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Hobby Search Staff Spreads Summer Vibes in Modeling Contest

Hobby Search, a Japanese model maker, held a staff modeling contest based around the theme of summer. Its entries show a unique appreciation for the foods, activities, and events that shape summer in Japan, and all while featuring mecha or anime characters.

The winner of the contest was this piece by Tominon, "Glass of Sea." It features Danbo, the cardboard robot of Yotsuba&!, paddling a boat and about to get very, very wet. It won the contest primarily for evoking "a world in a cup."

The second-place winner went to "A Healing Scene with a Z'Gok" by Fujimon. It shows a Z'Gok (from Mobile Suit Gundam) encountering a school of sea turtles on an underwater expedition. It won notice mostly for its intricate detail.

The sea is always a fun place to visit when the weather gets hot, and this White Glint (from Armored Core) has the right idea, surfing the waves while rocking aquatic decals in usagiwallaby's "White Glint on a Surfboard."

Summer is also a big season for festivals in Japan, and Togashi's "After the Typhoon, Before the Festival" shows a Patlabor ready for one (and apparently referencing Episode 12 of Patlabor: The New Files).

Roraldinho's "Male Portable Shrine Uhoh" is a miniature version of the portable shrines (mikoshi) which are paraded through the streets during festivals.

Watching fireworks is also a classic summer pastime, and Harusame's "Nishakudama-Launching Tank Trial Model" uses something that's normally used for war to spread fireworks instead.

"It'll Start Soon!" by Kapi no Tsuka presents the aftermath of a summer festival at an old rural train station.

A Guntank (from Gundam) is ready to partake in a water fight in Staff F's "Guntank-kun on Summer Break."

Moving on to food, nothing says summer in Japan quite like watermelons, and Sunflower's "Four [Bears] on Summer Vacation" shows a group of Petit 'GGuy (from Gundam Build Fighters) enjoying slices.

Robonyan (of Yōkai Watch) also prepares to dig into a watermelon slice in Monkey D. Daikun's "Robonyan in the Neo Zeon Army."

Watermelon motifs were also used in Yokobori's "Fire Stinger Watermelon"...

... and Harusame's "Hi-Mock (Watermelon Version)," based on a mecha from Gundam Build Fighters.

This tiny Zaku enjoys a popsicle in Usabitchi's "Mass-Produced Garigari-kun." (Garigari-kun is a popsicle mascot.)

Humid weather also means plentiful insect life in Japan, and Nozuchi's "Stag and Rhinoceros Beetles" showcases two big Japanese beetles.

Squid Girl seems to epitomize summer, and so Cao Cao Mengde's "Summer Means Squid Girl Pain Cars" has a model car conquered by the beach-dwelling sea creature... and Kero from Card Captor Sakura for good measure.

Negi-shi outfits Manaka from LovePlus with a sunflower and a carton of ice cream in "A Child Like a Sunflower."

Finally, Kani Bōzu went a little far with an Amazing Red Warrior (of Gundam Build Fighters Try) in "Redoria & Octopus Armor," outfitting it with so many arms that it looks like an octopus.

Good Smile Company, a figure maker, also held an employee modeling contest this summer.

[Via Hobby Search Blog]