A toy shoot... Finally!

Finally got a chance to do a photoshoot last night! It's been ages since my last one in my eyes and I was really excited to get back in the saddle. So, with no pending agenda, family-wise, I decided to whip out my old light tent and set up the camera:

I am now utilizing a Dioback city ruin background, a darker background than I'm normally used to, for the shoot. I had ordered the background from the Dioback Facebook page and have to say that I am pretty happy with how well these (I got 4) have been printed. I'll do a quick shot of the designs tonight but to the curious, they function just like the Decobacks with a background board plus base and two designs (back and forth) per board.

For this shoot, I decided to take photos of my SH Figuarts Domon Kasshu and Robot Damashii (Spirits) God Gundam. I've been raving about having/playing with the RD God Gundam for sometiime now and I'm really happy with the figure as it exceeded most of my expectations. Here's a quick preview of what happened during the shoot:

I also re-shot Domon just to get in the mood and I have to say that for a 2008 release, this one is still pretty good. Of course, my opinion is biased with regards to this fig. If I had one gripe on this fig, ok... two gripes on the fig, it would be the angry face that looks awkward from some angles and that the King of Hearts tatoo isn't too clear on the right hand. 

Used a different Dioback for this one, a burning planet background, and it worked out pretty well. 

The shoot took about 3 hours before I called it quits. It was a pretty tiring but pretty satisfying and fun experience and as stated in my previous blog, I missed holding my camera. 

I still have a bit of post processing to do but that's gonna come in later as I plan to shoot a few random shots of other figs just to maximize the opportunity this week. 

Thanks and cheers! 

Reunited!

After a release date difference of almost 5 years, I have finally been able to put together my SH Figuarts Domon Kasshu and Robot Spirits God Gundam side by side and they look glorious together!

I love how they can pose exactly the same way, just like they do in the show! So stoked! I am definitely dishing out the DSLR and taking more photos of these guys soon! 

PREVIEW: RD God Gundam

In my latest night-capade, I finally decided to open up my RD God Gundam and tried posing it a bit. The range of motion and articulation on this figure is absolutely amazing.

I did find that the ball joint connecting the upper thigh to the pelvis was a bit loose, making it difficult to keep the Gundam standing in stances where the legs had to be spread wide. After a few stokes of nail polish and a day to dry fixed that though and I am again marveled at how well it poses. I plan to set up the shoot before the weekend but here's a little preview shot through my iPhone camera: 

Very, very awesome as you can clearly see how wide the God's stance is compared to the RD Strike (who has a hard time standing already at that pose). Also tried a few God finger poses as well but reserving those for this weekend. 

Clearly I have a lot of re-arranging to dothis Saturday as I want this displayed in my "Tower of Power." Hehe. 

One more angle:

Love it. 

I suddenly had this awesome idea to have it spar with my SRC Dendoh. ;)

Till next time! 

New hauls this October!

Christmas came early this year as my preorders from CWTOYS finally arrived last weekend! I am absolutely stoked about my new acquisitions: 

Robot Spirits God Gundam; my favorite Gundam of all time

SH Figuarts Iron Man Mk XLII and Iron Patriot from Iron Man 3

SH Figuarts 1st batch gift prize Tony's Sofa

Figma Iron Man Mk VII Full Spec Version

I did not realize how Iron Man-centric this haul was until I had them on hand. Haha! 

At the same time, since we were already meeting at the Good Shepherd Bazaar, I decided to pick up a few minifigure playsets: 

SY 304: Iron Man's suit up gantry

SY 305: Tony Stark's Laboratory and Hall of Armor

DeCool Iron Man Hulkbuster armor

More Iron Man stuff! Yay! I still lack the walkway gantry, the third IM playset though as well as the minifigure for Iron Man Mk I which came along a 9-figure set that was mostly reissues. I didn't feel like spending again for a bunch of minifigures that I already had so I had to pass on Mk I for now. Hopefully, I'd be able to score a solo one in the future. 

All of them look completely glorious in their respective boxes and my hands were literally itching to open them up and fiddle around with them, especially the RD and Full Spec. More so on the RD since I've been literally dreaming of that figure ever since Bandai first announced its release! Can't wait to get posing on that one!

For now, really really happy with my new purchases. Hopefully, I get to whip out the SLR and take some shots really soon. 

20th Anniversary of Mobile Fighter G Gundam

Yesterday, April 23rd marked the 20th anniversary of my favorite anime of all time, Mobile Fighter G Gundam! I have loved the series since I first saw the pilot episode on GMA 7 in my teen years, just barely catching it when I got home from school. Sadly, it was not until I was able to graduate from college and score my first few payslips that I was finally able to buy a full series DVD of this series and start my collection. 

After 12 years, here is my Mobile Suit in Action G Gundam figure collection: 

Here's a breakdown of every unit in the pic. (Apologies in advance if some of the units aren't too clear since I only used a phone cam to take this). 

1st row (L-R) Sekiha Love Love Teknyoken Domon and Rain Gashapon, Shining and God (Burning) Gundam

2nd row (L-R) Skull, Nether, Zebra, Rose, Maxter, Dragon, Bolt, Lumber, Viking, Mermaid

3rd row (L-R) Asura, Butler Bensouman, Spiegel (Shadow), Nobell, Zeus with mobile Chariot

4th row (L-R) Jester, Nero, John Bull (Royal), Haoh, Rising, Mandala, Matador

5th Row (L-R) Cobra, Walter, Master Gundam with Fuunsaiki, Devil (Dark) Gundam final form, Ultimate Gundam (Devil Gundam first form), Death Army

Last row (L-R) Heaven's Sword (Raven), DX 7.5" God (Burning) Gundam, Sphinx Gundam, Minaret (Scimitar)

I have a lot of love for this series. I remember that fateful day of just walking inside SM Southmall's Toy Kingdom and picking up my very first MSiA, the God Gundam, with only 500 pesos in my wallet and some change. I remember opening the transparent cover and releasing the toy from its box for the first time, performing poses and exchanging the hands, putting on those orange translucent hands and shouting "God finger" in the recesses of my mind. Ah, what nostalgia! And after that, the rest is history. 

I guess I just really love this series so much that even after 12 years, it still stirs up my blood whenever I hear its music or hear Domon's final attack words. It's so nostalgic and empowering (at least for me) that I can honestly say that I wouldn't have been able to come through from so many hard times in life without at least some semblance of G Gundam presence in them. 

Anyway, to the series, happy 20th anniversary G Gundam! Hope you'll still stick with me for another 12 years or more and hopefully, my son will grow to love you as much as I have. 

Sore de wa! Gundam Fighto! Ready? Go! (And with that, Gundam Fight! Ready? Go!)