The Tinker is super cool! Absolutely love the miniature. I like how she is sexy without being an over the top pinup (same for Harper by the way). And the unit itself is pretty interesting. Repeater on a cheap non hackable unit isn’t something to sneeze at.
The Aibots have an Eboshi helmet or hat vibe; I think it's OK for Oban getting back to their courtly roots. Not sure if I'll get them just for the looks, though, I think my Yaokongs are peak REMs...
To be honest, my heart felt something only on O-12 miniature. I found PanO as not something for me in the end. (But I were very excited by KFC... I just burnt out, I guess.) It doesn't mean they are bad. No. Their aesthetic is clear to me. They are accurate and well done sectorial with same vides thoug miniatures. Pleasant to see. Same with JSA. They are using that japanese vibes we all know, and many of us like. Not my thing, but it should exist. On one hand I see missed opportunity to refresh classic cyberpunk ideas, that are outdated now, but on the other hand it is a game inspired by that old anime and other popular things. So in the end I dont mind. (don't look at this part as criticism. I guess, I am reflecting and trying to understand how it works for me). And yet sometime I am waiting for better storytelling if we are talking about lore. x) Anyway I like this jsa set in design. More than the last one. I wonder, what would come next, when they would be done with this factions. I really want to see renewed ISS.
When I see Pano Blue and look at the AP catalog, I'm not a big fan of giving 50 names to the same shade in the same paint range. Having the impression that the figs looked bigger, I tried to make an alignment in the corners and they seem that the figs of these packs are in the new scale. Spoiler: + If they're partnering with AP and no longer Vallejo, it probably means their partnership is over and you should be looking for those packs if you want the limited minis.
News list for Mars 2025. https://forum.corvusbelli.com/threads/january-april-2025-year-of-the-sucess-story.43287/#post-480461 - JSA Aibot Remotes Pack - Tinker and Zetbot Remote - Infinity PanOceania Paint Set with Exclusive Fusilier Paramedic - Infinity JSA Paint Set with Exclusive Keisotsu Paramedic - Yu Jing Support Pack - Nomads Support Pack - PanOceania Dronbot Remotes
I like the Aibots but since my "theme" for my JSA is that they are what's left of Loyalists, i'm sticking with YJ bots. The Tinker will make a great HVT as well. I'm not doing my JSA in that color scheme but I could use the flesh tones. I'm pretty horrible with them.
While I like the new expansion pack for Shinden, I think that the Hatamoto with Plasmagun has a very boring pose - I know poses are limited, but the could show a bit more creativity. And I have the feeling that 80 % of Shinden has 8" weapons. LSGs and SMGs everywhere. Pan O also looks good - solid stuff and the Magister has a unique look unfamilar for Pan O. But I think I will not invest in KFC and maybe sell the ST & Beyond parts... but btw where are the Beyond boxes? All the online dealers here are sold out. CB has a shortage? The AP paintsets seems to be early previews. The show D&D on the bottles and they have the same colorssets. I like the Keisotsu Paramedic.
For information, on the dark net Koni made this statement about Nourkias, so the problem should be solved sooner rather than later. Post: https://discord.com/channels/118301609146056709/118301609146056709/1336362749588148299
As The Army Painters are usually video intensive when it comes to promote their products, I expect several painting guides from them. I wonder how they'll tackle Infinity minis, being their social media manager or their master painter.
From their comment on their promo video, it seems that existing colors will retain the existing names; so "pano blue" is probably a slightly different shade (to supplement the existing 10-15 shades of blues they offer...)
So there is at least something Varunian left in N5.... Jokes aside going from Vallejo to Army Painter feels like a downgrade. Not a fan.
To quote them: "Any paint from the range that have a corresponding colour in the main Fanatic line will have the name of the matching paint on the bottle as well." So, from what I understand, PanO Blue can be an alternative name for Shieldwall Blue (for example), and both names will be in the bottle. But if those are new colors that can supplement the existing range (like the two John Blanche sets), I'm all for it. For using both (and other paint ranges), I see it as a sidegrade. The Fanatic range is really good, no comparison possible with their first paint range. Both Vallejo ranges (be it Game or Model Color) and Fanatic range have pros and cons but none is really better than the other. Maybe you can prefer one range because it fits your paint style (because of thickness, covering power, behavior once diluted, matt or satin finish...) but I feel they are "technicaly" equivalent. We are currently blessed with a wide variety of solid paint ranges (Two Thin Coats, Pro Acryl, AK, TTCombat, Scale75, Green Stuff World...). It's easier to find what fits you the most and pick colors from all of them.
Changing from Vallejo to Army Painter could be related with the company situation in the last months (or maybe not)
Never got the hype about Vallejo. Only thing that I found worthwhile for them is their paints took to airbrushing well.
