A Nu dawn is here. It birth the light of thunder*, violent explosion.
- zenma5ter (14/12/2012)
Pardon my silly attempt of a Haiku (*and I know the difference between thunder and lightning), but let us get down to business!
The Gauntlet 2.0 hosted by the ever-awesome Lupes (from It's a Gundaaaam!), sequel to the PG Strike Freedom that was an epic of a group build. Now, the Nu new (get it?) is out and wreaking havoc all over the gunplar-sphere. Needless to say, GAF will be joining in the anticipation and creating masterpieces. The PGSF Gauntlet and Sinanju Gauntlet (evilcow era - I had yet to taste the sweet dust of plastics - but I am sure) was a challenge, and only few have been brave enough to wander into the the storm of explosion, and even fewer manage to come out triumphant. This time, there are different categories to guide you through, so choose carefully! The time limit for finishing the kit is 3 months, with the finish date being by the end of March (tentative). Onward!!!!
SPEED STYLE
RULES:
A race between straight builders to see who can finish building the Nu Gundam fastest and have a simple straightbuild that exemplifies the basics of gunpla building. Anything goes here, so long as you clean the nub marks properly! Fastest completed kit from a set start time wins a prize, so don't break open the plastic the second you get it, we will need exif stamped pics of the runners still in their bags! Extra points for panel lines and decals. OOB Speed build will be from a set agreed time when all/most kits are deemed to have arrived, or all those who nominate themselves for the category have received their kits. Like X date at Y time AEDT you snap your photo of your sealed bags, pick up your nippers and your sandpaper/hobby knife and go hell for leather.
HYPERSPEED STYLE
RULES:
Everyone is eligible to enter that one. Just has to be completely assembled, properly denubbed, nicely photographed, and posed in a way that makes me think you are some sort of aesthetics demigod. Even if you're entering the open or newtype styles you can enter this as well. Consider this category a firestarter for those of us who are going to be painting our kits as well.
(OPEN) GANGNAM STYLE!
RULES:
This is your standard fare for builds. You can do whatever you like for this category. Paint it in stock colors or your own custom colors, mod things here and there, do something outrageous with weathering or other building techniques. Anything goes here! Best in show wins it, as decided by YOU: GAF!
NEWTYPE STYLE
RULES:
Kit must be colored in the theme of one of Amuro's old mobile suits. Best execution of theme takes the pony. Here are the suit/schemes eligible for this category:
RX-78-2 Gundam
RX-75 Guntank
RX-77-2 Guncannon
RX-78-3 G3 Gundam
RX-78-NT1 Gundam "Alex" (counting it since it was intended for him)
MSZ-006-3A Zeta Gundam [Karaba Air Force use]
MSZ-006A1 Zeta Plus A1
MSK-008 Dijeh
RGZ-91 Re-GZ
RX-93-2 Hi-Nu Gundam
If any knows of any other official suits that have documentation of being piloted by or intended for Amuro, please inform us at the forum.
Our friendly forum techie Fury-s12 whipped up aSchemer App for the Nu Gundam, with 150 colour-able pieces. I mean, come on!!!!
So, what are you waiting for? Jump to the thread (via banner above), sign up to our forum, claim a piece of the Gauntlet and be part of this explosive group build!
Ok so by now we
all know that the BIG Bandai release for 2012 is going to be Hajime Katoki's
reimagining of what is in my humble opinion THE greatest Gundam suit design the
Nu
Gundam, Amuro
Ray's suit from Char's Counter Attack and the star of the ultimate battle
scene with Char in the Sazabi, representing both pilots at the peak of their
Newtype abilities piloting the greatest prototype suits of the era to
date.
Now there's
debate about the validity of the existing MG Nu Gundam kit,
but what I will say is that for it's age it is an incredibly well engineered
kit. I will argue all day about how it has great proportions, sleek lines,
beautiful angles, and is my first and favourite Gundam to date of the 60+ kits I
have built.
So what could be better than taking an already great design,
modernising the technology and gimmicks, and adding Katoki's fierce sense of
design, style, and detail to the kit?
This is being heralded as the
greatest MG kit ever by renowned bloggers such as Gaijin
Gunpla, better perhaps even than the Sinanju!!?
So let's break
it down and take a look at what we're gonna get shall we?
You can order yours right now through
Hobbylink Japan by clicking HERE or the banner above will take you there as
well.
1. Two Tone
Armour
Much like the Real Grade series has redefined detail on a
smaller scale by slightly altering the shade of some of the main colour armour,
it looks like we will be seeing this simple yet effective addition of contrast
and detail making it's way into the Master Grade range via the Nu Gundam Version
Katoki.
2.
Re-engineered Frame
Gaijin Gunpla speculates the Nu Ver. Ka. will
have the same or a similar frame to the Sinanju. This means sturdiness and
ability to support some weight. Anyone who has built the MG Nu Gundam will know
that it has die cast ankle and hip joints which add weight in critical points
and help anchor and stabilize the kit. The Sinanju by contrast did not have much
metal in the fame work at all. Not many or no screws from memory, just tight
fitting and precision engineering to support all of the external armour and
upper body/backpack weight. The fin funnels on the existing Nu kit distributed
the weight suprisingly well, it was only the sagging over time that really
caused any problems. I found the hip joints to be a bit loose as well so
hopefully these are two issues that have been adressed in the revamped Ver.
Ka.
3.
Hyper-Ultra-Mega-Collosso Panel Detail
Yup. It's pretty much a given
that a Katoki designed kit is going to have some extra panel lines and panel
details. The Nu Ver. Ka has panel lines in it's panel lines. Get your Gundam
markers/panel wash primed for a workout.
4. Fin
Funnel Gimmick
The Fin Funnels will be able to be removed and
displayed in psy-commu attack mode much like the MG Hi-Nu Gundam. A simple and
welcome addition which ties in with the next point:
5.
Hi-Nu Stand
The kit will come with what I assume is the same Amuro's
signature "A" logo stand as the Hi Nu, perhaps moulded in black and clear
plastic but likely from the same mould and with the clear plastic coated wire
pieces for displaying the Fin Funnels deployed. A welcome addition extending the
posability and playability factors.
6. PG+
hands!
Here we see the evolutionary steps Bandai takes in learning
from previous designs. What I think we are seeing is equal parts PG, RG, and
aftermarket HD manipulator sets that Bandai have produced. All had their
shortcomings, but these look aesthetically every bit as excellent as their
Perfect Grade and Real Grade counterparts perhaps with better function;
articulation and maneuverability. They will be moulded from one piece like the
RG hands, and look to have three points of articulation in the fingers like PG
hands/human fingers. For the record, in robotics the instuments used to grasp
and hold items are called manipulators, which is where we get the term.
I certainly
hope this is technology that carries over to future MG releases because these
hands look GREAT.
7. Water
slides!
If there is one thing that is synonymous with a Katoki
designed kit it is a plethora of markings. As Bandai appear to be moving away
from independently releasing waterslide decal sheet sets they are identifying
with their target demographic for these kind of releases by heeding the
consumer's disdain for stickers and dry transfers and including a water slide
decal sheet with the kit. A welcome addition at that.
8.
LED
With the addition of the LED they have really given us the whole
package. Every modern added extra I can think of has been included in this kit,
giving the fans nothing to gripe about and really demonstrating Bandai's
commitment to providing a complete experience with their key releases. As the
inclusion of markings, a stand, HD manipulators, and LED becomes standard fare
for MG kits I pose the question where can they go from here? What's next?
Included metal option parts? That would be cool. Bandai seem to be cleverly
widening the gap and making a distinction between RG and MG releases both in
terms of price and kit contents. MG's with a huge amount of added value at
around the :y:8000 price point is something I would be cool with, as I am with
RG's with MG detail at :y:2000.
9. Mystery
gimmick?
To keep the initial excitement and web buzz at a peak level
from the announcement right through until release, Bandai will reveal a
"Secret!" at Gunpla Expo 2012. Bandai are very aware of the power of (free) buzz
and exposure among the online Gunpla community and this is a pretty clever
manipulation to keep this release at the top of people's want lists from the
date of announcement right up until it hits the store shelves. A great example
of this is everything I've spent the last few days compiling and typing for you
to read here. I'm super excited about this release but you can bet your bottom
dollar Bandai aren't paying me a red cent for this exposure. Well
played.
Naturally there's been some speculation about what it could be.
Beam shield/Fin Funnel Barrier (pyramid)? A magazine kit release for FWS
conversion? Who knows... but I know I can't wait to find out!
So what
remains now is to place my preorder and count the days until
December!
You can order yours right now
through Hobbylink Japan by clickingHERE
This
is the kind of release that has generated enough interest to qualify for a
special GAF Group Build.... I reckon
there might be a few of us interested in participating? Stand by for an
announcement closer to release. Perhaps with a bit of luck and/or bribery we
could persuade Fury to knock together a Nu Gundam Ver. Ka Schemer
App??!
So what are you guys looking forward to about this kit? Are you
skeptical about anything? I for one am wondering if something has been done
about the sagging funnel issue. It's definitely up there in terms of price but I
have no doubt it will be every bit worth it and filled to the brim with extras.
I personally can't wait to look at the artwork in the manual.
The paint work is really the feature here. Stunning. Incredibly smooth, barely a spec of dust, and just so complimentary those tones. I mean we all know purple and gold work but when it comes down to the selected tones Lupes has nailed this like a Thai hooker; furiously.
One thing that should be pointed out is that this is a strip and repaint. Massive props due for the following reasons:
It is a PG kit.
There are a bazillion pieces.
Painting it the first time should have weakened the integrity of the plastic, particularly with all that alclad lacquer.
The first paint job had to be done and redone and redone again in many areas.
The finish the first time was totally sweet
The finish the second time is totally sweeter
This is a man in pursuit of perfection. He should be damn pleased with what he has achieved here, that's for sure.
I actually really liked the ANA scheme of Pride and was sad to see it get stripped down, but what has emerged in the atonement has been worth the disappointment of seeing Pride go before the fall.
Supplemental props for going with Lakers colours, and can I say what you have done with that rifle is just stunning Mr. Looper. If there's one thing I like it is an intricately detailed weapon. That thing goes BLAM right in your face, furiously..
Pride (Before the fall):
See here for exemplary use of the word atonement in a rap song:
I reckon
there might be a few of us interested in participating? Stand by for an
announcement closer to release. Perhaps with a bit of luck and/or bribery we
could persuade Fury to knock together a Nu Gundam Ver. Ka Schemer
App??!
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