I used a razor blade with a box cutter. Worked fine.

I haven't finished building Super Minipla Daizyujin, yet, but having completed the Tyranno mecha... I think I prefer the more recent standard minipla.

I still don't know whether I got a defective tail or if I managed to somehow break it without noticing, but I'll have to work out some kind of workaround for the tip of the tail.

Needing to use tools to get the pieces off the sprues isn't in itself a problem, but the leftover scoring/discoloration is. On standard minipla, this tends to be minimal and relatively easy to scrape away. Here, it's a production every! single! time! I've experimented with using various tools (exacto, sanding surface) to remove it, and doing so is rarely very effective, and sometimes makes it worse. I'm sure experience might well allow me to get better at it, but as it is, assembly is more stressful than fun, and the white marks that get left behind look really glaring to me.

This is also irritating to me because I encountered at least two pieces that had extra sprue that doesn't connect to anything attached. I assume it's a byproduct of the production process, but in practice, it meant additional ugly separation points for no functional reason. (I'm going to feel extra-stupid if there was some functional purpose to this, but the build instructions don't show those bits.)

There are little things I appreciate so far, like how the Tyranno head and neck piece fit neatly into the chest compartment. I appreciate that I didn't have to sticker the face (although the cuffs around the jaw are another matter, and the provided stickers don't look great), and the other stickers are clean and look good. The molding makes it clear that it would look great painted, too, but I don't feel the need to. I like having a separate instruction sheet rather than squeezing everything onto the box interior. I can tell the plastic seems sturdier than usual, but building the Kyuranger minipla was a significantly more pleasant activity.

Are there upsides I'm missing?

So.... series 5 of the Kyuranger mini-pla is now up for pre-order on Amiami.

Of course, I have no idea what happened to series 4. Nor do I have the slightest idea what this one contains. It has no 6 box version, so you'll be getting two of whatever it is. I believe it's that Gigant Houou, but who knows.

Personally, I'm not going to preorder it until I know what it actually looks like.

Thanks for the heads-up. Yeah, I'm not fond of how long Bandai waits to release images, given that preorders tend to sell out long before we have any idea of what we're buying.

It's strange to up preorder for series 05 before 04, may be an error ?
I will wait at least for 6 box set for preordering even if I think this is the movie set with cerberus and copies of previous voyager to have the summer movie robot...

As seen on the back of ryuteioh boxes, Series 4 is planned for july.
Source : http://nodokalife.com/wp-content/upl.../IMG_50592.jpg
It should be gigant houoh as the DX version is planned for the same date.

i got one of those chrome markers and tried to paint the chest. these things are kinda tricky and its hard to get a really smooth coat but this is about as much effort as i want to give. i thought about chroming the other parts too but i didn't want to put it anywhere i might accidentally touch since this stuff doesn't seem to hold too well with wear and tear and any type of clear coat seems to completely dull it.

http://i.imgur.com/vlXvaEg.jpg

Did you use Gundam markers or something else ?
I am considering buying some when I go in japan next time, but I didn't know if the result was great. From what I see on your picture it seems to be !

Bandai site is updated with photos from super minipla dragon cesar
It also seems that it will available only in august and not july.

Bluefin is bringing Megazord stateside. Releases in July.
http://bluefinbrands.com/bandai-shok...power-rangers/

Is it really worth 60 dollars? I just feel conflicted.

Ever buy Minipla before?

Eh...kinda not really? I mean I payed about $60 for mine after shipping so I guess it evens out anyway. It really comes down to how much you want a small version of the original DX toy with better articulation, and how much you'd be okay with labor and the cost of any paint you would add.

I'd go with no, but others may feel differently, and I don't consider it a *bad* purchase by any means. Getting it to look right takes more effort than with a standard minipla kit. Mine arrived with what I believe is a defective tyranno tail. The ptera mecha pretty much needs some glue so it doesn't fall apart when handling the combined modes. The stickers for the sides of the helmet don't look great.

That aside, the finished product is good-looking (assuming you effectively cleaned up the sprue remnants) and moves well. The pre-painted face is very welcome. The plastic is good-quality. Unlike the SRC version, it can break into individual components, form tank mode, and combine with the upcoming Dragon Caesar (although the latter will set you back by even more money.) I don't think it's a bad purchase by any means

There's a Super Robot Chogokin version on Mandarake right now for 7,000 yen, which comes out to 62.50 before shipping.)

No, I'm a figuarts man myself, just recently started buying the robots.

My backlog is growing:

http://i.imgur.com/KX2SG6D.jpg

I'm still undecided on whether or not I want to paint them or not...

Is that a black Daizyujin on the bottom?

thats just the standard box for it

Like goggleV mentioned, it's just the way the outer box looks. Not sure why they chose to make it black and white though.

Does anyone have any tips or relevant tutorials for painting Minipla? I might use my spare Leo to practice but I don't really have any idea where to start as I haven't painted models before.

Spent about 2+ hours just putting together ShiShi voyager because there are so many panel lines. I kind of wish I didn't start panel lining in the first place. lol. I decided not to paint any of it and just do a straight build with panel lines this time around for the Kyuranger miniplas.

http://i.imgur.com/TAL4YQd.jpg

Ok, I've received (actually received it a while back but just got round to opening it) my replacement vol 1, now with an actual full set. International shipping took a while as it tends to do but Amiami were accommodating with the replacement and refunded the cost of shipping the faulty one back to them, so props to them on that front.

Bandai blog has been updated.
http://bandaicandy.hateblo.jp/entry/2017/05/19/180000
As usual, they are showing the next release : super minipla dragon cesar.
But what is interesting (if I am not wrong) : they will also do king brachion (pre order in september/october and release in january/february 2018).
Warning price is REALLY expensive : 12000 yen (But if it is as big as I remember, may be we can say it worth it, even if so far super minipla are rather expensive comparing to normal minipla).
Another interesting info, is that they announced the next series that should be used for super minipla : Liveman ! (As part of the 30 year anniversary of the serie)

Neoxul

Considering the price, there's no way it won't be a web exclusive

Dragon Caesar looks good! Can't wait to get it.

A minipla Titanus would be nice considering I don't have a Titanus in any form but at that price, I'm gonna have to pass.

I definitely look forward to more Sentai mecha from the Super minipla line though.

"We are very conscious that 12,000 yen is high, so we are willing to work hard so that we can provide value that matches the price."

Considering the mainline Super Mini-pla figures don't provide value that matches the price, I can't see this thing being worth 12,000 yen even if it was entirely painted. Shame, because I'd have definitely bought it to complete the set.

I would LOVE Liveman minipla though. Any older Super Sentai mecha are more than welcome.

Anyway, finished up my KyurenOh set 02 last weekend so here's some pics. Daizyujin's almost done too, but I got lazy and used a lot of stickers with that.

http://www.tokunation.com/attachment...1&d=1495227637

I love my Super Minipla Daizyuin and look forward to getting Dragon Caesar!

Though the stickers on my Daizyujinare getting roughed up or coming off so i'm going to paint the details on.

Any suggestions on paint type and if I need some sort of sealer for protection?

Recently finished building the first three Kyuranger sets but for now here's a shot of all the kyutama:

http://pre00.deviantart.net/de6e/th/...ue-dbaec7w.jpg

Bandai blog updated !
http://bandaicandy.hateblo.jp/entry/2017/05/26/174000
Third part of Gaigaigar Super mini pla : King J-Der.
The thing is really big compared to gaogaigar (even if the image post is a fake), and the price is the same as King barchyion (12 000 yens).
Preorder during this summer and release date is december.

This one is not so great I will pass and wait for picture of king brachion to decide if I will invest so many money for one minipla...

Neoxul

Perhaps I just wasn't being sufficiently attentive before, but I just revisited AmiAmi's the semi-mysterious listing for volume 5 of the Kyuranger minipla, and noticed the following text:

"While maintaining the color-coded mold, proportions and articulations of the previous collections, from this series they also include standard clear parts."

Did we know this before? I didn't notice any descriptive text previously, but this sounds a lot like the seemingly-inevitable clear set. Easy pass for some, and probably the preferred version for several others.

I haven't see this text until today too. But usually, the clear version have a different series name (like SP series for zyuohger last year, and they reset the series number). For my part I believe this is going to be the summer movie robot (cerberus) with some already released voyagers. Future will tell !

Neoxul

Just as well I'm not that invested in GaoGaiGar. If I won't pay 12000 yen for a King Brachion, I certainly won't for a King J-Der even if the scale is pretty impressive.

Not sure what's going on with that Kyuranger Minipla set 5, but if it's going to be clear I'm glad I haven't put a preorder in. If it does turn out to be something else there'll be stock available when it's released.

I feel for that price, you could save a little more and just get the Legacy version.

12000 yen! :lol

What a joke. That's almost PG price for what will be just a big-ish HG at best.

https://cdn-ak.f.st-hatena.com/image...0525194653.jpg

If that's the size they're really aiming for that's pretty big, but it's still a model kit and thus nowhere near worth that price. King Brachion will be exactly the same.

I mean, at least with King J-der it transforms, has the smaller J-der, and seems fully posable. Not worth the price, but at least worth something. What would they even do with King Brachion? If they didn't change anything it'd be a hunk of plastic with a posable neck. Maybe if they gave it a robot mode, but otherwise, I don't see why anyone should get it.

I have just watched the japanese version of the page, and compared it to the ryuteioh (series 3) page. It is quite the same in japanese, talking each about clear parts. I think that it refer to the clear part of each set : the kyutama and the fact it is a first in minipla history (I know there was some clear parts before in a set, but not in each set as this year)

For my parts it would be to have the complete collection. But I must say that the price seems really expensive for what it is. I am usually only interested in the robot form of a minipla, so as there is no robot form for this one I wonder if I should invest so many money in this. I will wait for more information and if possible photos to decide myself.

Neoxul

How are they going to reconcile the tiny head and giant arms for J-der?

The Kyuranger "glister injection" (metallic) set is back in-stock at AmiAmi. This is probably a way better deal for people who didn't pick up the original release.

That's not 1/100 size, is it?

Finally have photos to share of my completed Kyuranger sets:

http://orig01.deviantart.net/ede8/f/...ue-dbb724e.jpg

http://orig12.deviantart.net/9421/f/...ue-dbb7246.jpg