Year in Review: 2015

This had been a rather mixed bag, 2015. I had a lot of hopes and expectations with this year, starting off, but like 2014, they just kinda fell away from me. Rather abruptly, at that. The same could be said about this blog, I suppose. A lot of attention right at the beginning, and then... Silence...
I guess if I were to consider 2012 and 2014 the First and Second Impacts, respectively, then this year was definitely the Third Impact.

In any case, things could be worse, and I'm alive, so perhaps -JUST perhaps- 2016 may give way to something far more positive and worthwhile...

Acquisitions of 2015
HGBF 1/144 Gouf R35
HGUC 1/144 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex [Destroy Mode] Ver.GFT
HGUC 1/144 Rozen Zulu [Episode 7 Ver.]
HGUC 1/144 Neo Zeong
HGUC 1/144 Rebawoo
HGUC 1/144 Gelgoog Marine [Cima Garahau]
HGUC 1/144 Gundam GP01
HGUC 1/144 Gerbera Tetra
HG THE ORIGIN 1/144 Char's Zaku II
Code Geass 1/35 Lancelot Conquista
HGAW 1/144 Gundam Double-X
S.H.Figuarts Yoshi 
MG 1/100 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn [Final Battle Ver.]

While my main plamo and figure collections saw a considerably large decline, it's mostly because I've taken up a few other collections, including recollecting old video games, the ever-popular Nintendo amiibo line, the last four volumes of Gundam The Origin, and starting my full-devoted oath to pick up the new releases of Gundam on home video here in the states, thanks to Right Stuf and Sunrise, Inc.

I still have a little ways to go to get caught up on those, as this was also the first year in many that I was able to actually spend money for Christmas presents for friends and family. I've also been selling off the old Bandai releases, since many of them have been or soon will be replaced with the updated RS versions. It was still nice to see my Gundam DVD (And BD) collection be at a nice healthy size and gaining for the first time since 2012 (save for the Unicorn BDs, of course). Remember, if you're interested in the new releases, click the link near the top-right of my side bar!

Getting back to Gunpla, here, the kits I had completed this year, are as follows:
(A few of these are covered in my earlier posts)

The HGUC XM-X1 Crossbone Gundam was the first kit of the year, and a nice entry way into the following kits. I loved this release, and was really hoping to see more releases this year. Alas, Bandai had other things in P-mind, but I digress.

The Gundam X Maoh from the Build Fighters line was up next, and while a good reminder of why I enjoyed the build of the regular HGAW, but also presented newer issues I don't recall having with its identical parts. Also, it seems I somehow accidentally skipped this one in my earlier posts...

Yonem Kirks' Zaku I Sniper Type in HGUC form. I enjoyed this about the same as the regular release, but while I love the added details to the design, I did not like the need to mold all the grey parts black. Something I had to deal with on the HGFC Master Gundam a few years back that seemed unnecessary.

Next, the Build Fighters variant of the Crossbone, the Cross Bone Gundam Maoh. Paint-wise, this one was much simpler than its X1 brother, though even easier given the use of the stickers for the reflectors.

Then came the first of my kits given to me by a fellow builder in an online forum I belong to.
The HGBF Gouf R35 was a great revision of the old Gouf kit, but may also be the gateway for the now-bothersome (to me, anyway) REVIVE line... Regardless, this kit was a nice build and good to see the Gouf get such a good treatment without straying too far from the base design.

The Episode 7 version of the Rozen Zulu saw a "fix" to most everyone's problems with the first release, but in my opinion, they went too far in lightening the color scheme. But, the Unicorn-enthusiast in me couldn't just pass up this kit, especially given the deal I got on it, at the time.

My first (and so far, only) in the recent HGUC MSV Zaku releases, Johnny Riden's Zaku II saw some extra effort. Since its design naturally boasts decals, I also opted to stay true to Okawara's art of the suit and make its grey piping and minor details into a metallic grey. I think it turned out well, and very fitting for the Crimson Lightning's symbolic MS.

Cima Garahau's Gelgoog Marine HGUC was a re-obtainment from an era long past, and as such, was treated with attention my old 2002 build never got to see. For an older kit, I was quite pleased with how this one turned out!

And, of course, that Gelgoog's victim,the Gundam GP01, predecessor of the GP01Fb, followed close after, because, reasons. All-in-all, though, I was thrilled with how far I'd come on just paint detailing, which this kit showcased well, I think.

 Next up, Full Frontal's suit from the heretofore unseen Gundam Front Tokyo animation,  "Gundam UC: One of Seventy-Two," The P-Bandai HGUC Rebawoo. This one also marked number 99 in my 1/144 HGs.

So, of course, this leads to the HGUC Neo Zeong, which I did cover in my last post. This marked the end to the Road to One-Hundred, but not the end to my HG collection. Though things did slow down considerably, afterwards.

The first one to pass the 100 mark was the Gerbera Tetra HGUC. One we'd all been hoping for for a while finally came out a couple years ago, but took me a bit to get. Nice simple build-and-paint.

 I eventually got the first of the HG The Origin kits, Char's Zaku II. A rather impressive feat of engineering for an HG, this was one I decided to panel line and detail up (including decals, of course).

And, finally, the Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex, the main showcased suit from One of Seventy-Two. This one took FOREVER because I tried roughly three different golds to cover the gross plastic color. Finally settled on Tamiya's Gold Leaf to do the job, which did well, I think. Not perfect, but it was better than the other two's prior looks.

I still got a few kits left, including some very last-minute gifted acquirements, including The HGUC Super Gundam and the RX-78-2 Gundam REVIVE Ver. But, currently, I've gotten a more important obtainment I missed out when it was initially released.

The P-Bandai MG 1/100 Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn [Final Battle Ver.], which I tried to get when it was announced but failed to save a dime for, was given to me for my birthday by my wife, and I couldn't be happier. I've started some of the larger paintwork now, but am waiting to get better decals via SamuelDecal.

That's pretty much all I got, now. I won't promise future updates or reviews, but I definitely don't want to say "this is it." We'll see what the future holds, but I do hope that, not only for myself, but for all of you who've had moments of injustice and poor luck, that the coming year brings you all better times and great luck. Thank you all, and I hope we meet again, soon.