Call it a memorabilia to one of my favourite Sci-fi movies. The first Starship Troopers movie is definitely the best and truly iconic. Awesome digital effect at that time and cool soundtrack that still ring a bell in my head. The famous quote that goes "A good bug is a dead bug".
Unfortunately, Starship Troopers 2 has no link to the very first and seems more like a B grade movie. Good thing Casper Van Dien aka Rico returned to complete the trilogy with Marauder Powered suit to smash more alien bugs.
Ultimate Collector's Set - Includes Starship Troopers 1, 2 and 3 DVDs. Also the 8" Marauder figure that was featured in Starship Troopers 3. Just like another Exo-suit giving extra protection to its user and technology to turn the tide of war. It also share some familiarities to Destroid and space Warhammer. I couldn't get this locally back then so it was an imported set. Gone was the DVD era when collectors usually go for regional code 1. Checkout my short video...
There had been many Arbalest figures been released however I find the 1/48 scale model kit, most ideal for my display as it stands around the same height with my other MG Gundam model kit. From another model kit brand (Aoshima) which I'm least exposed to. This 3rd generation robot aka Arm Slave in the anime 'Full Metal Panic!', equipped with the Lambda Driver (Mysterious technology capable of turning willpower into physical force), this protagonist unit became the trump card of 'Mithril' special operative. Here's my second Aoshima kit after Gernsback. It's not as friendly as Bandai kit (some loose snap and joints might required cement) but it's sweet that Aoshima got the license to mecha in year 2010. In fact the value of this kit had appreciated a few folds over the years. Aoshima did released Armslave Booster limited version of the ARX-7 Arbalest after that.
Fairly accurate proportionality with good range of movement of the abdomen. An extra gimmick of openable cockpit hatch. Weapon includes a small throwing knife optional mounting to the mouth, anti AS dagger with sheath and shotgun. Both dagger and shotgun can be mounted to the rear of Arbalest. Check out those extra effect parts during activation of Lambda Drive. I only did panel lining and matte top coat. I should have hand painted the yellow portion for more anime accuracy. As for the weapons, I sprayed them black and dry brushed them with silver paint. The PVC trading figure of Sousuke Sagara is now standing proudly with his Arbalest.
Freeze! You have the rights to remain silent! Anything you say may be used against you in a court of law cos Noa Izumi is here with her MG Patlabor Ingram 1! Without doubt from one of my favourite mecha anime for its humor and actions. My love for Ingram 1 is irreplaceable and naturally I like Jegan from Gundam series as well since both visor type mecha were designed by Yutaka Izubuchi.
Patlabor plot was set in the near future of Japan where enforcement mechanized robot aka labor were added to Police assets to deter act by criminals/terrorists using industrial or private labors. The newly roll out Ingram 1 was assigned to Tokyo Metropolitan Police Special Vehicle Section 2, Division 2. You can see the division's insignia on Ingram's shield. Ingram also bear the chrome Sakura emblem on the chest which symbolizes the authority Japan Police.
Even though this model kit was released more than a decade ago back in 2001, Bandai managed to deliver a highly accurate Patlabor Ingram in terms of mechanic and proportionality. Equivalent to the standard of Gundam Master Grade kits, this 1/35 scale Ingram stands around the height of 1/100 scale Gundam or slightly taller.
This kit managed to gimmick the mechanics from the anime such as cockpit with lifting chest armor to put in the pilot figurine. I had hand painted the pilot figurine to realism to the model kit.
The kit comes with weapons like unextended baton that can be mounted to the under side of shield, the extended baton and the revolver.
The most interesting part was that the revolver actually can stored in the right leg and as soon as you open the leg cover, the lever lifted up the revolver. The inner forearm can be extended too to reach the revolver while Ingram was standing. How cool was that!
There are three sets of interchangeable hands for different poses and weapons. I didn't fully paint my kit. Only some minor touch up with panel lining before a final matte top coat. I'm using CMS Noa Izumi figure and Command Car as props for this post.
