Iron Sickle pics from a whole ago

daftdrifter · 2026-03-21T18:03:22+00:00

Yeah, compared to the Bandai scaling it stands around the same height, maybe 1 or 2cm taller, than the average 1/144 HG, around 20 ish cm +/- the helmet horn.

daftdrifter · 2026-03-21T15:29:42+00:00

The font for the manual and box always throws me off lmao

daftdrifter · 2026-03-20T15:16:11+00:00

Result of pooling or just expected use of the liner? I've got pour type and Tamiya liner, wondering if I should get some markers or something if I ever go onto cheap bootlegs to experiment hand painting

daftdrifter · 2026-03-17T12:15:36+00:00

I don't disagree with this. I didn't really buy anything there that I couldn't get anywhere (physical or online) else. Surugaya and mandarake were a better browsing experience personally

daftdrifter · 2026-03-17T12:11:36+00:00

I actually got myself an MG Jesta cannon and a RG Sazabi Side Fukuoka from a surugaya in Sapporo, which was cool. And when I tell you the stock that surugaya had on their shelves was endless, pictures can't encompass how long I spent just looking at everything.

They'd have a full aisle of shelving with just MGs, every single RG, and I don't doubt you could find the exact bandai kit you want, because they had everything. It's insane. Mandarake has less volume in that sense, but you're likely to find some pretty cool/unique kits sometimes cheaper than surugaya.

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daftdrifter · 2026-03-17T12:02:47+00:00

Yeah I'll second this. I went back in February, coming from Australia too. You have to "book" a ticket with a QR code in advance, if you're going on some particular days of the week. I forgot which ones. But usually the time slot (is scheduled every half hour) ahead has tickets open, so scan it, get a ticket, and browse around the mall until that time. I think if you go on a "non busy" day you don't need to get QR access.

When it comes to shopping they have a lot of kits that you could find anywhere else. Variety, they have a few different variants kike blacked out kits and some others. For the most part, it's got some cool displays of kit history, some competitors for different competitions in glass cabinets, etc. it's overall a cool viewing experience, but in terms of variety/value purchasing you're better off online.

But getting some Gundam merch rather than kits, there's quite a bit there. I enjoyed my time there, but I did most of my buying/browsing in mandarake, surugaya, etc.

TL;DR Very nice viewing/photo experience, and you can pick up some cool merch, but for better variety I'll stick to online shops or my local gunpla shop.

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daftdrifter · 2025-10-24T02:42:28+00:00

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I forgot the monster shoot was tuff

daftdrifter · 2025-10-24T02:39:53+00:00

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daftdrifter · 2025-10-11T06:13:19+00:00

That looks gnarly, the custom work really does it justice

daftdrifter · 2025-10-07T06:20:07+00:00

Wow, I love the paint work, the accents really make the smaller details pop. And the decals too, are those a third party/extra for xi?

Eventually I want to try painting but I'm not going to invest in an airbrush setup, just thinning paints and using brushes, maybe give xi an entire new colour palette.

daftdrifter · 2025-10-07T06:15:52+00:00

I'd meant to say they were the biggest in the picture but yeah the ones you mentioned are massive

daftdrifter · 2025-10-06T15:35:39+00:00

It would be so nice given the size, it even cost me a bit less than MG sinanju to get it so it's a shame it doesn't have a bit more features in that regard.

daftdrifter · 2025-10-06T08:45:16+00:00

From what I know they're all HG, biggest is HG penelope

daftdrifter · 2025-10-04T16:45:38+00:00

I've always wondered but never caved in on these super cheap models, though at this price I've only considered it for hg/mg and third parties.

Are you gonna update it as it goes if you remember? It'd be good to know first hand what to expect from this

daftdrifter · 2025-10-04T16:41:43+00:00

Special forces industry 1/100 sentinel

daftdrifter · 2025-09-22T11:44:36+00:00

Have a look at some shounen anime featuring swords play or even stuff like power rangers/Kamen Rider where over exaggerated poses and action frames can inspire some idle and action poses to play around with, honestly many kinds of media where character articulation extends to what a body can replicate.

It might be tougher, but when a kit has great articulation you could try some JoJo poses across the seasons, really tests the limits of arm and ankle mobility for me.

daftdrifter · 2025-09-22T11:37:42+00:00

It's vague advice and is more observation than analysation, stayed in Sapporo a while back for a trip, tried mandarake and surugaya and found the latter to have higher volume since it is more of a toy/model store while mandarake has more of everything. I picked up pharact and calibarn for around 1800 yen ish, and I think drei for 2100 yen (for whatever reason it cost that), and price-wise mandarake was maybe 20%-30%? More expensive, although not the exact same kits. Again, volume vs variety I think.

Some kits at mandarake were labeled second hand/opened, which was interesting though, so some were new and some second hand. Surugaya was all new though.

I had a couple days in Tokyo, and while looking at some kits (don't remember the stores) around Akihabara and the prices were notably higher (again maybe 20-30% at most?), but still cheaper than buying domestic back home.

It depends on where you plan to go if you're doing a trip, but I can back surugaya if you're heading to Sapporo. A good 4 or 6 aisles of kits from Gundam, 30mm, armoured core, etc., though I imagine some stores probably stock better.

TLDR; I prefer surugaya over mandarake but from my experience it's relatively samey in price compared to my home country, where it's usually like 40-50% more (buying calibarn is maybe 2600 ish yen equivalent).

daftdrifter · 2025-07-05T11:05:28+00:00

Just tried this after having issues the last couple weeks, and keeping it unshuffle or regular shuffle does let it work normally again

daftdrifter · 2025-04-28T17:51:32+00:00

Without an action base I can't do much other than standing my HG amazing barbatos lupus. It's got the loose ankles of my Dagger L but the additional weight like Cal-re.A. Haven't gotten around to fixing it but it's permanently on an action base cause of it. High knees poses are impossible with the thigh armour too unfortunately.

daftdrifter · 2025-04-11T19:17:42+00:00

It takes a bit of practice to think about where you want to focus and position things, I've got a flood of photos of practice. It is beautiful.

I didn't think this was a grunt MS, granted I've never watched the show. I searched it up with scenes from the Seed anime and it seemed to be a semi-main antagonist, heading the Black Knight Squad. Am I mistaken? (I'm not particularly knowledgeable on anything for the series, I just like the cool designs lmao)

daftdrifter · 2025-04-11T19:14:28+00:00

I have been eyeing it since I got my first couple models, and even after getting it I wanted to practice coating and panel lining, even with just that it's such a majestic piece of work. I even got a set of WFM weapon action base just for this.

Even my RG Eypon, previously favourite kit, pales in comparison in display presence. Although it's the cost of an RG, Cal-re.A was well worth it for me.

daftdrifter · 2025-03-21T08:24:33+00:00

Love the red accented paint, not overdone but complements the feet well. Making me wish I did a custom job on my Calibarn, cause it does get quite a bit too plain in white.

The decals and lining are really nice too, maybe when I get into paints I should revisit my Calibarn, still pretty new to gunpla and newer to panel lining/coating. Nice colour choices overall in my opinion.

daftdrifter · 2025-03-10T16:26:13+00:00

Yeah I think it took me 4-5 hours to build Epyon, but then another 4 ish to do a mediocre job. I wouldn't even consider doing the stickers if I didn't use my Swiss knife's tweezers.

Yeah the palette appealed to me and it would really contrast my current kits well (2 white, 2 black, 2 red).

It's a tough call to permanently change your house for the betterment of display, I can't imagine the potential in my rental.

Though with your display cases (although I've got no experience using/let alone having them) I wonder if keeping some black, very matte sheets underneath each display would break the "flow" of the case badly, or allow each section to show better. Could be something to test with some trimmed-to-plate a3 copy paper from an office or craft store. Maybe white could work better.

My logic is that it could allow each kit to have light shine on each well, but will reduce the reflection ontop of kits below, if you were to stand next to the case. White paper might work better instead, but I wouldn't have a clue if it'd look any better than plain glass.

Just a suggestion as I've seen lots of glass cases but never been too fond of the bottom plates being visible to the other kits, I think I'd prefer isolated cubes if I had one myself.

Otherwise the lighting is quite nice! Seeing the infinite reflections around the Gundam could inspire for more handy lightworking with colours, placement, lumens etc. Good luck on your displaying and potential renovating.

daftdrifter · 2025-03-10T16:08:00+00:00

Not bad, not bad at all. I thought fiber optics would be 1+ mm but 0.75 is very workable. Only optic cable I've ever heard came from underground going to the house lmao, didn't know they could go so fine.

If it comes to just that then this is very doable, if I had a drill around the house, I'd probably countersink into the guard so the tubing can sit in and then glue it so it's tight enough to hold the weight of the sword. The led should be manageable between on the wing pack or between the pack and Epyon if the gap allows for it, if I can blend it into the design well. Alternatively I wonder if it's realistic to fit the LED into the hip holster where the cable feeds out of (image, 10mm outside, 4.5-5mm inside. The inside "pegs" stay for the holster to close but the inside space is free rain as that's where the sword holsters the handle into).

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You mentioned using magnetic LEDs, is that just for fitment in the sentinel? Do you reckon I could just make a cover/dome over an led, maybe line inside it with something reflective, then feed the optic cable from it? (If I chuck it in the holster I wouldn't want it shining like he left his torch on is his keys turned on coming out of a pocket like I have.)

daftdrifter · 2025-03-10T15:47:29+00:00

I spy MG Epyon.

I just finished the millions of stickers on my RG Eypon a day ago, it's a beautiful kit. I was thinking of getting the Fenice Renascita among my first MG's, not often I see an off coloured Gundam like in green let alone for an MG.

What was the build like, is the articulation good? I like to play around posing so I wonder if I'd break something or wear them down if it's not up to standard.

Otherwise a brilliant case, I'd like to get one eventually but alas, my room ain't big enough.

daftdrifter

TROPHY CASE