di:stage pt.2

So Mika–tan and the Figma blog both updated earlier today/yesterday with even more info on the di:stage (short for direction:stage) which is quickly looking more and more interesting. At first, I just thought it would be just a bigger platform that you can connect nendos/figmas to, but it’s so much more. As promised, I’m doing a full article on the di:stage with plenty of pictures. Hope my flickr can handle it.

Basics.

To start off, the di:stage is basically an expandable/customizable stand for figmas and nendos. The basic set is below and retails for 580 yen this summer.

I believe this is the basic set. It comes with one platform and a few stands and connectors for expandability.

The basic set, as you can see, will have one platform and a few stands which accommodate both figmas and nendos along with a few extras that I’ll explain below. The set also comes with a few connectors that’ll help expand the di:stage, which I’ll explain in the next segment. It also comes with a few pieces to fill in the empty space along the edges, much like this:

This piece plugs into the edges to make it appear smooth.

And here is the end result. Looks pretty good.

So the di:stage wouldn’t be much if all you got was just one platform and a few stands, right? Well, thank God that’s not the case, cuz if you buy the deluxe set or more than one basic set, you can expand it as much as you want.

I assume this is the packaging of the deluxe set. Looks like it'll hold a lot, but is it enough?? It'll retail for 5800 yen.

Can’t really see thru the box that well, but hopefully the deluxe set will hold 3-5 platforms and even more stands along with some addition pieces, which I’ll explain in the next section.

Expandabiity.

In the picture with the basic set, you saw the platform and the stands along with the edge pieces. So what were those other two pieces at either side of the platform? Those two pieces allow the di:stage to expand and hold even more figures. Let’s take a look at the side expansion piece:

The connector piece that allows two platforms to connect side by side.

The bottom view. Here you can see how they connect.

The platforms have four pegs at the bottom that plug into the edge cover and side expanders to hold them in place. As you can see, the edge connector connects two platforms side by side by utilizing these pegs. On a side note, you see those holes in the pegs? Well, they’re not just there to save plastic, they serve a purpose too that I’ll explain later.

The end result. Looks pretty good to me and there's no chance that they'll come apart unless you take the connector off.

So that explains the side expander, but what was the other piece? I call that the angle expander:

The angle expander utilizes the side expander and another piece to hold another platform upright at a 90 degree angle.

The angle expander sits atop the side expander like so.

And here is the end result!

So the angle expander allows for the platforms to create a wall and floor effect which allows for great diaramas and maybe even some flying figmas o_O. My only concern is that the weight of a figma on the angled platform might cause it to fall over if it isn’t securely held in place. Maybe they’ll have some pieces to plug into the pegs to keep the platform from sliding out.

Kagami nendo puchi poses on the di:stage. I need to get one of these.

You can expand all this even more by adding more platforms like so:

Vocaloids take the di:stage stage!

Remember what I said about the pegs at the bottom? You can plug stands into them to allow figmas to stand on the platform like Miku.

Replace the figmas with nendos for 12938712938x the cuteness XD.

Speaking of nendos on the stage, remember what I said about the K-On! nendos? Instead of Vocaloids, use K-On! nendos and hopefully their instruments to recreate any of the live concerts they performed or even them practicing in the clubroom like in the OP.

The next type of expansion was revealed today on the Figma blog:

Multiple leveled platforms! Different columns allow for different heights.

Another expandable feature of the di:stage, columns. These columns allow platforms to be stacked up to create multiple levels. These probably use expanders that sit on the side expanders that the columns plug into. It looks a little unsturdy, but since most of the weight will be concentrated on the columns, if the columns are strong enough they won’t snap. The only problem is placing too many figmas or nendos on the top which will cause it to topple over.

Multi level plats with figmas and a nendo puchi. The bottom platform has such little space, a nendo puchi might be the only thing that can fit.

You can even an elevated platform without a base platform, altho I'd be scared that there isn't a bottom platform to keep the columns from falling outward and breaking when the platform their holding gets too heavy.

Another picture showing the multi level plats. There's something interesting in the center...

In the center of the picture, you can see the Yoshika nendo held up by a figma stand. The di:stage comes with a piece that holds nendos by the waist and can be held up by existing figma stands. Very useful for nendos that have skirts seeing as they always fall over. But that’s not the interesting thing. Let’s look closer:

A glass (plastic) case to display figmas/nendos using the di:stage.

I’m not sure if the deluxe set will come with these or if they’re a separate thing, but in this picture, the multi level platforms create a plastic display case for your favorite figure. It’s a cheaper alternative to a real glass case, but this actually has holes at the bottom to allow a stand to plug in and offer more stability whereas a glass case probably won’t.

A creative way to expand your di:stage.

An even more creative way to expand your di:stage. Use figma stands to create an angled look. So cool.

That’s all the expandability that’s been revealed for now, so let’s take a look at customization.

Customization.

The di:stage utilizes some interesting methods to make some very detailed scenes. Let’s look at a few examples.

Think your di:stage is boring? Add a custom floor.

Still boring? Add a backdrop.

Bird's eye view of the backdrop. Looks like you use the edge covers to hold the paper background in place.

A closer look reveals how the birds are held up. Poking thru the backdrop to access the holes in the platforms allows things to appear suspending in air.

Pegs are needed to hold the paper backdrop in place otherwise it'd just fall over.

A closer look at the pegs. Perhaps these can be used in the pegs at the bottom when using the angle expander as a way to keep the platform from slipping out.

A fight between Saber and Rin. Creative use of the di:stage allows Rin to appear like she's in mid air.

Use the same stand that held the birds up the hold up an effect, like the slash from Saber's Excaliber.

Use another one to create word bubbles and sound effects.

Another example of custom backgrounds and the di:stage working together to create a scene.

At first, I would have never thought of this, but custom floors and backdrops seem like an obvious thing. Maybe nendos and figmas in the future will come with these custom backgrounds, kinda like how the Koizumi figma came with a backdrop of the SOS clubroom. Now, with the di:stage, you can properly recreate the Hare Hare Yukai dance.

But that’s not all. Do you remember those nendoroid playsets? Well, you can use those as the backgrounds of the di:stage too! The possibilites never end:

Kagamiku jamming away much to Tsukasa's chagrin in the Japanese-style room playset.

Shana is lecturing Makina in the classroom playset.

A classroom on the second floor of a house? Or maybe it's a tea room on the first floor of the school?

So the di:stage seems very promising. I know I’m gonna buy a set and try to create an awesome display for my growing collection of figmas and nendos. I’m looking forward to more news and for reservations to start.

Sorry if this article seems a little messy/unorganized. I’m not too happy with it, but whatever.