New Stuff: TITAN 2100

I'm all tied up with Gundam Duel Company as of the moment but that doesn't mean that that's gonna be what I'm gonna be talking about here. My friend, game designer par excelence Will Mohammed just put up a Kickstarter for their upcoming mecha universe TITAN 2100. And my it looks like we have a winner here.  

Gundam Duel Company, Move Out!

There's a ton of Gundam games out there and clearly Gundam Duel Company is one of them. But what sets it apart is that it is tagged as a 'hybrid' Collectible/Tradeable Card Game (CCG/TCG) aimed at the online gamer of today.

So what's Gundam Duel Company and how does it measure up with other browser games? Read up, soldier!

Event: Free Comic Book Day 2012

Some will say I'm late but I'd say otherwise. Here's Free Comic Book Day (FCBD) in my standpoint.

Obligatory crowd pics

My Take on the 2012 Gunpla Rumors

Yeah there's been a lot of Warhammer 40,000 stuff happening in this blog and my life recently but don;t think for a second that I have forgotten about Gunpla (Gundam Plastic) models. There's a list currently circulating in the interwebz regarding rumors on this year's releases and it's all very exciting. So here's my take on the much talked about list:

*Note that this list is not 100% set yet and may include more or less models as official announcements from Bandai trickle as months go by:

News sourced from gunjap and gtoys  by the way. Thanks guys!

Warhammer 40,000 Orks: Trukk and Looted Wagon

As you all know, I picked up Games Workshop's awesome Assault on Black Reach for their Warhammer 40,000 game system. A week after that though, something better came along.

Wargaming awesomeness in a box

I won our company's Christmas party raffle's grand prize and I sorta went on spoiling myself more with these: 

Deviant Feature: Mecha-Master

Today's Deviant Feature is extra special. We've had some exceptional deviants with their equally uncanny works posted on this humble blog. But now, exclusively on Rai's Garage is the super dimensional mecha artist Mecha-Master/David A. White in real life. Among Mr. White's claim to fame are his works for the new Mechwarrior/Battletech universe as well as other high profile stuff ranging from official works on Voltron and Transformers. Heck, we'll let the man speak for himself!

Mr. White at the 2010 NY Anime Fest and Comic Con

Rai's Garage: First off, what’s your real name? Can you tell us that or would you stick to your DA persona?

Mecha-Master: Hi! Outside of deviantArt, I go by my real name of David A White. I have to use the “A” because there are a lot people with the name David White. I’m always a little embarrassed by my DA handle of Mecha-Master. I definitely don’t think I am the best mecha artist nor am I really a master of anything. I just like drawing mechs and try to do my best every time I draw something new. I don’t know what I was thinking when I came up with that name!

Deviant Feature: Bang-Doll-SSI

Deviant Feature return here atthe Garage and what better to have on our hot seat this time than the incredible Bang-Doll-SSI. His interests in mecha is broad: his works include a number of gunpla, Maschinen Kreiger, Warhammer 40,000 and historical models (warplanes, battleships, armor etc.). Read all about him and take heed on his golden pieces of plamo advice! Carry on!

Masterclassed HG 1/144 Gundam 00 Qan[T]

All out!

Rai's Garage:  First off, what’s your real name? Can you tell us that or would you stick to your DA persona?
Bang-Doll-SSI: Dade W. Bell.  I’m also usually called Karybdis everywhere else, but DA (Karybdis was already taken).

IPMS Nationals/Mechapinoy Formula 144 Part 3

Ok I'll be concluding my coverage of the IPMS Nationals/Mechapinoy Formula 144 2011 with a barrage of sci-fi kits and the best of the best.

I'll start off with a gratuitous one:

Dino-ridin' uh, cowgirl takes the cake.

IPMS Nationals/Mechapinoy Formula 144 Part 2

The stage and ginourmous event poster

So here's part 2 of my coverage of the IPMS Nationals/Mechapinoy Formula 144 event held last Oct.21,2011 Friday at the Megamall Activity Center, Ortigas Phils.

The event was jam-packed with model kits from every sort of genre conceivable: armor, aircraft, vehicles, sci-fi and wargaming miniatures. A whole floor was dedicated for the purpose, and I was surprised that it was where the ice-skating rink was (i think it was a couple of years has passed since I last visited). There was about 30 or so glass display cases which housed all of the kits in assorted scales. Some of the displays were coherent enough though some had armor mixed with some 28mm minis and such but this may due to the lack of space and/or overwhelming number of entries and exhibits.

People shown to scale

It was the first time attending such an event. I mean, I've been to several conventions and events but nothing like this. Usually a convention would have a small portion of it dedicated to a handful of plamo, mostly contest entries like that for the annual Toy Convention here. And shame on me for not (yet being able) to attend a single BAKUC (Bandai Action Kit Universal Cup) but heck I may be able to next time around.

The crowd was a good mix of  enthusiasts and passers-by. The event was open to everybody (and free!)which is good as it might encourage more people to get into the hobby. Kids would normally go towards a display and say "Wow that's a cool toy!" and I'm glad to hear some parents explain to them that they are not toys but scale models (hat tip to those parents). There were a lot of hobby photographers present also. I've talked to some if they are into the hobby with a majority of them saying that they're just there to look and take pictures of the kits. A handful were actually into plamo and photography which is always cool on my book. 
   

IPMS Nationals/Mechapinoy Formula 144 Part 1

So as promised here's my report on the recently concluded IPMS Nationals/MEchapinoy Formula 144 contest (held last October 21, 2011 at SM Megamall). The whole event was huge with over a dozen displays featuring scale model aircraft, cars, armor, sci-fi model and of course gunpla.

I'll be splitting this series into parts as I took a TON of pics for you guys to enjoy. I'll be concentrating on gunpla for this part.

These are actually part of the Sci-fi category for the IPMS Nationals.

Hot Off from our friends at 45Fresh

Wonder what's inside the Toy Art Gallery? Here's a quick look:

Here's some goodies from our friends from 45fresh up for grabs. Check them out!

Deviant Feature: jiyujin55

Up on Rai's Garage today is jiyujinn55, a simple guy with an seemingly ordinary life albeit with an unperturbed love for gunpla and other plamo. Let's get to know more of this extraordinary dude.

Love the Backgorund as much as his MG Destiny :D

Rai's Garage: First off, what’s your real name? Can you tell us that or would you stick to your DA persona?
jiyujinn55: My real name is Sebastiaan van der Horst

Remembering some (Macross) Love

Time flies so fast. I remember watching the original Macross TV series in grade school, before I was exposed to Gundam a decade later (college years). It was the first 'real robot' show I laid eyes on and fell in love with. The show was cutting edge even at that time when anime was not that popular yet (and still awkwardly called 'japanimation') and the only SF series shown on the 'tube was of the hardcore kind. It was more than a mecha show, a span ahead of the 'monster-of-the-week' robot shows back then. Don;t get me wrong, Super Robot also have a spot on my heart. Any mecha show for that matter. But Macross is special much like love at first sight.

And now, 30 years past, Macross still reminds us to 'remember love'.

Deviant Feature: BlueFox284

This week on Rai's Garage we're having the amazing all-around kit builder (and hardcore Metal Gear Solid fan like yours truly) BlueFox284. He's just about the personification of your regular, everyday neighborhood guy that works through the day and builds kits like there's no tomorrow. His works includes much variety, but who am I to tell it to you all? Take it away dude!

Intricate decal work here

Rai's Garage: First off, what’s your real name? Can you tell us that or would you stick to your DA persona?
BlueFox284: No problem, name's Dave Allan Ridolfi

Deviant Feature:clem-master-janitor

One of my faves: his custom Master Chief figure that's fit to be a Space marine Chaplain 

The deviants just keep coming, and from the look of things you all seem to love 'em! Up on our Deviantart hotseat is the 'lord and master of the custodial arts', kit builder and hunter extraordinaire: clem-master-janitor. When he's not on his divine custodianship he's churning up one model kit to another ranging from good ole Gunpla, HALO, Star Trek and even much appreciated kits from popular anime and video games. This guy is to be seen and heard off to be believed. So without further ado, I'll give the tables to him:

Rai's Garage:  First off, what’s your real name? Can you tell us that or would you stick to your DA persona?
clem-master-janitor: My first name is Josh but I usually prefer Clem.  I know way too many people with the same first name.  I have a bad habit of ignoring everyone yelling my regular name but always tend to respond to Clem or the couple hundred other nicknames I have.  Most of these nicknames I can't really repeat thanks to them usually being rated 'R' on a good day.

Rai's Garage:Tell us something about yourself:  age, occupation, country of origin, other hobbies/interests beyond DA etc.
clem-master-janitor:  I'm a lord and master of the custodial arts, or a janitor if you want to be a dick about it.  I love being able to use that quote.

Deviant Feature: SPICE-EMPEROR:

GO! GO! GO!

We're having the versatile Gundam modeler and photographer SPICE-EMPEROR for our deviant feature for today. He's on a mission to take gunpla building and photography to another level with his hyper-imaginative shots. Here's what he has to say about his whole modus operandi: 

Rai's Garage: First off, what’s your real name? Can you tell us that or would you stick to your DA persona?
SPICE-EMPEROR: I’d rather stick to my persona, but everyone calls me Shino in real life anyway.

Deviant Feature: PhantasmaStriker:

the infamous Armored Core Ninball Seraph

Featured on Rai's Garage today is the enigmatic PhantasmaStriker, a deviant with a mission. His works involves mecha in all manner of shapes, size and ordnance level. take a look at his awesome line work from his Armored Core interpretations (a personal fave -Rai) and his originals. And, as with any Deviant Feature, we let him do some talking:

 Rai's Garage: First off, what's your real name? Can you tell us that or would you stick to your DA persona?
PhantasmaStriker: Eh, I would rather just stick to my DA name. PhantasmaStriker has a nice ring to it I say ;)

Rai's Garage: Tell us something about yourself: age, occupation, country of origin, other hobbies/interest beyond DA etc.
PhantasmaStriker: Age(23-25) Nationality is Asian. Born and raised in the US. Haha, well my job isn't something to write home to but its what gives me my income, so lets just leave it as that. My hobbies outside of drawing is video gaming(pretty hardcore gamer), watching anime, hanging out with friends/spending time with my GF. And toys, I love fully articulated and highly detailed figurines and plastic models.

Deviant Feature: vash68

We have the talented vash68 gracing Rai's Garage DeviantArtist feature for this week. vash68 is most especially known in DA for his builds ranging from Model T's, movie and TV vehicles (like the Delorian which he has some awesome builds of) and war planes but as it turns out he's also a visual artist too. Let's hear the rest of his story from him:


Rai's Garage (RG):First off, what’s your real name? Can you tell us that or would you stick to your DA persona?
vash68:Daniel Hollingsworth

One of his most realistic, A For TT complete with a scratch built bed.

Rai's Garage (RG):Tell us something about yourself: age, occupation, country of origin, and other hobbies/interests beyond DA etc.

One of his T's

vash68: I’m 24 years old going to college to learn about automotive paint and body work , also metal fabrication. I want go into building hotrods and customs and hopefully open my own shop. I enjoy mainly building car models, but I also enjoy building military subjects. I also like restoring and collecting antiques, mainly classic trains, military memorabilia, and classic car parts, pretty much anything that catches my interest or has history behind it. I’m a car buff, I love classic cars from all eras. Right now I’m restoring a 1968 Camaro in my free time, which is the 2nd cars I’ve owned, but my first project car.

Rai's Garage (RG):What do you normally post in DA?
vash68: Mainly car photos, pics of the models I’ve built, car sketches on occasions, paintings, and WIP pics of various projects I’m working on.

Rai's Garage (RG):How did you know of DA?
vash68: A few friends of mine urged me to join, so I did! And because of that I’ve made more new friends over Deviant Art, I’m on DA more than I’m on
Facebook!

Black Rock Shooter: The Review

Black Rock Shooter: The Game's been wrapped in hype since it came out. The cool intro animation was one of the best I've seen for a PSP game. But for the rest of it, I can't put my finger on.

BRS: The Game presents yet another incarnation of Black Rock Shooter (BRS). Here she is a superhuman clone which has been awakened several years into a war torn future.  She helps a ragtag bunch of freedom fighters against a little known alien threat that has devastated Earth. And behind the threat lies a bigger one involving super powered beings which are similar to BRS herself.

Deviant Feature:humawinghangin

JIm's  excellent 'Darna' sculpt

Jim's Cobra Commander 

Today's DeviantArtist feature is one of the premier comics scupltors around; Jim Faustino a.k.a. 'humawinghangin'. Jim primarily works on custom comics figures and statues and one of the few out there who focuses on local komiks characters. Let's hear what he has to say for himself and his work: 

Rai's Garage: First off, what’s your real name? Can you tell us that or would you stick to your DA persona?

humawinghangin: Jim Faustino.

Rai's Garage: Tell us something about yourself:  age, occupation, country of origin, other hobbies/interests beyond DA etc.

humawinghangin: I’m old enough. :D/ currently working as offshore illustrator for web consumption(Philippine based).My interests include sculpting, painting, drawing, customizing toys, collecting toys, comics and  sci-fi movies