Although most Japanese toys from the 60’s and 70’s generally still hold up well over the years Japanese model kits from the same era generally have not faired too well.

Although most Japanese toys from the 60’s and 70’s generally still hold up well over the years Japanese model kits from the same era generally have not faired too well.

Before Bandai started to produce their famous Mobile Suit Gundam Model kits most Japanese Model kits were seen as unassembled toys that one puts together and when through, still have the same play value as toys. Usually the kits had the same gimmicks as their toy counterpoints: wind up engines, shooting missiles, slot car conversions, bonus figures, collector cards just to name a few examples.

Being an avid fan of 60’s and 70’s Anime and Japanese live-action programs and an avid model kit builder things can get a bit shady when purchasing my favorite model kits representing subjects from the 60’s and 70’s. For example most the model kits from this era never pictured the actual model kit on the box. Usually it was beautiful oil or watercolor rendition of said subject on the box art. Also the kits were just as expensive as the toys. When I arrived home and opened up the box I would be disappointed to find that the model kit that I just purchased was nothing but a simplified representation of said subject with the likenesses horribly out of scale. Model kit manufacturing techniques and what modelers expect from a Model manufactures have improved signifiently since the 1960’s when many of these model kits were originally produced.

What I plan to do is review some of these older model kits and see which ones still hold up over the years and which ones should be treated like garage kits that one has to scratch build parts for or be built out of the box as historical model kit representations of our favorite subjects.

I purchased my Great Mazinger from the model kit aisle of the local drug store roughly in the early 90’s for what I remember $10.00. I believe this model kit is a Korean bootleg as it is from a company that I have never heard of before. It also looks like it was originally manufactured as a toy that was back engineered into a model kit. Also this model is called Great Maginger as opposed to Great Mazinger. A mistranslation or a licensing avoidance, perhaps a little of both. I would have to believe it’s a box scale somewhere between 1/100 scale and 1/144 scale.

Box art includes somewhat decent airbrush picture of Great Mazinger on top of and around the sides of the box and some small photos of three built, but unpainted, versions of the kit inside. It appears it was modeled in at least four different colors of white, blue, red and silver. My version came molded in dark blue and dark red with the sword molded in silver. Modelers definitely prefer kits modeled in white or light grey, as bright and dark colors are difficult to hide under lighter colors. Again going back to the toy theme most likely in was molded in so many colors so kids did not have to paint the model kit.

The kit comes with three sprue (1x red 1x blue 1x silver) 1x one sided instruction sheet and one sticker sheet.

One item I first noticed was that the kit was modeled with screw holes in Great Mazinger back inner legs and behind the arms. This is where I believe it was a toy at one time as the model kit does not include any screws and the instructions do not refer to the holes in anyway. One of the most time consuming aspect in building this kit was filling in all those holes with sheet styrene.

The kit went very well together although I wish there was some more details inside the head area, especially with Mazinger’s spaceship. The kit comes with no clear part. I would suggest scratch building some clear parts into the spaceship window, as it’s an open gap. A modified Lite Bright peg would go great here. The Mazinger face likeness looks great and modeled in crisp details and captures the Go Nagai’s design quite nice.

Many robot kits from this era had very basic movement and this model kit is no exception with movement limited to circular movement in the head, arms, wrists and very limited movement of the elbows, knees and feet. Because of this lack of movement I decided to build this kit in a static position of Great Mazinger ready to fire his rocket punch missiles. Because of the lack of internet resources back in the 90’s I did not scratch build blades coming from the forearm because simply I did not know what they looked like, although these days I would have added those blades. With its lack of movement I was still able to get a decent stance from the kit.

I scratch build the head in a looking up position with some sheet steryne. I also modified some of the enclosures on the jet pack and added nozzles to the jet back wing. I also filled in the holes in the hands, as I was not going to use the sword. The jet pack wings were curved around the leading and trailing edge with sandpaper because it looked a bit flat.

The kit was painted using Model Master flat non specular dark sea blue, Testers aluminum metalizer, Testers flat yellow and Testers flat red with a Badger 350 airbrush. I did not spray a flat or gloss sealer although looking back a flat coat would look good. The weathering ideas came from an old 1986 issue of Hobby Japan that had some pictures of a well built resin Great Mazinger model kit.

The model kit comes with a sheet of stickers for the wings and belt area. Again a very charming aspect of the kit but something that better represents the toy appeal of this model kit.

Although this model kit had some issues with the inner head details and the numerous unneeded screw holes and being modeled in some really awful colors, generally speaking this model kit is holds up quite well and with a little work could be converted into an ace looking model kit. I build this kit about at least 10 years ago and if another came my way most likely I would like to have another attempt at it and I would purchase another one. It could also be built into a nice looking toy model with the stickers and sword, perhaps best painted in glossy colors for that Popy look. Either way I think one would be satisfied and impressed with the results.

Although Gundam SEED Destiny came to a close more than a year ago, Bandai has continued to remind us that they are far from done with the series and every aspect of its legacy. They do so with their recent Master Grade scale offering of the Strike Freedom Gundam.

Although Gundam SEED Destiny came to a close more than a year ago, Bandai has continued to remind us that they are far from done with the series and every aspect of its legacy. They do so with their recent Master Grade scale offering of the Strike Freedom Gundam.

The ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam is the reincarnated, upgraded form of the Cosmic Era’s legendary Freedom Gundam piloted by Kira Yamato. What some fans of the traditional Gundam universe (the Universal Century) claimed foul on the SEED universe (the Cosmic Era) that it relied too much on borrowing from past generations as the series progressed. Later persecution came as SEED Destiny began, from mirroring the machines of the One Year War with the ZGMF-X1000 Zaku Warriors and borrowed technologies such as beam shields from Gundam F91, even so much as comparing the Freedom to being a rehash of the F91 itself. However without trying to add more fuel to the fire, the Strike Freedom closely resembles the until-recently untapped image of the RX-93-2 Hi Nu Gundam (the upgraded form of the original Nu Gundam from the novel version of Char’s Counterattack). Still none the less, and petty bickering aside the Strike Freedom exists now as one of the most popular Gundams since its predecessor.

Freedom Flies

As Gundam SEED Destiny reintroduced the Freedom, it set off into the series’ third story arch (the first being the introduction of Shinn Asuka as a new protagonist and the second about Athrun Zala acting as a witness to all sides) which followed returning SEED stars Kira Yamato and Lacus Clyne along with the remaining crew of the Archangel heading out in order to halt the coming crisis between the Earth Alliance and ZAFT while uncovering the conspiracy set into motion by the new leader of ZAFT, Durandal. With Kira once again commanding the power and grace of his revived mobile suit, he made the machine’s presence known.

As good intentions run astray, the Freedom’s interference in multiple battles only begat more tragedy and loss. Kira’s actions in disarming other mobile suits ultimately lead to their destruction by enemy fire, and crippling warships would result in their destruction by the remaining mobile suits made no solution. In a later event, the Freedom was pulled into the devastating encounter with the Earth Alliance’s new mobile weapon the GFAS-X1 Destroy Gundam, piloted by Stella Loussier; Shinn’s attempted love interest and Earth Alliance guinea pig “Extended” pilot. As Shinn could not bring himself to defeat the menace, Kira forced Freedom’s hand destroying the Destroy and unwillingly killing the girl inside.

Seizing the opportunity following the event, ZAFT sets into motion “Operation Angel-Down” in which Shinn Asuka and his ship, the Minerva, were sent after the Archangel and Freedom Gundam with orders to eliminate them. Reeling from the tragedy of the Destroy Gundam incident, Shinn Asuka makes destroying the Freedom his top priority. Shinn ultimately succeeds with his first machine the ZGM-X56S Force Impulse Gundam using the beam sword from its Sword Silhouette weapon pack. Although Kira managed to disable Freedom’s nuclear reactor in time, there was no recovering for the legendary Freedom this time.

Meanwhile in space, Lacus Clyne leads her own ship the Eternal in a hunt for information about Durandal’s plans for the Earth while constructing new Mobile suits of their own. Among them are the new ZGMF-XX09T Dom Troopers and the new incarnation of both the Justice (ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice) and the Freedom. After learning of their actions ZAFT sends orders to eliminate the ship, however Kira comes to their aid with the commandeered MBF-02 Strike Rouge. For his efforts, Lacus presents him with his revived wings, the ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam. This machine would be his to pilot for the remainder of the series, and ultimately remain intact as one of the most power machines in the SEED universe.

Strike Freedom, Take 5

The Strike Freedom is the first machine of the Gundam SEED Destiny series to be recreated into the fifth scale. As standard to the series, Bandai gave it the low grade 1/144 scale and subsequent high grade treatment in both 1/144 and 1/100 scales. Additionally due to the Strike Freedom’s unique nature Bandai crafted it again in 1/60 scale utilizing an LED light up feature for its joints and vents. However all of these forms strayed from one end of the spectrum to the other without presenting a full quality version of the design that was equally available to the general public or worthy of the machine’s design in plastic form.

As proven with the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam and the GAT-X105 Aile Strike Gundam from the past generation of the SEED legacy, there was success in the Master Grade market. As such the Strike Freedom Gundam was recreated into Master Grade form. As the first many machines from the SEED Destiny assortment of Master Grades (including the recent XGMF-42S Destiny Gundam and rumored Infinite Justice Gundam), the Strike Freedom sets an impressive benchmark for things to come.

If comparing to the prior editions, the Strike Freedom Master Grade form has a multitude of differences, all courtesy of the Bee Craft design team and the Master Grade engineers at Bandai. The differences are present in both visual and technical applications into recreating the popular machine. However before finding these firsthand one must open the box.

All That Glitters is Gold

The Strike Freedom Gundam comes out of the box in the colors that can only be described as the native Freedom scheme. This includes white, pale blue, cobalt blue, yellow, and dark (near black) blue. What sets the Strike Freedom so far apart from its previous incarnation is the interior skeleton which is designed to be Gold, and so Bandai has once again turned to gold injection. Metallic injection does not have the sheen or value of the popular electrostatic chrome as seen with models such as the Hyaku Shiki, but it does possess the glistening qualities one could hope for. This injection plastic was used before with the previous 1/144 HG and 1/100 scale HG version of the Strike Freedom, as well as the Hyper Mode editions of the God Gundam and Master Gundam Master Grade model kits. Unlike the latter, Bandai has produced for the Strike Freedom in such quantities of the rare material plastic to create the Strike Freedom in its full chromatic detail. Even the Polycaps are gold, talk about “Bling Gundam.”

Building

Construction of the Strike Freedom begins in the center, at its very core to be exact. In recent years, Bandai has miniaturized the Perfect Grade work load into the Master Grade line, with nearly perfect endoskeletons of the machines done with MG engineering without going into the extremes of the Perfect Grade technology, using fewer parts to create the same rich value. As such the Strike Freedom Gundam incorporates this same level of work. Nearly every part of its body is layered upon a complete endoskeleton frame. The only parts without this are the weapons and the head but these components share a wonderful attention to detailing and construction.

The head of the Strike Freedom in MG form is a much sharper interpretation of the design missed entirely by the 1/100 scale HG version’s rounder, long faced attempt. Construction follows the standard Master Grade method, and as such each part of a different color is a corresponding part. The parts count includes the two helmet halves (front and back), eyes, the nose and chin, face mask, cheeks, and the three parts needed for the crest. As standard, the head has a swiveling ball cup polycap for where it connects to the neck. Included with this standard work Bandai put in an extra ounce of work by giving us parts for interior vents. Molded in the gold plastic, these two short strips fit to the inside of the head and are exposed to see from the front. The eyes are a clear strip with a raised extension for the forehead sights, so the basic paint work is needed. Fully built, the head is extremely sharp, much sharper than the past incarnations of the Strike Freedom. Compared to both the Strike Freedom HG and the original Freedom MG, there are no overpowering or distracting features of the head. The head just looks right, and builds solid.

The Torso sports some of Bandai’s latest innovations of expanding on the limits of articulation. From the interior out the Strike Freedom has a swiveling neck and shoulders that have been standard additions in recent kits, but sports a newly designed hinged midsection. While other kits have shown progress and balance with ball socket construction, the weight of the Strike Freedom’s backpack and wing binders prohibit their use. As such, the Strike Freedom’s torso is constructed in sections: the lower abdomen which is hinged by the upper chest. Without using polycaps, this method relies on the primarily on the tightness of the union between the upper chest parts. However as a precaution, Bandai integrated a locking plate into the back to help hold the hinge in the upright position. When swung out, the plate allows for the torso to flex back to some degree. Combined with the rotation of the neck, this adds some real dynamic flair to the look of the Strike Freedom when posed. The shoulders are built with the standard double hinge, swinging horizontally at the base, and swinging vertically where they meet the arms. This construction works especially well with the design of the torso, and allows for some balanced rotation without getting too worked up with over articulation that can interfere with the wings or head.

The torso’s outer armor is molded in its individual colors, and construction is done in the layered process. The midsection and lower abdomen armor fit as sleeves over their respective areas and are locked into place by the armor of the chest. Another standard of MG tech is the inclusion of the cockpit into the design, and the Strike Freedom does not break the rule. Like its predecessor, the cockpit is in upper chest, and its door is built on a sliding rail that runs forward from the base of the neck. Despite being a ‘sliding’ mechanism by design, in practice Bandai fakes the motion via an arm that is hinged at the front most section of the chest to the rear most section of the door. As always, there is a molded figurine of the pilot in 1/100 scale that requires paint. Much like the original Freedom, this figure is recessed underneath the neck line and needs to directed light in order to be seen.

The waist area is a marvel of simple engineering to accommodate the hip mounted cannons and their articulation. The inner most assembly is built in halves and layered by the additional armor of the front and back. Unlike the original Freedom where the back skirt was a solid piece, the Strike Freedom’s armor is two skirts which fit the style of the front skirts with a flatter profile. The main rear block is mounted on a sliding bracket to allow the rear section to slide down so the swing arms of the hip cannons can fold back and lock down for displaying in their inactive mode. The cannon’s assembly arms are molded bricks with a ball socket crevice, and a cut-out to allow the arms to swing out and lock into place.

The limbs of the Strike Freedom take a couple of shortcuts in order to expedite construction, by the means of using duplicate runners and making paint applications necessary. None the less, there are hardly any faults with the design and application. The arms are built from an internal endoskeleton with polycaps at the primary connection points and sleeve-type parts for the outer armor. On the inside, the arm is articulated at the upper section of the bicep via a polycap sleeve to the interconnecting peg of the shoulder. The elbow is double jointed as to allow a near 180 degree flex in the arm, which really kicks up the display value when combined with the torso’s shoulder range. The forearm uses a simple double hinged arm to allow an action feature for exposing the Strike Freedom’s beam shield generators.

The areas of paint work needed for the Strike Freedom are in its shoulder armor. The first place is the ‘interior detail’ of the lower section of the shoulder armor which is molded in white plastic (that needs to be gold) and in the blue vents off to the side (again, needs to be gold). The last addition to the arms is the use of the Version 2.0 hands molded in gold plastic. These hands are individually jointed (but fused between the middle, ring, and pinky) digits on ball joints with an angled peg in the center of the palm used for gripping the weapons and built with a hinged wrist.

The legs of the Strike Freedom could literally be described as the combined technology of the original Strike and Freedom Master Grades combined. Using the endoskeleton for the legs as the base, the Strike Freedom has an articulated muscle structure for the knee. This is accomplished through the sliding block of the thigh as it joins with the knee which replicates the quadriceps muscle. From there the knee connects to front armor of the lower leg which shifts back the knee flexes. This assembly seems a bit tricky at first, but is really expressive the more the knee moves. The legs are connected by a separate hip block above the thigh which provides some much needed rotation for the legs, a feature missing in most kits where the hip and thigh share an assembly.

Additional articulation of the leg includes the added thrusters in the back of the leg. These thrusters are exposed on a hinge which is mounted to an armor plate with the basic vents and dividing plate in between. This plate is able to close down and fit to the contours of the leg with an accessible tab to pull it open. The feet are jointed at the toe, but have a limited range of swing to about 40 degrees upwards, but the missing motion is complimented by the double ball joint of the ankle assembly. While on the feet, the soles of the feet are molded in the gold injection as the rest of the legs’ endoskeleton, and provide some much needed detail to the Strike Freedom’s clean armor exterior.

The Wing binders are the Strike Freedom’s most noteworthy feature and it is really brought to fruition in its Master Grade incarnation. The Strike Freedom’s wing binders are concealed thrusters combined with powerful weapon system called “Dragoons,” the SEED universe’s form of guided remote weapon comparable to the Universal Century “Funnel” system. Compared to past editions, the binders were lacking in many ways, from assembly to display value, even the scale was a variable of quality. Fear not, for many of these problems have been corrected and truly made in the best form ever for the Strike Freedom’s unique form.

The scale of the binders is impressive, measuring at roughly 7 inches in length from tip to end, which gives the Strike Freedom an impressive 14 inch wing span. The assembly of the main binders is an astonishment of MG engineering. Built from the inside, the binders are interlocked by a series of clockwork mechanisms that respond to each other for showing the binders in their full open position. The main shaft which connects the gear work together also acts as the force that holds the binders together on the swing arm of the backpack. The shaft acts as a key which controls the binders’ motion. As the rear binder is rotated upward, the shaft activates the mechanism in both binders which then spread out the secondary arm of each unit. At its peak rotation of 90 degrees, the binders lock into their final place. While this is impressive, it does have some possible problems. As the assembly is molded in the gold plastic, it makes the binders susceptible to breaking. None the less, the assembly works well and is a magnificent sight.

Although ‘opening’ is a main feature, the MG Strike Freedom goes an extra mile for the binders’ action. The extension arms of the binders are mounted on grooved plates which allow the arms to be pulled outward. Once done provides some additional gold gear detail which is really impressive when colored in. The docking plates of the Strike Freedom’s Dragoon units are also mounted in the extensions, and molded with the gold plastic. This provides for an impressive display even without the Dragoons mounted. Fully built and loaded, the Binders are impressive as they are hefty which can often through the model off balance. Still the binders make up for past mistakes and attempts of the design.

The Strike Freedom’s arsenal is another prominent feature which has been improved with the MG treatment. These include the Dragoons, the beam sabers, hip mounted cannons and the beam rifles. The sabers have seen some slight changes but remain remotely the simplest bit of work in the Strike Freedom’s assembly. As singular tubes they require no assembly but can benefit from paint and detailing. Following another trend in most Master Grades, the saber’s beams are curved which adds some much needed flair to the static tubes of past kits. Upon closer inspection of the sabers, one will notice that they have the feature of combining. This is done through two clips on the ends of each saber that allow them to snap together. Also present are grooves at the center of the sabers that fit into the peg in the palms of the hands. Simply put simple construction into simply one of the finest changes.

The hip mounted cannons have been improved and they are reconstructed with the Master Grade treatment. Originally, the cannons simply unfolded in the front and back, but now extend in the same nature as the Dragoon binder arms for the forward section. Also worth mentioning is that they are not hindered by the wing binders whether the wings are open or closed. The hip cannons have a lot more going when factoring in they also have the mounted docks for the beam sabers and their ability to swing around and dock onto the back side of the waist. This exposes a feature for the next weapon set.

The beam rifle of the original Freedom was scrapped along with the wing mounted cannons and in their place exchanged for a pair of beam rifles. The beam rifles for the Strike Freedom have a combination feature to create a more powerful beam weapon. In model form this is done through simple detailing to recreate the complex mechanics. In application, the right rifle becomes the forward section and the left rifle as the rear. For the combination, the right rifle extends its barrel on a slide rail, folds in the trigger and rotates its rear block to be a primary sight on the side. The left rifle then extends its rear section to be the stock and is then is inserted at the barrel into the rear of the right rifle. The completed rifle can then be held by one hand, however due most often to the weight of the rifle the hands lose their grip. After a balancing act of arranging the arms, the rifle displays well.

There are some minor gripes with the rifle, no matter how small or big parts can be made, or how many there are in a kit, the striping on the rifles needs to be painted cobalt. No matter though as the rifles are much needed and welcome features of the Strike Freedom. On the final note, the rifles sport a set of arms on the sides to allow them to dock onto the hips of the Strike Freedom for when not in use. Unlike previous attempts, the revised proportions of the Strike Freedom’s torso combined with the rescaled rifles do not impede on the range of body motion.

The Dragoon units of the Strike Freedom are not as complex as they are tedious. There are eight of them, with two halves for constructing one each needing their share of detailing. The Dragoons of the Strike Freedom MG are much richer in detail and scale when compared to past incarnations, with details present such as vents and panel lines as well as the much needed barrel to define them. While defining the exterior detail can be accomplished with Gundam markers and fine-line pens, the interior section where it docks to the wing binders can simply be ignored or filled in with paint.

Last but not least is the Strike Freedom’s energy shield. The weapon has no defined form other than the two red jewel shaped blocks on the forearm. These are mounted to simple snap arms that rise up into position. Included with the kit is a clear, soft plastic sheet with the details painted. Connecting the shield to the ‘generators’ takes a bit of disassembly and reassembly as they are to be docked in between the two halves making the generator’s casing.

Like all of the Master Grade line, the Strike Freedom has its own set of dry transfer decals, but due to the optional nature of the SEED line, placement of the decals is not mandatory as much of them are for the declaring the machine’s name. Also, choosing simply one or two decals can prevent the Strike Freedom from being NASCAR-ed. The Strike Freedom also comes with a base stand much like the original Freedom did. This base stand connects to the underside of the waist, and features a series of grooves cut into its assembly to allow for the Strike Freedom to pose in a modest range of poses on the stand. Unfortunately these ports are stressed by the weight of the final build of the model.

OVERALL
It goes without saying that the Strike Freedom Master Grade is one of the finest incarnations of the legendary design. From the application and the practice of past kits and incorporating the newest features, it stands out as a mark for Master Grades to follow in future endeavors. For those interested, there are two versions of the Strike Freedom available. The first is the standard version as reviewed here and a second edition called “Full Burst.” The Full Burst edition is a much more expensive (early release) version that includes a set of chromed parts and a full Dragoon display arrangement of clear tube parts. Also included in this version is a crystal blue “ACTION BASE,” Bandai’s most recent accessory for display purposes which was first released with the limited edition of the 1/100 scale Legend Gundam. Despite the rare nature of the Full Burst Strike Freedom, Action Bases are cheap and easily available to compliment this amazing kit. Unfortunately the retail Action Base does not come with the corresponding mounts to park Strike Freedom in its base point. None the less, this is a minor grievance to an outstanding model. Let Strike Freedom Ring.

Super Robot Wars and Gundam SEED, one might imagine that revisiting classic, less flamboyant designs was a thing of the past. However, it is good to return to the past and revisit a classic design with a new flair of the modern.

Between Super Robot Wars and Gundam SEED, one might imagine that revisiting classic, less flamboyant designs was a thing of the past. However, it is good to return to the past and revisit a classic design with a new flair of the modern.

Its Name Is Gundam

The RX-78-2 is the first Mobile Suit to wear the Gundam name. By design, the RX-78-2 was an open ended, multipurpose machine that could use an assortment of weaponry and functional tasks. It would also work towards becoming the test bed for future machines such as its descendent the RGM-79 “GM” Mobile Suit. Moreover it would set the benchmark for series to follow, creating one of the most successful anime mecha franchises in history, Mobile Suit Gundam.

Mobile Suit Gundam is set in the first Gundam universe called the “Universal Century.” In the year UC 0079 at the time called the “One Year War,” a war was fought between the Principality of Zeon (leading a rebellion of Earth’s orbiting space colonies, called Sides) and the Earth Federation. Zeon, having declared its independence was the first to introduce Mobile Suit technology with the introduction of the MS-05 Zaku, their front line infantry for the war against the Federation’s limited arsenal of tanks and warplanes. The RX-78-2 was the first machine for the Earth Federation’s “Operation V” produced in secret at the Earth Federation controlled space colony Side 7. It consisted of three machines: the RX-75 Guntank, the RX-77-2 Guncannon, and of course, the RX-78-2 Gundam along with the Space Carrier White Base.

Before Kira Yamato and Heliopolis, there was Amuro Ray and Side 7.

Having learning of the Federation’s Mobile Suit program, Zeon launched an assault on Side 7 to seek out and destroy the “Operation V” prototypes. In the chaos of the assault, the citizens of Side 7 are unwittingly forced on board the new Federation carrier ship White Base. Among them is Amuro Ray, son of the creator of RX-78-2, whose curiosity and love of machines would unwillingly throw him into piloting the same machine his father built, the Gundam. With the Federation forces occupying Side 7 weakened, the Civilian refugees aboard the White Base are forced into becoming the ship’s permanent, active crew. Amuro stayed among them to pilot the RX-78-2, claiming the Mobile Suit as his own personal property. In the beginning, their mission was to deliver the Operation V prototypes to Federation headquarters in Jaburo (located in the South America), but as soon as the order was given did it become clear that this ship and its Mobile Suit were destined to fight until the end of the war.

Version OYW

From the very beginning, Bandai has always had model kits for Gundam. Considering that toys were not as pronounced as they are today (say Masterpiece Optimus Prime compared to G1 Prime), model kits were a readily available solution for the marketable occasion. The RX-78-2 has had models from the very conception of the franchise, quite literally one version for each year and in every one of Bandai’s model classes. There are versions of the Gundam in First Grade, High Grade (first generation), High Grade Universal Century, Master Grade, and Perfect Grade. Version OYW joins the ranks of the many Master Grade forms the RX-78-2 has seen:

Version OYW, or Version One-Year-War was released initially as a tie-in for the Mobile Suit Gundam -The One Year War- video game. Although typical promotions would include just another remold of a previous RX-78-2 kit, Bandai went to greater lengths to make a new model for the occasion. The end result is one of the best versions of the RX-78-2 they have ever created. Focusing on creating a ‘game accurate’ edition and showing off advancements in Master Grade designs, proving that no matter how old the design may be it still has plenty more to offer.

Tone it Down a Hue

The first edition of Version OYW comes out of the box in a different color scheme than the Gundam is known for. Instead of being in Gundam’s solid primaries of Red, Blue, Yellow, Gray, and White, the colors are much softer, pale colors. The White is more of a sun bleached color, the yellow is a much richer ‘creamy’ yellow (almost like a hint of orange), and the red is very pale, almost pink. While this might put off some builders, this tone of pink is not so bad when executed in moderation. On the other hand, the Infinite Justice Gundam was almost solid pink but was a pretty good kit. The Gray color compared to the others of the kit is the closest to the RX-78-2’s normal tone.

On a side note and as a throw back to my previous breakdown of the RX-78-2’s lifetime in plastic, the Version OYW has already seen a number of remolds in its time of circulation. The first was a convention exclusive in Gundam’s typical primary color scheme in chrome followed closely by its second and most likely expensive “Real Design” exclusive. This version consisted of duplicate runners for the outer body in alternative colors such as black, gray, drab green, and white to create the design in its varied “Mass Production” colors. Finally, there is another version in standard circulation that is in Gundam’s ‘Anime Accurate’ primary colors of red, white, blue, and yellow. Although the exact same kit as the one reviewed here, this one can often be found to be a little expensive due to its more recent release.

Building

Version OYW is almost an entirely new kit, short of borrowing parts from the RX-78-2 Version 1.5 model such as its prefabricated endoskeleton leg parts and its subsequent runner. The other parts included on the same runner are also used because these parts are needed to build the Gundam’s mace weapon dubbed the “Gundam Hammer” which is an included part of the kit.

The rest of the model is brand new, with new parts to build the Gundam’s primary endoskeleton and outer body. Aside from the differences in color, compared to previous RX-78-2 models this one’s outer body has a vast amount of panel markings. This frame lining style works to make the mold more accurate to its source from the video game. Additionally it serves as a reminder of the original Master Grade RX-78-2 and the earlier 1/100 scale High Grade lines from back before Gundam SEED.

The construction of the Version OYW features a number of differences from the previous incarnations of the RX-78-2 and introduces some of the latest advancements in Bandai’s Master Grade engineering. Of the differences to other Gundam models, the designers opted to remove the Gundam’s Corefighter (a fighter plane that transforms into the mobile suit’s primary control) and replace it with a fully articulated inner skeleton although there is a front plate that resembles the collapsed nosecone of one. While the lack of a Corefighter reduces the ‘Accuracy’ of the RX-78-2 design, removing it from the model’s design allows for a wider range of motion. In its place, the torso is built with a double ball joint assembly between the chest and mid section that connects to the waist. Add in the two ball joints for the neck, and the Version OYW has some of the most articulation ever made for the RX-78-2. The shoulders are a three piece assembly that allows for an added range of motion to the arms. Even though the shoulder parts are done without polycaps, they hold up resiliently with limited stress and friction.

The outer armor for the torso is made of five primary parts and its detailed components. The Primary pieces are two collar-like parts for the midsection which fit around and lock onto the inner skeleton, and the chest armor which are front and back skins. The detail parts include the collar of the chest and the front hatch as well as the exhaust vents. As an extra step in value, the exhaust vents on the front of the chest are hinged. This is a nice change from the previous RX-78-2 kits where the front vents are typically single pieces with gashes to see through to the inner frame that are molded into their frame. The Gundam’s rear thruster pack is another example of Bandai simplifying construction with a single body piece to make up its inner body with the necessary parts for the Beam Saber docks and thruster swivels as the only assembly work. This is then covered by the backpack’s housing.

The head of the Version OYW has the most common with its RX-78-2 relatives in terms of assembly. The head is comprised of the eight parts, the face plate, chin/nose arch, optics (normal eyes, forehead optic), the “V” crest and its locking piece, and the front and back halves that make the head. As always, the head is connected to the body by a swiveling cup polycap. Although standard in construction, the details are remarkably tight, with etched details continuing the armor plating look. There is some paint work needed here for the barrels of the forehead mounted guns. There are some grievances here, as the head is connected to the runner at an area that seems like extra flack plastic, but that is not the case, as that area is meant to be a raised panel. If cautionary steps are taken, this can be done neatly and without ruining this added detail.

The Waist of the Version OYW features one of the latest additions to Master Grade engineering with the adjustable hinge line frame for the legs. This single molded piece is sandwiched between the two components in the waist that connects the waist into the torso (which also mounts the side skirts), can shift forward and back on its guide frame. This works to compliment the model’s posture to push the legs forward more when in a lunged kneeling posture to push the legs out further than the skirt armor. This new piece, although a great addition, has some minor frustrations attached. Because of the legs being attached to the hips via ball-cup polycaps, these caps tend to hold tight and the tension has a tendency to pull the hinge while performing even the slightest rotation.

Gundam’s skirt armor remains as close to the source as it has ever done. Bandai did another good job in keeping the details on the exterior matching the integral lining of the rest of the body. While the side skirts are simply hinged on a polycap cup, the four main skirts are articulated via a ball socket that is locked under the main body housing (crotch and central rear armor). This adds a much wider range of articulation, allowing the legs to rotate further back, and to some degree out to the side. Sideways articulation is limited due to the construction of the legs.

On the matter of the legs, Bandai opted to simplify their work load by reusing a set of parts from their second attempt at the RX-78-2 Gundam. Version 1.5 was produced after Bandai’s introduction of the Perfect Grade line and was a testament of their progression in Master Grade technology. By a process of double injection similar to their original System Injection molding, articulated parts could literally be assembled on the runner. The end result was first used in Perfect Grades for joint pistons and fingers. Continuing the same process, Bandai’s technique evolved from simple double runs (first layer finger tip and joint, second layer the conjoining knuckle) to the entirely complex. As such, the prefabricated leg was born, some assembly still required.

The prefabricated assembly resolves some of the minor technical issues of creating a balanced and functioning system of piston joints in the leg. The bare leg parts are molded with the needed pistons at the knee and ankle regions pre assembled and floating at their hinge points. Also present are a set of floating hinges for opening panels in the armor. At this stage, the leg is only half built and requires more assembly with the needed parts. These parts consist of the upper thigh which holds the polycap socket to connect it to the hips (also acting as the track for the upper knee joint), the outer knee covering, and the upper calf armor which locks into the lower knee pistons. The knee armor is the real locking point of the assembly, reinforced by screws to adjust tension. This screw is hidden beneath the joint cap armor. The final product is one of the most solid constructs in the entire kit.

Although the legs are built with the internal mechanism from the Version 1.5, Version OYW has an entirely new skin, with armor plating that fits the motif of the design’s integral look. The floating hinges I mentioned with the prefabricated leg connect to armor plating on the back of the leg that can open and expose parts. However these parts are fickle and tend to fall off when the hinges are open. There are some minor changes with an additional component at the ankle. The ankle armor of the Gundam is executed by three parts, segmented at the panel markings which are then held in place by a “Y” shaped guide rod with a ball stem. This stem is then built into the heel of the main foot assembly. This adds a delicate, refined touch that continues the separation of Version OYW and its RX-78-2 relatives on which this armor is just hinged at the ankle where it houses the ankle’s ball joint. Another difference is in the feet, where Bandai’s advancements in articulation have allowed the design of a hinge assemble at the toe to allow the foot to rotate forward and curl backwards. Although the legs are built with an old assembly, the minor difference in the Version OYW armor’s plating breathes new life into the process.

The arms are a compliment to the legs and armor design of the entire kit. Using a simplified method for an endoskeleton, the arms are built around the elbow, a sandwich assembly that holds the forearm and bicep in place (this is locked by an elbow plate on the back). Polycap sleeves set in place to hold the wrists and connect the arms to the shoulders. The shoulders are a series of plates holding a sleeve, which connect it to the shoulder stem. Starting at the shoulder, the primary armor is a set of plates, two making the top section (exterior armor, and underlying vent), back plate and the front plate. Additionally there is a hinge plate which connects to the inside of the front and back plates. This plate has a sleeve hole, allowing it to be held in place on the stem that connects the arm to the torso. The bicep armor is split and fits to the sides of the arm with the elbow ‘joint cap’ molded into it. The forearms armor is done using a shortcut technique of sleeves, often reserved for the bicep armor but easily translated for the forearm. The sleeves are two parts, the upper section below the elbow, and the main body. Locking the armor in place is the wrist plate, which also helps in hiding the polycap socket.

From experience, hands in a Master Grade kit have always had that air of frustration. For the longest time, Bandai’s use of hands have been limited to six piece assemblies, the thumb, index finger, and fingers sandwiched in a split palm and locked down by a backhand. The thumb, held by a ball socket whereas the fingers were simple hinges. The shifting thumb and loose tension in the finger hinges often left weapons falling out of the hand and greatly depreciating the display value. In Bandai’s first MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam Master Grade, they attempted to create a new set. This assembly used ball joints for all of the fingers and included hinge joint at the knuckles of the molded fingers (which were suspended by a single ball). While the idea might have been sound on paper, the practice was less than stellar in execution. The results suffered from a combination of loose joints and the same grievances of weapons not holding in place.

Making their debut with the Version OYW is the Master Grade version 2.0 Hands (their name given by fans and hobby enthusiasts). These hands sport a number of differences from the standard MG hands. The standard assembly has been upgraded, now a palm front and back hand pieces, a hinged ball joint for the wrist, and ball jointed fingers. The palm now has a protruding rail that is now used in locking weapons into the hand. The thumb and index finger of course are molded separate from the remaining fingers which are fused together. Unlike the Zeta attempt, the fused fingers have three corresponding balls for each digit, instead of just one. This introduces another “Bandai Extra Mile” technique for advanced building.

The Bandai Extra Mile is a technique that can range from extra clean up to making simple adjustments to parts that are typically molded as single pieces, from clearing excess tabs off the end of the Gundam “V” crests to splitting the skirt armor of a High Grade. For the Master Grade 2.0 Hands, this technique is incorporated into making the hands fully articulated. I learned about this from a Korean modelers’ resource site, and this prompted me to experiment. Due to the size and proximity with each ball joint, cutting them free from each other takes a very fine blade and steady hand. The reward however is something that can not be expressed in words, but in the end results. The fingers can now conform to the grip of a weapon, and the kit just looks that much better with the hands cut freely.

The Version OYW comes equipped for battle with the basics of the RX-78-2: its beam rifle, two beam sabers, shield, hyper bazooka, and the Gundamhammer. Complimenting the changes to the design and its new incorporation of the Version 2.0 hands, each weapon is fit with a groove to fit that mentioned palm-peg. This is a greatly appreciated inclusion especially for the sabers and rifle. Missing the groove however is the Gundamhammer, whose entire construction is comprised of RX-78-2 Version 1.5 parts.

The Gundamhammer is a spiked mace suspended on a chain, and is a very popular weapon of the Gundam. Done to scale, the hammer is suspended on a pre assembled (eight inch) plastic chain and connects to the handle and mace ball via slip rings. The mace ball itself is an example of repetitive construction with each of the 14 spikes needing to be cut and placed into grooves of the ball (which in itself is composed of two separate halves). When finished the hammer is a fun addition to the classic design. The additional melee weapons of the Version OYW are the Gundam’s trademark pair of beam sabers. With both of the sabers molded in solid pieces, they require only cleaning and detailing before being applied to the model. As for the saber beams, Bandai gave the Version OYW a set of curved blades, a much more accented beam than the typical MG “tube” beams. Missing in action however is the Gundam’s beam javelin, but between the hammer and the projectile weapons this weapon is easily forgotten.

The shield, beam rifle, and hyper bazooka are all reinvented classics for the Version OYW. The shield, while molded in entirely new parts, reflects greatly on the original look of the design. The main viewport has a clear plastic window that needs painting to hide it into the backside of the shield. The shield’s grip is mounted on a snap clip that holds it into place on the arm, but when the grip is rotated it reveals a secondary peg that can attach the shield to the Gundam’s backpack. The main grip component piece is mounted to the shield via ports in the track rail on the interior. While this might seem like a lazy, last minute detail, the shield really doesn’t need to be adjusted to any of its other ports when posed in hand.

Gundam’s beam rifle returns as its primary weapon, but features a few differences to its history. The overall look of the rifle remains unchanged, with minor changes to the exterior look to compliment the panel marks of the model it is included with, and very subtle changes such as its length and height when compared to its relatives. The scope eye and the forward balancing grip are of course hinged to move but there is also a swinging tab on the side of the gun that allows it to dock to ports mounted on the Gundam’s backpack, back skirt, and additional ports in the shield.

The hyper bazooka is the last of the Gundam’s reinvented weapons. While compared to the previous incarnations shows that little has been changed (except for Version KA which has a mounted scope), it was given the same port-tab like the beam rifle on the side of the weapon. Construction follows the rule of the rifle, split down the middle with an extended solid cut cap-barrel, and additional cap parts that hold the halves in place and add more detail. The biggest and only major gripe here is that the bazooka is molded in solid gray plastic, but requires being painted white. The drawback is the shade of white is somewhat bleached and mixing the right tones can often backfire. Having painted mine, I can say that was the biggest fault on my part. Still, the bazooka is a welcome addition, and makes for some exceptional display poses complimented by the OYW design.

Simply put, the Version OYW RX-78-2 Gundam is a nice reminder of the design’s importance to its legacy. It introduced the world to the Gundam and Bandai continues to use it as the test bed for introducing new and exciting changes in the world of Master Grade models. As stated earlier, those not enthused by the default Version OYW color scheme will most likely want to go for the later released “Anime Accurate” edition. In either case, this model was well worth the time and building.

I can’t believe it’s not Gundam

Long before the SRX-00, I already had a small stable of robots from the Super Robot Wars series taking up shelf space along side my Gundam models. Between the sharp winged 1/144 scale Wildfalken and the non-scale R-Gun stands the biggest Personal Trooper in my collection, the 1/100 scale Huckebein Mk-II.

I can’t believe it’s not Gundam

The Huckebein Mk-II is a machine called a Personal Trooper from the videogame and anime OAV serial Super Robot Wars: Original Generation. The series itself is a collective homage to all shapes and forms of robot series in Japan, with some designs ranging from the organic insect like such as the Cybuster (compared to Dunbine) to the more hard edged ‘Gundam-esque’ such as the Huckebein. What the EO-Tech in the SWR series stands for is ‘Extra-Over Technology,’ alien technology which crashed into the Earth as a meteor and later reverse engineered. This was the base for which the Personal Troopers were created. The Huckebein series however is plagued by black-box science due to its revolutionary power supply which uses miniature black holes. The Huckebein Mk-II lacks this and is a far more stable version of its legacy.

Parts and labor costs

The model kits for Super Robot Wars are produced by Kotobukiya, a company that could be described as “Bandai’s little brother” in Japan for terms of production quality and available kits. So far they have produced some few military models and taken a steady jump into the robot world with their line for Armored Core and more recently beginning a new age in Zoids. Super Robot Wars on the other hand has the largest roster of mecha out of Kotobukiya with several kits in the 1/144 scale, highly detailed (and expensive) resin kits. Of their selection, the Huckebein is one of the most produced. In the recent years, Kotobukiya has expanded primarily into ABS snap kits with SRW leading the charge.

As far as production quality goes, Kotobukiya falls short of Bandai standards by using a much thinner plastic, making parts more brittle and fragile. Also some of their older kits rely on glue and in most cases paint. However as of late, Kotobukiya has been shifting their styles to match if not surpass the Bandai standards with more construction and less paint work. Also gluing is become less of a priority.

The drawback to addition of more parts to work with is the increased price. A 1/144 scale kit will then cost roughly twice the price of your standard HGUC from Bandai. In result, the 1/100 scale Huckebein Mk-II has a price tag well over 50$ USD. Although the price is distracting, a High Grade model with a price tag of a Master Grade such as the Huckebein Mk-II is an awesome kit plain and simple.

Out of the Box

The box for the Huckebein is rather large, as it should be for a 1/100 scale kit. Compared to the standard Master Grade model from Bandai, the Huckebein’s is nearly twice the size. The reason is for content, with the Huckebein’s parts being molded in every individual color. The colors include a pale slate (bluish gray), dark blue, yellow, red, clear green, white and gray. Also included are polycap joint parts and two clear pink ‘saber beams’ and a pre-painted figure of the Huckebein’s pilot. Additionally, the model has the Bandai standard alphabet of runners with the standard replicate runners to minimize production costs for such things as left and right limbs.

Painters beware of disappointment, builders rejoice in the almost lack of paint. The Huckebein Mk-II has virtually no need for paint except the only ‘required’ areas such as the collar around the tip of the Huckebein’s main cannon and around the eyes. Everything else is almost a job for Gundam markers or fine ink pens. The shear volume of parts in this kit are astounding and honestly makes up for the Huckebein’s hefty price tag. A word of caution though; with such a light grade plastic, the smaller parts tend to be more brittle and fragile. Also due to the sharpness of the design, the pointed edges on the crests are so sharp they could draw blood.

On a side note, building the Huckebein Mk-II could be compared to pealing an onion, without the sensory aftermath.

Building

The head of the Huckebein Mk-II could almost be compared to the Wing Gundam, with a traditional “Gundam” like head with two extending fins off the side of the head. On the other hand, the model kit Huckebein’s head has a few points the Gundams lack all around. All of the eye points are molded in clear green plastic for both the main eyes and the auxiliary monoeyes in the front and back. The head construction follows the traditions of Bandai standard with the face; eyes behind nose behind mouth and somewhat of the standard for the rest of the head. The offshoot however is that the face attaches after the head is put together. The additional trimming such as the ‘v-crest’ goes on after the head is incased with its white striping parts.

Construction for the torso of the Huckebein is extensive. Starting at the midsection and working up to the neck, the Huckebein’s torso is built in layers. Also with the volume of construction on the interior, the Huckebein is given something of an articulated spine very similar to the 1/100 scale Gundam Astray series based on ball socket polycaps. The structural difference however is the Huckebein is much flimsier. Although tightly constructed, the end result is loose feeling due to the overwhelming weight on the midsection thanks to the layered construction of the chest area combined with the weight of the arms and backpack.

The waist section of the Huckebein shows a lot of construction that most kits would forget about. Skirts are assembled from the inside out, including an underbelly layer to the front and rear skirts usually done in concaved injection. Along with that, each skirt has two additional detail parts assembled onto them. This adds some weight to the skirts, but does not hamper the model’s overall range of articulation. The front block to the Huckebein’s waist has an adjustable port in it that can be opened so the Huckebein’s large buster cannon can be docked.

The arms and legs share a common shortcut of any commercial grade model kit by use of duplicate runners for cutting costs. At the cost of this kit, it helps to decrease the price tag only so much. The arms follow a moderately balanced amount of part-on-polycap construction displayed with your average high grade. The forearms on the other hand changes this pace by adding some of the same layering technique used with the torso. More parts are added for balance as well as covering ports on the back of the forearm closer to the elbow (for where the Huckebein can mount its additional weaponry). The shoulders are detailed in the same way as the skirts with the reoccurring pattern of the yellow ‘cut outs’ against the Huckebein’s dark blue. Also for detail, there is a thruster vent recessed into the shoulder armor.

The Huckebein Mk-II kit came with three hand sets, two open palms for the right and left and two closed fists for both hands as well. The open palms are two piece assemblies of the back guard and the hands and the closed fists are a four piece assembly of the thumb, palm, fingers, and back guard. The final set of hands are your above average weapon hands. Following the principle set with Bandai’s early Master Grade assortment, the weapon hands for the Huckebein are articulated. Contrary to Bandai’s ball joint thumb with hinged fingers (on one part) with the separate trigger finger, the Huckebein’s fingers are individually cut. While the palm is split down the middle and the fingers share a split peg (two fingers on each), the construction is tight and there is no risk of breaking. Taking another page out of Bandai’s handbook (there’s a cheap joke in there somewhere) the weapon hands have an extension tab that fits into ports on the side of each weapon in the Huckebein’s arsenal.

The legs follow the Huckebein’s ‘skin’ layer construction from the most basic of detail areas to the structurally important. With the level of layering to each section, the Huckebein Mk II could literally stand without any armor. The lower leg having well over four layers of armor add weight and help balance the overall weight of the Huckebein’s body when fully loaded. When I say four, I mean it: the inner structure, the outer covering, the upper armor layer, and the additional detail layer. The ankles also showcase the degree of layering with their armor. Much like all of the SRW designs, the ankle armor has an additional ‘toe’ cover that is built into the inner most layer of the leg’s structural assembly, which is then covered by the outermost layer of the detail armor. While this is confusing, and creates a false fear of limiting movement, the toe armor does move freely and allows the ankle to be adjusted on its own.

The feet of the Huckebein follow the layering method where the inner assembly is made of larger parts, with the outer armor being subdivided into plates that fit over that. Like the armor skirts from the waist, the soles of the feet are detailed plates that fit in from below during the early layer assembly. The amount of construction in the feet translates well into its weight to balance the Huckebein’s overall construction.

While the Huckebein’s body might feel like a standardized Gundam, the backpack changes the idea. As far as I can gather, the majority of the Personal Troopers in Super Robot Wars lack the ability for full scale to long term flight. The backpack of the Huckebein is designed as a flight pack, you can see by the sharp wings off to the sides and the lower stabilizers separate from the body, and in two parts for aerodynamics. Construction uses the largest parts of the whole body of the Huckebein, with the fewest number of parts. While light, the combined weight of the pack does weigh down on the torso, resulting in the aforementioned balance issues.

Rounding out the Huckebein Mk-II is its arsenal of weapons. Starting off just about every robot’s package is the beam saber and Huckebein packs two. Where it stores them, you’ve got me I’m still trying to figure that one out. The sabers come in three parts, the grip and the hilt followed by the standard beam blade made out of a clear tube plastic. Contrary to standard, the beams are thick, and made out of a heavy, crystalline plastic.

What might seem odd to have is the Huckebein Mk-II’s rotor blade. This weapon sits in a dock mounted to the back of the left or right forearm (after the removal of a certain plug). While the docking portion opens, the disk sadly sits without any use. The weapon adds for authenticity of the weapon, the lack of any form of ‘active’ mode or use leaves it as a piece of added weight to the arm.

The firearms in the Huckebein’s arsenal include its primary rifle and super buster cannon. The primary rifle is constructed in sections, the barrel, sight components and the main body. With the part count around thirteen parts, the rifle is surprisingly light and puts no weight on the arms or torso. Unlike the primary rifle, the Super Buster Cannon does put some weight onto the overall kit.

The Super Buster Cannon is constructed in components, from the barrel, body, balancing section, trigger blocks, and covering. Like the Hyper Bazooka seen with the Zeta Gundam, the buster cannon for the Huckebein folds up when not in use, and opens up to a double triggered cannon. As mentioned with the waist assembly, it has to be docked into a port on the front of the waist. Opening the cannon requires some simple yet fragile clock work gears that open the main section’s doors out to the sides and at the same time it rotates the triggers in the opposite direction. While docked, the Huckebein really has to balance its weight between the weight of its backpack and the weight of the cannon even when there is so little weight to speak of.

As one last piece to the kit, Kotobukiya included a 1/20 scale figure of the Huckebein’s pilot Brooklyn “Bullet” Luckfield. Unlike Bandai and their soft injection figurines needing paint, Brooklyn comes molded in a heavy material and pre-painted in full color.

Overall

Overall, if Kotobukiya ever wanted to continue making Super Robot Wars kits in a 1/100 scale form, they could have no trouble finding a builder. Proportionally this is one of the best examples of the scale in form and construction. The layered construction method is a welcome idea as opposed to just scaling up parts from a 1/144 scale to a 1/100 scale. If you have the opportunity to find this kit, let alone at a fair price, it is worth its weight in plastic!

I go to buy tools and walk away with a model

I go to buy tools and walk away with a model

Around a year and a half ago, before I built the Master Grade version of the Freedom Gundam from Gundam SEED, there was the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, Bandai’s first installment of the SEED franchise in Master Grade form.

Bandai’s infamous Master Grade line of Gundam models has forever and a day been dominated by machines from the original Gundam universe known as the ‘Universal Century.’ Variants such as anything “Char” and Side Story machines aside, there have only been a few kits to come from the ‘Alternate Universe.’ These AU series are the stand alone Gundam tales that have been fortunate to receive Master Grade kits as well include G-Gundam, and the Wing Gundam Zero from Gundam Wing. Joining their ranks is the Strike Gundam from Gundam SEED.

Following the tradition of the Gundam name brand, Bandai capitalized exceedingly on the popularity of Gundam SEED with model kits. With a total of three 1/144 low grades, one 1/144 high grade, three 1/100 scale High grades, and its 1/60 scale the Strike needs no introduction. However since Master Grade is more of a status than any other model, the Aile Strike had to stand out as something different than its previous incarnations.

Planting the SEED

The Strike Gundam is the first Gundam declared for Bandai’s last generation of the franchise: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. Set in its own universe of the Cosmic Era, SEED seemed to most as a ‘rehash’ of the original Mobile Suit Gundam series. The normal, terrestrial Earth Alliance against the forces of ZAFT and its space dwelling super-advanced “Coordinators” in a bitter genetically driven Civil War. Neither side was greater than the other short of ZAFT’s technological superiority with the development of Mobile Suits and the Neutron Jammer, a device capable of eliminating Nuclear power sources, thereby crippling the Earth Alliance.

A few years into the war, in a cooperative effort between the Earth Alliance and the neutral colony Heliopolis and produced through Morganrate, the Alliance began producing its own mobile suit forces. However in a cunning attempt, ZAFT successfully captured four of the experimental mobile suits, save for one. The GAT-X105 Strike Gundam, piloted by Kira Yamato.

The Model

Using a minimal amount of weight and sticking to the character value of the Strike Gundam, the MG Aile fills its role very well. Construction is simple but uses just enough parts to do the job. The model stands very sleek and slender which is a complete contrast to the rounder, more “clunky” looking version like the 1/100 scale High Grade.

Out of the box, the Strike comes molded in its primary colors: white, blue, red and yellow with the additional gray plastic for interior parts and weapons. As for the “Aile Striker” parts are molded in the darker gunmetal gray with an additional red parts tree. Your average builder will be please to know that there is hardly any paint work to do. There are a few points such as the usual red-points inside thrusters and gray spots on the front of the skirts and back of the shield.

The head of Strike is made up of nine parts. This includes the face (3 parts) head casing (2 parts plus polycap) and the ‘Gundam crest’ (3 parts). Detailing is very streamlined and done to above the initial character value. Paint work includes the gun barrels for its ICWS machine guns and the vents on the back of the head. The mold of the parts is really good and tight.

The torso is a solid assembly with the armor plating done around a central subassembly. The neck is one solid piece and is mounted on a swivel point to raise the head up or down. The cockpit is built into this as a box which fits inside. The pilot figure comes separate and unpainted and needs work; I painted mine like the Strike’s late pilot Mu La Flaga. The shoulders of the kit are a new simplistic articulated assembly. This acts as a fixed rotary block and allows the arms of the model to have an enhanced range of motion and flexability. Finally, as always the cockpit can open and close, but in the Strike’s two door housing.

The hip section of the Strike is very loose fitting but snug. It features the standard of Gundam with its interior section with polycaps for side armor and the main ball joint socket (for the torso). The additions for the Strike’s unique launch base though include a secondary polycap in the back of the rear skirt and another polycap at the base of the tailbone underneath. The rear skirts are hinged and are held in place by a rear block piece. On the front however is something different, the absence of a front skirt polycap. Instead the sockets are done in the undercarriage and front block. This sounds problematic because of the threat of plastic on plastic friction, but there is no weight to cause any. The last parts of the hips are the side containers. Because they hold the Strike’s back up weapons, the Armor Schneider, they can open and close.

The arms of the kit are really great. With the shoulder armor separate and the addition of the new shoulder mechanics, they have a higher range of flexibility. The biceps use a more advanced method of the HGUC style assembly with the polycap inside a housing piece that connects to the elbow. The elbows are double jointed to allow a better range of motion. The shoulders’ armor fits over the arm bar from the torso/shoulder mechanism and features a nifty opening shell. There is one questionable region at the top though; inserts for possible future Striker packs. Seeing how this kit is made with the AILE equipment in mind, these go unused. The hands in the kit are some of the best Master Grade hands, period. They have the plated knuckles of the Strike but also in crisp articulated detail that the 1/100 scale High Grade generation lacked.

The legs of the Strike are done with the simplest amount of assembly with a healthy bit of good looking. Starting at the foot, the soles of the feet are done in full detail. They are separately cut; toe piece and heel piece with panel lines and with the thrusters molded into the heel piece. They are joined together on a simple hinge and polycap ankle to allow for a better degree of posing, and a more dynamic step. The legs themselves are built like the rest of the body with the inner frame making up the real assembly work with the armor just being plated on. There isn’t any real piston/joint system like Master Grades are famous for, but the detailing is good and articulation is as well. The knees are double jointed but the upper leg portion is on a very simple mock quadriceps. This can be seen with the armor plating being able to shift forward when the knee is flexed.

Essentially, the Strike Gundam is an all purpose mobile suit, not confined to a particular style or excessive gimmick and so it is complimented with any array of additional weapons known as Striker packs. From the start of the SEED series, it was equipped with three unique types: ‘SWORD’, ‘LAUNCHER’ and ‘AILE.’ The Aile pack is made for long distance flight and is the more notable Striker pack from the show. While it had been done in 1/100 scale for the High Grade incarnation, the MG Aile Striker was lacking in both accuracy and detail. The Aile pack is divided into two sections; the upper wings section and the lower thruster blocks. The wings were not even worthy of being stabilizers let alone primary wings. The MG version is how it should have been; WINGS! They are articulated wings to be exact, with a double hinge mechanism that allowed them to fold down.

The dual rear blocks are also given some much needed detail with the tails having ventilation down the insides. The only pet peeve I have from this is that no matter how advanced Master Grade construction gets or no matter how detailed tiny parts can be, there is no such thing as a separated thruster assembly. The rear sections of the back boosters and thruster packs are done in red plastic and the detailed engines inside them are done in the same part. Painting can be a real chore if you’re looking for a real separation.

The Strike comes with the bare essentials; shield, beam rifle and beam sabers. The shield is a more streamlined variation of past SEED shields, less bulky and with a new mounting assembly. The mounting assembly is a down graded version of what is now on Perfect Grades; two plates that either fit flat on the back of the arm or fold the shield around to the side of the forearm. It also comes with the basic grip handle that fits on pegs.

The rifle is another modified piece of weaponry; it’s thicker and longer than the prior versions and also sports a clear lens piece. Its detailing is worthy of the new MG treatment. The sabers that come with the Aile pack are more narrow and longer than those of the 1/100 scale but compliment the new sleeker look of the MG kit. Finally comes the one feature weapon of the Strike’s basic arsenal; the Armor Schneider. These two folding daggers are stored in the side pockets and are an actual folding blade which really makes for good toyetics.

An Added Bonus:

I like to think that Bandai’s having fun with giving new ways to display models: the PG GP-01 with its hangar assembly, the Zeong with its ‘pyramid’ or even the EX-S with its slab. The MG Aile Strike comes with its own piece of its hangar away from home. The launch base is to be a simplified replica of the launch pad inside the Archangel. It sports a set of foot blocks that slide back and forth and a raised block in the rear which holds the Strike’s battery cables, with REAL cables! Sadly though these aren’t electrical but the steel wire cables are flexible and hold their shape when disconnected from the rear of the Strike. It also features an additional raising arm that fits into the polycap in the undercarriage of the hips to put the Aile Striker into the air.

On a side note from later builds, this action display base is also compatible with the Master Grade Freedom Gundam. However there is no port on the back of the Freedom to connect the battery cable.

Details:

 While this was a tie-in in for the popularity of SEED, a lot of genuine Master Grade love went into this kit. This can be seen through the amount of decal work. From basic ‘CAUTION’ marks to tags unique to the Strike. The Dry transfer decals in this kit are very different from the normal ones seeing how the word markings are almost one solid sheet rather than being separate letters. This made application to those that bend around corners extremely easy. The ‘correct’ application really shows how much the Bee-Craft crew had fun with their work. The only unlisted decal of the dry transfer series that is a real show of the pilot is the “ENDYMION” which comes from the last pilot, Mu La Flaga.

Closing:

Albeit a simple kit, the Master Grade Strike fills in all the desired gaps from Bandai’s work with the design and the SEED series. It combines the character of the MS but also has some nice new generation toyetics from the Master Grade line. On the downside, Bandai has all but given up on making the additional Striker packs in MG form. For those, Bandai relies on B-Club to make adapter parts that use the original 1/100 scale High grade versions. Even so, the Strike Gundam is another welcome addition to the Master Grade collection.

Ryuohmaru (龍王丸) comes from the anime Heroic Legend of Demon Wataru (Mashin Eiyuuden Wataru 魔神英雄伝ワタル) which aired from 1988-1989 on NTV in Japan.

This version of Ryuohmaru is made by Kabaya, a maker of candy toys. This toy would have been sold in grocery stores near the checkout and would be packaged with candy. The toy is actually a model kit that requires assembly. There were two different kits for this set, each using the same box. A small hole is punched out of the side so you can see what color the kit is, thus denoting what toy you got.

Although it is a candy toy, it's hardly cheap. The plastic feels nice and solid and once constructed you have a fully articulated toy. Ryuohmaru Is transformable between 2 modes.

Special thanks go out to our own uplandmod for this toy! He got this toy as a child from an asian grocery store in the states, and it landed in my collection. Thanks!