GD INTERVIEW: Podium GBWC 2015! (ENG)

GD INTERVIEW PRESENTS:

:::::PODIUM FINAL GBWC 2015 IN TOKYO:::::

Corino & Lemcat

revision and editing

Staff GD

Hi guys! The “GD interview” continue to grow and this time we have the pleasure and honor to interviewing the complete OPEN podium GBWC 2015:

1°: Win Eiam-ong (Thailand)

2°: NG Siu Way (Hong Kong)

3°: Jeff Ho (Malaysia)

From left: NG Siu Way, Win Eiam-ong, Jeff Ho

along with the two special awards:

Char’s AURIS Ⅱ Award: NG Siu Way (Hong Kong)

Gundam Visa Card Award: Riccardo Forni (Italy)

From left: Katsumi Kawaguchi, Riccardo Forni, NG Siu Way

So, let’s hear what they have to say to the GD community!

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Win Eiam-ong, First place

Win retires first prize

His Work, Another Late Night

Hi Win!

Few questions to know each other better and discover how you reach the first place of GBWC 2015.

How was this experience of GBWC final in Tokyo?
It was truly amazing! I loved every bit of it… the winning thing is just icing on the cake (awesomely great, I am very humbled and honored). But what I love above all else is to be a part of this awesome community, to learn from others, to improve, to meet new friends, as well as see some old friends. I’ve bond with most of these people for life. Just awesome – AWESOME – people.

Win, May and Jeff

Eric Capucion and Win

Win with Mdgelo Gui.

What is your favorite model of the other participants?

Sorry, I’d rather not say…. The thing is I concider him to be a really good friend of mine and if he reads this, and see me saying that I like his work best…. He’ll just tease me non-stop and I don’t want to give him a bigger ego… 🙂

Can you tell us an episode to remember in this final?

I never expect to win. I usually do the best I can, throw it in and hope for the best… so when they announced the results for the 3rd place, and then second place- I thought to myself there is no way I would get anything, because there are other really cool entries that I thought would win. Then when they announced my name followed by “Thailand”… it didn’t register in my head- so I just sat there clapping, waiting for the winner to go up…. Until the junior winner of Thailand behind me punched me in the ribs and said “that’s you- you idiot!” (she’s awesome.)

The proclamation

Would you like to add anything about this edition of GBWC 2015?

Gundam building is an art form that has no “end” or “ultimate” point…. All you can do is have an idea, experiment with it, fail, learn from it, or succeed and move on to another idea and have more fun. Gunpla builders are simply artists who chose gundam as their canvas.

Tell us who you are and how you enter the world of Gundam model building:

I started doing models in general when I was 11 but with warhammer models and I’ve been making, painting and sculpting models since. Warhammer is a table top war game where player create models then using their rules, rulers, and dice- you use the models to fight each other as an army. like Warcraft but with models. My first gundam kit was actually a year and a half ago with this guy:

Win’s first Gunpla

I watch Gundam series alot and when they brought out Gundam built fighters where a modeler can build a model then put it on a table and it comes to life and fights each other… I’m sold….. after the first one I became addicted and never looked back 🙂

Let’s go deeper: what kind of modifications have you done to reach this result? Are there any parts you are particulary proud of?

Just telling the story I wanted to tell, and communicating/connecting with non gunpla people who’ve seen my work I think. Personally I think a diorama needs to tell a story. So I wanted to tell the story of us as modelers working long and hard on perfecting our art, but also something that people that dont know anything about gundam can see and understand. so instead of modelers and models- it is a carpenter and a wooden sculpture (same thing but different skill sets but some reason more relatable.)

The way I see it- GBWC is a Bandai and sunrise promotional event, so this diorama MUST come from one of the Gundam universe. Because I got into gundam with the Gundam built fighters universe- I wanted to created a story in that universe. that’s why if you look in the diorama there are many refference to that world. Mao’s hat on the table, Mao’s gunpla school wooden signs, the Haro mosquito replent. Also the logo on both the diorama plaque and the wooden sculpture plaque has the gundam built fighters’ logo on it. The name of the wooden sculpture is actually the name of one of the episode (gundam built fighter try ep 14 “Worthy Rivals”(好敵手たち). The gundam them selves are not gundam wing and gundam epion but a custom mix of many gundam kits.

Particular of “Another Late Night”

One of the Gunpla used for “Another Late Night”

Have you already had the next works in mind?

Yes actually I was lucky enough to be invited into a International group build off called “CLASH OF TITANS“

The idea is 20 builders from around the world with 20 VERY different ideas and styles, 1 model kit (Graze 1/100)…. I’m very honored to be in this group full of awesome god like builders…. I just hope I don’t f*ck up too much… no pressure..

The new International Group Buld Called “Clash of the Titans”

Win’s actually work

Thanks a lot for your time and enjoy this well deserved victory!

And do not forget, Italy loves Gunpla!

Win with Thailand’s Flag

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NG Siu Way, Second place and Auris Award

Ray retires second prize

Ray retires Toyota Auris Award

His Nightingale

Hi Ray!

few questions to know each other better and discover how you reach the second place and the Char’s Auris II award of GBWC 2015.

How was this experience of GBWC final in Tokyo?

This is my first time competing in GBWC Final, I was so excited and thrilled to have won the awards and get the recognition from the esteemed judges.

The proclamation for Auris Award

What is your favorite model of the other participants?

The model from a Japanese participants.

Tallgeese A (ARES) – The God of War – By Roku (JAP)

Can you tell us an episode to remember in this final?

Actually, there are two memorable moments.First, when they call out my name for the second place winner which means I got two awards. This is really out of my expectation. Second, master Kawaguchi dressed up as Santa Claus and deliver gifts to the participants.

The proclamation for second prize

Mejin Christmas gives a present to Ray

Would you like to add anything about this edition of GBWC 2015?

Well, I think it is already perfect!

Tell us who you are and how you enter the world of Gundam model building:

I am a big fan of SF animation since I was a kid. It was always my fantasy to own one of those 1:1 Gundam or aircraft. That‘s why I started building Gundams myself. When I grown up, I used to be a photographer, working for a weekly magazine in Hong Kong for almost 10 years. However I never forget my interest in Gundam Modeling. So I quit my job and set up my own gunpla studio and work as a full time tutor specialised in Gundam model building.

Let’s go deeper: what kind of modifications have you done to reach this result? Are there any parts you are particulary proud of?

My model characterised in many details and mechanical features. You will find a MG Gunpla inside the main creature. This is the most satisfactory part I think.

Nightingale by Ray

Have you already had the next works in mind?

Yes of course and most of them are MG Gunpla.

Thanks a lot for your time and enjoy this well deserved victory!

And do not forget, Italy loves Gunpla!

Ray with Hong Kong’s Flag

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Jeff Ho, third place

Jeff retires third prize

His Work, The Angel

Hi Jeff!

Few questions to know each other better and discover how you reach the third place of GBWC 2015.

How was this experience of GBWC final in Tokyo?

Was a great experience and also glad that can meet other country contestant face to face.

What is your favorite model of the other participants?

Hard to choose one from all the finalist, all finish with heard & effort. If really need to select one, i will go for Thailand Entry, love how he present his kit.

Another Late Night, by Win.

Can you tell us an episode to remember in this final?

No specific moment for me, but can meet others country participant in person was my valuable memories.

Jeff wih Keviv Zang and Ray NG

Jeff and the Italian Stallion Riccardo

Jeff and NM Kai

Would you like to add anything about this edition of GBWC 2015?

I satisfied & appreciate all the arrangement have done by Bandai on this trip.

Tell us who you are and how you enter the world of Gundam model building:

Hi, i am Jeff Ho, nice to meet you all, building model kits was my hobby, i build plastic & resin kits. I started Gunpla around year 2005 and my first joining Bandai competition was at 2007.

Some off my results on competitions :

2008 – PG Strike (BAKUC 2008 – 1st runner up)

2009 – PG RX-78 (BAKUC 2009 – 1st runner up)

 2010 – MG Zeong (BMKWC 2010 – 1st runner up)

2011 – Kshatriya IV – (GBWC 2011 – Grand Final Champion)

 2012 – Psycho Gundam / Zaku vs GM (GBWC 2012 Consolation) 

2013 – The O.ctopus (GBWC 2013 Best Colouring + Consolation)

 2014 – Kshatriya (GBWC 2014 – nothing) 

2015 – The Angel (GBWC 2015 Grand Final 2nd runner up) 

Beside above, our country Malaysia also having mid year contest, you all can find more pictures at my Facebook (Jeff Ho)

Zaku vs GM – GBWC 2012

Kshatriya – GBWC 2011

The-O.ctopus – GBWC 2013

Kshatriya V – GBWC 2014

Let’s go deeper: what kind of modifications have you done to reach this result? Are there any parts you are particulary proud of?

Can’t say proud of, just share some of my idea on my latest entry – The Angel.

Have this idea few years ago, but didn’t do it because finding low cost solutions to recast the face, trying lots experiment (that’s fun).

The whole idea was make this mecha more human look & upside down kitbashing idea.

Have you already had the next works in mind?

No, haven’t decide anything yet.

Thanks a lot for your time and enjoy this well deserved victory!

And do not forget, Italy loves Gunpla!

Jeff with Malaysia’s flag

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Riccardo Forni, Gundam visa Card Award

Riccardo retires Gundam Visa Card Award

The RX-93 Gesshoku – Lunar Eclipse, the Italian work

Hi Riccardo!

Few questions to know each other better and discover how you reach the Visa Card Award of GBWC 2015.

How was this experience of GBWC final in Tokyo?

For me it was the first time in Japan, so the exhilaration was double!! I thought about dozen times: “Oh my God! This is real! It really exists!!” I was ready to the “tour de force” (outward voyage 15 hours and 16 hours of way back) but it was really worth, I met fantastic people, I made new friends and this is the most important award of the GBWC.

All the Bandai association has been impeccable, everybody took care of ourselves from beginning to end.

The proclamation

The ceremony

The mighty Italian Stallion with the Gundam Rx-78-2

What is your favorite model of the other participants?

It’s difficult to show a preference.

I think that Win’s work, world new champion, is truly characteristic and original. Maybe it is out of “mecha” context, but it certainly reflects our builders’ spirit. “another late night” corresponds with each contestant’s work of the last period for this event.

If I have to show a preference ,the green Sazabi “Wasabi” from Indonesia highly stroke me and the second placed’s Nightingale from Hong Kong too.

Watching with my own eyes the live performance of these models was my greatest curiosity. and I has been astonished by these works’ precision and elegance.

Sometimes photos disguise imprecisions , but in this case they don’t do justice to the works.

The Final battle by NM Kay (Indonesia)

Can you tell us an episode to remember in this final?

I think that the episode that made more an impression on me was what happened in a shop the saturday morning (day before the event).

I was at the check-out for some articles and I had already given to the cashier my passport and credit card (some shops aren’t ‘duty free’ if you show the passport).

While the cashier was packaging my articles, I moved over to let people pass and I tried to remember where I put on my passport….I couldn’t find it!

I looked up and I see a passport at the check-out, so I stretched out my hand to pick it up,thinking it was mine; but an upset voice told me:” Ehi! That’s my passport!!”

What a gaffe!!…It was the customer after me, he had Asian features but he spoke a perfect english slang…strange thing!

I apologized, payed and run away.

That evening, at the hotel, I had an appointment at dinner with Bandai delegate, Kevin (from Usa) and Joshua ( from Australia, but he couldn’t ultimately have dinner with us).

Bandai delegate introduces us and…..Oh my God! The passport guy!!

Nothing to say, we immediately broke the ice! Especially after I gave to him my passport ” So we’re even!!”

A Gunpla Shop

Bandai delegate

Would you like to add anything about this edition of GBWC 2015?
I’ve only a regret in this adventure: having been there very little. In this circumstance the mood is really enjoyable and makes you forget the tension caused by the competion.
Obviously there is the exhilaration for the won award that makes evertything much more unbelievable.
This experience has been unique and I’ll work hard to go back there!!

The GBWC Group

Riccardo with Jousha Darrah, Dennis Chou andJeff

Tell us who you are and how you enter the world of Gundam model building:
I started this hobby 3 years ago…so I’m still a newbie! I ran with Mini 4WD for 18 years and now I’m simply using the same building skills, tools and materials with Gunplas (like dremel and carbon fibers). I’m an abnomal “Gunplaro” since I never watched any Gundam-related Anime, I’m more of a pure model builder, which can be a big flaw but I find that is really a great strenght since I’m not influenced by story lines or by the rules of the various universes. I can appreciate a model for the model itself, not for what it represents.

Let’s go deeper: what kind of modifications have you done to reach this result? Are there any parts you are particulary proud of?
This year, like last year,I kept my style using LEDs, optical fiber and clear parts, and now the “Tron effect” is my signature. Most of the work was focused on kitbash and in the design/building of the backpack and the laser rifle. Everything is powered by 4 lithium batteries inside the model, but it was a risky choise that I don’t think I’ll do again: it’s too hard and troublesome to handle. Sadly I didn’t have much time to change the project at that point. As I said, I’m still “new”, but the important thing is to learn from our mistakes.

Have you already had the next works in mind?
For next year I’m already planning some works, and I want to improve myself again. Winning a title does not mean that you’ve learned everything, or that now I’m a Gunpla Master. We have a lot of model builders really capable and from them I want to learn: those are the people I want learn from. I’ve been so lucky in being part of this great group of talented people with such skills and experience. Team “Nu Type” was born in october and I hope to contribute with it to keep high his name.

The showcase dedicated to Gesshoku

His next work..

Thanks a lot for your time and enjoy this well deserved victory!

And do not forget, Italy loves Gunp ah no, you already know 😀 !

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Thank you guys for the helpfulness and courtesy on behalf of the Gundam Dipendente and all the Italian Gunpla Builders!