Goodbye

This announcement has been coming for a long time. When I returned from Japan back in September of 2009 I lost half the will to keep with the blog, and that will was getting weaker and weaker until about a year ago, when I totally lost all of it.

I didn’t want to say it, and pretty much forced myself to keep with the blog, mostly as a token of gratitude to my followers, the people that I know in person and reads this blog from time to time and the people that keeps writting constructive comments... I’ve been trying to keep up to date this blog for quite a few months, lately I tried to increase the number of posts each month and even tried new things like doing the Mahou Tsukai no Yoru summary in "real time" but with no luck and forcing myself to do it just makes me loath it all the more.

Recently I got diagnosed a nervous breakdown. Now I'm reconsidering the priorities in my life and this blog is not in the top. I want to have one less pressure on my shoulders for now, one less stress so I can try and get myself back together once more.

So Soth's Blog is going on indefinite hiatus. I may return in a couple of months, a couple of years or perhaps I move to another chapter in my life and drop this blog for good, I don't know.

So as a goodbye I'm going to post all the stuff I received months ago and was unable to do a proper review:

1/6 Saber Extra by Clayz (sculpted by Miyagawa Takeshi), 1/6 Caster Extra by Phat (sculpted by iTANDi), 1/8 Minase Iori Ryugu Komachi Ver. by Wave (sculpted by Abira) and 1/6 Ayanami Rei Cross Ver. by Amie Grand (sculpted by Suzu)

Valkyria Chronicles 3 Extra Edition for PSP (not played),  Valkyria Chronicles 3 Complete Artworks (not opened to avoid spoilers), and the limited Black Label edition OVAs in Blu-ray (not even unwrapped).

Fate/complete material V Hollow material and Carnival Phantasm Official Guidebook

 THE iDOLM@STER Character Master, THE iDOLM@STER Platinum Album, THE iDOLM@STER DS Delicious Album, Marugoto iDOLM@STER For You! and THE iDOLM@STER Twins Precious Album Guidebook

Doujinshi from circles Nurumaya, King Revolver and Kurusugawa Pikumin Tei

 

TYPE-MOON manga: Shingetsutan Tsukihime volumes 7 to 10, Fate/stay night volume 17, All Around Type-Moon manga, the paperback version of Kara no Kyoukai Mirai Fukuin chapter and several postcards that are Tora no Ana store exclusives.

Well, it's all for now. I hope to see you guys as soon as utterly possible,

Soth

Figma Ayanami Rei Plugsuit Ver. by Max Factory

Received two months ago but unopened until today, figma Ayanami Rei Plugsuit Ver. by Max Factory.

Unlike the terrible disappointment that was figma Asuka, Rei doesn't have any fault in the sculpt, albeit as a figma is rather plain.

The accessories consist in three faces (neutral, angry and smiling), 11 hands (one of them holding Shinji's S-DAT player) and an Eva cockpit like the ones included with figma Asuka and figma Mari

Neutral face.

Unlike Mari and specially Asuka, the breast part have no problem this time.

Smiling face holding the S-DAT. Not really visible in the photo, but I received my copy with a profound scratch across her right eye.

Angry face.

And the cockpit.

And finally a rear shot. Her buttocks is not as nice as Asuka's or Mari's.

1/6 Shikinami Asuka Langley by Kotobukiya

Just received 1/6 Shikinami Asuka Langley by Kotobukiya.
Sculpted by Shirahige Tsukuru, is based in the new renewal movies Shikinami Asuka instead of the classical Soryu Asuka, but the only difference between the two is a detail in the neck of the plugsuit.

I find the face sculpt a bit weird, but I can't put the finger on what is at fault...

The base is the horned Eva-02.

The hair have a slight translucent effect.

She makes pair with 1/6 Ayanami Rei that was released in 2007 that was also sculpted by Shirahige.

Pre-ordered figures

As promised, I'll list the figures that I have on pre-order.

When I was in Spain my main figure supplier was Hobby Link Japan, but if you live in Japan Amazon.co.jp is faster and cheaper (they usually do a 20% discount in the pre-orders, and the shipping cost is free).
There are not many figure shops in Kyoto. Melonbooks, Animate and Gamers have a very restricted stock, and the only shop specialized in figures, Super Position (located also in Teramachi), is focused more to the gashapon, arcade prizes and trading figures than regular figures.
So at the end, all the figures that I buy is via Amazon.


1/7 Ciel nun version by ebCraft. 8,980 yen to be released March 25.
Sculptor is French Doll from Cerberus Project.
This figure was already on my wishlist when was released as a (sorta) castoffable resin-kit, because for an odd reason Frech Doll's face sculpts actually works on Ciel's face. Previously released Frech Doll's figures that I own are Saber, Rin and Rider, and the sculpt's weak point is always the face.

1/7 Ciel combat uniform version by ebCraft. Again 8,980 yen to be released March 25.
Is a variant of the previous one, but different enought to do a double purchase.

1/6 Ryougi Shiki by Movic. 6,825 yen to be released in April 25.
Sculpt by an unknown for me, サイトウヒール, that I don't how to romanize (Saitou Heal or Heel?). I don't really like it that much, but at least is a big scale...

The gorgeous 1/7 Saber Lily by Good Smile Company. 9800 yen, on sale May 25.
Sculpt by the always competent Kawahara Takayuki, responsible among others of Saber Alter Dress version, Illya from Fate/stay night Trading Figure Collection, Caren and Caster from Fate/hollow ataraxia Collection and Saber and Rin from FA4 Type-Moon Collection.

Figure purchases

I was asked about the figures that were back in a picture from my last entry.


Sion and Ciel Extra Summer Beach Figure Vol. 2, from Melty Blood and made by Sega as an arcade prize. Were released in this September and bought online in Hobby Link Japan.
In this series there is also Arcueid, but is the same as the one from the Vol. 1 (that I have, but in Spain). The sculptor is Azusa Rei from circle Gundoll.


Satsuki and Arcueid Extra Figure, again from Melty Blood, made by Sega and bought this September in Hobby Link Japan. Sculpt by Hitsuji Chousa.

Figma Rin (Fate/stay night) was released at the end of August by Max Factory.
I bought it in Spain via Amazon Japan just before leave, putting my Japanese address (Amazon.jp doesn't send figures overseas).


Magical Amber, an original character based on Kohaku (Tsukihime) designed by Takenashi Eri (of Kannagi fame) for the Character Material book. Sculpt by Uchida Kouji from circle makeplus. Released in September by Orchid Seed.

Gothic Lolita Rei (Evangelion) by Kotobukiya, sculpted by Nishimura Naoki (Pilot). Released on October. Is not the best figure by Pilot, but since is made to stand in pair with the older release Gothic Lolita Asuka that I have in Spain, I bought it.

And finally, another Rei, but by Alter and sculpted by Numakura Toshiaki. Released on October, too. I usualy don't buy figures with lying down poses, but the sculpt quality made it a must have.

With this, I covered all the figures that I bought since my arrival to Japan. And sorry for the quality of the photos; both the camera and the cameraman sucks.