As a Fate/stay night fan from way back, I try to keep an eye on the figure releases. With the recent Fate/zero popularity, there's been a resurgence of interest in the characters, seeing things like the re-release of the Max Factory Kiritsugu Emiya that I was unable to get despite preordering a couple years back. Now we get to see some new sculpts from new talent in the form of the FREEing 1/8 Yukata series of the main girls of the original visual novel, the most impressive of which being this Tousaka Rin, due out in February 2013!
Once again I end up with a DC Collectibles statue that doesn't quite live up to expectations. The good news is this one is destined for a repaint very soon, so hopefully she'll look better!
Recently had the chance to have some new photos of my Kotobukiya 1/8 Iris Chateaubriand taken that better show her shading and base. In case you're interested, here is 
One of my Garage Kit obsessions happens to be Sakura Taisen. I try to collect everything I can and one of the first originals I obtained was this tiny Iris figure from Kotobukiya. At just under 8 cm in height and not many parts, she was quite a challenge to paint.
Due out in January is Volume 1 of Kaitendo's new Cross X Create series, and it couldn't be from two better creative talents! Enma is based on an original illustration by character designer and game artist extraordinaire 
Abare Figures made an appearance at the 
One of the biggest temptations when painting figures is exclusively using those low cost craft store paints. You know the ones. You're in the store looking for that perfect flesh tone or shade of blue, and there they are. Cheap little bottles, all pre-mixed and waiting for you to begin with little to no color mixing required. Everyone's tried them and they all have differing opinions, but let me show you a side by side comparison of what you're missing out on by not using better quality paint.
We've all had it happen. Things seem to be going along so well, you're making better time than usual when boom. Catastrophe strikes. That's what happened with my 1/4 Sayla Mass here, as you can see. Clear coat reacted funny with the paint and I'm left with a melting face. So how do we get past this? The thought of stripping everything and starting over leaves me in despair, so let's instead whip out the tool that's always at my right hand, Mod Podge!
Coming in March 2013 from Kotobukiya is a new entry into their mega-popular Shunya Yamashita-designed bishoujo line, female Commander Shepard! After the popularity of this year's mostly-sold-out 
Starting another commission, this time of New Avengers style Luke Cage. Drax the Destroyer provides the base figure this time. I was requested to do another simple mod adding a white muscle shirt and removing the knives from Drax here. Seems simple enough but let's see what kind of trouble the figure gods are going to throw at us on this one!
My fight with Luke Cage continues and much like in Marvel Comics, he is winning! After some joint fixes and sculpting the muscle shirt he was ready for paint. This picture was taken after about 70 coats of white. The green skin of Drax had the supernatural ability to show through everywhere, and I mean everywhere. I think I've invented a few new curse words for action figures on this project.
