning down the color. It is just enough dark on it which I am looking for because the pre-painted brown parts looks a bit lighter. Now I have Mahogany as my final color for the ships body. 

After the test on the paint, I managed to do some progress on some parts of the Body. I have filled the hallow parts inside which are visible when finished. Here are some images I took from it.

I used Tamiya Putty Basic Type to fill the gaps.
I am new to this kind of technique so it looks a bit rough.

Since, I am not familiar with the structure of this ship.
I have to run some test fit on to it that is why I did slightly cut the pegs so I can easily remove it after the test fit.

If you have remembered about my Tamiya Compressor that exploded after plugging it on a wrong voltage. I managed to ask someone to send it for repair and gladly it was fixed. Now I have a running Air Brush and Compressor for my WIP. Next time, I will decant the paints I need and thin it for Airbrush use. That's it for now. Thanks for your time.

Commission Part 1: Bandai One Piece Model Kit Going Merry Flying Model

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 |

Just got hyped on the first ship so I also cleaned these parts for the Going Merry Flying Model. 

Everything now is ready to sail. I'll go for the planning afterwards so I can start the painting session of these Ships. That's it for now. Thanks for your time.

Restoration Part 1: Bandai One Piece Model Kit Going Merry

Just got time before sleeping, so I decided to arrange and clean the parts of Going Merry for preparation of the restoration on this kit.

That's it for now. Stay updated. Thanks for your time.

Package No.16

Hi guys, been really busy playing RO2 and gone lazy with the hobby because of no hauls for me to work on. Earlier today, I got this package which I was expecting yesterday to come. This package is from a good friend who recently stated Japan and made his trip back to the Philippines.

This is my second LBC Kilobox10 package.

Restoration Part 10: Bandai HG 1/100 Gundam D-Hell Custom

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 |

Yesterday, I got a good clear sky with sunny day so I had time to finish my paint job and already finished painting the whole backpack and wings for D-Hell.

These are the remaining parts needed to be painted.

I used Bosny Flat Black on the other wing parts as the main color.
I primed the inner wing parts with Bosny Primer Red.
I also primed the red movable part of the wings with Bosny Primer Gray.

Restoration Part 9: Bandai HG 1/100 Gundam D-Hell Custom

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 10 |

At last, I had time to work on this project again. My internet connection was down yesterday and I don't have anything to do so I just brought these things out and work on to it. 

Everything is cleaned and sanded and ready for painting.

If you have remembered last time that I said about modding the backpack.
Originally, this is the left over from what I modded for the side skirt wings.
Just added for about 3cm round plastic I took from my Lukas' Strike runners.
Sealed it with Tamiya Putty Basic and sanded it down to smoothness.

Ragnarok Online II: Legend of the Second SEA Beginners Guide

Hi guys, I haven't got into Gunpla since December 2012 up to now. Though I have my recently acquired tools/materials for my unfinished projects. Just got lazy and I don't have much time to work on to it because of this game.

The RO2 SEA server was published by AsiaSoft Corporation Co. Ltd. They started there Close Beta on December 7-12, 2012. And initially, the Open beta was announced and should have been released on December 27, 2012 but for some reasons it was delayed and moved to January 3, 2013. So much for the introduction, lets start the Beginners Guide.

Figure Defects: Banpresto SCultures One Piece God Enel

It has been a great year for Banpresto in releasing their SCultures One Piece figures. And a great addition to the lineup is God Enel, but its kinda alarming for I have seen cases from my Group with almost has the same defect. 

#1 from Andrew

The right leg is broken from the connection to the pants.

Here is the closeup on the broken connection.

Gunpla Builders World Cup 2012 World Championship

Venue: Tokyo Gundam Front
Date: December 23, 2012
Time: 2:00 PM - 2:40 PM (JST)

Judges

Featured: Toei Animation Eternal Calendar One Piece "Monkey D. Luffy" by Jholitz Manumbale

Featured: Plex Door Painting Collection Figure 1/7 One Piece The Three Musketeers ver. "Monkey D. Luffy" by Jholitz Manumbale