Japan Builds Cardboard Gundams

John Funk

U.N. Owen Was Him?
Dec 20, 2005
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Japan Builds Cardboard Gundams



Cardboard is a wonderful substance, and you can make many, many things with it - just look at Japan, where they're building four 1/6th scale models of the iconic mecha from the famous Mobile Suit Gundam franchise.

Truly, cardboard is a miracle substance. In the hands of the right artiste, it can be transformed into, say, the little smiling robots [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e45J0SCXO5s] out of the stuff and set them loose in New York City to see what happens.

Or you could be like the Japanese and make cardboard mecha. Starting April 18th, life-size version [http://www.science.pref.fukuoka.jp/] that Japan will be building in July to celebrate the franchise's 30th anniversary, but then again, that one isn't made out of cardboard. Also, there are four of them.

It's hard to tell from the small picture of the unfinished versions, but it's a sure bet that one of the cardboard models will be the classic ∀ Gundam [http://mahq.net/mecha/gundam/msgundam/rx-78-2.htm] (designed by Syd Mead of Tron and Blade Runner fame).

Either way, it's not hard to see what those crazy Japanese are really up to, what with this recent frenzy of Gundam-building. Celebrating the anniversary my ass - obviously this has something to do with those mass-produced exoskeletons [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/90861-Japanese-Mass-Produce-Exoskeletons]. After all, what better way to conceal construction of your giant robot army ... than hiding it in plain sight?! I'm on to you, Japan. I'm on to you.

I for one, welcome our new angst-ridden prettyboy teenage mecha pilot overlords.

(Kotaku [http://www.asahi.com/national/update/0411/SEB200904110009.html?ref=rss])

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Mstrswrd

Always playing Touhou. Always.
Mar 2, 2008
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Japan has been even more awesome then usual, recently.

Know what I just noticed? More then any other people, we refer to the Japanese and what they do simply as "Oh, Japan" or some other variation.
 

John Funk

U.N. Owen Was Him?
Dec 20, 2005
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Cpt_Oblivious said:
CantFaketheFunk said:
Keane Ng said:
Nobody likes the Nu Gundam, Funk. Deal with it.
You're lying!

... :(
I'm sure you're not completely alone in liking the Nu Gundam, Funk.
Well *someone* nabbed the 1/100 MG of it before I did this weekend. So that's at least one other person!

vivaldiscool said:
Lol at the Dom standing at parade rest in the background.
Oh hey, it IS a Dom - I see it now. So I guess they're just doing Gundam MS in general, not just specifically Gundams. ...wonder if it'll just be 0079 suits, then, or if we'll get some other series.
 

tendo82

Uncanny Valley Cave Dweller
Nov 30, 2007
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How about a Gundam Dendrobrium [http://ghostlightning.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/rx-781-gp03-dendrobrium-orchis.jpg] That's probably pretty easy to make out of cardboard. Right? Right?
 

John Funk

U.N. Owen Was Him?
Dec 20, 2005
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tendo82 said:
How about a Gundam Dendrobrium [http://ghostlightning.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/rx-781-gp03-dendrobrium-orchis.jpg] That's probably pretty easy to make out of cardboard. Right? Right?
I wouldn't put it past them.
 

KDR_11k

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Feb 10, 2009
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My guess is they'll include at least one Char Custom mech. That guy is so iconic they make Char Custom EVERYTHINGS. There's a Char Custom GBA that's said to have 3x the battery life (or 3x the failure rate). Of course that only applies if they can paint it red instead of going for unpainted cardboard since only the red ones go faster.

Original series mechs make more sense than later additions considering the anniversary is the anniversary of the original series, not the later additions. Then again I think the one on the left is one of the later mechs.
 

TheBluesader

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Mar 9, 2008
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If they weren't wasting time on cardboard ones, maybe they'd have some real ones by now!

*grumble* They are pretty cool. I guess. *grumble*
 

John Funk

U.N. Owen Was Him?
Dec 20, 2005
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KDR_11k said:
My guess is they'll include at least one Char Custom mech. That guy is so iconic they make Char Custom EVERYTHINGS. There's a Char Custom GBA that's said to have 3x the battery life (or 3x the failure rate). Of course that only applies if they can paint it red instead of going for unpainted cardboard since only the red ones go faster.

Original series mechs make more sense than later additions considering the anniversary is the anniversary of the original series, not the later additions. Then again I think the one on the left is one of the later mechs.
My favorite is at the Gundam-themed restaurant where you can order dishes "Char Special," meaning the portions are 3x the size.

And yeah, it does make sense to just showcase 0079 stuff. But so many of my favorite mecha are from other series :(
 

nova18

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Feb 2, 2009
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tendo82 said:
How about a Gundam Dendrobrium [http://ghostlightning.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/rx-781-gp03-dendrobrium-orchis.jpg] That's probably pretty easy to make out of cardboard. Right? Right?
Only one way to find out...


Find me a 1000 boxes and a blowtorch, I'm sure I could make something that SLIGHTLY resembles a Dendrobium. :)