AMX-109 Kapool
Review by The Enthusiast
I am well known to be a slobbering Syd Mead fanboy. While the American icon’s take on Gundam was and continues to be a controversial subject, I love anything and everything Turn A. I even love that goofy mustache on the Gundam. So I am pleased whenever Bandai gives us Turn A product. The latest Turn A release is the Robot Spirits Kapool, a rotund amphibious mobile suit.
The Kapool is one of the more bare bones of the RS pieces. It’s packaged in a smallish, though typically nice window box.
Inside, you’ll find the figure and only a handful of accessories. I am personally put off by a large assortment of accessories, so I’m cool with a few functional additions (in this case two arm-mounted cannons and a head extension - more on those later).
Kapool is a slight and lightweight figure. He feels very similar to a classic HCM figure, but with more sophistication.
Materials are all high quality ABS and POM plastics. Paint apps are minimal, but appropriate and crisp.
Even mostly hidden details are addressed. He looks as good from the bottom as the top.
The Kapool’s most distinguishing features are its unique, multi-segmented arms. I like them, though they aren’t as articulated as they could be.
The chest opens to reveal a bank of eye-like energy weapons.
The addition of the arm cannons improves Kap’s presence.
A little head-piece extension is also included. I’m assuming this acts like a periscope?
Articulation isn’t the Kapool’s strong suit, but it moves surprisingly well for a stocky little ball. His waist joint is smooth and multi-faceted.
I like the Wolverine-quality of the claws.
Kapool can also assume a more compact “down” form, where it kind of contracts and sits on its haunches. This is the closest I can get to what’s shown on the box and instructions.
While I generally enjoy Gundam, I’m typically bored with the samey quality to the mobile suits. The Kapool is a welcome break from the same old boring Gundam mecha.
| Posted 5 December, 2010 - 15:12 by The Enthusiast |
Comments
7 comments postedThe Kapool is actually an Axis mobile suit, hailing originally from ZZ Gundam.
Indeed, but this coloration is from Turn A, not ZZ. By the by, have you tried transforming the suit into its aquatic cruise mode? I think that's where that pop-up periscope thing comes from.
I know, it just sounded a little like Syd Mead might have been credited with the design (depending on the interpretation of the reader of course), or that it was a modern suit that broke the samey designs of Gundam( and not, you know, almost 25 years old). Although, really, all of the aquatic use MS are pretty awesome.
Something I did learn tonight, was that Yutaka Izubuchi designed the Kapool. Doubly awesome.
Hello Enthusiast,
I have an important question to ask you about the materials the Syd Mead robot got made out from. My question is how can you tell an ABS plastic from a POM plastic?
Disclaimer: All answers from members are welcome as long as they're relevant to the question.
POM is a super-dense plastic used in the joints. It's a little more matte than the ABS. I wouldn't have recognized the POM necessarily, but the package calls it out.
And yeah, I was mistaken about the designer. I was under the impression that Mead designed all of the major mecha for the series, or at least significantly re-worked them.
I assume that, right now, POM is for higher-end/-quality toys & models (none of which I have) as a cheaper replacement for die-cast metal.
As a plastic, can you look at it and touch it, and automatically know the difference between POM and, say, ABS?
I hate to ask in the open, but I could not find a way to contact you. Would you ever consider selling this Kapool?