custom Beargguy by Gianshopao

One of the most promising and young Filipino modelers at MAC forums today, Gian Paparo aka GIANSHOPAO just finished a really cool looking Beargguy for his girlfriend this Christmas. The color scheme is totally unique and is very eye catching! Colors requested by his girlfriend turned out super nice.



As usual Gian's finishing is topnotch pro level work and mind you he uses Tamiya acrylics in achieving those flawless finishing. Photography is also as always very good, so be sure to catch more photos and discussion of this sweet little build by Gianshopao at our MAC forums. Here is the link guys...

custom Beargguy by Gianshopao

Gunpla Builders World Cup 2011 WORLD CHAMPION

Good friend from ZeroGunz, ZeroGunz moderator and MAC forums member JEFF HO has just won as the new Gunpla Builders World Cup 2011 this Christmas day! I have also updated my post of the past Bandai World Champions including Jeff!



Jeff Ho has been producing great masterpieces since 2009 and I have been featuring him here in my website ever since ( see LINKs here ). This guy is a very talented modeler from Malaysia and his win is just as an icing in the cake as he has been one of the big boys of the Gunpla community since he started the hobby anyways.



Although Jeff has a thread of his Kshatriya IV masterpiece at our MAC forums, it is but proper to give you the link to his thread at his home forums ZeroGunz. Here is the link guys...

GBWC 2011 WORLD CHAMPION - JEFF HO

G-SHOT 2011 diorama entries at Gundam Guy's

One of the biggest online Gunpla Photo contest has started rolling! I have here one entry to the G-SHOT 2011 competition DIORAMA category by team Gundam Guy. I saw a few that we have at MAC forums and I am inviting all MAC forum members to enter there stunning diorama builds at the contest.



Check out how to enter your kits in this post. More diorama masterpieces at Gundam Guy's, so do check them out! Here is the link guys...

G-SHOT 2011 diorama entries at Gundam Guy's

my daughter Nicole broke her first 1/144 hg kit...

My daughter attempted to build her first 1/144 hg kit using a Gundam Age Normal kit. This kit she won at GBWC Philippines 2011 with her " Help Me " diorama back in November. My daughter Nico has already snapfitted around (5) 1/144 First Grade kits and around (4) SD kits todate, but it was her first time to build a high grade.



I left for a party and saw her finishing the head and torso parts at home the other day. When I got home she has packed everything back in the box. Apparently, she broke and accidentally cut the left shoulder peg for the arms as she basically thought it is was one of those pegs that you need to cut.



My daughter had fun building it and was amazed that he finished the torso and the head. But she told me that the parts are hard to disassemble whenever you make a mistake. I was afraid to teach her to cut the male pegs for easier dis-assembly and I guess my baby ( 8 years old ) can't handle a high grade kit just yet. Nicole then gave me this kit and I will repair the shoulder peg soon, might paint it alongside my MG Zeta Karaba.



I need to give her a couple more SD kits before trying to level up with high grades early next year ( 2012 ). Just can't describe in words how happy I am whenever my daughter plays with plastic, will make her enter in our 2012 Mecha Contest soon!

G-SHOT 2011 Gunpla Photo Contest PRIZE list!!!

The G-SHOT Gunpla Photo Contest was one if not the most successful Gunpla online contest early this year. It got sooo many entries thus we ( Gundam Guy and the other judges ) had a hard time selecting the winners. We are again inviting you to this huge competition as G-Shot are still accepting entries!



Enter those stunning masterpieces and get the chance to win great great prizes from team Gundam Guy! As most of you know, I am once again a judge at this competition. SO I will be picking my FAV entry and we will be sending my pick a Robot Damashii Wing Zero Custom!

View the original post HERE at Gundam Guy's

 Competitors will be competing in 5 main categories:

- Best Gunpla Photo - A
gunpla image that would 'WOW' the judges.  It doesn't matter whether
the photo is from a diorama, customized kit or a straight build.

- Best Diorama - An image of a diorama that tells a story, with details that show the modeler's skills.

- Best Customized Gunpla
- An image of a suped-up gunpla.  Your image needs to show us the
mastery of your modelling skills, by rightfully
implementing aftermarket/option parts, custom decals,
pla-platings, panel lines, etc.  Basically we are looking for 'The
Works' that looks the best.   

- Best Paint Job - Obviously we are looking for more than just the stock color.  Creativity & painting skills are what count here.

- Best Straight Built Photo
- If you are a novice at building gunpla, we encourage you to send in a
photo that shows the power of your straight build.  *Application of
Panel lines are allowed using gundam marker.  Paint product such as top
coat and other paint products are not allowed *

We
will also have our judges to individually pick their own favorite
entries, so there will be extra awards given to these winners as well. 
More info about prizes will be given in our next update post.

Here are the prizes for each catagory (We hope you like them!)

BEST GUNPLA PHOTO WINNER:

MG 1/100 Full Armor Unicorn Gundam (plus 2 random Gundam UC HG kits)

MG 1/100 Type 94 Base Jaber

$20 GG INFINITE Coupon

BEST DIORAMA WINNER:

MG 1/100 Heavyarms Gundam EW

MG 1/100 Gundam Sandrock

MG 1/100 Gundam Eypon

$10 GG INFINITE Coupon

BEST CUSTOMIZED GUNPLA WINNER:

Bandai Hobby Online Shop Exclusive: MG 1/100 Trans-Am Raiser [Trans-Am Mode]  (Plus MG Series 2 'Red' LEDs)

$10 GG INFINITE Coupon

BEST PAINT JOB WINNER:

RG 1/144 MBF-02 Strike Rouge [Gunpla Expo World Tour 2011 Exclusive Item]

RG 1/144 Freedom Gundam

$10 GG INFINITE Coupon

BEST STRAIGHT BUILD WINNER:  

HG 1/144 RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee (Unicorn Mode)

HG 1/144 RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee (Destroy Mode)

5 Random Gundam Markers

$10 GG INFINITE Coupon

Here are the prizes for the 5 judges' favorites\

Each Judge will be selecting their favorite entry from the contest, and these are the award prizes going to those winners:

GG's Favorite - MG 1/100 Gundam AGE-1 Normal 

Syd's Favorite - Gunpla Expo Exclusive HG 1/144 Pink BearGGuy

Kenny's Favorite - HG 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam G30th 7-11 Color Ver.

Don's ( DC23 ) Favorite - Robot Damashii (Side MS) Wing Zero Custom

Adam's Favorite - Gunpla Expo Exclusive HG 1/144 Gundam AGE-1 Normal Color Plated Ver. 

custom MG Freedom modeled by Mr.GAV

I am as always proud to present to you another killer build at our MAC FORUMS. This stunning Master Grade Freedom  in custom ( killer ) color scheme was modeled by one of our champions in MR.GAV. Mr. Gav was our Straight Build Champion at Erope Gunpla Cup with his perfectly painted MG Sinanju.



As I've said I love the MG Freedom as it was my first master grade back in 08. And Mr.Gav did a great job on the modifications on the shield and rifle.He is also getting the hang of using pigments for weathering as evident with his very nice custom base.



Anyways nice photos and discussion of this build at our MAC forums, here is the link guys...

custom MG Freedom modeled by Mr.GAV

The legend of Ichiyo Haga of Tokyo Japan

NO these are not old photographs of scenes of old Japan.



These are photos of some of the legendary miniature dioramas of master Ichiyo Haga of Tokyo Japan.



Ichiyo Haga

THREE DIMENSIONAL MINIATURE ARTISAN



Ichiyoh Haga was born in 1948 and resides in Tokyo, Japan. He began
creating three dimensional miniature art in 1995 after running his own
chain of women's clothing stores, which were affected adversely by the
recession that rocked the Japanese economy throughout the eighties and
nineties. This turn of events, caused Mr. Haga to make a dramatic change
in his life and today remains the catalyst for his adventure into the
miniature art world.





Ichiyoh Haga's very first project
was a small, wooden, traditional Japanese railroad office (smaller than
a cigarette box) constructed while killing time at work due to
declining situation of the Japanese economy. This one small step fueled
his enthusiasm and by the end of the first week he would go on to create
five projects that would mark a new career for him and a dramatic
change of lifestyle.



It didn't take long for people to notice
his work and in 1996, Parco (a Japanese department store) held what
became Ichiyoh's first miniature art exhibition. After the success of
his first exhibition (including various sales) his career really began
to take off and at present, Ichiyoh has held over 45 exhibitions both
here in Japan and internationally.







Still breathless guys???



This is what I want to be when I grow up ( or get older ). I won't leave Sci Fi scale modeling, I hope not to leave Gunpla but I hope that someday I will have enough skills and knowledge to incorporate " robots " into realistic scenes like the works of master Ichiyo. His legend is a dream I would personally strive for.



So how do we make our robots look as realistic as possible and how do we blend or incorporate those robots with realistic scenes? I have no idea. But will strive for this kind of excellence and realism someday.

Thank you for the inspiration master Ichiyo Haga.

Someone MASSIVE is coming to town!!!

Yes I am not talking about the peace talk with MechaPinoy, our 2012 Mecha Contest, G-SHOT, or our ZAKU Group Build at MAC forums. I am talking about someone ( a massive person actually - lol ) coming to town.



We've been fortunate at MAC forums to have met our friends from Singapore back at the MAC FORUMS anniversary party. Now I am very happy and excited to announce that one of our big boys and huge contributor and VIP member is coming to town this February 2012!



 Omar aka AOR_OR_DIE will be coming from Italy to the Philippines this 2012!



I met Omar back at BAKUC 2008 when he represented Italy as their BAKUC Champion. He got a special prize during the event from Mr. Kawaguchi himself and I sat beside him and Matt Tomczek ( US Champion ) during the BAKUC dinner party. Omar / Aor got a crappy HG kit during the raffles ( lol ).



I have been following his builds since then and was good friends back at ZeroGunz and now at MAC forums. He is a VIP member of our forums and has been a very active VIP member ever since. Aor even donated a prize for our 2012 Mecha Contest.



BTW, I say he is massive as he is I think around 6 foot 4 inches. Filipinos like me ( at 5 foot 7 inches ) would get stiff necks talking to this guy. Anyways I am pretty sure you know Omar's website, but I'd still leave you with the link guys...

GUNDAM DREAMS.blogspot.com

Airbrush shading without Airbrush by SLIVER

Yes I am not joking. This is airbrush shading without the use of airbrush! I am currently snap fitting the same RG kit and I am halfway in giving up as the parts are really so small for my fat fingers! Thus I am very amazed at this build as the modeler even managed to add beautiful shading effects on those tiny armor parts!



The shading that looks like airbrush shading was done with Tamiya Weathering Master. I have never seen anyone use those sets to shade along the panel lines as precisely as this one. I personally just plainly use them to weather my kits. This is inspiring work form new MAC forums member SLIVER.



Superb job on this tiny RG Zaku kit. Discussion and a ton more photos of this build at our forums. Here is the link guys...

custom RG Zaku modeled by SLIVER

DC23 and MechaPinoy at peace

This is just a quick response to what MechaPinoy founder Richie Ramos has just announced at MechaPinoy's website.



For those who has been friends with me since I started the hobby back in 2008, you guys pretty much know my personal history with MechaPinoy since 2009. I am a proud Filipino / Pinoy Gunpla modeler but  unfortunately I had conflicts  ( some silly ) with their group dating back December 2009.



I need not narrate the whole thing and I actually deleted ALL my rant posts pertaining to my past conflicts with their organization. I had a meeting with Richie Ramos a couple of Saturdays ago and it was actually my first time to talk with him in person. The lunch meeting was simply to try to put our past conflicts behind us and just try to promote the hobby.



Anyways I together with the support of the whole MAC forums community would try to work with  MechaPinoy to help strengthen the Gunpla community most specially here in the Philippines. I'll leave you with the link to their announcement at MechaPinoy's website...

Important Announcement: MAC And MP At Peace

P.S. To Richie, GMAC is the Facebook group page by Vanz Hilario... MAC ( without the G ) or Mech Arts Community ( Facebook ) is THE FORUMS. :)





EDIT:  My title is different than Richie / MechaPinoy's entry as I personally think that our community at MAC forums generally does not view MechaPinoy the same way as I view them before. So I am keeping our forums ( MAC ) out of the title at least as the 2 year feud was mostly between me, Richie Ramos and a few officers and veteran members of the 10 year old forums MechaPinoy.

AC Sunshine diorama modeled by DECAY

One of the big boys of MAC forums has finished another diorama masterpiece. This beautiful 1/72 diorama of a dock was modeled by MAC forums moderator and very skilled and talented diorama builder in DECAY.  Marc Meyer aka Decay was our Europe Gunpla Cup Best in Modified Champion and he continues to amaze us with his great talent.



Decay's most recent Gunpla masterpiece was the hguc Sazabi he used to face-off with Kamm's Groud Type Sazabi. Now he shares with us this perfect diorama using a couple of 1/72 Kotobukiya Armored Core model kits. A ton more photos and discussion of this stunning work at our MAC forums diorama section. Here is the link guys...

AC Sunshine diorama modeled by DECAY

MG Zeta diorama " NO MATCH " versionDC23

Finished at long last!!!



I am proud to present my most recent work, the MG Zeta diorama " NO MATCH ". 



This has been a very long around 10 months in the making project as I had so many distractions this year. You may remember this diorama as the desert Khaki colored hangar diorama a few months back. The client of this build is pretty strict actually, he tells me what he wants his dio and his kit to be. I had to revise or redo a few times during the build.



Having a unique client who knows what he likes and makes you redo certain parts of the build practically kills your momentum ( makes you slower ). However you are assured that he would like ( hopefully ) your work as he guided you throughout the build. The latest revision was to repaint the red parts of the big gun to copper. See older gallery here without the diorama.



Well at last this project is finished! The best part of commission works is ahead... getting PAID!



The instruction is to copy boss Eday's piston waist modifications and base most of the modifications on my PG Zeta commission work. The client also wanted me to do a diorama that is similar to my " Coup de etat " diorama that I finished 4 years ago. I think I did a fairly good job on the instructions and now I hope my client likes the completed build.



Enuff talk, now here are a few photos of my recently ( but old build ) completed MG Zeta diorama I entitled... NO MATCH.

 

Thanks as always for dropping by! Til' next finished project guys! :)