Gloomy @ Singapore Toy Games & Comic Convention 2008

Even the adorable Gloomy Bear had made it's way to '2008 Toys and Comic Convention'.

It was rather crowded the time when I was there so as such I could hardly take any decent pics at the Gloomy Bear booth.

What a surprise to see the creator of Gloomy Bear Mr Mori Chack in person. Again because of the moving crowd pushing from behind, I could only take a snap shot of Mori Chack unglamorously wrapping perspiration on his forehead. Well! At least that's a Gloomy Bear handkerchief.

Here's a mega size display board of Gloomy Bear @ the convention. Forgotten to pose beside it to tell you the size. It's life-size and stands about 1.5m tall.

Here's my Gloomy Bear soft toy that I bought for Irene in Singapore one or two years back at China Square. Uncle Ng told me it's rare and true enough, I hardly have seen this huggable pink cutie on sale elsewhere.

I first seen Gloomy bear when I saw this wallet a few years back during my overseas trip to Hong Kong. I didn't even know the name of this bear at the time but I bought the wallet for Irene mildly because I find wallet very nice.

Treat your teddy bears with care before they turned gloomy and viciously man-handled you...

Arrival @ Singapore Toy Games & Comic Convention 2008

Jedi K and Stormtrooper

At the entrance with people queuing for registration

We were welcomed by the Nintendo gaming booth. They have fun games especially Guitar Heroes 3 and kawaii cosplay gals promoting Nintendo DS Lite.

Here we are @ Suntec City on 28/06/2008 to witness the very first Singapore Toys & Comic Convention. Not only so, I am also very glad that many good friends like Mr K, Jason and TBW could join me. When we took the escalator towards the exhibition hall, we could already feel the atmosphere just by seeing the huge crowd size.

At the entrance were some really cool dudes dressed as stormtroopers. Being a big fan of Starwars, Mr K then could not wait to pose with the cosplayers. Mr K even mentioned that he should have brought along his light saber and pose as a jedi knight decapitating the stormtroopers. Hee! Hee!

Singapore Toy & Comic Convention 2008

I'm geared up with my camera for this highly anticipated first-ever Singapore Toy & Comic Convention!

If not for Haro, I won't even know that there is such an important event coming to town. I have also done some inquires from my organisation's forum for the official website to this 'cannot miss' event ~ http://www.sgtoyandcomiccon.com.

We will be expecting a host of toys (general and designer), comics, animation, gaming, design, licensing and Cosplay from creative minds from all over the world, serving up an eye-popping visual feast and unprecedented variety and innovation in all the closely-related industries.

Venue: Suntec City Convention Hall 603
Date: 28th - 29th June 2008
MOST IMPORTANTLY: ADMISSION IS FREE
(Just one problem (1) We need to probably queue up in order to obtain convention passport at the venue entrance cos pre-registration of passport had been closed! Sob....)

I will be interested in this...
"Gundam Caravan" By Bandai (Booth D06)
Saturday and Sunday, 28 to 29 June from 12:00 to 7:00pm
If you are between the ages of 8 to 14, come along to Bandai's Gundam Caravan and be provided a free half-hour tutorial on how to assemble basic Gundam models! You will be free to take home your own model and knowledge of model assembling techniques from the tutorial! All models and basic tools will be provided by Bandai.

Command Gundam

Front view of box

Back view of box

Toy on styrofoam insert

Instruction and sticker sheet

Command Gundam on display

Never before have I seen this Gundam in any of the Gundam animes. This is a vintage Gundam manufactured by Bandai in year 1989. The box stated that this gundam is call Command Gundam and it stands about 12" in height. If you search Ebay, this Gundam will fall under category of Gundam Cloth series. The toy is made of good quality durable plastic that still look as good as new despite it's age. It comes with extra armour that can be attached to the Gundam. Just take a look at the weaponry! It has beam rifle, machine gun that looks like GPMG, grenades and rocket launcher. It's jungle warfare, 'Rambo' style!

Let's watch this video on Gundam commercial...

GQ Model Sword Impulse Gundam

This mode of Impulse Gundam is specialised for close combat. Just look at the twin swords that are able to join at both ends. Very Impressive! Very sorry that I didn't have a pic on a loose Gundam cos I didn't buy an extra piece for this.

A nicely design Gundam but too bad the pilot is Shinn. I don't like this character cos I find him stuck-up and unreasonable. If you follow the animation, you will see that the plot had slowly shifted it's attention to Kira Yamato as the story progressed.

More than a handful of fun, the GQ (it stands for "Gundam Quality") Model Sword Impulse Gundam is a "Metal Material" (Chogokin) model, with a super-heavy metal core that makes it feel sturdier than most plastic models. The included Sword Silhouette, Laser Sword, Beam Boomerang, Silhouette Flyer, Core Splendor, Beam Rifle, Folding Laser, and shield assure it'll never want for weaponry!

GQ Model Blast Impulse Gundam

Here's another Impulse Gundam. This time is the Blast Impulse Gundam accustomed for long range attack. Actually this launcher-type Gundam should not carry beam rifle and shield. I added in all the other accessories so that it looks more fierce. This is a chogokin Blast Impulse Gundam by Bandai.

About Toys 'R' Us

Toys 'R' Us @ Vivocity

Toy'R'Us has been my favourite haunt since I was a kid. My dad used to bring me to the Toy'R'Us at Parkway Parade. Maybe it's my naive thinking to imagine that the place was so huge the toys were stacked like mountain. Anyway, I can really spend hours just admiring the warehouse of toys. How wonderful!

As I grew older, whenever my dad brought me to his shop located at Lucky Plaza. I would walk from Lucky Plaza to Forum Gallery to visit Toy'R'Us. I remember that there used to have a lot of G.I Joe figurines plus vehicles and Transformers toys that I would see until my eyes popped out. Ha! Ha! exaggerating!

Beside looking and touching the toys, there were also cartoons and toy advertisement to watch. Toy'R'Us really does has great impact on me and till now I still can't forget the awesome commercial song of Toy'R'Us. I don't want to grow up. I'm a Toy'R'Us kid......

If you could remember this commercial....

Vivo Gundam Fair (Part 4)

Freedom Gundam & I


Wenz & Freedom Gundam

Before I sign off from my field report on Vivo Toys 'r us Gundam Fair, let us take a good look at this human-size Freedom Gundam. Btw, I also saw Haro ~ Harold & Mrs Koh at the Gundam fair. Coincidentally, we were also going to watch Kungfu Panda at the same time slot later the same day. Surprising, I left the Gundam Fair without buying any Gundam. Hee! Hee!

Freedom Gundam first launch...

Vivo Gundam Fair (part 3)

Display showcase on Sangokushi Gundams

'Wei' forces Cao Cao @ mould hill


'Shu' forces ~ Zhuge Liang @ hill top

The peach oath brothers stand guard

This is the corner where all SD Sangokushi Gundam kits were sold. I have quite a lot of time looking at these cute little model kits displayed in the showcase. An outstanding landscape of 'Shu' (Liu Bei) forces defending against 'Wei' (Cao Cao) forces with background of the map of ancient China, plus featuring the great warlords of 'Romance of Three Kingdoms' era.

I am almost tempted to buy the Lu Bu Gundam and two other Sangokushi Gundams that comes with exclusive soldier kit.

BB Sangokushi Gundam model kits commercial...


Sangokushi Gundam anime opening...

Vivo Gundam Fair (part 2)

Here's the budget corner where model kits were sold ranged from (S$10 ~ S$25)

The two booths on model kits display

The anime scene on Freedom Gundam been destroyed...

Gundams from OO series

Gundam OO anime opening...

I have scanned the event area and spotted the budget corner as well as two booths with model kits display. I have also taken pics on a close-up of what was displayed for your viewing pleasure. One of the booth display is based on the scene whereby Aile Impulse Gundam destroyed Freedom Gundam. The other booth has various Gundams from latest Gundam OO series.

Vivo Gundam Fair (part 1)

An overview of the area

Posters showing the offers

I have just returned from Vivo City and still excited to bring you a brief field report from the Gundam Fair. The fair is mainly on Gundam model kit and the area isn't very big (around the size of a badminton court). Some of the offer you can see on the poster include a S$10/- off with every S$50/- purchase and Sangokushi (Romance of Three Kingdoms pronounced in Japanese) Gundam model kits selling @ S$20/- a pair with free limited edition Zako Zako soldier kit. The other poster that I forgotten to take is on a free goodie bag carrier with Sangokushi Gundam printing, Sangokushi catalogue & Sangokushi model kit accessory with every S$50/- purchase. Don't miss out the offer!

GQ Model Force Impulse Gundam

Moving on to Gundam Seed Destiny, I have the chogokin Force Impulse Gundam piloted by Shinn Aska. Impulse Gundam has a lot of similarities with Strike Gundam in terms of colour scheme and it's ability to switch in between Aile, Sword and Launcher mode.

The style and design of this Gundam is truly admirable however this Gundam might have taken too long in it's launching procedure. First the pilot would have to launch with the plane before it attached to the torso and legs. A bit unnecessary don't you think? Just like the anime, this toy can also do the same. Impressive hah!

In terms of the quality of plastic, this toy is much more inferior when compared to Strike Gundam chogokin. There had been obvious yellowing on the legs, skirt, forearm and shield on this loose Impulse Gundam. Even the other one that I kept MISB and wrapped in plastic had turned slightly yellow. What a major setback! 

Final Gundam section

My Gundam on display as of year 2008

I have taken a board picture on the last section of my Gundam toys at my display showcase. This section comprises mainly of more chogokin Gundams, vintage Gundam cloth and my pool of Victory Gundams. I will go into details in my coming postings.

Meanwhile, please enjoy this remarkable 3D video on Gundam by art fans...

Launcher & Sword Strike Gundam

Front view of the box

Back view of the box

Deactivated mode holding beam sword

Assembling all weapons for Strike Gundam

Chogokin Gundam Seed Die Cast figure is a brilliant re-creation of the Iconic Gundam Strike from Gundam Seed anime. The inner frame is made of metal, giving the figure additional weight and realism. Add the included weaponry and accessories to turn it into either the Sword Strike Gundam or the Launcher Strike Gundam. Either one is a great figure with articulated weapons and pods that are attached to the Gundam figure.

The Strike Gundam of this boxset is in the greyish low-energy mode. So you actually need to buy both the Strike Gundam chogokin sets to compliment one another. Also in the package is the FX-550 Skygrasper support fighter jet. It comes with its own stand. Indeed a limited collectible by Bandai.

Awesome opening song of Gundam Seed...

I know you like Freedom Gundam Haro! Can't give you the toy but can give this awesome video on Freedom Gundam...