Original Released : February 2012
Released Price : 4200 Yen (around $53 or 2,200 Php)
Out of the Box Build
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| Box Art |
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| Size Comparison next to regular can of soda |
Articulation
This kit has an amazing articulation, well without the assault shroud armor. After placing those armor piece to make it look awesome, you'll either lose or limit its articulation. Looking awesome comes with a price, for this guy atleast. It's head can move 45º up and down, and tilt from left to right. It can also turn its head 360º all the way.
In terms of arm articulation, it can bend and lift up to 90º and turn 360º, just be careful and move it properly when doing it, so you wont scratch you kit.
Waist articulation for this guy is also great (without assault shroud armor), it can tilt 45º like most MGs and turn just only halfway to 45º because of its side skirt. Because of the new engineering they put on its body it can bend forward up to 45º. This kit can literally bend forwards and backwards without any armor atleast. After you put the armor parts it can still bend but not that much.
Legs can bend up to 180º and lift up to 90º. You can also bend it feet up to 90º for better flight poses.
Armaments and Accessories
This kit has tons of weapons in its disposal. Lets start off with its range weapons a beam rifle (like that's new), a Beam cannon, a rail gun that attaches to its right shoulder and missile pods on its left shoulder.
Some extra weapons, the usual beam sabers, it has 2 and 1 shield.
The cool thing about this kit was the extra armor parts for the assault shroud form. I not even sure if I'm going to buy this kit without it. This thing looks wicked with it.
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| Assault Shroud Armor Pieces |
Pose-ability
One thing I notice when I'm building this kit was its very different inner frame for the waist. As you can see you can bend it forward for much better poseability without any armor parts atleast but it will not work that quite with armor parts in it, still kudos for Bandai for a new innovation.
The kit has great range of poseability without the assault shroud armor. After you put that extra armor on the poseability will be a little less than a bare Duel Gundam. You just have to be patient with it specially the front skirt armor of the assault shroud. This kit still has a great articulation anyway why not explore it and put your creativity to the test.
BTW this is the most solid feel on kit I've ever build, I mean when you hold it and play with it you 'll have a feeling that no armor part/s will drop from it. It's like holding an action figure you can move it much but nothing will drop from it unless you try to do so
Seals and Stickers
Pretty much a standard set of dry transfer decals and clear stickers. There will be a lot of extra seals that was not included on the manual, you can customize it to your own liking.
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| Used up seals and construction manual |
The Build
The build was so awesome, totally different from the other kits I've build so far. Bandai even created a new waist inner frame for this for better articulation. Which is a good innovation for newer kits, kudos Bandai.
This is the most solid form of kit I've ever build, nothings loose all are fasten tightly and all pegs are fitted perfectly. I'm not saying other kit don't but this kit has better in terms of those things. The new peg for the manipulators to hold the weapons are great, it was place on the back of the grip/handle of the rifle and it hold it so tightly that it wont fall off but can be easily remove if wanted to.
And now the Cons...
Well nothings perfect, one problem I notice and this may sound contradicting to the ones I've said a while ago. The Assault shroud front waist armor, the part was so awful. In terms of peg which is so small and can barely hold properly. I don't place or used that part when I display it in assault shroud form, I'm afraid it might fall of and never see it again, the kit still looks cool even without it barely noticeable.
Final Thoughts
The kit was awesome in almost every way, I was having doubts buying this kit before. Base on how it looks on the internet and box arts. Good thing I did, now I have a good kit standing on my shelf and probably one of the best in terms of overall design and engineering. I might try the MG Age-1 now because of this, I read a lots of good things about it in terms of engineering design. This is my least favorite gundam right next to Blitz on that series but that does stop it for being an awesome kit.
Is is good value for money?...Absolutely YES, both the build and overall results are great. With tons of extra armor parts and armaments its like having 2 kits for one, definitely worth every penny.
Does it capture the power of the anime?...YES, the kit has awesome poseability that you can recreate ever pose you seen on the anime. Bandai really did great for making a 1:100 scale model of this mobile suit, its like holding the actual gundam in your hands.
The kit was panel lined and top coated except for the very 1st photo at the top (OBB - Out of the Box Build) and no other paints are applied.
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