BT'X Degenerator Industry DI-BT-02a 1/12 Teppei Takamiya & X DX version

 
 There are plenty of Classic Japanese mecha series that never got the revival it deserved due to Japan's faltering economic situation and nowadays it is up to China to come for the rescue. This time, BT'X a mecha series made by Saint Seiya Mangaka is the one that got the turn and we got a promising 1/12 Scale Product! Created by a manufacturer called Degenerator Industry and released by Cangdao, Teppei and X will be sold as a DX Set for 790 RMB with June 2025 release schedule. Though both can be bought separately for 380 and 550 RMB.

I think this product will turn out well because Degenerator Industry did have decent track record with their previous products. Considering they are actually the one behind Cangdao's Metal Slug mecha which is a well made product since I had one. This BT'X Product do get my attention because I did get exposed to the series as a Kid. I did watch the anime but never in full but what I get from the series premise, BT'X is a story of pure hearted Boy set forth on a quest to rescue his elder brother against Evil Mecha Empire with the help of a Sentient Animal Mecha called X that looked like Pegasus but actually based on Chinese Qilin. 

While we still won't know if Degenerator's Industry BTX will come as a Diecast product or not, this one will fit with my collections of Cavalry action figure. In fact I did have Takara's Seiryu BT Toy back when I was a kid which is why I kept my interest on this product. Hopefully by getting this product by supporting the manufacturer, we can get to see at least Seiryu and Suzaku got physical release because the mechanical design are pretty good. I think I will revisit BT'X anime series in near future as part of anticipating this product release to keep myself hyped up.

Thermae Romae Redux

 Never expect this Great Historical Fiction Manga series to see some continuation, but Thermae Romae really do get a sequel! Simply Dubbed Thermae Romae Redux, this surprising sequel takes place 20 years after Thermae Romae ended where the Main protagonist, Lucius Modestus successfully finished his Great Roman Bathhouse Project for Emperor Hadrian and found the love of his life from Modern Japan. This time during the Reign Transition between Antoninus Pius and Marcus Aurellius, after the mysterious disappearance of his wife, Lucius Modestus and his Son took yet another great adventure to create great Wonders for Roman Bathhouse Culture from their experience of being spirited away to Modern Japan.

As expected by Mari Yamazaki sensei who is probably one of the more well versed Mangaka with Ancient Rome History, Thermae Romae Redux is a great read just like the first series. As the balance between Drama and Humor remains great as usual and at the same time we will get another glimpse of Rome during the last stretch of Five Good Emperors period. Despite the theme used for Thermae Romae is rather narrow compared to typical Historical Manga, the Thermae Romae Redux experience is still fresh which is testament of the mangaka's storytelling capability. So far this Thermae Romae Sequel only made it around 1-2 Volumes considering the series started on early 2024, but I will believe the story quality can still remain consistent for 4-5 Volumes worth. While waiting for the Redux get its story continuation, I can still stick with Thermae Romae or Kentou Shitouden Cestus to get my Roman historical drama fix.

Nikke Hyper Body Red Hood

  Nikke is very quick on their Merchandising lately! Around the same time Rapi got her SSR version, one of the more popular Nikke who is closely related to the main heroine, Red Hood gets an action figure. Just like Modernia, She got a Hyper Body Treatment because GSC felt it is more suitable compared to Figma. Scheduled for December 2025 release, Hyperbody Red Hood will be sold for 15800 Yen.

 Red Hood is one of the legendary Nikke in the series being part of the Legendary Goddess Squad but at some point she fell in combat in the combat against Rapture. However Red Hood managed to live on somehow in a fateful encounter with Rapi when she still was a Mass produced Nikke and her soul lays dormant until Rapi needs her power. In Combat, Red Hood is armed with oversized Sniper Rifle and apparently she was a Meta S1&S3 Unit. When I still played Nikke, I managed to get her anniv Dress Costume which put her perfect body into good display even I never managed to get her by the time I quitted Nikke. Red Hood's caught my attention due to her close resemblance with Surtr from Arknights and would pass as her if the former decided to have goofier personality and picked oversized Rifle as her weapon. While Red Hood is still a skip for me, I would likely consider if D: Killer Wife ever gets an action figure.

Tsukihime Max Factory 1/8 Arcueid Brunestud - Piece of Blue Glass Moon

 
 Not sure what kind of special Occassion that Tsukihime had, but the Moon Princess Arcueid Brunestud got yet another Luxurious PVC Figure treatment by Max Factory! Perhaps it is in the anticipation of Tsukihime 25th Anniversary, but this is the second time in a year that Arcueid in her True Ancestor princess getup got a PVC Figure treatment! Scheduled for January 2026 release, this particular version of Arcueid will be released in 1/8 Scale and sold for 34800 Yen.

If this particular figure for Arcueid was made in 1/7 Scale for 35k Yen which was very possible in 10 years ago, It would have given the Aniplex version that was announced in Early 2024 a run for their money. But as the product ends up as 1/8 Scale, it is just a viable substitute.

Compared to the Aniplex version, this version of Arcueid got more color warmth with her and evoked more emotion compared to the former even if the pose simply a mirror job. For some reason, this version of Arcueid reminds me of Jalter Dress version and perhaps the Sculptor is still the same person which means the Hair part will be very heavy. In any case we could probably expect more Tsukihime merchandise within 2025 if Aniplex is somewhat competent in milking Typemoon's IP and perhaps we could even see Ciel and Akiha's PVC figure popping out.

Super Robot Heroes Orange Cat 1/100 Estailev Neamhain

  Without a doubt Estailev is one of the better looking Original mecha design that oozes Protagonist Mecha aura in past few years and Orange Cat Industry are making good use of capitalizing the design to make several iterations. After the Red Cassowary, Orange Cat moves onto the Black color scheme for Estailev dubbed Estaliev Neamhain. Scheduled for Q1 2025, Estailev Neamhain will be sold for 158 RMB Price tag.

Given the namesake after Irish Myth Goddess of War, Estailev Neamhain is a melee monster equipped with a pair of Heat Katanas as its main armaments. I suppose Orange Cat decided to refrain giving this particular variant of Estailev a Japanese namesake due to the oversaturation of this particular niche in Chinese Mecha Toys market. Considering Orange Cat could release Neamhain in the timing that I will be getting my copy of Cassowary, I am quite sure that Orange Cat could release another Estailev varient soon. If the next Estailev comes in Green color scheme, it will be highly likely a heavy support variant.

Warhammer 40k Joytoy 1/18 Constantin Valdor

  Trying to catch up the slack with my inactivity last week and for the First Post of 2025 and lets start with something Gold! As a parting gift to conclude their 40k Lineup run in 2024 which is absolutely solid, Joytoy gave us the Captain General of Legio Custodes, Constantin Valdor! Scheduled for June 2025 release, Joytoy Constantin Valdor will be sold for 140 USD Price tag.

The price tag of a 40k Joytoy Products already indicate the character's Importance and Constantin Valdor does not deviate from this rule. Constantin Valdor is the first Leader of Adeptus Custodes faction, easily being the best of the best of Imperium's Cream of the crop apart from Primarchs. Constantin is one of the Emperor of Mankind's closest Confidant apart from Malcador which speaks through what he is capable of. Constantin is armed with powerful relic called Apollonian Spear. In 40k Settings, Constantin didn't play much role as the Captain General position is relegated to Trajan Valoris and he mysteriously disappears just like many Primarchs. Regardless he will still have a significant role to play if GW wills it.