Chara-Hobby 2011 event report [Gunpla Builders and more]

A variety of displays are set up, including one for Advance of Zeta: Toki ni Aragaishi Mono (featured on Gundam.info).

Display panels revealed the new Gundam slated to appear in September 24th's chapter.

Not only were Dengeki Hobby models on display, but also contest entries.

A line of Advance of Zeta: Toki ni Aragaishi Mono were on display.

The winners of the recent GM Wagtaill painting contest were also shown. Pictured left is the Grand Prize winner, right is the Gundam.info Prize winner.

Winners of the “FW Gundam Converge Char’s Customize Zaku” Photo Contest were displayed as well. From left to right, the Dengeki Hobby Magazine prize, Gundam.info Prize, Diorama Grand Prize, and Diorama Runner-Up.

■ (left) ELS QAN[T] resin kit　Chara-Hobby 2011 exclusive / ¥13,000
■ (right) G no Kagenin color resin kit　Chara-Hobby 2011 exclusive / ¥20,000
The ELS-merged 00 QAN[T] from A wakening of the Trailblazer and the legendary G no Kagenin were available in exclusive resin kits. Each sold out quickly.

A range of famous modelers' works from Hobby Japan were exhibited.

Featured were builds from NOMOKEN 3, in advance of its release August 29th.

■ B-Club Resin KitGN-XIV Upgrade Parts for HG GN-X
Chara-Hobby 2011 exclusive / ¥12,000
Use these upgrade parts with the HG GN-X to recreate the GN-XIV seen in A wakening of the Trailblazer. Both standard and Patrick Colasour custom parts are included.

The booth was themed afte Dengeki Hobby's Gunpla Builders D and Hobby Japan's Gunpla Builders J.

Display panels at the booth depicted characters and suits from Gunpla Builders D & J.

■ (left) HG 1/144 GPB-X80D Beginning D Gundam　December / ¥1,680
■ (right) HG 1/144 GPB-X80J Beginning D Gundam　December / ¥1,680
The protagonists' suits from Gunpla Builders D and J will be modeled!

They were displayed in a diorama based on the Bandai Hobby Center from Gunpla Builders Beginning G.

The Shirokumatecguy and Nyacguy from the latest issues of Dengeki Hobby and Hobby Japan were also on display!

Gunpla contest entries were also displayed.

The winner in the senior class was the Asshimar-based Nyasshimar. Its cat motif was 'a mix of cool and cute.'

Second place was the 'ASYURA ZAKU.' True to its name, its six arms were fitting of an Ashura statue.

Many other great ideas which showed their creators' love for Gunpla were on display too.

■ (left) HG 1/144 Forever Gundam GPB-D colors Saki Mishima ver. + Action Base 3 Blue　Chara-Hobby 2011 exclusive / ¥2,600
■ (right) HG 1/144 Forever Gundam GPB-J colors IFS ver. + Action Base 3 Red　Chara-Hobby 2011 exclusive / ¥2,800
Bandai's booth sold these event-exclusive Gunpla Builders D & J kits. Each kit included a specially-colored Action Base 3 with slot for a postcard.

Visitors who got a perfect score on the Gunpla Builders D&J Quiz, held at the Gunpla Builders, Bandai, ASCII Media Works, and Hobby Japan booths were rewarded with postcards. These postcards could slot into the Action Base 3.

Kiosks for demo play of the Gundam Vs. series were on display. The whole series, from Federation vs. Zeon to Extreme Vs., could be played free.

There was also a Bonds of the Battlefield corner where visitors could play free or have their photo taken in the cockpit.

■ Ichiban Kuji Mobile Suit Gundam & Mobile Suit Gundam UC: The Second Coming of Char
September / ¥500 per entry

A soft vinyl Char's Customize Zaku, CanChara, and teacups are featured in this drawing!

The double-chance price Garma's Customize Zaku Soft Vinyl and triple-chance price Toru Furuya-autographed Gundam Head Bank Amuro ver. were on display.

■ Gundam Series Special Creative Model ~Gundam & Guncannon~
September / prize (three varieties)
Guncannon joins the incredibly-posable Special Creative lineup.

The Nissin Foods booth, fresh from the Boil Japan promotion, featured a huge Cup Noodle and a 1/12 scale original color ver. Gundam!

■ Cup Noodle 40th Anniversary Commemorative Cup Gunpla & Cup Noodle 1/200 RX-78-2 Gundam Cup Noodle original color ver.　September 20 / price set by retailer
A Cup Noodle featuring Cup Gunpla is confirmed for the 40th anniversary!

■ Cup Noodle 40th Anniversary Commemorative Cup Gunpla & Cup Noodle 1/200 RX-78-2 Gundam　September 20 / price set by retailer
■ Cup Noodle 40th Anniversary Commemorative Cup Gunpla & Cup Noodle 1/200 RX-78-2 Gundam　September 20 / price set by retailer

A glittering golden container appeared to promote the S-Cup / Gundam collaboration.

Inside were two gorgeous gold and silver Gundams!

The Sumitom-Mitsui/Gundam collaboration Gundam Vida Card booth handed out original stickers to cardholders.

Samples of the specially-colored Gunpla given to all members on signup and various rewards points items were also on hand.

■ Board simulation game 'Mobile Suit Gundam JABRO' 30th Anniversary [Repro]
On sale from Premium Bandai and Megatrea Shop / ¥7,5620 (shipping included)
Jabro, recreated 30 years later. Copies were sold in advance of the launch onsite.

'Gundam Soshuhen: Akai Suisei Special no Sairai Wafer Chocolates' were sold in advance. They hit retail August 30th.

At the event, they cam with three special char and Full Frontal cards!

Gundam AGE stationery goods, including notebooks and pencils, go on sale in November.

The Mobile Suit Gundam Stationery Series hits 7-11 in late September!

Plenty of Gundam goods were on hand, including the Zaku Head tape cutter and memo pads, notebooks, and clear files.

■ Char's Customize Composition Book　Chara-Hobby 2011 exclusive / ¥300

Also on display were the 2012 Char's Customize Memo Pad and Principality of Zeon-issue Memo Pad.

■ Mobile Suit Gundam Magnet Action ~Legend of Char~
September / ¥504

A clear file and book card from Gundam Ace's Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Frozen Teardrop were on sale, along with a Gundam SEED book card.

A range of Kunio Ogawara's works, beginning with Mobile Suit Gundam, were on display.

The booth sold 'Mecha Design FOR 1/1: An exhibition of mechanical designer Kunio Ogawara' souvenirs, along with event-only goods like the Gyan Ballpoint Pen Stand (Alumite ver.)

A prerelease event of Gundam War Nex-A, a major shake-up of the Gundam War rules, was held.

Along with new Gundam War Nex-A items, it was announced that the new card game magazine 'Card Gamer' would come with a half-deck and play sheet.