Friday, 2 April 2010

CONTEST Ends 28th May 2010!!!

Rules
-Original branded kit only
-One articulated or action kit of a Japanese robot can be of any brand, scale but not resin.
-Kit can be out of the box, modified or scratch built
-Kit MUST be painted
-At least 70% must be painted by the themes colour of YELLOW and any shade of YELLOW
-Kit must be made by you alone, if there is evidence of outside help or plagiarizing others work will be removed from contest. If anyone is aware of plagiarizing or cheating please contact contest host.
- One kit video entry per personThe kit will be allowed entry if above rules is followed. The kit will be judged using the table below. We are looking for a simple and creative project with least amount of mistakes made. Example a complex no grade 1:144 or SD kit will be preferred over a master grade or 1:72 Macross Frontier kits. You do NOT need an expensive kit to participate an WIN this!

Judging table
Description Points
Video criteria: Including what is requested of you in the video. See criteria below. 1pt.
Build: Seam lines, spru nubs, cast lines removed and other kit imperfections fixed. 3pt.
Paint: How flat and neat the paint is applied, choice of colours matching the subject. 3pt.
Finish: Panel lines, decals, weathering and finishes used. 3pt.
Total 10pt.

Video criteria
It is advised but not compulsory to follow these criteria, but fulfilling it will gain an easy 1pt. bonus. Effort in the video is just as important as effort in the kit, a poor video will make judging difficult and points lost if the model is not clearly seen.

-Show what brand of paint you use and explain why
-Show the built model before painting
-Explain or show how you applied the paint like a tutorial
-Explain what preparations are done before painting, example you washed your kit, used primer, you sanded the surface, used masking or did nothing.
-Clearly display the finished kit including multiple angles
-Most important feel free to add other elements into the video as you wish, be creative and have fun with it

Wednesday, 31 March 2010

NEW GUNDAM CONTEST INFO!!!

As usual, I'll let my Blog and Twitter followers in on this news early.

Had some interesting feedback from the winner of the previous contest. I'd asked what he thought would encourage people to participate in these modeling contests and what it could be that was holding other people back from giving it a go.  I have to agree that it may have been a little too demanding of time, resources and skill and that some people probably found it too daunting to do a diorama. It didn't help that there are rather strong loyaties from fan factions which can lead to people bemoaning any given competion theme that is based on any single Gundam series. After all we are all individuals in our tastes. You can't please everyone right? WRONG!!!  ITS GOING TO BE A COLOUR THEMED ROBOT PAINTING CONTEST (NO DIORAMAS NEEDED!!!) All you need is a model Mech and some paint! Now tell me if you are still interested... I don't care from series or what robot you use so long as you follow the following rules!

The prize? You know what... I won't even tell you what it is. Remember... it's not the prize that matters. It's what you learn in taking part that counts! There IS a prize but don't do it for the prize (not that you know what it is), just do it for yourself and do it for the FUN OF IT! If this contest does well and I can secure that future prizes from iShop2go.com, it will likely be the 1st of a series of contests that will help nurture and continue to build up the skill level of both novice and intermediate model building contestants to something they will be proud to exhibit on their shelves in a way they only previously dreamt of! I am sure you will enjoy following this contest as it builds to its conclusion! You know what... because he's been SO instrumental in the theme of this contest, I proposed MOKANAMAN be co-judge the entries for this contest, and he accepted! Credit where it's due, the rules are pretty much as he presented them and they're exactly what's needed. I feel like I am the real winner of the such a great sport and helping out like he has.
We onto a winner here?


Rules
-Original branded kit only
-One articulated or action kit of a Japanese robot can be of any brand, scale but not resin.
-Kit can be out of the box, modified or scratch built
-Kit MUST be painted
-At least 70% must be painted by the themes colour


-Kit must be made by you alone, if there is evidence of outside help or plagiarizing others work will be removed from contest. If anyone is aware of plagiarizing or cheating please contact contest host.

- One kit video entry per personThe kit will be allowed entry if above rules is followed. The kit will be judged using the table below. We are looking for a simple and creative project with least amount of mistakes made. Example a complex no grade 1:144 or SD kit will be preferred over a master grade or 1:72 Macross Frontier kits. You do NOT need an expensive kit to participate an WIN this!


Judging table

Description Points
Video criteria: Including what is requested of you in the video. See criteria below. 1pt.
Build: Seam lines, spru nubs, cast lines removed and other kit imperfections fixed. 3pt.
Paint: How flat and neat the paint is applied, choice of colours matching the subject. 3pt.
Finish: Panel lines, decals, weathering and finishes used. 3pt.
Total 10pt.

Video criteria
It is advised but not compulsory to follow these criteria, but fulfilling it will gain an easy 1pt. bonus. Effort in the video is just as important as effort in the kit, a poor video will make judging difficult and points lost if the model is not clearly seen.


-Show what brand of paint you use and explain why
-Show the built model before painting
-Explain or show how you applied the paint like a tutorial
-Explain what preparations are done before painting, example you washed your kit, used primer, you sanded the surface, used masking or did nothing.
-Clearly display the finished kit including multiple angles
-Most important feel free to add other elements into the video as you wish, be creative and have fun with it

Added Advice from Mokana Man
"A little lost about finishing a model to contest standards? Worry not; you will be given a few months on your project. First select a kit appropriate to your skill level, a first grade, a basic or cheap 1:144 no grade or super deformed Bandai branded snap kit is the answer. Research beginner modelling techniques on Google and You Tube in how to build your kit to be paint ready. My channel has a few tutorials and a play list with almost 100 videos on scale modelling.
When ready to pain get a block of Styrofoam, masking tape and tooth picks. Buy a spray can of Tamiya grey primer and a spray can of Tamiya colour appropriate to the themes colour. Mount all the pieces on the tooth picks then spray a light coat of primer then a few hours latter the base colour. Reframe from touching the painted parts for 24 hours. It’s best to shake the can for a few minuets then keep the can 10-15cm away from the piece. Start spraying off the piece then sweeps the paint across it in one movement. Once finished you are free to hand paint finer details.
Make sure to follow the rules, judging table and video criteria to gain full points. The neatest and most creative model with the least amount of mistake will win. Remembering this and following the above advice can land victory to a beginner over an experienced modeller. Most importantly have fun…
Note: Only advice for beginners having trouble, if you have painted a model with results that pleases you then there is no need to follow the middle paragraph."

Back to ME! (AKA 2Old4Toys)
- entries must be via a video response to my contest announcement video on YouTube.
- Entries must contain an element of moving video, but it is advised to include a photo slideshow using sharp stills of your work to let us get a clear look at it for judging.
- Dont be too long winded in your video.

My contest anouncement vid will soon tell you what the actual colour the theme is based on and what the end date is. For sure it's within the next 3 mths so you have PLENTY of time to work on this.

Leave a comment here to tell me what you think so far...

Finally, give our thanks to iShop2go.com for supplying the brilliant prizes that they so generously do. Without them I could not offer any prizes for you! I highly recommend you check them out for your model kits and more! You buy from them, I get to do more contests. They are a team of dedicated toy fanatics delivering cool toys to the world! I hope that through this proposed series of contests, we can encourage many novices to progressively and in many cases dramatically better their modeling skills! A very worthy cause that iShop2go are backing! Follow iShop2go on Facebook!

Friday, 11 December 2009

Aleged MG Gundam X scan is photoshop job!

Sorry all you X fans but the recent image of the Master Grade Gundam X that has been floating around the web as an aleged scan from an announcement in a magazine, I am not at all convinced. To my eyes it is clearly just a photoshop job taking the established scaned image of the MG GNX announcement as it's source.

Click the image for a closer look. The texts at the top and the red box at the bottom which show just a cut and paste replacement of a few words here and there. Most obvious evidence that it is a tampered image. The X is also a bit blurrier too.
Most damning is the signature interfering with the blue line in the very bottom left.
Try harder next time!

True though that this series could do with at least one Master Grade kit, it does not look as if your Gundam X wishes will come true quite so soon as you may have 1st thought.

Sunday, 22 November 2009

The Mobile Suit Gundam UC0079 Diorama Competition begins now!!!

Click here to see the entries so far!
The theme as Mobile Suit Gundam UC0079 The original Anime Series is what you voted for out of over 660+ votes.

You have the entire holiday season to work on your entry. Read the below and get cracking!

Myself and iShop2Go will judge the best UC0079 Diorama entry we get. We want your entries portraying dynamic movement, model painting skill for the kit and also very important is showing off the work put into the background / landscape/ surroundings. One or more Bandai kit must be used. No computer graphics enhanced imagery. As part of your entry, you must show your work in progress how you made it. The quality of your presentation will also count. All entries must be posted as a video response via this link and must be in before Feb 28th 2010 so you have the whole holiday season to work on your diorama skills and finish your projects. We will pick the winner and announce it shortly after the deadline.

*As before, I can't promise that these competitions will continue. It all depends on the kind of response we get... You should treat this as the last time we ever do a competition.

Come back often for the latest on what's what.

FAQ
1. Entries in, on and before 28/2/2010. Winner announced shortly afterwards and will be shipped upon confirmation from the winner.
2. North America, Europe, Asia, Australia ONLY! The prize unfortunately can not be shipped outside of these regions! mail info@ishop2go.com if you want to ask where they are willing to ship.

3. The prize is to be chosen by the winner from the following selection of excellent Mobile Suit Gundam UC0079 Master Grade kits




 



4. The winner, is requested to be able to prove they made the diorama.
5. Use sound or music or voice or silence if you want, its up to you.
6. ALL entries must be submitted as a YouTube "Video Response" to the contest announcement video here via this link (It will be posted soon-ish)
7. After the winner receives the prize, they are requested to have a video shot receiving the prize and post it onto corresponding youtube account

This prize is 100% supplied by those fantastic lovely peoples over at iShop2go.com who are entirely responsible for this prize.


Entries are to show off a Mobile Suit Gundam UC0079 Original Anime series related diorama you created and must showcase or more kits from said series or it's side stories. (no less than 1 kit)

Dioramas must be 100% physical models (ie not using any 2d/3d computer graphics)

Post a photo or photo slideshow or moving video as a "video response" via this link here select "choose a video" and pick the video from your YouTube account.

If you have jpg format pictures... you MUST convert it to avi , wmv, mov etc... a video format is needed to be able to upload it to your YouTube account in order to submit the entry as a YouTube "Video Response".
Convert your jpgs to video via Window Movie Maker that comes FREE on your XP / Vista PC or use iMovie that comes FREE on an OSX Mac.

"a scene" can either be one lifted from the show or a FANTASY scene you made up yourself so long as it is using kits from the Gundam UC0079 the Original 1st Anime Series. The kit used NEEDS to have appeared in that 1st Gundam Anime series.

Only original Bandai plastic model kits allowed. Resin kits will be accepted.

Ishop2go reserves the right to use the winning entry in part or in whole for purposes such as for advertising.

The winning entry will be the one chosen as best by iShop2go and 2old4toys. Our decision is FINAL!!!

See all the collected entries so far here

BTW you can find ishop2go on Facebook to follow the latest news on the goodies they have to offer.

HG Unicorn Mode has landed!


So after almost 2 years, my MG Unicorn's sprues remain unspoiled in their original cellophane wrappings but I think this HG's arrival will help put my arse in gear. Released Nov 2009 retailing at ¥1500. Yes... Today I picked up the still fresh HG Unicorn, and I must say, it looks a corker! The idea is to have it partner the MG, which despite being transformable (with a great deal of effort it seems), will now most probably be destined to remain in a permanent state of Destroy Mode glory. This non-transformable HG will be a perfectly adequate reminder of it's more subdued form. There was no way I'd get 2 MG Unicorns just to display both its modes... I find it not only wasteful, I dislike building the exact same kit of anything twice. Forgive me if I digress but I can barely tolerate even the re-use of left and right limb parts in the same MG. Not in this day and age. You know... it happens where you build arms or legs only to discover it doesn't matter if its left or right sided 'cos they and are interchangeable. So... no, you'll not find me building the exact same kit twice just because Bandai release a re-issue in a different colour.


Back to this HG though... It is very very nice looking right out of the box! There are small grey sub-components that I'd have naturally expected to be in need of some paint as being a part of a much bigger single white piece such as the lower halves of the legs, but I am happy to be proven wrong! WRT the colour separation of the parts, they did an amazing job on both this and the Destroy Mode HG. (I saw the Destroy mode HG in-store, and can tell you it is a fantastic looking kit too!)

Has to be said... I could not care less that the HG Unicorn does not transform. To have that feature would have sent the price of the kit skyrocketing. If you absolutely must have transformation then go ahead and spring for the 1/100 MG or if you have extremely deep pockets, try the 1/144 HCMPRO figure. The 1/144 HG Unicorn is not entirely inexpensive as it is... mostly because of how well they segregated the colour parts. But it is worth what they are asking. I'd much rather have a successful non-transforming kit than a semi-failed kit that transformed with a mass of parts which like to rearrange themselves whenever you tried to touch it for poses. Delivering 2 kits for 2 modes was a good move on Bandai's part. It keeps the price reasonable and that is important for the HG line. Typically... the Destroy mode would sell better anyway and those people who are only going to display in that mode do not have to pay for the engineering needed for getting the other mode they'd never use. Considering the 2 open hands, 2 beam saber hands and the trigger finger at the ready hand... all very nicely sculpted, the 2 clear pink beams, and the retractable barreled bazooka... it's got a pretty nice accessory package. I'm holding off commenting on the articulation though... that may potentially be less than stellar but then again, the MG of this guy never sold on the strength of it's infinite posing abilities.

My ultimate plans for my HG Unicorn is to use up what remaining pearl white that I have left over from my MG Shining Glam-dam project and have this Unicorn's blandness replaced with a subtle sparkly off-white. I have some REAL pearl paint powders I could work with on this too if I feel like it. To finish it off... a bunch of tiddly decals to adorn this guy with too.