Grey728

5 hours ago, Graham said:

Sorry, WTF is that????? Michael Bayesque mes of parts?

That's the Amatsu Mina Gold Astray Frame (Originally in Black). The picture is turned on it side to make it appear to be in flight. There is a White version now available for pre-order as well: Amatsu Mina Hana Gold Astray Frame.

I would personally keep trying to purchase all issues through HLJ.com. Even if you don't get all the current issues say 'Order Stop' they will end up with extras after a week or two. I even purchased two extra issue ones to try my hand at polishing out the plastic line on the canopy. At $2.75 a piece, why not?

Unless Harmony Gold is written on the box and they get a cut it will never be released. 

So purdy! Man.. I wish I had the courage to weather a $300 toy... 

Not dissing your display! It's nice! I wanted to purchase that diffuser myself so the LED strips would look more like a light stripe than dots. 

14 minutes ago, Rogueload said:

Finally got the lighting installed for my SDF-1’s. 

Ahh! Awesome!

That LED diffuser doesn’t work as well as I thought it would. 

Thanks! What exactly is wrong with it?

I'm really enjoying the build so far and love how most of it is diecast so far. It's a heavy beast! I wonder what the total weight will be once complete.

18 minutes ago, David Hingtgen said:

Ok, am I nuts, or is HiRM Wing Zero just a POS?  I had it pre-ordered, got it day 1, started it, put it away for a LONG while, started again, stopped, and am starting again.  It's mostly done now, except for the wings and lower torso.  But it just keeps pissing me off.  Every single piece is "iffy".  *Nothing* really snaps/clicks into place.  I'm gluing everything.  But the plastic is either so rock-hard, or so rubbery, that even glue really doesn't want to keep it together--I'm SUPERgluing parts of it now. And even when glued, there's still gaps---are they INTENDING to have "gaps to simulate actual panel-gaps between armor plates" or is it just bad fit/design? If I didn't know better I'd think it was a KO. Plus, the rock-hard plastic, even under-gated, makes nub marks and slices guaranteed.  (and the rubbery plastic is just terrible in every way).   I'm seriously considering just throwing it away, unfinished, and moving on to like my next HG kit.  (but it cost so much $...)

The HiRM Gundam Wing EW with angel wings was garbage like the Barbatos before it but I don't seem to have any issues with the Gundam Wing EW with the solid white/blue/red wings. I think Bandai finally got their act together on this and the Red Astray thereafter. 

2 hours ago, DYRL VF-1S said:

Two of my Macross displays. Just added Max and Miriya.

Looking good!

9 hours ago, physioguy said:

I don’t have the most extensive collection, but thought I’d share my random collection of hi-metals, DX frontier valks and DX 1s

 

the little IKEA lights help

Is that a BESTA Ikea shelf? How does your display look with the glass doors closed?

@ChaoticYeti FYI

FYI Play-Asia canceled my VF-31E Chuck pre-order about a month before release.

2 minutes ago, Sanity is Optional said:

Well, if anyone wants one and can't find it, I'll be letting either 1 or 2 go at-cost.

Since I managed to get 3 pre-orders.

I'll take you up on that offer!

Crap. I wasn't subbed to this thread and missed the PO. Oh well. 

4 hours ago, CharlesXavier said:

Asia outside of Japan instant sell out. Lots of stock available for the US.

I still see stock available at various websites in Japan and Hong Kong. Looks like no issue in ordering for those who really want one.

Amazing work. Love that image of the Strike vs Aegis and the pilot looks great too. You even painted the boot detail at/near base of the foot.

I hate it...

Pre-ordered one anyways. What the heck is wrong with me?

59 minutes ago, BluefinBrands said:

Only one person cried during our lunch meeting when it was brought up. The rest of us stood strong, and ate in reflective silence as we internally mapped out how to be better.

Brilliant. I LOL'd in a work Skype meeting I was pretending to participate in.

Thanks guys!

Thanks @spacemanoeuvres! I appreaciate these links.

Does AmiAmi have a good reputation for helping customers out with SV-51 Leg issue? I'm tempted to pull the trigger but don't want to get screwed obviously.

I want to be excited for the Amatsu Hana.. but for some reason I'm not and I can't pinpoint why.. On paper I love it and can't wait. But after seeing the promo vid and pics.. meh? I'm getting a 'clown' kinda vibe from it. Like Ronald McDonald.

Wow. That pic took a lot of Red Astray Metal builds to pull off. Or do you happen to have a lot of tiger claw expansion kits at your disposal?

3 hours ago, 505thAirborne said:

Awesome helmets @Kicker773

@sqidd  I have one of these myself and for the price tag they're quite nice ( mine is set up as Shin Kudo's from Macross Zero), the Yamato's are better but they are quite pricey if you can even find one. This seller has Max's & Hikaru's Masei made helmets for sale if you're interested. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Masei-911-Xcross-Jet-US-F14-Tomcat-Motorcycle-Bike-Harley-Helmet-Size-S-M-29/233587024467?hash=item3662df2253:g:ti4AAOSw5XxeXW-2

I don't get it.. how can he be selling it so cheap? Aren't normal motorcycle helmets upwards of $300+? Is he really offering a full helmet here? is it for a child or something?

Thanks for the info. I'm talking about spray can Mr.Hobby type gloss coat that tends to lay unevenly on the plastic. I would like to polish that but I don't know what that would do to the panel lines or the decals directly underneath. Would I really have to put that much elbow grease into polishing a layer or two of glossy top coat?

I really appreciate the Novus #2 recommendation. I'll have to try that out on bare plastic. I was thinking of reviving some of my old Yamato 1/65 Valkyries where the duster I used over the years ended up leaving a bunch of micro-scratches on the plastic.

30 minutes ago, David Hingtgen said:

Tamiya polishing compound, even the "coarse" is intended mainly for model cars as a final/near-final step----it'll make the spot way too shiny.  I'd go with "fine grit sandpaper" etc, to try to match the factory sheen.  

I'm curious. How would polishing look on an unpainted gundam kit with a gloss coat finish? Would it remove the 'spray on' look to it? Maybe make the 'paint' look like a cherry finish? I'm also curious to know if this would be something I could use on a Soul of Chogokin where the glossy plastic has gotten a little scratched over the years. Could this breath new life into it?