EF 2000 TYPHOON plastic kit due this month...

Due for release around the 25th of this month is Kotobukiya's non-scale (although very large) kit of the EURO FRONT headline mech, the EF 2000 TYPHOON.  The initial variation is the Zerberus Battalion version piloted by Ilfriede von Feulner, seen in the materials surrounding MUV LUV ALTERNATIVE CHRONICLES: ADORATION.  I'm really looking forward to this one!

 

The design is very reminiscent in my eye of the elegant Mortar Headds from Mamoru Nagano's FIVE STAR STORIES.  The TSF's use in Muv Luv by aristrocratic, knightly characters may make it an homage of sorts to the machines from Nagano's landmark techno-fantasy.

It comes with quite a loadout of weapons, including halberds and the mech's signature Mk-57 long rifle.  Thank goodness it also comes with one of Koto's great flight stands.  I expect it will be a challenge to keep enough tension in the arm joints to have it hold that beast of a gun upright.  Kotobukiya will probably also release the Black King Wolf and White Wolf color variations of this.  But based on my Revoltech versions, this basic grey probably shows off the design's textures and details much better than those other two.

I reserved mine at Hobbylink Japan, but it can also be had via Hobby Search and the other retailers over in the Supply Container links for Japanese retail price or a little less.  Hobby Search's page also has extensive photography of the kit, so I'd encourage any window-shoppers to check that link. 
Be warned:  These kits come in huge boxes because of the hundreds of parts in them, so they can cost a little bit more to ship.  But unless you've built another of Kotobukiya's mecha kits or one of Bandai's upper-tier Gundam kits, you've probably never experienced anything like these.  They're worth every penny.

Volks' BETA figure kits...

A couple of posts ago I had mentioned the BETA kits that Volks had offered in conjunction with various hobby events in Japan, or as mail-in promotions.  Here is a picture of one of their elaborate displays featuring the models of various classes that populate the dioramas seen in Hobby Japan, and a grab from a YahooJP auction featuring kits of Destroyer, Venator and Lux BETAs. (Spot the little person torn in half in front of the leading Destroyer...)

These are pretty difficult to find.  Really, if you're fortunately enough to have an opportunity to buy them, you don't have extras because you need armies of them.  Luckily, Kotobukiya is including BETAs in their plastic kits.  Unfortunately, the larger ones like Grapplers are made from parts scattered through various different kits.

What we all need are bags of a dozen or so little Tank-class BETAs, and maybe vinyl or Revo figures of the larger guys.