Gundam Wing Endless Waltz Visual Book [Hobby Japan Mook] Review/Preview

 

This rather old book (8-29-1997) was the first GundamW Hobby Japan related mook/book. Reading the date you should know what to expect a bunch of clean builds of the older (non HGAC/PG/MG) kits mixed with a few nice suprises such as a really, “Real Tall-geese,” a few scratchbuild Virgo’s, builds of Bandai’s rare LMHG kits and the “Black Tallgeese” which is the only published build seen of B-Club’s Tallgeese resin kit. The first 76 pages are all modeling related, after that we get a picture recap of the Endless Waltz OVA and Production art. Tossed in there are a few CG altered images of model kits recreating scenes from the OVA…

 

 

GundamW Endless Waltz 3D & Modeling Book [Dengeki Hobby Books] Review/Preview

新機動戦記ガンダムW Endless Walts3D&設定資料集

 

This recent release (Dec, 2011) release is Dengeki Hobb magazine’s answer to Hobby Japan’s Gundam modeling books. Being recent this book features all of the new EW Master Grade model kits. A long book in 100% full color at 133 pages featuring only Katoki’s designs.  I like the presentation better than the Gundam Weapons books, however it features less progress images than them.

The first builds in this book are clean representaions of the original Endless Waltz designs over a span of 70 pages. Most being made from released HG and MG kits starting with an OOB MG WZC and D-Hell…

After these 3 the kits featured are the 1/100 HG kits made into a MG-like format.

After these builds get out of the way the book take a focus on Katoki’s Early Type Wing designs even exploring into the GundamW: Glory of the Losers add-on equipment. Unfortunatly not all the Gundam’s GOL equipment was revealed as only the first couple volumes were relased when this book released. Thus the only non OOB Early Type MG gundam were Heavyarms and Sandrock.

Following up the Gundams is a 1/100 Tallgeese and a OOB MG Epyon. Ending on a high note is a sculpted diorama mimicing Frozen Teardrop’s (The Gundam Wing Novel sequel) cloaked Snow White and Warlock Gundams. Hind sight it is very sad Frozen Teardrop has been going on for 5 YEARS and only 1 gundam design has been revealed, especially when Katoki has been done designing for Gundam Unicorn for quite some time…

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gundam Weapons: GundamW Endless Waltz Special Edition Vol.1 Review/Preview

Gundam Weapons: GundamW Endless Waltz Special Edition Vol.1 <Renewal Version>

Gundam Weapons: GundamW MG XXXG-OOWO Special Edition <Renewal Version> (alt.  title)

 

For this feature I just wanted to focus on the new builds shown off in the Special Edition Renewal Version. The rest of the book it the exact same as the original version that was released years ago that can be bought and found on the internet easily.

The book opens up with a dual sided pooster like most of the recent Gundam Weapons have. The front featuring all 5 of the featured MG Endless Waltz gundams (shown in this issue) together, the backside has a picture of MG WZC and custom Epyon (featured in the book) after a beam saber clash.

The First Build in this book is of the recent MG Wing Gundam (TV Version.) The build is primarly OOB with only signifigant modification being that the shoulder was lenghthened a bit.

The 2nd build come from a more recent Hobby Japan issue, the build being a of a 1/100 HG Wing Zero (TV version) that has signifigantly updated portions and has been modified using the MG Wing Gundam.

The 3rd build is of a 1/100 Leo made from an HG 1/100 Tallgeese III kit.

The 4th build is of the MG Deathscythe KA (early type) which has been build OOB.

The 5th build is the very popular MG Wing Zero (TV) which was made using the old HG Wing Zero and MG Wing Zero Custom kits.

The 6th build is rather interesting to me. It is a kitbash using the HG and MG Wing Gundam. The result is very interesting and rather give the MG kit an original Okawara feel which is nice.

The last new build is easily my favorite. 1/100 HG Deathscythe Hell (TV) modified to match recent MG portions. Everyone always over shadows this design with Katoki’s endless waltz design as the TV design’s original kits look a bit odd when not in action on the TV.  After seeing this I think a lot of people will like it more. This build alone was enough for me to rebuy!

 

The rest of the book is the same goodness!

 

 

Gundam Weapons Endless Waltz Special Edition Vol.2 Review/Preview.

Alright, freshly pressed is the second mook (magazing+book) for the Wing series in Hobby Japan’s series “Gundam Weapons.” Titled: “Gundam Weapons :Mobile Suit Gundam Wing Engless Waltz Special Edition” Adding in the Volume 2 part to avoid confusion with the older one that was later reissued with the same title.

Edit: appologies in advance, Word Press for some reason decides to rotate a few of the images for whatever reason. 😛

This one has all new builds. The books rundown is as so.

2-sided poster. One featuring MG Epyon and WZC on a white backdrop and the other featuring all the MG Early type gundams on a city ruins backdrop. Almost positive this exact poster is the same as the one in the reissue of the first Gundam Weapons W EW SE mook.

– The first 5 builds are of the recently released MG “Early type” Katoki kits. Wing Gundam EW, Deathscythe EW, Heavy Arms EW, Sandrock EW and Shenlong EW. All builds are pretty much OOB with only silght changes in a few body portions.

– The next build are Katoki’s version of the Maganac Corps in 1/100 Master Grade Format! WMS-03 and Rasheed’s commander unit!

– 2 MG Tallgeese 1 EW builds. The first being pretty much OOB with Katoki’s Glory Of The Losers color Pallet. The 2nd kit being modified slightly and matching the black and white color scheme of the original TV show’s.

– 1/100 MG (Tallgeese EW based) Vayate and Mercurius scratchbuilds!

– OOB Master Grade Proto Zero

– 1/100 scratch built Virgo (MG Tallgeese EW based)

– A beautiful build of Bandai’s Online Exclusive 1/100 MG Tallgeese 2! RIP Treize!

– a MG Epyon EW (basicly OOB with very, very light additional detailing.)

– 1/100 MG Tallgeese 3 build. (MG Tallgeese EW+ HG Tallgeese 3)

-MG Wing Zero Custom! At first glance OOB, 2nd glance you will notice many light mods, and probably the best modeling of WZC angle wings TO DATE! He resulpted the wings where the 2 halves meet to add a layered featherd look. Probably the best WZC I’ve seen to date!

– OOB MG Deathscythe Hell EW

– MG Heavy Arms Custom (Endless Waltz version.) Build from the MG Heavyarms EW (early type.) An outstanding job done on the dueal gattling guns with a perfect heat color distortion on the barrels!

– MG Sandrock Custom (Endless Waltz version.) Again built from the MG Sandrock EW (early type.) Scratch build shield matching some of katoki’s early artwork and cloak included.

– MG Nataku (Endless Waltz version.) Again built from the MG Shenlong EW. Nice and clean.

– 1/144 High Grade fighting Action WZC. This kit has been modified to basicly have MG articulation and frame at a 1/144 scale. The kit has some serious under-skirt detailing done but still retains an OOB look on the exterior.

– Gundam LOVE’s MG Altron TV build which is made from MG Shenlong EW + HG Altron Gundam + MG Wing Gundam EW. This is the same kit we saw on modelers-g.jp a while back. Still not sure how I feel about the shoulder. He used the HG kit’s and didn’t modify them so they are HUGELY OVERSIZED on the MG shenlong kit.

– Also from Gundam LOVE is a very cool MG Heavyarms EW H-2 build. H2 was the 2nd version of Heavyarms in the TV series after it was upgraded for space combat. The main changes on the TV series were a DUAL gattling gun and a bunch of thrusters for space manuverability. This the a space version of the Katoki design (which I expect to appear in GOL shortly if they don’t just skip to the version that appeared in EW OVA…)

– Next up is one wicked MG Epyon EW from Gundam LOVE. This thing has been modified and detailed to match the fan artwork of what Epyon might have looked like had it appeared in the Endless Waltz OVA. Yeah, that same artwork that has been floating around the internet since the original release of Endless Waltz. Looks fantastic.

-The last work from Gundam LOVE is a MG Proto Zero that has been detailed and outfitted in a WZC paint scheme. After seeing so many people use the old MG WZC kit to modify their old HG 1/100 Wing Zero TV kits, it is funny to see the opposite being done in a way. 😛

-Last up is a few pages of “Level Up” of basic techniques you can use to help build and improve your skills while building the MG Proto Zero. The finished demo kit is also done in a WZC paint scheme.

And that pretty much covers this mook~

It really is nice to have a burst in the Gundam W series, before the latest anniversary and new MG kit releases it wasn’t often we got to see the kits featured in recent publications. Hopefully this is far from the last as well…

Do I reccomend this book? If your a gundam modelers and a fan of Wing… mega buy now! For the occaional gundam modeler who doesn’t care for Wing (IDK maybe Seed fans… :P) then these pictures will probably be enough.

I really enjoyed this book the only 2 things I didn’t like is they completely left out 2 recent ‘big’ Gundam Wing kit releases. The 2 kits being B-Clubs 1/100 Leo and Aries. Secondly I was hoping to see the Glory of the Loosers Add-on equipment featured like Deathscythe’s Rousette, Sandrock’s Armadillo Armor, HeavyArms extra throw-a-way missle packs, Tank tread mobility attachment, or arial ‘copter equipment…

Mission Complete!

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The Gundam Deathscythe [1/100 Master Grade]

Finished finally.

WIP can be viewed here: http://www.hobbyfanatics.com/index.php?/topic/36673-mg-deathscythe-tv/