I snagged up two kits yesterday, had them ordered from Japan pa thru this Japanese-curio shop at the Greenbelt 1, sa may ilalim.

Although it's not Military-related, I thought some of the car-enthusiasts would like to know that I got the:

FUJIIMI AE86 Trueno Sprinter 2-Door GT and the Honda CIVIC EG Vti/Eti.

Magkano magpa order doon? How long will it take for the kit to come?

The price is kinda steep for a kit, but STC charges the same for their FUJIMI kits. 1,200 a piece, but the good thing is you get to choose what you'll get, given that my contact can get you the stuff(he has to check pa ata eh). With regards to the time-frame, the guy doesn't really commit to the order ariving at a specific date, just that it'll arrive -- dapat. Since he has it sent over together with some more of the stuff he sells at his curio shop. I waited for mine, for oh, 3 months?

There's a left-over Trueno over there, and 2 Civic EK's. Plus 3 Mitsubishi Evo 7's from Tamiya.

Toyota AE86 Sprinter Trueno and Honda CIVIG EG?

Hmm....Are you, by any chance doing an "INITIAL D" diorama?

Heehee!!! Panda Trueno gawin mo ha! ^____^ Para "The Phantom of Akina Mountai Pass"... - Takumi Fujiwara!

Then naka-twin drift cla nung Civic, gawin mo nmn kulay pula, para Myogi NightKids....- Shingo!

Pati yung mga ibang leftover, ID rin...^_^

m:-)

lonewolf

The AE86 I have is the 2-door GT Apex model, and it's not the one Takumi uses, it's more like the one which Itsuki uses, but still has the AE86 engine(the one Itsuki uses is an AE85 ata).

With regards to the diorama, yeah the whole idea is pretty nifty and a couple of my friends have thought of that, too -- but I'm holding that thought for now, baka "curbside" lang ang gawin ko dito sa kits na 'to.

I'm making an EK-9 which is coloured red, but I had to put the project on hold kasi medyo busy sa school -- plus the weather and dust around the house haven't been that cooperative with my painting.

As of the moment kasi I'm just snagging up nice cars muna as they come, minsan lang kasi makakita nang matino na car-kit dito sa Pinas eh.

Here are some pics, which might be relevant. Hehe!

I see...The if it i Itsuki's, then AE85 Levin cya, dba? (Hachi-Go, AE85)....

But I thought yung AE85 ay hnde pop-up headlights....

Yung kay Takumi, parang ganyan din sa kit e....2 door, pop-up lights, AE86 engine....Kaso hnde panda colors yung kit...

Meron yung "Tomy" dati na maliliit na cars ng Initial D noon...Kaso hnde kami makahanap...Nakita lng nmin sa catalog nila...Complete yung cars na lumabas sa "Initial D First Stage"....

This isn't the Initial-D line of kits nang Fujimi, meron kasi talagang Initial-D na line ang Fujimi. And yeah, you're right, hindi 'to yung Hachi-Go, the similarities I was talking of was this AE86 having a trunk, opposed to Takumi's hatch.

Tomy's line of toy-cars aren't that up-to-par with Matchbox, the wheels and details on the cars over-all. Although like Fujimi, mas maganda yung import-selection nang Tomy. Hotwheels has some nice Fast and the Furious cars, sa Festival ako nakakita nang mga FnF na sets.

Seems I've been spending a lot of time at SM West/North lately

Good news:
Scopa water transfer decal sheets
Comes in white and transparent
Inkjet printable
8.5 by 11 inch size

Bad news:
Php 370.00 for 5 sheets. Around Php 75.00 per sheet.

Any takers? It's available at the SM North/West National Bookstore basement branch.

STC's branch there carries a very wide range of Roden planes aside from the Antonov I posted earlier. I just didn't notice them the last time. I saw some 1/72 and 1/48 biplanes. Prices are between Php 700.00 and Php 1500.00 depending upon the size of the kit.

And regarding BISIGI's query about Mini Hobby kits: yes I saw them on the shelves too. They might be a copy of some of the other kits out there but I could be proven wrong.

NO FREAKIN' SH1T!!! OMG!!!! Jeepney, here's the deal: Can you please please PLEASE buy me that 5-sheet decal paper ASAP because I badly badly BADLY need it for the TW2K campaign! PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OH PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE OH PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'll then meet you ASAP at JMN to effect reimbursement to you as well as getting from you the .50-calibre guns I requested. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!

10-4 comrade! I'll see if it's available at their other branches as well. Do you need the white or the transparent sheet?

Methinks this is the link to the product: http://www.sunnyind.co.kr/mypage_e.html

Inkjet decal paper requires a gloss coat BEFORE IMMERSING IN WATER!!! Laserjet decal paper does not require it.

ALRIGHT! Thanks tovarish Ivan! :-) Both white and blank decal sheets please. 3 blank, 2 white.

I've been scouring the NBSs around to find decal paper, but alas, none.

Gloss coating, eh? No problem! As long as I can make custom decals... YIPPPPPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEKAYAYEHEY!!!!!!!!!!

Have you checked with NBS Harrison? Will try to procure some sheets ASAP

BTW, I found this on Hobby Link Japan. Cool because I saw this very same IFV on TV during the Oakwood Incident.

Jeep: Spasiba tovarish Ivan! :-)

Re: AIFV: That's supposedly an improved version of the M113, having foam between inside the aluminum (or steel) hull. Didn't sell much, but several similar M113 variants are existing such as the KIFV (which Academy sells).

Ok, just came from STC Filinvest this morning. Been practically 2 months since I last visited the shop. Anyway, here's the following AAR (pssssst! Shonen! Read this!)

Mini-Hobby kits:

Very interesting kits from Mini-Hobby. It's like Trumpeter and is made in China. It looks like someone in China is competing with Trumpeter and so came up with Mini-Hobby. They had several aircraft, ships and armor models at STC by Mini-Hobby.

In armor, Mini-Hobby has a fine line-up of T-72 tanks. T-72M2, T-72 with mine roller, and T-72B with Kontakt ERA. I didn't open the boxes of all T-72 tanks except for the T-72B and it looks very interesting and nice. For those who are just sick of seeing WW2 AFVs hogging the shelves (I guess, none of you are except me hehehehe), Mini-Hobby like Trumpeter gives you a fresh line of Soviet kits in the form of their 3 T-72 variants. All three are more than P500+ each, so quite cheapo like Trump.

Mini-Hobby also makes the LeClerc, France's MBT. Yup! I opened the box and it looks most interesting indeed. This would round up the Western MBT collection: USA's Abrams, UK's Challenger I and II, Germany's (Europe's as well due to its prevalence) Leopard 2A4/2A5, and now (thanks to Mini-Hobby) the LeClerc. The LeClerc sells for around P630.

Mini-Hobby also has a Leopard 2A5. Now, at P630, it sounds like a steal. What do you get? Firstly, the turret's wedge add-on armor package is molded onto the turret itself like Italeri's and Revell's Leo2A5. I'm guessing Mini-Hobby's Leo2A5 is a rebox of Italeri's. Now, I haven't really examined Italeri's and Revell's Leo2A5 kits but in Mini-Hobby's (assuming the former two manufacturers offer a Leo2A5 hull) Leo2A5, the hull is a Leo2A4. The 2A5's driver's hatch slides, but the 2A4's driver's hatch swivels - which is the case for Mini-Hobby's 2A5. In essence, it's really a Leo2A5's turret on a Leo2A4's hull. If you're a stickler to accuracy, it is still more sensible to buy Tamiya's Leopard 2A5 which is by far the most accurate Leo2A5 being sold here in this corner of the world (unless some shop is selling Accurate Miniatures' Leo2A5). Perhaps you can get away with it by saying it's a "technical demonstrator" of the Leo2A5's turret mounted on a Leo2A4 hull. Anyway...

Mini-Hobby also makes 2 versions of the AAVP-7 - the AAVP-7A1 and the AAV-7A1 with EAAP. I really really really think they did a typo to the AAV-7A1, leaving the letter "P" in the "AAVP" (since the latest amphibious assault vehicle for the USMC is known as the AAAV - 3 "A"s and no "P"). Anyway... it was fortuitous of me that there exists at STC Tamiya's AAVP-7A1 kit. So I compared Tamiya's offering with the two Mini-Hobby versions. The Mini-Hobby AAVP-7A1 is I reckon merely a copy of Tamiya's, with the latter's detail more crisp. Mini-Hobby's suspension is molded on to the hull, Tamiya's aren't. And the suspension of Tamiya's AAVP-7A1 is more detailed than Mini-Hobby's. The AAV-7A1 with EAAP is merely an AAVP-7A1 with add-on applique armor. Both are sold for under P600 IIRC.

On the aircraft scene, Mini-Hobby has 2 wonderful offerings - Sukhoi's Su-27 and Su-35/37 fighters. What really got me was the 35/37 - this is different from the 27 having canards, thrust vectoring (well, for the 37 at least) and two additional weapons hardpoints. I inspected the kit and it looks promising. I panel details, but I noticed that the cockpit is sorely lacking in details - unless the panels are separate kit parts. Landing gears look solid and detailed enough. But what gave this kit a big negative is the canopy - it, like Academy's Su-27, suffers by having a seam line right down the middle of the canopy. Removing it even with a sharp knife would damage the canopy and one needs a lot of Future polish, plus several grits of fine sandpaper and lots of patience to clean away the seam of the canopy and the windshield. If one has the proper tools, one can do a faster job by vacuum forming a new canopy instead. Otherwise, it is a very nice 1/48 scale kit and one I'm eager to build because the 35/37 is just waaaaaay too cool. I didn't inspect the 27 (I should've so as to make comparisons with Academy's 27).

Also found at STC were lots of Roden aircraft - which are uber-expensive. Mainly, these were WW2 stuff. Also found at STC (of interest to Shonen no doubt), is a 1/48 AV-8B HARRIER II OF VMA-223 BULLDOGS by Revell. I didn't inspect the kit nor check the price but, SR, if you're that desperate to get an AV-8B Harrier II, get this one QUICK.

Ships ships ships...

STC Alabang seems to have gone amok with its ships. They have a large number of 1/350, 1/250, and 1/450 scale ships - including TWO 1/350 scale CVN-65 USS Enterprise for just (ka ching! ka ching!) P2,700. Hey's that practically HALF the price to what Tamiya is selling - which costs P4,500 in almost all shops I've seen it being sold. These, BTW, are by Mini-Hobby (good folks!) and the two CVN Enterprises are different versions I think because their box art is different. They also have Tirpitz (by Mini-Hobby I think) and other BBs. Lots of big ships there!

I forgot to mention, STC Alabang also sells several Trumpeter BIG kits - the DB-21 (I think that's the designation) Ballistic Missile Launcher, the SA-2 Guideline transporter, and the Chinese equivalent, the HQ-2. These kits costs roughly P2,000 each. Also available at STC Alabang is Trumpeter's SA-2 Guideline SAM launcher. The kit provides only one SAM and its ground launcher - so, if you want to build a SAM site to scale, you have to have a large room and several of the kits as well. This one costs P500+ I think.

But what REALLY stole my heart was the Bunderswehr's tank transporter - the FAUN something-something. This kit by Trumpeter is just MASSIVE and well detailed. It'll give Tamiya's Dragon Wagon a run for its money - seriously! And it's for modern AFVs to boot! This is a perfect partner for Tamiya's Leo2A5 kit. It costs P2,500 - and I'm just salivating thinking of it. Now, if Trump makes a HET, then I'd die and gone to model heaven!

Let's see, what else did I miss...

Also at STC Alabang are Dragon's two large mortars - Loki and Morsel (did I get the spelling correct in the last one), as well as the Leopold. Also available is Trumpeter's Leopold. I didn't check the price anymore.

STC Alabang is FULLY STOCKED with kits. I'll be bankrupt very very soon... had I had the money to start with anyway hehehehe....

T72? Medyo avid fan din ako ng ODS vehicles. Thanks! I also zeroed in that Harrier for quite a while. Last time I check it, it cost 1200! Thanks for the info dude!

I'll just be content with the new DML T34-85 or -76. Anybody spot these?

No decal sheets on hand yet BISIGI

At STC, I spotted an NVA T-34/85. Didn't really check the WW2 stuff (boring... hehehehehe! )

Anyone of you also interested in 1/48 RC Tanks? Mukhang maganda eh. If I'm not mistaken meron nito sa STC, Alabang pati sa JMN. It costs about P400-600 ata. Wala lang, parang ang ganda paglaruan :-)

Mas interesado ako dun sa mga "dress-me-up-GI's" bwahaha! the ones which look like barbies for big-boys. I've noticed they've actually a "following" among some boys/men. I chanced upon seeing some grown-men actually get the expensive kits (WWII figures, and the custom-Urban kits). Hmm...

Pra kseng kakaiba yung mga ganun e.... At nawawala yung detail sa clothing....Yung isang nakita ko sa Toy Kingdom, imbis na mukhang Iron Cross, "plastic cross" yung hitsura...

As for the equipment at weapons, ok naman tignan...The only thing I don't find nice is the clothes...Mas detailed tlga kpag naka-mold yung damit....Gaya ng plastic...

Jomz: Hey, those "dolls" you're talking about... if the guys at TankNet buy 'em and "play" with it, then I guess it's ok. #:-) (and these are big big 30-something to 40-something year old guys, some of whom were from the US military. :-) Heck, some of them still play with Lego and even have stuffed toys - yes, STUFFED TOYS! :-) )

SR: I inspected one of those R/C 1/48 tanks last year and IIRC I didn't see any radio controls with the kit. Which means I guess that one must buy the radio controls separately - which costs a lot. Besides, why do 1/48 when you can get some at 1/35 and even 1/16 hehehehe :-)

Some want-to-buy-when-I-have-a-budget-stuff:

1:48 Academy F-14 A at STC Greenhills
1:48 SuperScale F-14A VF-21 CAG bird decal sheet at JMN

1:48 F-16 A (Academy or Revell/Monogram) anywhere
1:48 Twobob's F-16 Agressor sheet at JMN

Gusto ko na ulet magwork

Really? No controls? Sama naman! I wanna have one para ma-dio ko sana sa 1/48 AC's ko. Anyways, thanks for the warning. Nag-iipon pa naman sana ako doon. Maybe I'll just reserve this for the Tamiya M2A2 Bradley.

And when you do get that Bradley please donate the interior

BISIGI might find THIS interesting when it becomes available