Shewsbury Land

Shewsbury Land Freebies Version 9

First and foremost we would like to congratulate Mike from Malaysia for being the only one responded to our Banpresto stuff survey in the previous post of Banpresto SCM RX-78-2 Gundam.

If the rest of you missed it, it's either you didn't read the review till the end or you just lazy to participate.

Mike will get a brand new Gundam action figure. The items will be sent out to him by this month or latest by early December 2009 - as it suppose to be Christmas gift.

Details of the prize will be shown later when we received it as it is still on the way from Japan now.

Congratulations and thank you for your participation.

As for the rest of you, this is now another chance to get a Christmas gift from Shewsbury Land.

It's easy and it's open to everybody around the world.

Just guess how many candies are there on the photos....

The winner shall get a brand new Mecha/Gundam figure which will be announced later.

- Send your guess to = shewsbury at gmail dot com
- You can send maximum 2 guess
- Your e-mail subject must be = SLFV9
- Don't forget to write your name/nick name and your blog address
- The one who guess correctly or closest to the correct answer shall be the winner
- At the end there will be only 1 winner, if there are more than one candidates, we will do some lucky draw.
- Expiry date is on the 30th November 2009
- We have the full rights to change the T&C as well as the prize if .

Good luck and all the best...

Auto Art Rotary Display Stand

This is the Auto Art Rotary Display Stand that usually were used by the car collectors (and even toys/model shop) to display their car collections but eventually you can also use it to display your figurine and that is what we will explore here in Shewsbury Land today.

That's the box... Eventually we have 3 units of this item, 2 Large and 1 Medium but we will only review one of them...

Out of the box...

This is the "engine part"

And this is the top display part that will keep on spinning...

You need this Size D battery to power up this rotary display stand but you can also buy those universal power adapters with adjustable "Voltage" functions on it so you can use electric power for as long as you like...

There are 2 gears of speed that you a choose, SLOW and FAST... I personally prefers SLOW.

And of coz there is a "ON and OFF" switch - how sweet...

Just put the rotary display plate on top...

Switch it ON and you rather to see the "Merry Go Round" of your figures... gorgeous...

This is the Medium size type... so basically you can now imagine how many figurines from different type you can put on there...

1/100 MG kits...

1/100 MG kits surrounded by 1/144 HG kits and GFF.

You can save a lot of space on your cabinet.... a new and nice way to display your figures collections...

This is the backside of the box where they indicate and explain more about the size differences.

I decided to "re-organized" the arrangement of all members in my Gundam Gallery...

I tried a few different variations....

And finally now, the MG Unicorn and MG Sinanju can get their "parking lots" in our Gundam Gallery... that is after over a year and almost a year respectively...

As you can see now, I use the Big Size, 1 stand for the 78s and the other for Zeon.

The Unicorn and the Sinanju used to stay here on the coffee table and today they can say bye bye...

I put the medium unit on the coffee table for now... more re-organization and relocation process will happen soon as Shewsbury Land will focus more into Gundam Fix Figurations (GFF) in the near future.

Overall this is indeed a very nice display stand made by Auto Art - the famous high end toy car models maker. Of coz this is not really a compulsory, you can display your figures the way you like and in the most affordable and convenient way according to your own personal preferences. The price is not really cheap for this kind of display stand but I do love it so much. The price is about SGD 40 plus... you can get the Max Factory D.I. Stage with much cheaper price than this...

According to Eric of Chong Hock, he have the similar item and after 5 years now it is still working in good condition - that is magnificent.

I can't really recommend this to all of you but basically if you like it the way I do and willing to pay for the price and you love "Merry Go Round" then why not...

Cheese Cake

I love cheese cake so much and I think plenty of you too..

There are many type of cheese cake we can find in the bakery or supermarket nowadays with various different forms and prices...

My favorite is certainly the so called "pure cheese" type... something like this;

The looks already make me wanted to eat it fast and I want to eat as much as I can...

This is the other type with some sort of chocolate stuff on top... magnificent taste, love it so much...

When we were poor, I always said to my self that someday when I'm richer, I will buy lots of cheese cake and egg tart and eat them all to my hearts content...

Those days, I cant afford to buy a nice cheese cake... there are times when I look at the bakery and I say to my self... wish I can get that... all of them...

After many years now I didn't really become a rich man... still trying hard to be one, but I guess in my own way I have a nice and rich live... rich not with money but with lot's of great good friends, some nice toys, good foods and most of all lots of love and happiness...

Every time I had the chance to eat cheese cake and egg tart it always reminds me of those days in the past where life is never easy and always filled with lots of struggle and hardship and somehow no matter what is the challenges we manage to overcome most if not all of it but then again situations may change as fast and it is all up to us to be strong and prepared to face the unknown challenge ahead of our life...

I am sure you have many other experience and stories in your life as well, some are great some are bad but more importantly is the lesson that you can learn from that event. There many more important things in life than just cheese cake or egg tarts and even Gundam and toys and I would say friends and friendship is one of them.

To all the regular visitors, Shewsbury Land wish to thank you for always visiting our site and some of you did it on daily basis as you get used to see different things everyday and most of you like it that way. You are an important friend to us.

Just like cheese cake and egg tart, life is short, live it to the fullest and enjoy it as much as you can without forgetting those who are poor and the needy as our world today only remember the best and the strongest.

I will trade any of my Gundam or toys with the skills of making great cheese cake and egg tart so that I can eat them everyday.

Do you like cheese cake?

1/60 PG RX-78-2 Gundam - Part 2 of 2

Review of 1/60 PG RX-78-2 Gundam - This is the straight continuation from the Part 1.

The "grandpa" standing firm with the weapons and shield...

Let's try do some action pose... but don't expect too much... the modern 1/144 HG RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. G30th can do better in this department...

So this is the best of the 90's technologies can do.... but then again at that time (1998), this is already the greatest...

You can mount the beam rifle at the back (or rather at the bum)

That port there, you can show or hide with the simple sliding mechanism....

The same for the shield - you can put it at the backpack of the Gundam...

Though the connector is a little too short to my liking...

Size comparison with 1/100 MG RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. One Year War and the tiny 1/144 GFF RX-78-2 Gundam.

Not to forget the transformable Core Fighter...

Also comes with a pilot figure...

Basically this PG is the bigger version of the first MG - the 1/100 MG RX-78-2 Gundam and as such they also give you the same "extra" pilot cockpit so that you don't really have to use the Core Fighter and instead display them on the outside together with your Gundam.

The photo below is basically the components of RX-78 Casval Gundam which is basically the same version as the Version 1.5 released in June 2000.

This PG kit also use the same aspect...

Eventually, I super glue that "internal pilot cockpit" onto the waist part of the "Grandpa" so that it can stick firmly forever and ever or so I thought. The problem with this mechanism is that sometimes or rather most of the times the bottom body part (waist and below) can easily pop out or fall down easily especially when you holding the Gundam on it's torso. The connector does not seems to be able to handle the full weight completely. Using super glue, I no longer have that problem, nothing will fall down or separated. It is firm and tight. I hate it when things fall down and suddenly certain small parts broke and end up you feel angry and desperate to look for spare or replacement parts which is never easy to get at all. The best bet is to buy another kit completely.

This is where the "Grandpa" shall rest... no place for him on our Gundam Gallery due to it's massive size... it's nice that he have two ladies to accompany him side by side... a pretty Japanese and a Chinese lady plus the Lucky Star twins and the beautiful Mizuho Kazami... isn't that great...

Do you notice that decoration hanging on the wall - it's the similar concept of a Japanese lady and a Chinese lady... it's gorgeous...

Overall, PG R-78-2 Gundam is not really the greatest of them all as it is indeed the oldest PG kits around and it is not that great if you compare it with the more modern PG kits but then again that never stop the hardcore Gundam collectors or even those not so hardcore collectors to get him due to the cheap price and again the sentimental vintage value.

The modern Gundam may looks more enticing specially to the younger viewer and modern generation but the RX-78-2 Gundam is certainly the main mascot of Gundam for Bandai and certainly fit the title "Grandpa"...

When Bandai and the rest of the committee of the Green Tokyo project first planned to make the 1/1 statue in Odaiba, without doubt they all can easily agree in choosing the 78 rather than the Wing Zero or the Strike or even the Exia or 00 Gundam...

RX-78-2 Gundam is the legend, he is the one who started it all and for many years to come Bandai will make more and more toys or newer version of the model kit for the 78.

I personally believe that Bandai will someday make the Version 2.0 of the 1/60 PG RX-78-2 Gundam as this model deserve to get an update... that could happen sooner or later... and when that happen, they will take their sweet time to plan for it to make it really perfect and to avoid the negative reactions by many of the demanding and hardcore GunPlaMo kits fans as experienced by the 1/60 PG 00 Raiser Initial Production Version.

You can also continue reading about the following;
1/144 HG RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. G30th
1/144 HGUC RX-78-2 Gundam
GFF Perfect Gundam
GFF Full Armor Gundam Blue Version

1/60 PG RX-78-2 Gundam - Part 1 of 2

This is the grandpa or rather the iconic RX-78-2 Gundam.

This is the oldest kits we have in Shewsbury Land (based on the date of release) and obviously this is the first Perfect Grade ever released by Bandai in 1998 and at just 12,000 yen (about SGD 185.00) before shipment charges surely the price is the cheapest among them all though if you willing to add a little bit more you can already get the much better 1/60 PG Strike Gundam but then again usually people will get the "grandpa" due to the sentimental vintage value.

As always let's have a look at the body...

Since this the technology of the late 90's one cannot expect much on the articulation department but somehow the "grandpa" can still do this kneeling pose...

The maximum stretch for the legs...

"Granpa" can still do some kicking action...

With limitations, action pose can be funny sometimes...

The "hydraulic" on the knee....

And also on the ankle...

The pelvis section...

The shoulder joint area...

The knee...

The fingers are all individually articulated and you can do the universal "friendship" sign...

One of the highlights of this model is openable hatches in which I don't fancy it at all...

The standard armaments and weapons... shield, beam rifle, 2 beam saber and no bazooka...

There is some holes on the palm so that you can attach the shield/beam rifle/beam saber accordingly and thus making sure it is firm on the hand...

And of coz you also see the pilot....

During the assembly process, one of the most difficult task is to set up the "LED circuit" on the head and this is never easy....

There is also a battery box so you can put the CR-1220 battery, it's the same battery used by PG Strike Gundam and 1/100 00 Gundam (the twin GN Drive on the shoulder)... and of coz there is an "ON and OFF" sliding up/down type of switch.... this wuld enable you to "ON and OFF" the LED lights of coz...

But eventually, the one on this unit is not working... probably the wiring is incorrect or maybe something that is not so firm and tight inside... I'm too lazy to re-open and investigate... How I wish they make it as easy as the one on the 1/100 00 Gundam.

Continue with Part 2 of 2 in here.

VF-25F Messiah Alto Custom

This is the transformable mecha action figure from Macross series by Bandai - the magnificent VF-25F Messiah Alto Custom.

I bough this at the local shop for SGD 70.00 while the price in HLJ is 4,800 yen before shipment charges... you can use the official currency converter of Shewsbury Land in www.xe.com - Just take note it is easy to just use JPY/SGD conversion as even if you try search the B$ it is actually the same rate.

At almost the same price of some of the Gundam Fix Figuration toys line up, you could expect great things for this item.

As a side notes, it would be better if you also buy the Tamashii Stage Action Support Type so that you can easily display this item as Bandai Action Base 1 and 2 is not really suitable (well, they're suppose to be for Gundam only not Macross). I personally prefer this = Tamashii Stage Act 2: Action Support Type.

The box

Out of the box...

Plentiful of additional/extra/optional parts that you need to make the "transformation" process possible...

As always, let's look at the body first...

In robot mode (or rather Battroid Mode) the Messiah have decent articulation and can perform some action pose but not as dynamic as of the non transformable Macross figurine from Revoltech.

At least for an old man like me, this is the most annoying part - transformation. It is not really something that is too difficult but somehow it takes me almost 1 hour to complete it.

As you can see from the manual, the "transformation" process includes parts removing and swapping...

After 1 hour later... this is it... the jet mode or rather the Fighter Mode... looks nice and beautiful though...

It has some decent details on it as well...

"Transforming" from Fighter Mode to Gerwalk Mode is a little easy, took me about within 30 minutes...

The look is a little weird but this is the special trademark of the jet fighters from any Macross series... other anime/toys can try to copy such creation but it is Macross who first started it.... something unique isn't it?

From Gerwalk Mode it is also easier for me to "transform" it back to the Battroid Mode... about 30 mintues as well...

This seems to be my favorite mode...

If you lazy to build the plamo kit and you still want something that can transform into Battroid, Fighter and Gerwalk Mode - then you should get this model.

As I mentioned earlier, the "transformation" process actually includes the part removal/swapping but in fact it is not at all too difficult. You don't really have to be a genius to follow it... just some patience and concentration can make things a little easier but I guess if you are a hardcore Macross fan that is never a problem at all coz when you do something with lots of passion and love in it the result is surely positive.

Bandai is not Hasbro/Takara Tomy and therefore "transformation" it is not really the strong hold of Bandai - at least not for the time being. No doubt that Hasbro are very excellent in their Transformers toys series and I think the way they design the toys to fit the desired transformation process deserved great credits but surely with all the latest technology and further R&D within Bandai, I believe someday they can surely catch up with Hasbro/Takara Tomy.

However if you just like to have the Battroid Mode in itself you can consider those mecha figures made by Yamato but I'm not sure if they have this particular model (Messiah Alto Custom).

Glorious Food

Still busy with lots of things in life and many unfinished things with toys stuff.

Just wanna show some of the foods that I've had recently... hope it can make you hungry or craving to eat something nice in the weekend...

Fish... I love fish, well some of them... it will help increase your sperm amount...

Udon with tuna... lovely...

Corn beef + friend rice... oily but yummy...

Mix vegetables... good for health... or so they said...

Fried noodles with beef... gorgeous

A new type of menu that I tried recently in the local food outlets - "Lo Mee", it's the normal noodles with some meat, fish cake and a little toufu stuff and eggs...

Again another friend noodles, this time with chicken...

My new favorite in the local Japanese restaurant... Dry udon with beef... astonishing...

And of coz, "kueh tiaw" and again with beef...

It seems that almost every day or every week (and even months) I tend to eat almost the same type of food... though at times it may feel kind of boring but at the end I still eat them, maybe I am grateful still to know that although we have the same boring type of food to choose in here but at least we are much better if compared to those unfortunate people in some other parts of the world when to find a single plain bread would cost them arms and legs... those who are suffering and starving due to political instability, war and conflicts, natural disaster and even power abuse and anything else that you can think off...

We are very lucky and thus we should be grateful...

The following lines always appear in Gundam anime;

"In the time of peace and luxury, human tend to forgot and take things for granted... and thus human must be punished for their ignorance"

The first sentences tend to be said by any of the heroes and even the villain but the second sentences usually will only be said by the villain...

Nonetheless, St. George Church is trying to give some donations to the recent typhoon victims in The Philippines... usually the church members or visitors will give donation during the weekend masses but if you also want to donate some money... even the smallest amount is accepted, you can always go to St. George Church's office and give them your donations. And if you wish to donate some "items stuff" - like clothing or house/kitchen tools, blanket, pillow, bed, LCD TV, radio, sound systems, computers, laptops, modeling tools, GunPla kits, toys etc., you can do so by sending them directly to The Philippines Embassy.

All these makes me think again... what should I eat for lunch tomorrow?

1/100 HG Nix Providence Gundam (LN-ZGMF-X13A)

This is the updated "redesigned or rather re-shuffle" mobile suits and GunPlaMo kits from Bandai - the cool looking Nix Providence Gundam (LN-ZGMF-X13A).

Now this is basically just the same 1/100 Providence Gundam released by Bandai in May 2004 with a little bit of reshuffle and a different approach of appearance. The price are also at the same range - 2,500 yen (about SGD 39.00) before shipment charges but I managed to get this from our local toy store CH Toynation for only SGD 51.00 - which is indeed a very good price, no doubt about it...

As for pretext of this model, in other words it's like the following simple Maths formula;

1 + 1 = 2

1 + 4 - 3 = 2

By just changing the color of the original Providence and make it more brighter and put that DRAGOON back pack and the shield on the shoulders and a little bit more reshuffle and minor parts add on here and there.... boom... Bandai finally produced Nix Providence Gundam...

This is basically the same scenario with Nokia E75 and Nokia 5730 XM.

The new color scheme is surely bright and maybe eye catching but 1 unit of Nix Providence to every 10 units of Providence sold sounds like a reasonable target for Bandai... Bandai don't mind as long as it doesn't cost a thing to develop or create.

It is also the almost the same case like the previous HGUC Nu Gundam HWS and HGUC Nu Gundam though that one at least is a little bit more exciting than this... at the end it is all about personal preference.

The box...

Typical HG from Seed series... quite simple... but this still takes me 5 hours to finish it... probably I am just too slow...

That is not a mistake, I purposely switch the DRAGOON backpack from the right shoulder to the left shoulder... what's the big deal anyway... even Bandai just do the same reshuffle style for this model... so at least this is the Nix Providence in accordance to my preferences....

Let's look around the body...

Side by side with the original 1/100 HG Providence Gundam

I don't know much about Gundam Seed vs Astray... I also don't know much about Gundam Seed Astray... so nothing much I can say about the pilot Prayer Reverie but you can read about him in Gundam Wikia.

Bandai supplied plenty of nice foil stickers for this kit and eventually I did screwed up plenty of them as well and I never really follow the guidance for the stickers location... I just stick them where I like...

Articulation wise, not much difference from the previous Providence - well, they're the same actually...

Somehow you can still do this kneeling pose...

This is my choice of messing around with the stickers...

This is the maximum stretch for the legs...

And talking about variation... I also don't mind to make this Nix to look this way...

Again, at the end it's all about personal taste... you can eventually convert it back to the original Providence Gundam - if you want it that is...

Not much action pose on the floor/ground (or rather table) that I can think of for this model, the best is always to put it on the Bandai Action Base and pose it "on the air"...

It would be nice if you have the magic to make all those DRAGOONs flying around on its own around the Gundam....

At the end this is the only for me to display those DRAGOONs in action...

This model looks cool on standing post and with the Action Base. Action pose, not much I can think off... but maybe you do know how to pose this model better than me.

Overall, if you just like Raww Le Klueze and Providence Gundam, just get the previously released 1/100 Providence Gundam. You will also get unpainted figure of Raww Le Klueze.

If you are a big fan of Gundam Seed vs Astray or if you like different variation (or even re-shuffle) of any particular original design then maybe it's OK for you to get this Nix Providence.

Even better, if you happen to have extra money, get them both.

The price are the same so what ever model you choose... Bandai is happy.

I personally love the color and the strange parts "re-shuffle" of the original Providence Gundam and in a way I love the word "variation".

I still hoping that Bandai will make the 1/100 Master Grade kit for the Providence Gundam.

As a side notes, I personally believe that the frame design for the 1/100 Gale Strike Gundam is basically from the previous 1/100 Aile Strike Gundam with just a little bit of minor add on, modification, tweaks and color changes by Bandai... This is just based on my personal guess and I might be totally wrong... you can do the analaysis by doing the research thru the generous product photos provided by Hobby Search or even better, buy both of them to find out...

Some softball

Here are some photos from the final match of The ASEAN Amateur Softball Tournament in B andar Seri Begawan recently...

It is in SOAS Park to be exact...

I don't know much about softball but from what I can see it is almost like baseball with some differences here and there. If you interested to learn further about softball, you can go to Wikipedia.

In this final match, it's Philippine (in blue) against Indonesia (in red/white)

Some of the spectators...

The weather is so perfect for the final match... quite hot though...

Another view of the spectators...

Some of the tournament officials...

At the end The Philippines won with 3-2 scoreline.... sounds like football...

Congratulations to the winners... one of the Brunei team (Team A) manage to captured the 3rd spot after beating Singapore 5-4....

1/7 Scale Painted Figure - Reclining Mizuho Kazami

Bought this in the second hand market for SGD 3.80 - would you believe it?

Since I'm not really fancy fix pose PVC figures but I have to admit that that Kazami Mizuho is indeed a beautiful woman and at such a cheap price I don't really have to think much...

In fact, the main reason I would want this is to get the beautiful display base...

The box...

Out of the box...

Well... I'm not really expert in this kind of fix pose PVC figures so all I can say this is beautiful and sexy... nice to see, nice to hold... or rather nice to touch and nice to hold, once you touch consider sold...

As I don't have much thoughts or comments to share on this one... just enjoy the photos...

Nice bra...

Oh yeah... I did some modification on that "Pochy" stuff... I don't like to see it stuck on her mouth...

Again, it's nice, it's beautiful and it's sexy... I like it.. but I would prefer to have Kazami Mizuho wearing her office attire... I personally love full cloth than semi naked or sexy figures, just a personal preference and taste...

War Craft Frozen Throne - 5 Heroes Figurines

This is War Craft Frozen Throne - 5 Heroes Action Figures, the official merchandise products of the game from Blizzards.

I actually bought this as one of the Christmas presents in December... I start to buy all those presents slowly from now onwards to avoid last minute rush.

Though this item is meant for Christmas presents, I decided to take it out from the box and do some training on Macro photo shooting to improve my skills.

Enjoy the Macro galore...

The box

These guys are all quite small in size... luckily though my Panasonic FZ28 can handle Macro tasks very well...

And it is even better if I use this "add-on" - the Massa Macro lens...

So we start with this guy who have wing on his back... seems like the human form of Gundam Wing Zero... hahaha...

Do you like Macro photography? If you have these toys or figures collecting hobbies I guess it is pretty normal that you will use Macro Mode on your camera...

Some mobile phones from Nokia, Sony Ericsson, Samsung and even LG today provided nice digital camera with a decent Macro mode capability...

Now this guy with bald head and a flag behind him...

One thing I like about Macro photography is that once you uploaded the photo into your computer you can see plenty of small details that your eyes sometimes can miss easily...

Macro photography makes me appreciate how important those small details and thus it is the norm in our daily life that many small things can combine to create something bigger and better... unity and harmony...

This the third guy wearing something like a Viking helmet....

I noticed that the sculptor and the factory did a nice job for such a small figures...

Now the forth guy... he look like those people from Planet of The Apes..

See.. monkey face....

And lastly this guy riding a lion or a beast or something like that...

I remember those good old days when I first bought my first ever realistic digital camera + mobile phone, the Sony Ericsson K750i...

At that point of time, that phone is indeed one of the best when it comes to camera on mobile phones. At 2MP maximum resolution, it offers LED flash and more importantly for me, the Macro mode.

It is from that phone when I started to like Sony Ericsson and most of all it is from that phone when I started to like Macro photography... though many of my friend at that time don't really understand me when I start to talk about the benefits of Auto Focus and Macro Mode in mobile phone's camera...

From there onwards, I have tried several other models like Sony Ericsson K800i, W900i, P990i, K770i, Nokia N80, Nokia 7390, Nokia 6500 Slide, Nokia 5610 XM and now I am using Sony Ericsson K850i...

But eventually once you have a real or proper digital camera, all those phone's camera feel less exciting anymore...

My first ever digital camera is the Panasonic Lumix LZ7 and thankz to the superb Leica lens it can handles Macro without any problem and after a few months I upgraded to the current more powerful and more exciting superzoom - The Panasonic Lumix FZ28.

Though this FZ28 have the maximum "power" of 10MP, for most of the times I only use either 5MP and 7MP. On top of that... after several weeks in my computer, in order to save space, eventually I will still downsize the photos into 3MP.

Naturally more pixels means bigger size and more storage space.

So this is all of them on the special group custom stand...

After this photo shooting... all these items shall go back to the box...

I think it is pretty nicely made and the custom gold painted looks interesting but their faces are quite scary... I don't really want to have them in Shewsbury Land...

Gundam Stuff - Extra Shot

Here are some additional photo shoot for the previous few Gundam stuff that you see in Shewsbury Land recently...

First the outdoor photos for the Nu Gundam HWS Shewsbury Custom and Nu Gundam with Full Set Fin Funnels Shewsbury Custom...

And this is the final form of my Gundam Astray Red Frame Orb Union Custom... basically I just add the cloak (which I steal from MG Crossbone Gundam Ver. Ka) at the back to add extra charm to the Red Frame...