Author Topic: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball  (Read 13590 times)

Offline Ramba

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Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« on: January 14, 2019, 11:44:48 PM »
Hi all! My first post.

This is the Bandai 1/100 Mobile Pod Ball being modified as an autonomous weapons system. I am adding the Tamiya 1/35 20mm Flakvierling guns to it. I replaced the Tamiya kit barrels with some RB Model 20mm KwK 30 metal barrels. This weapons system will be done as 1/35 to go along with some of my other 1/35 what if projects.

It is still a WIP. It will eventually be painted in some sort of camo but not sure what yet. It was supposed to be mounted on mech walker legs but the kit I ordered never showed up but was luckily refunded the full amount. Not sure what to use for the mech walker legs now. Still mulling it over.









Offline Antonio Sobral

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2019, 12:11:39 AM »
Great build. Much cooler than the original!

IMHO, forget the legs, and do something on the "Oblivion" drone style, but with a WW2 twist :)

Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2019, 03:24:33 AM »
Looking good.

Welcome aboard.
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2019, 07:43:17 AM »
I'm delighted already!

Brian da Basher

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2019, 10:08:04 AM »
Great build. Much cooler than the original!

IMHO, forget the legs, and do something on the "Oblivion" drone style, but with a WW2 twist :)

Thanks! No legs will save me money hahaha! Still not entirely sure what I am going to do as I can't find anything suitable to use for the legs.

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2019, 10:08:29 AM »

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2019, 10:08:55 AM »
I'm delighted already!

Brian da Basher

Thanks!

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2019, 11:16:56 AM »
Looking good, perhaps put on a tracked base or on a base that represents a partial deck and hull of a Kriegsmarine warship.

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2019, 05:15:48 PM »
"Open the Pod Bay door, HAL!"

2001 gets weaponised. ;D


Good work, Ramba! :smiley:


I wouldn't bother with legs, either. The anti-grav idea is much cooler.

... On the other hand, if you want to keep the tech more realistic, 6 or 8 legs would also be cool (look at photo's of insects & spiders for inspiration, rather than real robots).
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Offline finsrin

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2019, 07:35:58 PM »
Soooo nice.  :smiley:
Says gun boat turret to me.  A bad ass one !

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2019, 10:43:44 PM »
Thanks for all the comments. Some great ideas for me to think about.

My original intent was to mount the Pod Ball on the legs from the KOTOBUKIYA HEXAGEAR Blockbuster VF Ver KA. Unfortunately the kit I ordered never arrived after waiting 2 months. I got a full refund though. I haven't found another one cheap enough though so still looking.


Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #11 on: February 10, 2019, 04:43:36 AM »
Here is the KOTOBUKIYA HEXAGEAR Blockbuster VF Ver KA kit. I am only using the mech legs though. They are pretty sturdy and supports the Gundam Ball nicely. The Gundam Ball is just resting on top of the legs for now. I still need to find a way to attach the Gundam Ball to the legs so the ball rotates. I think I have a trashed Gundam kit somewhere that I can use the connection part from the torso.

The Gundam Ball is 1/100, the guns are 1/35 and the Hexagear is 1/24 but my kit bash will be a 1/35 autonomous fire support weapons system. I put a Live Resin 1/35 figure next to it for size comparison.







Offline Brian da Basher

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #12 on: February 10, 2019, 05:10:45 AM »
My favorite part of this is the guns.

Those are some very nice looking barrels and I could see them on an AFV.

Nice work, looks pretty complex and full of details. It finished up quite sharply!

Brian da Basher

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #13 on: February 10, 2019, 12:38:39 PM »
Looking good
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #14 on: February 10, 2019, 10:10:00 PM »
Thanks for the comments everyone!

I wanted the ball to rotate freely on the legs so that the ball could rotate without having the legs turn the whole system around but I am having a hard time fitting the ball to the legs. I don't have anything in my spares box that will attach the two different companies parts together. I will probably have to scratch build something.

Bandai does make a Polypod kit with the mech legs included but the Polypod kit is pretty expensive and the ball still doesn't rotate freely. The Bandai Gundam Ball and the KOTOBUKIYA HEXAGEAR kits I got were a lot cheaper than getting the Polypod kit by itself. This is why I went with getting the Gundam Ball and Hexagear kits. Even with the Tamiya 20mm Flak and metal barrels, all together it was still cheaper than getting the Polypod kit. I got my Bandai 1/35 M61A5 MBT cheaper than the Polypod kit.

Here is the Polypod kit I was looking at but it is just not affordable at this time.

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #15 on: February 10, 2019, 10:34:47 PM »
 :smiley: 8)
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Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #16 on: February 11, 2019, 02:46:10 AM »
Managed to rig something to get the ball fitted tot he legs and still rotate. Not exactly what I wanted but it works. Also added a FLIR, smoke dischargers and a DUKE antenna.





Offline Kerick

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #17 on: February 11, 2019, 05:29:47 AM »
Might I suggest moving the FLIR and the smoke dischargers to the top of the ball for better visibility and such? Just my $0.02 worth. I like the look of this build either way.
« Last Edit: February 11, 2019, 10:39:42 AM by kerick »

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #18 on: February 11, 2019, 07:52:26 AM »
Might I suggest moving the FLIR and the smoke dischargers to the top of the ball for better visibility and such?
That would also get you better range on the smoke dischargers.  I agree, though, I'm really liking the look of this build.

Offline Frank3k

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #19 on: February 11, 2019, 09:45:12 AM »
That looks great! It goes well with the 1/35 figure. The pod could also be used as a space pod of some sort (like in 2001). The barrels look awesome!



Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #20 on: February 11, 2019, 10:26:45 AM »
There actually isn't anywhere else to mount the smoke dischargers. Where I have them now is the only place they fit. Same with the FLIR.

I do have an AFV 1/35 M151 RWS that I could probably fit on the top but then the DUKE antenna will interfere with the RWS full rotation.

Offline ChernayaAkula

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #21 on: February 12, 2019, 02:54:45 AM »
What a cool beast! :smiley:

I actually think the FLIR/EO turret fits right where it is. I'd assume it's mostly for steering the whole shebang. Some sort of laser scanning the ground it walks on.
Cheers,
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Offline Camthalion

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #22 on: February 25, 2019, 06:14:00 PM »
nice one

Offline Dr. YoKai

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #23 on: March 01, 2019, 07:58:22 AM »
Hey, That's no Zaku!  ;) Looking good so far. I have one of the older kits of the Ball in my stash, but I'm going to be converting it into the opposite of a diving bell. ( Eventually. ) Good luck with the rest of the build.

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #24 on: March 02, 2019, 11:09:53 AM »
That's looking beautiful.  It somewhat reminds me of a villain's weapon/recce system from the old Johnny Quest TV show.

Offline Frank3k

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #25 on: March 02, 2019, 01:14:34 PM »
Evan - it does! :

Offline Antonio Sobral

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #26 on: March 13, 2019, 04:59:05 PM »
That looks great!

Is the final project after the mods still 1/35, or are you planning any "scaleorama effect"?


Offline Silverfox

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #27 on: March 15, 2019, 06:08:23 PM »
I love this, it kind of looks like something that would fit in the Metal Gear universe!

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #28 on: July 24, 2020, 03:24:12 AM »
That looks great!

Is the final project after the mods still 1/35, or are you planning any "scaleorama effect"?


Sorry I missed your comment.

Yes, I am keeping it as 1/35 as an autonomous weapons system. I haven't done anything to it since last time but hoping to get back to it this coming weekend.


Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #29 on: July 24, 2020, 03:25:33 AM »
I love this, it kind of looks like something that would fit in the Metal Gear universe!

Sorry I missed your comment.

Thanks! It will be a 1/35 autonomous weapons system. Hoping to get back to it this weekend.

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #30 on: July 24, 2020, 08:26:21 PM »
Finally got the Pod Ball and guns painted. As you can see from the paint streaks, everything was painted by hairy stick. I still need to gloss coat and weather it though. I will do that later today. I haven't started on the legs yet.

I am leaving the muzzles in brass. I like the way they look and didn't want to cover them in paint.


The aluminum tube is stuck through the sides for me to hold it when I am ready to gloss coat and weather it.



I am going to add the mouth on the front of the Pod Ball. I have full color high visibility decals and low visibility decals. Trying to decide which to use.



Offline LemonJello

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #31 on: July 24, 2020, 09:30:16 PM »
Looking really good.

I don't think you can go wrong with either low- or hi-vis markings...big help, I know.

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #32 on: July 25, 2020, 12:09:12 AM »
I'd go low-viz markings with hi-viz mouth & eyes. ;)
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Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #33 on: July 25, 2020, 01:56:13 AM »
Looking really good.

I don't think you can go wrong with either low- or hi-vis markings...big help, I know.

Thanks! Yeah, decisions. decisions, decisions. I went with hi-vis.

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #34 on: July 25, 2020, 01:56:39 AM »
I'd go low-viz markings with hi-viz mouth & eyes. ;)

Thanks! I went with hi-vis.

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #35 on: July 25, 2020, 02:03:59 AM »
I gloss coated the Pod Ball today and applied some decals.

I went with hi-vis because I painted the center piece of the Pod Ball black. If I went with the lo-vis/black decals you wouldn't see them. I only used partial hi-vis decals. I didn't want the mouth taking up the whole thing. The ammo feed chutes are Live Resin 1/35 .50cal rubber belts. I glued the bottom ammo feed chute on backwards. I forgot to twist them for the correct ammo feed direction. I also added a DUKE antenna. Still needs weathering and a flat coat and I still have to work on the legs.





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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #36 on: July 25, 2020, 04:07:27 AM »
reminds me a bit of these:

All hail the God of Frustration!!!

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But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Old Wombat

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Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #38 on: July 25, 2020, 09:03:57 PM »
reminds me a bit of these:



Yeah, the drone spheres from the movie Oblivion. Those were really cool!

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #39 on: July 25, 2020, 09:05:30 PM »
So I was up until 10pm last night painting the legs. I woke up at 6am this morning and started weathering them.


Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #40 on: July 25, 2020, 10:23:24 PM »
Nice! :smiley:
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Antonio Sobral

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #41 on: July 26, 2020, 01:00:41 AM »
Great weathering!

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #42 on: July 27, 2020, 08:30:34 PM »

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #43 on: July 27, 2020, 08:30:50 PM »

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #44 on: July 28, 2020, 12:11:55 AM »
Finished!








Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #45 on: July 28, 2020, 01:10:31 AM »
Oh, it's quite big, isn't it! :icon_surprised:

Seriously, I was thinking it was a fair bit smaller than this but the figure gives it the scale it was missing earlier.

So, it's not exactly a stealth drone, is it ???

What it is is an excellent build! 8) :smiley:
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Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #46 on: July 28, 2020, 01:26:44 AM »
Oh, it's quite big, isn't it! :icon_surprised:

Seriously, I was thinking it was a fair bit smaller than this but the figure gives it the scale it was missing earlier.

So, it's not exactly a stealth drone, is it ???

What it is is an excellent build! 8) :smiley:

Thank you! It is just an amalgamation of ideas that were running through my mind to try to get a mech type autonomous weapons system. It isn't exactly what I wanted but it is what I could do with it from the parts I had. It was a fun build and while it isn't exactly what I wanted it still looks pretty cool.

Yes, it is fairly big. In the position it is posed in the photos it is roughly 210mm or just over 8 inches long and 130mm high not counting the DUKE antenna. The height to the top of the DUKE antenna is roughly 150mm. The legs are fully articulated so they can move to make it longer and higher.


Offline finsrin

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #47 on: July 28, 2020, 02:50:39 AM »
Gee that came out well in over all concept build and details like dirty feet and pod eyes  :smiley:

Offline ChernayaAkula

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #48 on: July 28, 2020, 07:22:53 AM »
Damn, that turned out great!  :smiley:
Cheers,
Moritz

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Offline Frank3k

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #49 on: July 28, 2020, 10:08:35 AM »
That looks great! The decals give it quite a personality!

Offline Kerick

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #50 on: July 28, 2020, 10:19:12 AM »
That could become a really evil R2D2!

Offline apophenia

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #51 on: July 29, 2020, 01:32:34 AM »
And somehow those four legs still have an aggressive, spider-like stance  :o
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Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #52 on: July 29, 2020, 01:46:19 AM »
And somehow those four legs still have an aggressive, spider-like stance  :o

Or a playful puppy stance. ;)
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Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #53 on: July 29, 2020, 03:19:12 AM »
Thanks everyone! Greatly appreciated!

Offline elmayerle

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #54 on: July 29, 2020, 03:29:47 AM »
Beautiful build and a plausible subject; I like the pose, too, as it shows restrained, for the moment, aggression.

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #55 on: July 29, 2020, 03:42:10 AM »
I like the armed ball sitting atop the legs more than the legs but that is just me.  Your modifications to the FlaK 38 20mm cannons was well thought out and look really good.  The addition of the FlaK 30/KwK 30 barrels and muzzle brakes definitely make the weapons stand out.
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Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #56 on: July 29, 2020, 07:06:51 AM »
Thanks again! That was the best pose I could get, it gives it a nice aggressive stance. The metal gun barrels are really nice. It was a shame covering them up with paint.

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #57 on: July 31, 2020, 03:43:43 AM »
I added the gun shields to the Mobile Pod Ball. I think it gives it a meaner look. The shields are posable.

Shields deployed.




Shields retracted.


Offline GTX_Admin

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #58 on: July 31, 2020, 04:14:25 AM »
 :smiley:
All hail the God of Frustration!!!

You can't outrun Death forever.
But you can make the Bastard work for it.

Offline Old Wombat

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #59 on: July 31, 2020, 09:02:56 AM »
 8) :smiley:
"This is the Captain. We have a little problem with our engine sequence, so we may experience some slight turbulence and, ah, explode."

Offline Gingie

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #60 on: August 17, 2020, 04:03:12 AM »
Wonderful!! In fact, I think I'm gonna steal this exact idea! :icon_ninja:

Offline Ramba

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Re: Bandai Mobile Pod Ball
« Reply #61 on: August 17, 2020, 05:08:45 AM »
Wonderful!! In fact, I think I'm gonna steal this exact idea! :icon_ninja:

Thank you! Would love to see yours when done.