Five years!

My blog is now technically 5 years old this day!

During the first few years, I never thought it could go this far. In fact, I never knew blogging would get this big.

I actually created this account (then with Blogspot) just for the heck of it -- just to say that I have a web log. This is evident on the number of posts I made during the blog's first four years -- two. Yes, two pathetic posts.

It was only in April 2008, the year I got hooked on Gundams, that I tried to regularly update it with posts about my kits' works-in-progress.

Since then, the blog has gone through a number of revisions including layout changes, header mods, and content.

What has been reborn as a blog for my Gundam kits and their progression to completed works has diversified a bit into one about other toy lines, photography, tech gadgets, and news.

To you guys, who drop by for whatever reason, thank you so much!

So there! Here's to another five awesome years! ^_^

Screamer

Even though I haven't watched any episode from the Transformers Animated series, I went ahead and bought the Voyager Class of Starscream.

I thought that the jet mode looked awesome as well as his robot mode... in fact I like the TFA robot mode better than the TFTM or ROTF robot mode. Besides, the toy was on a super-discounted price of Php 700.00 (around 14.58 US$) at Toy Express. ^_^

Voyager Class versions of Skywarp and Megs are also of the same price, so I might come back tomorrow. But, that's not all! Once gets raffle tickets for a minimum purchase for the chance to win a spanking new Sony Playstation 3!

IG-PP01 Masterpiece Optimus Prime's Mini-me

iGear will be releasing their version of Masterpiece Optimus Prime.

As you know, iGear was the company that made a bigger version of OP's trailer sometime ago.

Theirs will have a more anime-accurate head sculpt which is more articulate and a pair of hands that is masterpiece-worthy.

However, there is one downside (excuse the pun) about their Autobot leader --

Yes, their OP is way smaller in scale as compared to Takara's MP-01.

IG-PP01 is expected to be released this November, 2009 and it would cost 95.00 US$.

Images are from iGear.

Voltes V

The culmination.

Although he's not necessarily my favorite super-robot (Mazinger Z is), Voltes V's Respect for the Volt-in Box version, GX-31V, is by far my favorite SOC.

He looks good up close, but I didn't realize how photogenic he is until I saw the result of my photoshoot. Damn, he looks great! ^_^

You can view the complete set of pics (including the individual photos of Volt vehicles) here.

PS3 Slim

Quick specifications:

HDD: 120GB
Length: 290mm
Width: 290mm
Height: 65mm
Weight: around 3.3kgs
Price: US$299 (the current PS3's price will drop to this level too!)
Launch date: September 1, 2009

Image from ign.com

Volt Lander

The final component of Voltes V -- Jamie's Volt Lander. ^_^

From Wiki --

Jamie Robinson (Megumi Oka) is a kunoichi (female ninja) and the 18th heir of the Kōga-ryū ninja. Young, slim, and beautiful, Megumi received special training during her childhood. By the age of 13, she already possessed extraordinary skills and lightning reflexes. She also learned the gentle arts from her mother. Through her mother's guidance, Megumi became a person with a calm yet alert disposition. Joining the Voltes V Team, she was the voice of reason among the male members, especially whenever Ken'ichi and Ippei were about to clash during personal conflicts. Her cool demeanor and uncanny skills qualified Megumi as the fifth (and only female) member of the Voltes V team. Her uniform was yellow with pink accents. Voiced by Miyuki Ueda, who also played as the voice of Chizuru Nanbara in Combattler V, as Erika in the Daimos series, and as Marie Antoinette in Rose of Versailles; the latter was another series which Nagahama, the creator of Voltes V, was one of the contributing directors. She pilots the Volt Lander (Feet).

Volt Frigate

Here's Little John's Frigate!

It would've been uber-cool if they added an Octo-One figure in GX-31V! ^_^

Little John and Octo-One

From Wiki --

"Little" John Armstrong (Hiyoshi Gō) is a genius in inventing automatons. He has been interested in learning mechanics, robotics, and electromagnetism since a very young age. He was considered a genius by many university professors. He even created a funny little octopus-robot called Tako-chan ("Octo-One" in the dubbed version). But to his big brothers, Ken'ichi and Daijirō, Hiyoshi will always be a little brother, a child who never felt the warmth and love of a real father. He also excels in swimming and diving. Because of his exceptional talents, Hiyoshi was asked to join the Voltes V Team as a technical handyman, specifically for repairs during field operations. His uniform was light green. Voiced by Noriko Ohara in the original Voltes V series. Volt Frigate (Legs) is Hiyoshi's vehicle.

Little John and Octo-One image from http://edsabhrainweblogs.blogspot.com/.

Sweetness!

The G.F.F.N. Launcher/Sword Strike Rouge

My favorite Gundam -- Cagalli's, of course, in all its G.F.F. Next Generation glory!

Launcher Strike Rouge

Sword Strike Rouge

9,240 JPY, to be released during the Christmas season!

Images from Tamashii.

Volt Panzer

The next Volt vehicle is as big as its pilot, Big Bert, himself -- the Volt Panzer.

Even the structure of the Volt Panzer would remind you of Big Bert's profile. ^_^

The cockpit slides in when the volt-in procedure happens to allow the Frigate to dock.

This is the side where the Volt Bomber docks.

I forgot to make the left claw flush with the body. ^_^

The most viewed angle of the Volt Panzer -- Voltes V's chest. :)

From Wiki --

Robert "Big Bert" Armstrong (Daijirō Gō) is the defense tactician. He was once a playful child but Daijirō's outlook in life suddenly changed when his father disappeared. Alarmed by this change in his personality, Mrs. Gō sent him to live in the country where a martial arts master taught him different fighting styles and forms of meditation. Upon rejoining his brothers, Daijirō was already a master of different hand-to-hand fighting styles. The naginata (fighting staff) became his favorite weapon. Together with Ken'ichi and Hiyoshi, Daijirō started training as a member of the Voltes V Team. Unlike in the group portrait above his uniform was dark green, not brown. Voiced by Tesshou Genda in the original Voltes V. He pilots the Volt Panzer (Body Chest).

Volt Bomber

Here's number 2 among the Volt vehicles, Mark Gordon's Volt Bomber.

From Wiki -

Mark Gordon (Ippei Mine) is a rodeo champion. He was orphaned while still a young boy. His mother died trying to save him from a pack of wolves. After his mother's death, he grew bitter, aloof, but cool under crisis. He learned how to live in the streets and perform odd jobs. This kind of life strengthened his personality. Upon joining the rodeo, he learned to ride horses and how to use a whip. He found his greatest friend in a white stallion known as Aiful ("Alpha"). The two, man and beast, became inseparable. He won two rodeo championship contests with Aiful as his horse. Then one day, The Earth International Defense Force asked Ippeo to join the team. When he refused, he was taken forcibly, so for the first time, Ippei and Aiful where separated. Dr. Hamaguchi has Aiful brought to Big Falcon early in the series. His uniform was blue. Voiced by Kazuyuki Sogabe in the original Voltes V series. He pilots the Volt Bomber (Arms).