Gundam Lantern, 1:1 scale, lights up Taiwan lantern festival

As part of a celebration for the Lantern Festival, a Chinese festival celebrated on the fifteenth day of the first month in the lunar year, the Taiwanese district of Jiayi put up a 1:1 scale model of the original Gundam in lantern form. Traditionally, an animal lantern is used as the central display, but this year a competition was run and as you can see, the RX-78 Gundam lantern won out. Not that the citizens had any choice in the matter: paper sheets have never looked so formidable. It still does "NOT!" top our Engadget pumpkin though.

[wuballz @ Mar 5th 2007 1:52AM]

I've never been more proud to be Taiwanese.

[Skrilla @ Mar 4th 2007 3:59PM]

I want one

[Looozer @ Mar 4th 2007 3:59PM]

Totally... frickin'... AWESOME!

[Jedi Hackzor @ Mar 4th 2007 4:03PM]

all i have to say is, jeez louis

[farfisa @ Mar 4th 2007 4:13PM]

Wait, I just checked--It actually does top the Engadget pumpkin.

[jonCHwong @ Mar 4th 2007 4:20PM]

Hahaha awesome...

[mastershake916 @ Mar 4th 2007 4:38PM]

HaD pumpkin > engadget pumpkin.
http://www.hackaday.com/2006/10/31/happy-halloween-extra/

[tagrass @ Mar 4th 2007 4:50PM]

Gundam Lantern > (HaD pumpkin x Engadet pumpkin)

[Mike @ Mar 4th 2007 4:59PM]

Wait ... is that the Engadget logo on the left foot?

[Err0r @ Mar 4th 2007 5:39PM]

This will save Taiwan from Mainland reunification.

[Andy Wang @ Mar 4th 2007 6:22PM]

this is actually in CKS Memorial Hall, Taipei, not Jiayi.
more photos here
http://www.mobile01.com/topicdetail.php?f=181&t=288059&last=2416913

[sai @ Mar 4th 2007 6:56PM]

AWESOME lantern but according to Andy Wang's link, it can't possibly be 1:1 scale. Maybe 1:3 ?
There's a pic of a guy hugging a Gundam leg. The leg is too small compared to the guy. Unless the guy is a giant or something. haha.

[Raiden @ Mar 4th 2007 6:58PM]

the scale is actually 1:2.5 not 1:1

[Vince Tran @ Mar 4th 2007 7:38PM]

@ Mike: The designs on the Gundam are random spirals.

@ the article:
Oh you crazy Asians!

[Will @ Mar 4th 2007 8:00PM]

Mother of God... That is freakin' awesome. Note to self: Go get giant Gundam, invite all car-carrying Asians in area to my house, and take pictures of the white guy while asking him if he's Clint Eastwood!

[Michael @ Mar 4th 2007 8:09PM]

From the Taipei Lantern Festival at C.K.S. Memorial Hall (as the hall is known as of now). The Gundam was not the central display. It was one of hundreds of side displays. Maybe one of 50-75 large displays. The central display was a PIG (year of the pig) surrounded by Taipei city scape.

[jaalin @ Mar 4th 2007 8:32PM]

there's a christmas tree up its bum

[grjohnston @ Mar 4th 2007 11:28PM]

I, for one, would like to welcome our lantern overlords.

[ToriB @ Mar 5th 2007 12:20AM]

GIMMIE! GIMMIE! GIMMIE!

[world peace @ Mar 5th 2007 12:28AM]

Hoooly shit.

Also, in the larger shot, Gundam is saying, "You see, when I was your age..."

[Rob Walch @ Mar 5th 2007 2:05AM]

Zeek Zion!

[Rishard @ Mar 5th 2007 8:17AM]

Is there video of this thing??? This is amazing.

[Zaku-II @ Mar 5th 2007 3:40PM]

Needs more Zeon.