Sunday, July 29, 2012

CUBEE CRAFT


I recently came across this nice craft/art site featuring a very popular (yep, I would say I was left behind this one)hobby.  Dubbed as 'CUBEE CRAFT', it was a surprise for me to see hundreds of dedicated sites on this craft.  I have been seeing these things before on some hobby shops and toy stores.  I often referred to them as 'toys' before.

This post intends to open up the opportunity also to my readers of this nice craft.  As of this writing, I am already planning on choosing the right paper/board to print my downloaded characters so i can start making one.  I will add these up to my growing collection on my desk at work and intends to give away also some as gifts to friends.

One nice thing also about this craft is that most of the sites showcasing this art too always refer back to the main site featuring an exhaustive library of cubee characters.  I find this very professional and indeed every artist owes it to the 'originator' and real respect for the craft, I would say is present.

The main site, cubeecraft.com features hundreds of various crafts which people can download and use to create their own items.  I really like the concept that people can freely download characters and objects.  It goes to say that the people behind this movement really want to share and spread the appreciation of this form of art.

On my next post, I will be trying to document/chronicle my making of my first cubee...  One dilemma I am having also is having to decide which character to do first (teheee).  Here are some of the choices I have downloaded:

My top contender so far...

A Mario classic.. 1up Mushroom

From Adventure Time, Finn

Adventure Time character, Jake

Batman of the Future

Black Spiderman... Symbiote mode!

Domo kun ofkors!!!

TMNT Donatello -- Classic!

Doreamon!!! Nuff said

Another Classic, Kermit the Frog

Super Mario!!!

From the Real Ghostbusters, the Marshmallow Man

Below are samples of finished cubee artworks:

And to officially end this post, I would like to ask you readers, which character are you interested to be rendered in 'cube'? My next post shall be my showcase of my finished arts.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

My First Gundam Toy



It has been a while now that I have been browsing facebook accounts as well as various online references pertaining to Gundam action figures.  I have been contemplating to get one to put in my office desk (to add that much needed 'life')but somehow, every trip to the toy and hobby shops leaves me disappointed.

For one, the Gundam Deathscythe that I so adore is almost always not available, or during that time that I found the Endless Waltz version 1, it was less than 3k pesos!  Too much for my discriminating wallet.
So finally, July 5, it was my nephew's birthday and I was buying him a gift and it dawned to me to get my first ever Gundam.  For some reason, the 'white' Gundams did not appeal to me so I got the only 'dark' colored one... It was named Gundam Strike Noir...  I honestly do not have an idea who the heck was this robot so after 2 hours of gruelingly building the toy... I browsed the internet for any information on it.

Here are just some of the 'technical' specs of my newest office mate.

Model number: GAT-X105E+AQM/E-X09S
Code name: Strike Noir Gundam
Unit type: prototype all-purpose multi-mode mobile suit
Manufacturer: Actaeon Industries
Operator: Earth Alliance
First deployment: unknown
Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 17.72 meters
Weight: max gross weight 90.51 metric tons
Armor materials: unknown
Powerplant: ultracompact energy battery, power output rating unknown
Propulsion: unknown
Equipment and design features: sensors, range unknown; Variable Phase Shift (VPS) armor; enhanced power unit; hardpoints for mounting Striker packs
Fixed armaments: 2 x M2M5 "Todesschrecken" 12.5mm automatic CIWS, fire-linked, mounted in head; 4 x EQS1358 rocket anchor, mounted in hands and feet; 2 x M8F-SB1 "Shorty" beam rifle, mounted on hips, hand-carried in use; 2 x MR-Q10 "Fragarach" 3 beam blade, mounted on Noir, hand-carried in use; EQS1358T rocket anchor, mounted on Noir Striker; 2 x MAU-M3E42 linked linear gun, mounted on Noir Striker
Optional hand armaments: 2 x 57mm high-energy beam rifle w/175mm grenade launcher x 2

Like the original GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, the upgraded GAT-X105E Strike Gundam E is designed to use several interchangeable Striker packs. It most commonly uses the AQM/E-X09S Noir Striker, which combines various armaments. The Noir Striker's wings house a pair of linked linear guns, as well as a pair of beam blades and a rocket anchor. The Strike Noir is assigned to Phantom Pain pilot Sven Cal Bayang and serves as his personal unit during the Second Bloody Valentine War that begins in late C.E. 73 with the "Break the World" incident. Separated from the regular Earth Alliance command structure, Sven's Phantom Pain unit includes Mudie Holcroft's GAT-X1022 Blu Duel Gundam and Shams Couza's GAT-X103AP Verde Buster Gundam. During the course of the war, Sven is assigned to lead a group of Orb pilots using GAT-01A2R Slaughter Daggers in the hunt for the Martian ship Acidalium and Ergnes Brahe's GSF-YAM01 Δ Astray. In early C.E. 74, Sven's unit is assigned to protect Phantom Pain's land carrier Bonaparte, as well as the massive GFAS-X1 Destroy Gundam. The Bonaparte comes under attack from ZAFT forces, resulting in Mudie's death. Soon after, Sven and Shams are sent to space as part of an attack on the Deep Space Survey and Development Organization (DSSD) to seize control of the AI-equipped GSX-401FW Stargazer Gundam. During that battle, the Strike Noir is damaged by the Stargazer Gundam. In a last-ditch effort to defeat Sven, Stargazer Gundam pilot Selene MacGriff uses the Stargazer Gundam's "Voiture Lumiere" interplanetary propulsion system to send both suits out to near Venus. Afterward, Selene rescues Sven and uses the Strike Noir's remaining energy to recharge the Stargazer Gundam for its long journey back to Earth, leaving the crippled Strike Noir behind.

So here are some of the shots I had while I was building my toy... please bear with the narcissistic treatment... It's my first time after all..

Unboxing... it's been a while since I did something like this
I was overwhelmed by the numerous parts....
Read the instructions carefully and aligned them based on the guide
Set 1 - Check, here's the head
Set 2 - Check, now torso up is completed
Whole body is completed plus the preliminary wing parts
After two hours... viola!
Full front profile guns and wing guns in full glory
Side profile... those stickers were difficult to put...
Back profile... You got to love the details
The other side profile
I am looking forward to finally building a full pledged Gundam kit, preferably the Deathscythe or Heavy Arms!

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

KitKats of the World


I saw this article (I failed to capture the link to the gallery, sorry for that) once of some of the weird flavors of KitKat from other countries (Japan mostly).  And it fascinated me how discriminating people's taste can be.  From the simple 'oh yeah why didn't I think of that?' to the bizarre 'oh my, what were they thinking!'.  Sure there are plenty other of variations depending on the culture, festivities (yep, those limited edition stuff they usually release) and even some commemorations.

This will be a series and let's start first from the KITKAT brand.  Take a look (and feast?) your eyes on these rather weird varieties.  Mostly are from Japan and I may say these came up due to taste preference.

This one is a bit extreme for me... so does it have that starchy flavor?

I am interested on this one... that crisp and tangy combination in a kitkat? hmmm...
Im no fan of sweet corn flavor -- except on the actual sweet corn!
makes me ask... why the 'salt'?
As in ' baked' potato? oh my...
I think this one is fairly acceptable
The 'name' ehe... maybe like my fave raisinette combi
Very local... but interesting
huwwaat? this maybe was a mistake, might just be a cover for halloween

I heart green tea so I want to try this one

a normal I would say
maybe a 'forbidden' fruit? ehe
This is just plain weird...
nice.. drooling now..
for the holidays I guess?

Obviously Halloween
I dunno... looks weird to me





even a Wasabi flavored one!
 












Whew!  And the list seems to grow even bigger and  bigger!  Stay posted for the other parts of this chocolate feature... Yum Yum treats to all!!!