Gunpla Expo 2016 - Singapore

An annual occurrence for Singapore builders and Gunpla enthusiasts, this year's Gunpla Expo takes place a little earlier, from 1 June 2016 to 26 June 2016 at B2, Event Square, Takashimaya Shopping Cemtre. As with all Gunpla Expos, there is plenty to see and plenty to buy, including Expo limited edition kits as well as regular releases with substantial discounts. 

Of course, you can view the outstanding works of local modellers on display during the GBWC 2016 Finals, and Singapore's representative to the Finals will be crowned on 26 June 2016.

For the families, with every $30 spent, you can redeem a Petitgguy Stamp Card. Go around Takashimaya Department Store and look for the Petitgguy booths and complete four stamps to get a cute ezlink card sticker!

Click the jump to view more images of Gunpla Expo 2016!

[Kit Insight] Bandai MechaColle 02: VF-171 Nightmare Plus Fighter Mode (Outer Rim Colonies Model) (Painted Build)

Macross Delta is the latest series in another one of Bandai's long-running space opera mecha space fantasies. Full of intense dogfights and aerial acrobatics, the Macross series always boasted exceptional mechanical designs, especially in their planes and capital ships that mirror real-world designs.

As opposed to the high-performance prototype, one-of-the-kind protagonist machine that our hero(es) always use - in Delta's case, it's the VF-31 Siegfried - I always prefer the mass produced, grunt-level machines that are deployed en masse. Although there are many models of cannon fodder used throughout the Macross universe, the VF-171 Nightmare Plus doesn't really fall into cannon fodder territory, although its portrayal in Delta seems to indicate otherwise.

Back in Macross Frontier, the VF-171 Nightmare Plus was a top-of-the-line mass produced unit of the NUNS Forces, the main combatant and line of defense against the looming Varja threat. Bristling with anti-Varja weaponry, the standard Nightmare Plus was able to hold its own against the far superior Varja forces, albeit with specialised EX part modifications. Nevertheless, it wasn't your usual GM that explodes when pierced with a pin; it is a sophisticated, well-built machine that can be downright lethal in the right hands.

As if to prove that point, Macross Frontier protagonist Alto Saotome piloted a custom Nightmare Plus in the final battle as his Messiah was on the Macross Quarter that was off to do some investigation on the Macross Galaxy (long story). Alto would pilot the Nightmare Plus to deadly effect, nailing wave after wave of Varja forces while being powered by Sheryl Nome's song, only getting shot down in the name of plot after a huge Ranka Lee hologram appeared and messed with his head (another long story).

So far, we haven't gotten a proper model kit of the Nightmare Plus, only two iterations in the pricey Chogokin format. Only with the debut of Macross Delta did we get a new MechaColle rendition of the Nightmare Plus, albeit only in its Fighter Mode. But hey, maybe Bandai will make a full 1/72 model kit of this unit sometime in the future.

We can only hope.

But right now, enjoy these little Nightmares, one in the Outer Rim Colonies Model colours and the other in NUNS standard colours!

[Kit Insight] Mo Show Metal Build Plus 1/72 Aile Strike Gundam

Yes, it's not called an Aile Strike Gundam but everyone knows it is an Aile Strike Gundam. 

And man, what a glorious Aile Strike Gundam it is. 

For a third party creation, Mo Show's first foray into the high-end metal-composite toy market is impressive, amazing and will give Bandai a run for its money if it could match the Japanese company's output and economies of scale. Nevertheless, it is still a very remarkable product, chock full of gimmicks and finished with a level of quality that is nearly indistinguishable from the original brand's.

The LEDs man, oh god the LEDs.

Mo Show is definitely one to look out for.

[Kit Insight] Bandai Tamashii Nations NX Edge Style MS Unit-015 Unicorn Gundam [DESTROY MODE]

Another addition to the splendid NX Edge Style line of pre-finished and highly articulated figures, the Unicorn Gundam delivers a decent offering in many aspects but also falls short in some areas. 

The nicely painted, gigantic V-Fin is a plus for the entire figure, adding a dash of gold to the predominantly white and red combination.The psychoframe areas are finished in a delightfully shiny red, but some areas that are supposed to be painted turned out to be bare (rear skirt).

Equipment-wise, the Unicorn Gundam isn't packing very much, only the Beam Magnum, Unicorn Shield and two Beam Tonfas that can be wielded in the hands or on the forearms of the Unicorn. You get no extra hands for this NX Edge Style MS Unit, but you still get that snazzy stand.

Overall, the NX Edge Style Unicorn is pretty decent for its price point, and there's likely to be an Option Set expansion for it, given the sheer number of strategically placed but unused sockets. Full Armor Unicorn!

[Kit Insight] Bandai Star Wars Vehicle Model 001 - Imperial Star Destroyer (Painted Build)

Bandai has been doing a great job with their Star Wars model kit releases, with the ships and humanoids all created with the level of precision we've come to expect.As a separate line from the main Star Wars model kits, the Vehicle Model series will only contain vehicles from the Star Wars universe, in a somewhat tiny scale.

That's not to say that it's just a simple piece of plastic. Bandai's engineering game is still strong here, with the small parts littered with copious amounts of detail, becoming a panel liner's wet dream.

The base colour of white leaves a lot to be desired, so I opted for a more militaristic colour of greys, black and gunmetal, along with golden thrusters. The new colour scheme serves to cement the Star Destroyer's reputation in the Star Wars universe.

Overall, the Star Destroyer is a fun build, if only a tad small.

[NEWS] Goodies from the 55th Shizuoka Hobby Show 2016

Plenty of exciting announcements and upcoming releases!

We are living in good times.