Pre-Christmas loot.
As most of us know HLJ has a pre-christmas sale with free shipping offer. So, I jumped on the band wagon and ordered some stuff.
Was quite a surprise, when I found out that my order will be shipped to US not by SAL or EMS but via FedEx. Just wonder will FedEx become a third shipping option for HLJ? I must notice that FedEx is a strange carrier, in a good way, though. Sometimes it doesn't stick to it's delivery estimates. What happened to me couple of times is FedEx bloke will bring a package one or two days earlier, so you have to check their tracking system every day to track real package progress. Same thing happened this time - package was scheduled to be delivered tomorrow, but arrived at my door today, hooray to FedEx.
There weren't any interesting figures on sale. Got a set of 1/24 Yousimura race team motorcycle models. 1/60 Lucky Star itasha(s). The biggest get is a 1/00 Vent Savior Gundam, actually it will my first one. Now the only thing left is to actually watch Gundam series.
Kind`a startled with the quantity of fine pieces and my inability to read instruction manual. Have to figure it out somehow. Any suggestions for the beginner Gundam modeler?
Couple more photos in my blog entry.
Simple. Make sure you don't take out all the pieces from the treeframe all at once. Take em out one by one, that way you don't get lost in terms of the tree letter and the part numbers.
Just follow the diagrams and you should be fine. I guess painting would be optional for a beginner, since the plastic is already molded in color, but I do suggest you grab yourself a gundam marker and at least color in the panel lines. Just take your sweet time. Gundams are a lot of fun to build.
Yeah there isn't really any need to know how to read japanese due to the pictoral diagrams^^
Other than what Cascade said just try and make sure you always double check your build progress and don't always try and be too smart, so if both legs are made the same way, make one then another, don't try and multitask ^^;
Oh and also don't be startled if you have parts unused at the end
Have fun!
Good luck on your Gundam, I was too lazy to paint my Union Flag Custom.
I can't comment on your blog for some odd reasons, so I'll comment here instead.
As for Gundam models, Cascade has mentioned what I wanted to say already. Do them bit by bit, and you won't be daunted by the number of parts you'll have to face. Just read the instructions carefully (i.e. which parts to go with which and watch out for the arrows and ordering!), and you'll get it done eventually.
Btw Vent Saviour is from an upcoming side story manga called VS Astray, and it won't appear in anime. It however is a variant of Saviour Gundam, which does appear in Gundam SEED Destiny (and a 1/100 model is released for that too).
how to read manual
1st page, you see the overall piece trees
next page, the instruction
if its says A6, means, grab tree A, known from 1st page, cut a part with 6 in circle , then see the instruction again, look for another piece to fit its hole / peg that A6 piece should fit
also, bandai kit VERY VERY rarely not fit each other, but kotobukiya does, from time to time
so if you think your part seem to be very flimsy, not fit each other, leaving a very huge gap from hole & peg each other, read the manual again, and re assemble it to see mistakes
also, don't worry about breaking 1 or 2 peg (except if the part only have 1 to begin with), they still can fit each other
above all, good luck, and have fun with it, model kit are made to be enjoyed, not frustated
its like doing an exam, only much more enjoyable LOL
umm.. so basically you enjoyed your exam then? hahaha..
but well building a model kit really an enjoyable activity, I tend to hurt my own hand or finger in the process of snap fitting..