ninjascientific.com

I've finally finished my secret project: ninjascientific.com.

I would say it's in Public Beta right now, basically done, but with some kinks to work out, and lots of new features to add. Stop by, check it out, let me know what you think!

Something Big

If you're a regular visitor here and you've been wondering where the updates are, I have some news. I've been working on a big project that will replace this blog. I had been planning to branch out into manga and anime for this blog for a while. That got me thinking on some ideas on how to do that. The results of those ideas is coming soon. It's going to be big, it's going to be cool. It will cover all stuff otaku: mecha, manga, toys, plamo and anime. Look for it soon.

Advance of Zeta Proposed Figures

In March, Dengeki Hobby Magazine released the Dengeki Hobby Magazine EX. Volume 1. Inside are proposed plans for Advance of Zeta figures. One for HCM Pro and one for Gundam Ultimate Operation.

The HCM Pro fig is of the Hazel II. I'm not sure I like the 'TTT' decals that are all over it, but the addition of the extra armor is a neat detail.

As with all the other GUO figs, this Hazel Custom takes some stylistic license, such as the big shoulders, that Gundam fans either seem to love or hate. It comes with various goodies, including two booster shields, sub-arm unit, and an alternate head with the Advanced Hazel visor.

Unknown Mobile Suit Variations

A series of Mobile Suit Variations, all seemingly by the same artist, were recently posted on 4chan. I downloaded them all and added them to my flickr account because they were so cool, and I was hoping someone would recognize them. My favorite is the YMS-16MR Rick Xamel, which seems to have a fixed cannon pointing straight out the top of the MS, with a large sensor unit pointed that way too. The Marasai/Nightengale cross variation is another great one. And the NRX-044 seems to combine aspects of the Advance of Zeta NRX-044R and MA-08 Big Zam

Lego Mecha

Recently, flickr user bricklovinfreakboy added me as a contact, and I did the same. I've known of his flickr photos and been to his site in the past, his work is very cool, some of the best lego mecha I've seen. Whether he's building big or small, his use of the lego bricks is very imaginative. I love his little Tachikomas and small-scale suits, and his Gundams are great examples of his bigger works.

Takayuki Yanase "Windfall"

Takayuki Yanase (小松原博之) or "Windfall" is an artist whose work I've seen out there for a while now, but I didn't know him by name. After finding some more of his work recently I decided to get it all together and create a Windfall Set on flickr dedicated to this fantastic artist. For Gundam he's done some great illustrations of Blue Destiny MS and he's done some work with Studio Reckless as well, most notably illustrations of the ORE-GUN series of weapons designs, and published in a book called Rally:Works. I found some of the images on 2chan and 4chan, and the rest on the flickr site of my flickr-friend: Hyaku Shiki.

 

March 01, 2006 Mecha Find

Today's find seems to be some kind of Crossbone Gundam Variation. I don't know much about Crossbone Gundam, except that it's got some kind of cool pirate theme. I checked MAHQ.net and didn't see this bad boy. I thought at first it was fan art, but the side caption in Japanese indicates it's from a magazine or book. The name of this guy is 'Desusukaru', which may be a kana-fied English word. The caption box does mention Crossbone Gundam, but I can't make anything else out. All in all, I think this is a great design and it's led me to find out more about Crossbone Gundam.