Super cheap VOTOMS and its gone again.

[eilif]

What, specifically, are the shortcomings of the gashapon models? I ask because Japanese model collecting isn't my scene and I'd like to know what flaws or problems to look for.

(Not that I'm definitely getting into 28mm VOTOMS. Yet.)

I don't know that the Gashapon are awful.  As you saw in the Necromundicon pages, they can look pretty good.

just know that you have the regular issues associated with Gashapon which include.
-Monopose or mostly monopose figures.  So, getting a good amount of variety, new poses or alternate weapons will require conversion.
-You will have to hot-water treat some guns or aerials for the inevitable occasion when they arrive bent.
-The stock paintjobs are pretty bright and will probably need to be dirtied up a bit.
-They are vinyl so superglue and latex/acrylic paint are the order of the day. No plastic glue or oil based enamels.

To be clear I don't own any Votoms Gashapon, but I've done alot with pre-painted vinyl figures and as long as the mold is good you can get some great figs, often for much less than metal or plastic. My small scale sci-fi gaming is mostly done with vinyl 10mm rebased mechwarrior clix figures and I didn't even repaint them.

[Elbows]

I should clarify...most of the smaller gashapon I've seen look really bad.  Gashapon varies IMMENSELY in quality since it's just a term for vending-machine toys essentially.  All of the anime franchises have Gashapon figures.

Some are excellent, some are hard plastic w/ detail...some are gummy rubber toys which are terrible.  I've excellent and poor gashapon for Robotech/Macross/Dougram.  Normally they're cheap enough to take a swing at.

As with most things you can probably paint and save them (looks like many people have).  I've just had some that weren't worth saving.

[Rhoderic]

Thanks for the clarification, eilif and Elbows.

It's funny, I've been a Japanophile and anime/manga fan for half my life, and a miniature wargamer for all that time as well, but I never have combined those two interests by getting into Japanese hobby models. That whole area is still "here be dragons" for me. I'd like to do some sort of mecha wargaming project with Japanese models at some point in the future (those Necronomicon VOTOMS and Gundam sections are how I imagine such a project in my head), but it feels like I'd have to spend some time studying the Japanese model hobby before being able to commit. Ah well, maybe some day.

[YPU]

Alternatively there is heavy gear, which is VOTOMS the miniature wargame in everything but name.

[Rhoderic]

Alternatively there is heavy gear, which is VOTOMS the miniature wargame in everything but name.

I did mention Heavy Gear in my first reply to this thread

Although, I did also say I don't need similar mechs in another scale and I'm no longer sure about that. Still, I'll bide my time for now, so I'll just be letting the present Fatty bargain slip away. Maybe I'm more interested in something more Gundam-esque anyway, or even, dare I say it, something along the lines of Escaflowne, Five Star Stories and Magic Knight Rayearth. (EDIT: Or Patlabor!)

For the Heavy Gear universe I have multiple (currently stalled) projects, all based on different "hot spots" of the setting and storyline. I'm doing the Eastern Sun Emirates Rebellion and both the Downing and Mekong fronts of the War for Terra Nova. I also intend to do the adventures of the Black Talons on Caprice but don't have figures for that yet. Some general Badlands mayhem with Leagueless, Peace River and NuCoal forces is also something I'd like to game. I really like the Heavy Gear setting and have read the RPG sourcebooks just to have a better idea of all the stuff going on in it. It's a rather deep and complex setting, especially from a miniature wargamer's point of view.

[YPU]

I did mention Heavy Gear in my first reply to this thread

Although, I did also say I don't need similar mechs in another scale and I'm no longer sure about that. Still, I'll bide my time for now, so I'll just be letting the present Fatty bargain slip away. Maybe I'm more interested in something more Gundam-esque anyway, or even, dare I say it, something along the lines of Escaflowne, Five Star Stories and Magic Knight Rayearth. (EDIT: Or Patlabor!)

Ah! forgot about that, a lot has been said since then. 

I can see what you mean, while gundam just never really worked for me as wargame material, personally I'm more partial to dunbine then it might actually be worth, so I get what your saying here.

[eilif]

Thanks for the clarification, eilif and Elbows.

It's funny, I've been a Japanophile and anime/manga fan for half my life, and a miniature wargamer for all that time as well, but I never have combined those two interests by getting into Japanese hobby models. That whole area is still "here be dragons" for me. I'd like to do some sort of mecha wargaming project with Japanese models at some point in the future (those Necronomicon VOTOMS and Gundam sections are how I imagine such a project in my head), but it feels like I'd have to spend some time studying the Japanese model hobby before being able to commit. Ah well, maybe some day.

There is alot to the Japanese model hobby, but I don't know how much you need to know before incorporating it into gaming.   I don't know much about the Japnese hobby, and in terms of painting and modeling certainly don't do my kits up like display quality kits but I love them as a source for stompy robots in 28mm. Here's a few things I've learned.

-They tend to release kits in waves. When the kit is released or re-released, they're often quite affordable. For example, I got some 1/100 Glaug (aka Battletech Mauraders) kits that look great -though not perfectly scaled- in 28mm for around $10 each!  

-When you see something you like affordably buy it NOW because when it goes out of production it will suddenly appear on Amazon and ebay for 2-5 times as much.  The same goes for Gashapon sets which are often quite affordable when they're in production and much more expensive afterwards.

-Some properties will have a lower priced line. Often these are smaller scale and not quite as detailed, but they are still usually far more detailed and articulated than most wargaming models. For example, Gundam has a 1/144 line (around 4-5 inches high IIRC) with dozens of models that are only 2-5 bucks each!  You can do big robot gaming for less than the price of most 28mm figures! http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/list/682/2/1?sold=1

-Hobbylink and Hobby Search are two reputable dealers in Japan who have huge selections and often quite good prices. If you are willing to go for the slowest shipping option (sometimes several weeks long) you can usually save even more. On top of that, that the YEN is quite weak right now so it's a very good time to buy.

-If you're looking to do gaming, check both action figure and model kit lines. They are often compatible.  You may have to search for reviews on the actual size of toy lines that don't always list a scale, but it's a great way to increase the options available to you. Since we game in our own homebrew gaming universe, I mix and match freely between toys, model kits and wargaming kits of various fictional universes.  You can see some comparative pics here: http://chicagoskirmish.blogspot.com/2014/07/robotech-battletech-and-mechwarrior.html

Anywho, if you decide to take the plunge, good luck and good hunting!

[eilif]

Is it the HG rules that are holding you back?
Maybe give "Mech Attack" a shot for some fast-play mech action with the figures you've already got?

[Elbows]

Another issue with Anime-based mecha stuff is that like many lines of toys, they'll release 4 model kits for a series...which features 10-15 different mecha.  Scales can be a bit wonky (particularly on Gashapon where the figures are simple scaled to the package size, etc.).

They're hard to mix w/ gaming because the vast majority of models are 1/100-1/72 etc. and you end up with 10" or taller models.  That takes up a lot of space on a normal gaming table and it's feels like sacrilege if you try to use rules to force them to move super slowly.

VOTOMS is a nice mix because the mecha aren't moving at Valkyrie/Gundam speeds...flying 1000 mph through the air firing hundreds of missiles.  I can see 1/60 or 1/48 gundam gaming working on a 4'x6' or 4'x8' table quite easily.

To easier play mecha-scale games you really need to consider 1/300 or so...and that's where figures/miniatures disappear.  It's just tough to get a realistic project going.  Even at 1/300 scale the arbitrary need to differentiate weapons/etc. leads to comically short ranges, but that's the nature of wargaming I s'pose.

If the above sale had been on just about ANY other VOTOMS than the Fatty, I would have bought in big...huge.  Scopedogs, Standing Tortoise, Snapping Turtle, Diving Beetle etc...all over it.  The Fatty does nothing for me.   

[ShortscaleDave]

I definitely see a "part" on the far centre-right hand side.  Made me do a double take, so it did and wondered if this kit had more than one "weapon"

Here we go with the parts:

[YPU]

To easier play mecha-scale games you really need to consider 1/300 or so...and that's where figures/miniatures disappear.  It's just tough to get a realistic project going.  Even at 1/300 scale the arbitrary need to differentiate weapons/etc. leads to comically short ranges, but that's the nature of wargaming I s'pose.

Years ago I painted a gundam deathscythe gashapon for my now ex, I did some measuring on it and came to the conclusion that it was very close to 1/300. Pity I didn't keep it for myself. 

I definitely see a "part" on the far centre-right hand side.  Made me do a double take, so it did and wondered if this kit had more than one "weapon"

Ah yes, the shoulder joints, one would be a dick to tear his arm of at the shoulder indeed.

[Inso]

If I had bought 20 of those mechs, every box would have been opened and they would all be on the table and photographed by now !

Where are the group pics?!

[YPU]

Boxes are open alight, all of them scattered across my table even, (including the poor chap who got dismembered for the pics above) only downside is my table is full of pulp minis being painted.

Also with only 6 I'm sure my pictures would be the least impressive, considering everybody else's lack of impulse control. 

[Rhoderic]

Thanks again for the tips and warnings! It's precisely the sort of information I need.

[eilif]

If I had bought 20 of those mechs, every box would have been opened and they would all be on the table and photographed by now !

Where are the group pics?!

I've opened 2 so far.  I'm mostly keeping them packed neatly away until I decide how and what I want to do with them.  I'm going to make at least a couple of units of them (probably 3-4 suits per) for our big mech games.  I'll probably also give one to my son in his christmas stocking.  He's only 4 but he's asked me when he can make a robot model.

To be honest, I'm still kicking around the idea of keeping 4 or 5 set aside MISB to sell when hobbylink sells out and I can make back what I spent on the whole lot by just selling a few.  I'd probably get $8-10 each at my FLGS bi-annual auction which would make this whole deal a net of FREE!

I'll post a pic of at least a squad or two of them out of the box soon.  Based off of YPU's excellent pics I've got some solid ideas on how to de-Votom them.