Cherudim Avalanche Custom

My latest work, a Cherudim Gundam kitbash. Parts from the Avalanche Exia were used. And I took reference from the Cherudim Sagaand Dynames Storm customs. Both are very cool mechas!

Overall, I achieve what I set out to do, to create another variation. I like the colour scheme a lot although it can be a bit "dark".

Enough said, here come the pics....

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"When Tomorrow Starts Without Me"

I do not know why, but for the past few months, life has been really hectic. Everyday is literally like a mad struggle to stay alive. I know it's stupid but I am beginning to realise that life is not that easy afterall. Everywhere there are people who readily thumb you down the moment you present them with a chance. Nowadays, people are less forgiving, and cold too. It is really a harsh world out there. As I worked, I am beginning to have doubts about myself. Am I very inefficient? Incapable? Or plain stupid? Life is practically meaningless.

Is there a purpose in life? I have no answer for that after my mum left me. I need a reason to fight on. And little did I realised my "reason" to live comes in the form of a four year old boy named Reyes, my son.

I looked forward to coming home everyday. It is a "shelter" to me. In it, I can find warmth and love. I may be having a foul mood. But all that dissipates the instant I open the door and there he is, standing there waiting for me. How wonderful it is to be a father. I want to nurture him, protect him from everything and most important, to teach him what I learnt from my dad and mum. That is the "purpose" of my life now.

I want him to remember my mum. I will talk to him about her as much as I can. And when the day I'm gone. She will still be remembered.

I never got over her death. Time has stopped for me. Physically I am "intact". But mentally and spirtually, I could have been long gone if not for my family. I am a forgetful person. So everyday I replay what my mum had spoken to me, her teachings, her actions, everything. I'm afraid I might forget all of these one day... Although it has been more than one year since she moved on, I still yield to see her again every single day. I really miss her.

I chance upon this whilst surfing the net and it touch my heart deeply. I want to thank the author (although I do not have his or her name) for offering me some comfort with these writings, "thank you" :)

WHEN TOMORROW STARTS WITHOUT ME

When tomorrow starts without me,And I'm not there to see;

If the sun should rise and find your eyes

All filled with tears for me;

I wish so much you wouldn't cry



The way you did today,

While thinking of the many things,

We didn't get to say.

I know how much you love me,

As much as I love you,

And each time that you think of me,

I know you'll miss me too;



But when tomorrow starts without me,

Please try to understand,

That an angel came and called my name,

And took me by the hand,

And said my place was ready,

In heaven far above,

And that I'd have to leave behind

All those I dearly love.



But as I turned to walk away,

A tear fell from my eye,

For all my life,

I'd always thought,

I didn't want to die.

I had so much to live for,

So much yet to do,

It seemed almost impossible,

That I was leaving you.



I thought of all the yesterdays,

The good ones and the bad,

I thought of all the love we shared,

And all the fun we had.

If I could relive yesterday,

Just even for a while,

I'd say goodbye and kiss you

And maybe see you smile.



But then I fully realized,

That this could never be,

For emptiness and memories,

Would take the place of me.

And when I thought of worldly things,

I might miss come tomorrow,

I thought of you,

and when I did,

My heart was filled with sorrow.



But when I walked through heaven's gates,

I felt so much at home.

When God looked down and smiled at me,

From His great golden throne,

He said "This is eternity,And all I've promised you.

"Today for life on earth is past,

But here it starts anew.

I promise no tomorrow,

But today will always last,

And since each day's the same day

There's no longing for the past.

But you have been so faithful,

So trusting and so true.

Though there were times you did some things,

You knew you shouldn't do.

But you have been forgiven

And now at last you're free.

So won't you take my hand

And share my life with me?

So when tomorrow starts without me,

Don't think we're far apart,

For every time you think of me,

I'm right here, in your heart.



Author Unknown (Sent in by Jennifer Prugh --- Pennsylvania)

Kenny

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Singapore Gundam 00 & Sangokuden Model Kit Challenge 2009

Our local (Singapore) mid year competition is finally announced! Time to have some fun! This time Shengtai put up two catogories for us to choose from, Gundam 00 and Sangokuden Models. You can find entry forms here- http://www.shengtai.com.sg/9/9.html . I would love to do both but with my speed, I doubt so. So what are you guys waiting for, time to revv those engines!

By the way, deadline for submission is 15 May 2009! So hurry folks!

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Updates

I'm done with the GN Shield and GN Sword. Now moving on to priming stage. Check out the WIP!

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Updates @ 21-03-2009 for the Exia. Check it out under WIP.

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Random Thoughts - Gundam Competitions

A few days ago, someone asked me for my views on the culture of Gundam Competitions here. I thought it was pretty interesting to share my thoughts on this.

For starters, I love these competitions. In fact, I look forward to them. Why? simple. I get to pit my skills against the very best. This is the time to guage my progress and also to rub shoulders with the rest of the modellers. Although I think it is important to support local competitions, we must also strive for better quality entries.

I don't tell myself to join to make up numbers or to support. I will NEVER improve even after 100 competitions. I join to win. Simple as that. I will not have the motivation to improve if I do not adopt this mentality.

Every competitions provides me with the opportunity to analyse my "opponents", pick up new techniques and of course, make new friends.

In order to improve the gunpla standards in Singapore, we have to share. And it has always been people's grouse that modellers keep to themselves. I have been asking this, "With so much information available on the internet and so easily accessible, why can't I see better entries at every competitions?" Time to do some reflection I guess.

I do know that a lot of people see this hobby as a form of relaxation and I agree that it should stay that way. Well maybe I should treat this as my job and not a hobby! So that I can "play plastic" everyday, eight to five!

So what are your views on this, my friends?

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GAT-X103 Buster Gundam by Leon Ku

A non-grade Buster Gundam done by Leon. It came in first at the local gundam cometition many years back. The Buster Gundam is one of my favourite gundams in the Seed series. How I wish it was the Buster who gets the Perfect Grade treatment and not Astray, sob....

Battle damageScratch-built

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Sucky weekend!

Behind schedule again (what's new)! I was very distracted this week and couldn't do much. One Build group, competitions and commission works. I am like mutli-tasking and in the end, could not get anything done. Abd my table's a mess. This sucks man!

And after watching one soccer match, my mood has gone to the dogs for the next few day.

I'm going to give it a final push this week or esle I'm a dead man.

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1/60 Exia Gundam WIP @ 25 Feb 09

Latest updates. Just finished modifying the arms. Details can be found at the WIP box on the left.

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Banpresto Desktop Head Set

[Ok, just close a poll @ Plamo forum and the Strike Noir head was the popular choice. So time for some conversion!]

During my Hong Kong trip, I went to several stores in search of these Banpresto Desktop Head Display sets. Released in 2008, the series consisted of four sets, each set containing four display units.

Set 1 contains : RX-78, Wing Zero, Impulse Gundam and Gundam X

Set 2 contains : Zeta Gundam, God Gundam, NT-1 Alex and V Gundam

Set 3 contains : Nu Gundam, GP03, ZZ Gundam and Turn A

Set 4 contains : RX79G, Devil Gundam, F91 and Strike Gundam.

And I must say that these items are really in demand. Most of the stores have already sold out or raised the price of remaining stock by more than two times its original price. Nevertheless, I decided to grab a few as the people from EBASENET is planning a buildgroup for these and I am pretty keen to be part of the group.

As the price is considerably lower than its G-System counterparts, my expectations of the display sets were not very high. But I had a pleasant surprise when I opened the package (I bought a Strike Gundam set). The first thing that struck me was the moulding, I thought it is pretty accurate in terms of proporation and shape. And you could actually remove some parts easily for colouring if necessary.

While G Systems display head sets have very good detailings and LEDs installed, the details on the Banpresto units are kept at a minimum with no LEDs as well. This actually works in my favor since it is my intention add details and learn to install LEDs to this unit.

However, I am having a dilemma now. I wanted to do the Strike Gundam but also thinking about converting it to Strike Noir instead. Although both are similar designs, there are still a lot of works involved to pull of that conversion.

Since I am not able to decide for myself, I will let you guys decide for me. I have set up a poll and would really appreciate if you guys can take some time off to vote.

Thanks in advance!

Toymaker

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GFAS-X1 Destroy Gundam (Conversion) by Leon Ku

I could still clearly remember the first time I saw this during BAKUC in 2006. I was awestruck. It has never crossed my mind that someone actually built this. It simply blew the competition away (yes! I am one of them). This was a first at that time, and it was made in Singapore! We beat the Japanese to it! Gotta credit Leon for this...

At the scale 1/144, this piece stands about 50 cm with it rear cannons and a 1/60 Impulse Gundam was used as the base kit for the conversion. Involving heavy modifications and scratch-building, this kit took him an estimated three months to complete. Most people could not tell that this was converted from the Impulse.

I remember he mentioned 50 boxes of Epoxy Putty were used. He basically ordered from the supplier the whole carton! It didn't come cheap either.

The toughest part (in my opinion) would be the backpack since it has curved surfaces and symmetrically challenging. Can this transform to Attack Mode? The answer is "yes". But it is not worth srcatching the paint work.

It was a pity that Leon did not take much WIP shots. Otherwise, it would be very good reference to most modellers.

Oh well, let's just enjoy the pics.....

A 1/144 BuCUE (or what's left of it)

A damaged 1/144 Ginn

1/144 Zaku Warrior

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