Hasegawa Idolm@ster F-15E (Chihaya Kisaragi)

It’s been a hell of a month since that box arrived at my door step. Amiami was a good place to order from, just the fact of using PayPal was a pain and my package came right when the Spring semester started. This was probably my fourth model ever so it was interesting to see how tough (or easy) this project would be. First thing I’ve noticed when I opened the box was the fact the molds were colored, making it easy to deal with rather than having to buy another can of paint. Also in the box are, the instruction sheet, two HUGE sheets of decals, some clear plastic parts, and some metal parts.

This all started with Bandai/Namco releasing Ace Air Combat 6 and along with some Microsoft points for the XBox 360, you can have your very own IM@S jet with one of the characters from Idolms@ster. One thing I will admit is that this model was just impressive with the colors and design and well guess that’s why many people bought it.

A positive about the kit was it uses silk decals that are a lot nicer in terms of looks after it was applied. It was s fairly simple level 2 build similar to the Revell F-15E; however, like the Revell forward section of the plane was a pain to attach to the body because the canopy was hard to align. Like with any other model, gluing the pieces together was painful, since the wing was not set on-top of support for drying, and the vertical stabilizers looked like it could repositioned from zero-degrees.

Another thing I didn’t like about the model was the silk decals. It took a few tries and a few mess ups to finally understand how to use them. Typically with models you buy in the US, you’d have to apply a layer of MicroSet so it could absorb the decal. DO NOT DO THAT with this kit. Using thinner or MicroSet will immediately make the decal stick once you apply the decal.

1) Dip the decal in water for 10 seconds
2) Let dry, apply some water to the surface of the model where you’re going to decal
3) Apply and quickly put it into place. These decals do not play very nice
4) Let it dry for a bit then apply water or thinner to make sure the decals are flat on the surface
5) DO NOT TOUCH or ACCIDENTALLY TOUCH
…n) Once EVERYTHING is finished (minus putting the canopy on the plane), spray the whole plane down with a gloss coat.

Once the decals were dry there are the most fragile thing in the world. Another thing about being fragile, these decals are typically applied over uneven surfaces, so there’s a guarantee that it will tear. The plus side to the silk decals is that “Silvering” will not occur.

Some of the things I noticed when I got to the decal part, was some of the decals were going to overlap each other, overlap over uneven surface (as mentioned), and overlap parts that stick out of the model. When some of the decals were going to overlap a stuck out portion of the model most of the time they’re through clear parts of the decal, so the easiest thing to do is to cut out the clear parts or break up the decals. Most of the time, it was the “765″ and the stars that are towards the nose of the aircraft.

Other times, cutting up decals then applying then was just easier to deal with. Notable ones were the vertical stabilizers (decals #102, 103), the decal of Chihaya (decal #9), and the decal that goes around Chihaya’s hand (decal #15). Because of the delicacy, decal #9 had the arm tear off as I was trying to slide the decal off the decal sheet onto the model, fortunately it was an easy fix.

Another issue I ran into while making this model was actually reading the instructions. Since the decal instructions are like any other kit instruction, they show you an orthographic projections of the plane and decals. I completely messed up some major parts due to this because of the overlapping issue and lining up issue.

Here are some advices:

1) Look at it carefully and see what overlaps what (not a hard thing to do). Aligning the decals was the hardest part of the project, because the instruction set can be misleading at times.
2) Build the plane up to the point WITHOUT the afterburners, hardpoints for the weapons, and the horizontal stabilizers.
3) Work from the rear bottom towards the front of the plane, then away from the plane.
4) For the top, also work from the rear of the plane towards the front, and then away from the plane. Don’t let some of the bigger decals scare you.

Other than that it was a fairly straightforward project to put this model together. It’s a good topic to talk about with friends who’ve never seen Ace Air Combat 6 with these planes in them because, it would suck to be beaten by a girl, or a plane with some anime chick on it.

Few more photos during the project.

Miki Hoshii

Dag…another Idolm@ster post. Anyways, a few days ago the Miki Hoshii 1/8th model went on sale and I finally got my hands on it, err them. This figure is released by GoodSmile Company but this time it’s about Idolm@ster. GoodSmile Company has made Idolm@ster figures before, like the Yukiho and the other characters in beachwear; however, those are the figures of Idolm@ster Xenoglossia (taking pop singing characters and putting into Evangelion style anime), err well there was the Azusa wedding that was epic. Back on track, Miki Hoshii was first introduced in the XBOX 360 of Idolm@ster (2005) to pull more fans into Namco’s marketing scheme, and…it worked. They had to change the game some how to get more people in, since the original arcade was released in 2002.

There are two versions of the same character, the before and after, or what GoodSmile calls it, the “Expectant Star” and “Rousse” versions. Each of the variants stand about 7-3/4″ with many modular parts. What makes these figures so interesting is you can mix and match the accessories from one figure to another. So if there’s a fan of a Brunette but wants the green outfit, they have the option to switch the heads and the hands if they feel so. One of the things about the figure is it can get you covered in glitter. The outfit for the Rousse version (blue) doesn’t seem to have anything to cover the glitter.

The accessories for each of the figures are from the DLC for the XBOX 360 with the green outfit with the furry goodness and the blue outfit with the drill from Mr. Driller (note the Namco relation).

Frontal, standard option

Continue reading Miki Hoshii…

Alter – Idolm@ster Part 2

Continuing from last year Alter released part 2 of the Idolm@ster series earlier this year. My poor self at the time couldn’t justify in pre-ordering until it was too late. The good thing is I totally got the series for $50 at the dealer’s room at Otakon (woo hoo for not paying shipping). As with the first series, there’s nothing new about it except for the series to finish off having all of the characters and it’s variants.

-Chihaya Kisaragi

Continue reading Alter – Idolm@ster Part 2…

Yuki Kusakabe (Vacances Edition)

Another moment in time where another figure arrives at the post office to pick up, because no one was home to sign for it. This time, it was another whim purchase because of the “30% Discount.” Sounds like the Saber that was reviewed a while ago . Being asian as I am, there is now a charge on my credit card for Yuki Kusakabe from To Heart 2 in a scad white bikini. This 1/7 scaled figure was sculpted by HIDE who modeled the figure after a picture of Yuki in a beach setting to give a warm reminder of some things are just hot. The base for the figure is a sandy texture to add the beach setting too. Also in the base there seems to be a slot for something and will be a mystery because there aren’t any instructions for it. The only instructions for the figure was how to put on the towel on Yuki, and even then it was a little confusing.

This is definitely a Kotobukiya product because of the detail compared to the original picture. One thing that’s missing from the original picture is the bracelet on Yuki’s left arm. At least the detail of Yuki bending over is kept to make the figure more…well you find the word.

Continue reading Yuki Kusakabe (Vacances Edition)…

Mmm Maids…..

The last time I said I wasn’t going to buy any more fate/ related items was the day I decided to order three of them and see which company (HLJ or HobbySearch) would get to my house faster. So, here are the figures. All three figures have the TypeMoon sticker of approval for distribution to be placed on shelves and admire.

Both Rin and Saber were released last year and Rider was released last April for all the Rider fans by GoodSmile. With the Saber figure, there’s nothing wrong with her in a French maid outfit with an antique chair to complement the figure. Rin is just a massive figure with the dress held up by her hand where connecting all three makes it almost hard. Rider on the other hand was hard to get out of the package because the amount of plastic covering her, but like Saber and Rin, it’s just too admiring once out. One problem with Rider is the pair of glasses that come with it. It’s just a piece of folded wire that was a pain to put on and take off.

Saber and the chair

A slight close up
Continue reading Mmm Maids……..

Hayami Kohinata – H20 Footprints in the Sand

So it’s about overdue for a new figure for the collection. This time it’s Hayami Kohinata from H2O Footprints in the Sand in one of her casual clothes. Made from PVC, it stands about 20cm tall on a blue contrasted base. This figurine is nothing special than the pinwheel accessory that came with it. The dress is normal one from the series and her posture is normal, well then again everything seems normal. The detail is the usual fantastic from Good Smile Company with the parts that defy gravity *cough torque*.

With the full figure, the photo shows how detailed the figure is. The creases on the dress makes it more of an eye-cather for a normal figure.

Continue reading Hayami Kohinata – H20 Footprints in the Sand…

Fate/Stay in the Kitchen…. err… with the mop.

I ordered this figure on a whim a while back. The pictures that were floating around the internet led me to search for it high and far. Any of the cons in recent weeks didn’t show any sign of having one in stock; and if they did, they would be dramatically overpriced. A nice few hours on Google led me to snag one for almost at cost from a site here in the US. Everyone knows about Saber already, and if you don’t you should either get out more or spend more time at cons, you’re bound to run into a cosplayer or two.

Continue reading Fate/Stay in the Kitchen…. err… with the mop….

Alter – Caren Ortensia

I’m going to try to stick this post in real quick while I’m at work. I need a vacation (not another con either).

This figures was one of those figures where I wanted a long time ago, but didn’t get it because there was something I needed to get rather than want when it was released.

Caren is from Fate/Hollow Ataraxia (sequel to Fate/Stay) and in this figure, she is in her standard outfit in the game sitting on top of a pedestal. The red ribbon around her is removable for those who doesn’t like the extra detail (even though it’s her weapon in the game). The beret is also removable for those who have a hair fetish. Like many removable head pieces for a figure, the beret is molded to fit the head in the correct position.

This figure have been around for a while now; however, it was the last to be released in December 2006 after Griffin (September 2006), and Good Smile (October 2006). The Alter version is also the smallest of the three being a 1/6th scale (compared to the other 1/6 and 1/7).

Full figure Continue reading Alter – Caren Ortensia…

Kotobukiya – Tomoyo Sakagami

When I was browsing the dealer’s room at ohayocon, I said to myself, “Man, this place is a rip-off.” Well I say that at every convention because most of the conventions I go to have the same vendors. I also noticed some of the merchandise were the same as previous conventions I attended.

One of the dealer’s however, had surprisingly good prices (OMG below MSRP) on it and the stickers on the box to make it legit. I was torn between three figures at the convention (money and airline reason) and ended up getting Tomoyo from Clannad.

Tomoyo stands a little over seven inches, making it a one-eighth scale model. This figure truly fate/stays in the kitchen with Tomoyo in an apron holding a pot with some (what looks like) Curry.

The standard figure

Continue reading Kotobukiya – Tomoyo Sakagami…

Freeing – Lucky Star

Right before I left for Ohayocon, I redeemed my USPS notice for a box, and I was quite elated.

Freeing has released their volume 1 of Lucky Star figurines. These small figurines come in a set with Konota, Kagami Hiiragi, Tsukasa Hiiragi, Miyuki, Teacher Nanako, and the secret figurine Akira. The figurines measure from 2.5 inches to 3.25 inches in height and there is a stand to hold the figurine up on the stand. The boxes each figure was in was something new; instead of the rectangular prism, it was a hexagonal prism boxes that housed each figure.

The figurines are broken down in pars, such as the, legs, body, some of the arms and head. The arms on all of the character have some sort of interchangeable feature.

For the care of the figures, Freeing likes to make sure their products ship alright, because on some of the figures, there were plastic coverings between the legs and the skirt. This was done the same way with 1/4 scale Haruhi and Kyon’s sister models.

Konota holding a Manga in her right hand

Continue reading Freeing – Lucky Star…