MSHP Specials

The bi-annual (Japanese) Garage Kits lovers heavenly event, Wonder Festival 2006 [Winter] organized by toy company Kaiyodo was successfully carried out this 19th February 2006.

I won't elaborate on the event as I don't even have the opportunity to be there (T_T), but what we're most concerned about here are all the Shirow-related coolness that was offered/displayed. I've scoured the net, and here's a pictorial compilation that I have found so far. Far from being complete, as I haven't really worked very hard tracking down every WF06 gallery out there and the fact that there are a lot of Kit Makers that specifically prohibit their stuff from being photographed. So this is by no means a complete listing of all Shirow-related kits that were showcased during the day. Anyway, hope that this tingles your senses as much as mine :)

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Good Smile Company
So far, the only "Official" GITS-related figures announcement for this event comes from Good Smile Company. But it's a very exciting announcement- because this particular new product happens to be a Chogokin (or diecast in English). A Diecast Tachikoma and Motoko! Great news, and the information card indicated a really advanced release date- december 2006 at a price of 17,800 Yen. By no means final, I assume, as that timeline is too far ahead.

A collector's dream come true! A metal Tachikoma!

Musuke (Musuke's Pickup)
Musuke's name is now synonymous with Tachikomas which remains a staple of multiple Wonderfests for the past few years. Musuke's Tachis are the ones featured in the excellent Tachikoma File by Hobby Japan. For this year's event, the highlight of the line-up has got to be the 2nd GIG Jigabachi AV- best remembered as the SDF chopper battling Major Kusanagi and her Tachi.

One of the really cool "bonus" with this Jigabachi AV kit is the little Tachikoma that comes with the set. Its amazingly detailed, and very well done!

Speaking of Tachikomas, two new versions are on offer from Musuke- Tachikoma A and Tachikoma D. These are 1/24 Scale (Modified WAVE Tachi? I'm not sure...) and both are SAC version Tachikomas. Tachikoma A seems to be the more "value added" of the two, possibly because it's modelled after some particular scene from Tachikoma Days?

ALUCARD
Another familiar GITS kit maker in the Wonder Festival is back with some new kits this year. Like Musuke, Alucard has been showcasing new GITS garage kits consistently for every Wonfest event. Here's the line-up for Winter 2006- including a jaw-dropping Motoko Kusanagi - Pinky Street style! And also, the Jigabachi, Alucard version :)

Motoko Kusanagi, Tachikoma, Jigabachi


Are you familiar with Pinky Street? These cute figures by Vance Project are really popular among Japanese figure collectors and officially, no Motoko Kusanagi yet, so this is great to see! Note the Tachikoma~ Two thumbs up! :D Pinky kits are just like any other- comes in pieces unpainted, much room for customization. However, there's another Motoko Kusanagi Pinky, more about it later in this post~ it's a highlight piece ;)

Others (Individual / Unidentified kits)

by 511 Factory


Motoko Kusanagi (the famous SAC pose) & Seburo CX Gun (from Poseidon?)


More Motoko Kusanagi


Motoko & Tachi, Warai Otoko, o_o...

Saving The Best For Last
To conclude this brief report, is what I consider to be the most interesting garage kit I've come across from the entire show- it's another Motoko Kusanagi in Pinky St Style. I'm not exactly sure who is the maker, but let's call him/her/them "Wishbone" based on their website address. Now, I have always wondered why there was no Motoko Kusanagi Pinky figure when the Major seems to be perfect (and popular enough) for this cute/SD highly collectible set. There have been some Motoko Kusanagi Pinky mods in my collection, but this "Wishbone" 2nd GIG Motoko is by far the most delicious~ It's very well made, fits the Pinky image to a T and looks exactly like what a Pinky Motoko should look like. Maybe I will do a piece on my Motoko Pinky collection in a future post. In the meantime, I'll end the MSHP Wonderfest 2006 Winter report with this stunning piece of plastic!

Until the next Wonder Festival ;)