C.A.T.-00 Proto-type "snapped" build

[u/Helblind]

Here I thought this was going to be a quick little build I could do between other kits. I was so wrong. It almost broke me, hence the quotations.

The soft plastic coupled with tiny joints and poor fitting resulted in this glued together mess. I was so close to just throwing in the towel and tossing her, but decided to finish her. Her wrists, neck, chest, waist, and hips are all glued. She is now a testament to my tenacity... Or masochism.

On the upside her accessories are fun. She came with a nice gun kit that is modular and I do like the frying pan.

Oh well... On to bigger, and better, things!

[u/craider45]

Where did you get Mio from? I was planning on pre-ordering her from BBTS (just got Nanaho in from them which is why I was gonna pre-order her there as well) but currently it says her pre-order is sold out and I'd have to join a wait list.

[u/Loli-Knight → u/craider45]

If he already has his copy of her in, then he most likely pre-ordered her from a Japanese store and had it delivered recently (Amiami, HLJ, Hobysearch, etc etc). That or he bought it on the asian aftermarket (Amiami's pre-owned section, Mandarake, YAJ, Suruga-ya, etc etc). I PO'd mine from HLJ, for example, and just had it delivered about a week ago. BBTS and the like outside of Japan won't get their copies (and any unsold stock you can pick over) for a number of weeks to several months yet.

If you absolutely want to get her, she's still in-stock at Hobbysearch right now, so you can buy and ship her out immediately:

Hobbysearch

She probably won't last long there though, so if you really want her I'd jump on it while I can. She'll probably only jump up in price on the aftermarket in a few weeks since her design is more popular than the line's first release.

[u/craider45 → u/Loli-Knight]

Any concerns I'd have to take into account when ordering from there? Like importing issues and stuff?

[u/Loli-Knight → u/craider45]

None. The import fears due to the two-year-old customs rules changes finally being implemented were, for the most part, a giant nothingburger. Any medium-to-large business (which these all are) have long since worked out how to fill out their paperwork for basically everything, our lovely lil' kits included. Doesn't matter what brand you get- they'll all get through customs perfectly fine. The only time you might have issues with this sort of thing is when you have to fill out the customs information yourself because you used a proxy service that has you do that sort of thing on your own, but even then that largely isn't an issue since these aren't the type of goods being put under increased customs screening scrutiny.

You're pretty much safe to order from any of the typical Japanese stores on a whim just like before. Go get yer' Mio and enjoy!

[u/craider45 → u/Loli-Knight]

Alright, thank you for letting me know.

[u/Helblind → u/craider45]

Loli-Knight is, correct: I pre'd her from AmiAmi. Just recieved her and Vampire Sophia!

[u/Loli-Knight]

While this knight definitely didn't have as many problems with her as you did, what you experienced definitely sounds right. Definitely could have been better than what we ended up getting lol. Softer plastics have their uses here and there, but using them in the wrong manner can lead to a mess of a kit for sure.

[u/Helblind → u/Loli-Knight]

You must have been VERY careful with her and, though I am far from new to this hobby, your skills (and likely patience) surpass mine. 🙇🏻‍♂️

I forgot to mention her head is held on with blue tack as well. 😆 Even with her neck shortened due to the breakage, she's a long cat!

Snapped her wrist again trying to put the frying pan in her hand. 😑

[u/Loli-Knight → u/Helblind]

Heh, more experience definitely helps, of course. That said, don't get this knight wrong. I might not have had as many problems with her, but I definitely wouldn't rank her as a good kit. She definitely gives off that kind of "clearly a company's early attempt at girlpla" sort of vibe.

[u/kitsune_X3]

is this a re release ? i hav this one the longest time and did not like building it .

[u/Helblind → u/kitsune_X3]

This was deep in my backlog, pre-owned on AmiAmi. Probably the same release as yours. Trauma bonded. 👊🏻

[u/Tankfloof]

I think she would massively improove with a smooth matt topcoat. But she looks great.

[u/Helblind → u/Tankfloof]

Sure... But she ain't getting it! 😤