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Post by Mark on Feb 20, 2014 3:11:34 GMT -5
After being delayed for nearly two years, it's finally coming out this spring, for a hefty pricetag of 20,000 yen. Looks like it's going to be the holy grail of anything plastic related to Mortar Headds:  ^Yes, that is supposedly what it's going to look like OOB w/ panel lines (though it still looks painted to me- might just be a flatcoat). Volks stated that they wanted to make this figure appealing to non-painters. The parts separation is certainly insane though (even the crosses are separate clear parts!):  And with an inner frame that puts most PG Gundams to shame:  For those who don't know, the Injection Model Series line is Volk's attempt to make their insanely expensive 1/100 FSS resin kits into cheaper 1/100 plastic models, usually with a full inner skeleton like a Gundam Master Grade. They are usually molded in color, but don't really look great until painted, and they also need lots of cement and glue. These figures were released from way back in 2010, so far the lineup consists of the Vatshu, Bang Doll, both V-Sirens, and the Schpertor KOG. Articulation was never a strong point of these figures; while their joints were fine and functional (i.e. full 90 degree knee bends), they were too basic and unstable. While previous IMS kits needed glue and a good amount of paint, I think this one might be snap-fit since Volk's recent plastic kits (i.e. Temjin) were all snap-fit and in color. It's also touted as a reboot of the IMS line, so it's definitely going to be different (possibly more user-friendly) than previous IMS kits. Might even mean better articulation, though I don't know what other pose you could possibly do with that obscenely massive flame launcher... |
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Post by moleman on Feb 20, 2014 4:14:33 GMT -5
So is there any normal japanese retailer taking preorders for this ?
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Post by Mark on Feb 20, 2014 4:39:22 GMT -5
No, I'm pretty sure all first-batch preorders were gone two years ago. All we can do now is wait til Volks puts it up on their website for normal release.
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Post by quinjester on Feb 20, 2014 9:59:58 GMT -5
Ugh. Why, why, why does everything involving FSS have to be so damned difficult to get? I should have picked up an IMS Bang Doll when I saw it in person at the Volks shop in Akihabara. I want this so much, but I'd prefer it if it was a standard V3 rather than with the Napalm launcher. I just don't have the space for such a monstrosity. (not like I can get it either way at this point, though. UGH. UGH UGH UGH.) Pardon my rage. FSS has been a thorn in my side ever since I discovered I sucked at building resin kits  |
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Post by Mark on Feb 20, 2014 11:02:19 GMT -5
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Post by quinjester on Feb 20, 2014 11:58:09 GMT -5
I didn't realize they had put up an English shop. The last time I was interested in these things it was all "pre-order only, Japanese addresses only". Thanks for the update.
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Post by moleman on Feb 21, 2014 19:39:52 GMT -5
I guess I'll wait until they put up more on their english site OR beg Sentinel to make high end FSS stuff as well as beg Nagano to allow someone to do toys of his god damn designs.
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Post by recca74 on Feb 27, 2014 1:30:48 GMT -5
Holy cow. I need that. Actually anything FSS in my collection is good. Need to finish my MMS GKs at some point, but I've always wanted a crack at those newer plastic kits.
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Post by Mark on Mar 22, 2014 2:09:01 GMT -5
Alright, from the emails that some people have been getting since they preordered, this kit ships on April 12. Regular production for the second batch begins in June. This may just be a dream, but imagine how many people would kill for a 1/100 Jagd Mirage Twin Tower in plastic form:    |
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Post by Vendetta on Mar 24, 2014 9:44:05 GMT -5
It's always cool to see interest in Five Star Stories, and very cool to see someone putting out mildly more accessible merch! I would have been all over these plastic-injection kits a decade ago, but at this stage I'm done with model-building. ;/
OT: I've mentioned e2046 in the past as a source for pre-painted recasts of many of the more popular FSS designs; I'd posted some pics of my Yen Xing (and TTGL) a month or three back, which I am very, very happy with (didn't think anyone would ever release a pre-painted Yen Xing and I was especially intimidated by this particular kit in my model-building days).
I've gotten some more since then and will snap some pics to share with you guys soon; I just got an email today that the MM Auge is still ready to ship (my avatar and by far my favorite FSS design)!
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Post by Mark on Mar 25, 2014 3:09:17 GMT -5
Oh yes, I've been curious about the pre-painted Auge too! It looks like the most gorgeous paintjob on an FSS mech yet from e2046. I just hope it lives up to expectations. Please be sure to snap many pictures!
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Post by Vendetta on Mar 28, 2014 23:15:03 GMT -5
Will do. Hopefully it doesn't get stuck in US customs like my Speed Mirage and Vatshu currently are!
e2046 also put up sample photos of the Gastness Temple. The color's a fair bit lighter than I was expecting, so it's a skip for me for now.
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Post by Vendetta on Mar 31, 2014 21:21:28 GMT -5
Won't be able to do a full shoot for a while, so here are two quick pics of the MM Auge in the meantime (only took 3 days to NJ from HK!) in my finally completed display area (Ikea finally restocked Detolfs). Can't fit it in there with the scythe, unfortunately:  Quick snap of the Detolf display (I also have a few other display cases, but my robots are mostly in these):  |
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Post by Mark on Mar 31, 2014 22:20:34 GMT -5
Wow, what a beast, both the model AND your display shelf. Looks like you have a lot more of the Gathering mecha other than FSS too. I'm surprised by how big that Siren is though, especially compared to the Metal Composite Psycho Gundams (though that might be more due to perspective).
Any impressions on the paintjob and stability?
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Post by Vendetta on Mar 31, 2014 22:38:49 GMT -5
Wow, what a beast, both the model AND your display shelf. Looks like you have a lot more of the Gathering mecha other than FSS too. I'm surprised by how big that Siren is though, especially compared to the Metal Composite Psycho Gundams (though that might be more due to perspective). Any impressions on the paintjob and stability? Thanks! The Siren is gloriously big - that was an impulse buy during a sale, and it has ended up being my fave non-MMAuge FSS model so far! The total height is probably the same as the Psycho Gundam. No complaints on the paint on any of my Gathering stuff so far, although the Speed Mirage head is a bit misshapen and assyemtrical (pretty annoying). Stability on the Auge is good; the only issues so far have been the Siren skirt, Ancient Getter spikes and TTGL legs (not captured in the pic); they all should probably be glued, but I will need to repack all of this stuff one day (that will be a nightmare). Just waiting for my Vatshu to clear customs, and then the KOG will ship next month! It's awesome getting things you really wanted a decade or so ago that you couldn't afford / lacked the skill to do justice (GK building). The MM Auge in particular is my favorite FSS design, and just one of my favorite robots in general. I may have fallen for the original Volks GK first, but this version is pretty neat too.  |
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Post by Mark on Apr 5, 2014 18:44:34 GMT -5
New picture of the plastic LED in Volk's store, this time I'm certain it's an unpainted build with only panel lines and decals:  And a better, if incomplete view of the straightbuild from a magazine:  |
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Post by Mark on Apr 7, 2014 16:54:08 GMT -5
Don't want to double post, but the box and contents have been posted!  tieba.baidu.com/p/2969584945Everything is molded in color, it looks like, even the inner frame is two-toned! |
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Post by Mark on May 4, 2014 2:39:43 GMT -5
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Post by Mark on Jun 24, 2014 12:13:24 GMT -5
Next Volks Plamo release will be Terror Mirage, one of the less ornate designs:  What an odd choice. It would have made perfect sense to release a KOG since this year marks the 25th anniversary of the FSS movie, and they already have the LED Mirage frame. Then again, this doesn't come out this year so maybe Volks still has a surprise for us at the upcoming Wonder Festival next month. I find it interesting that the proportions are very WSC on this one. There's nothing skinny or super ornate about the design, and it comes with quite a few accessories like the giant boomerang, which I think some non-FSS fans (read: Gunpla buyers) may appreciate. |
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Post by quinjester on Jun 24, 2014 12:35:42 GMT -5
The WSC Terror Mirage was the first FSS resin kit I ever bought (and conveniently, the first I never finished). A neat design, but yeah, admittedly a bit plain.
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