1/60 Big Scale Model Kit Gundam F-91
Review by VF5SS
1/60 is a bit of an oddball scale. At the dawn of the Gunpla boom, it represented the biggest bundles of plastic you could have for under 3000 yen. It works out that your average Gundam shrinks down to about much more manageable size, one that still captures a little bit of majesty and presence on your shelf.
At the beginning of the 1990's Gundam was moving towards much smaller Mobile Suits. The monstrous Nu Gundam and it's adversary, the Sazabi, towered over their predecessors. This came with a nagging increase in price. As such, subsequent Mobile Suits would be much smaller starting with the titular Gundam F-91.
The Big Scale Model Kit line began and ended with the Gundam F-91. Packed in a large cardboard box, the figure came in one Styrofoam tray containing the legs, arms, torso, and shoulders of the F-91 while another box held parts trees which were used to construct its beam rifle, shield, beam bazooka, and Variable Speed Beam Rifles (VSBR).
The back of the box shows a breakdown of the figure's parts as well as an example of a fully painted sample. The box proudly proclaims the F-91 is 255 millimeters tall.
For paperwork you get an instruction booklet, a set of decals, and an extra leaflet which I assume is warning the user about the finicky leg panels.
The instruction booklet itself is a nice treat. It features an oh so Real Robot schematic at the beginning.
While the subsequent pages have technical drawings of the F-91 straight from Okawara himself. One can see it as the precursor to the style of a Master Grade kit's manual.
The complete figure has a very dignified, almost regal appearance. Despite the age of the sculpt, I think it replicates the look and feel of the original lineart. Check out that authentic "Okawara lean."
The model kit aspect of the figure is reflected in several plastic parts that are snapped onto the completed ABS frame. One interesting detail is the unarmored head which features the F-91's characteristic mouth vent. Being a model, the owner must paint the mouth vent the proper white color.
Both halves of the helmet have a vulcan cannon unit, complete with ammo drum.
This is the mounting bracket for the VSBR. Check out that old school yellow poly-cap. Long time Gunpla enthusiasts will remember back in the early days of High Grade kits when a Gundam would come with a bunch of these sickly colored joints.
The inner frame of the legs are complete right out of the box. One thing I find funny is that while the knee features two joints like a modern Gundam kit, the lower joint can only move forward which negates any nugget of enhanced articulation. At the very least, it helps the F-91 lean forward.
Articulation is pretty standard. It has the usual array of joints, few of which can bend more than 90 degrees. The combination of poly-caps, ABS, and styrene causes the figure to creak audibly when you handle it. While the F-91 is a little more toy like than even modern kits, the thinness of the styrene parts coupled with the abundance of poly-caps quickly remind you why this figure is called a scale model.
The details on the kit are typical of its era. It looks complete but some of the lines are a little soft. One nice touch is the head crest is comprised of three separate colored parts so it does not require additional painting.
The shoulders feature the F-91's signature radiator fins, which slide out with a fair bit of tugging. One cool thing is that the "F-91" markings are done using Bandai's patented System Injection technique for molding multiple colors on a single part. Of course the decal sheet comes with its own set of "F-91" markings for when you invariably have to paint the entire kit.
The chest has a sliding cockpit hatch.
The hands are done in the familiar Gundam kit fashion with the index finger being independent from the rest of the fingers. The thumb does not move.
The left arm has an articulated mount for the beam shield. You can also store a spare beam shield in the hip armor.
The beam sabers can be stored in the right hip armor. The housing extends and rotates forward for deployment.
Each beam saber comes with a clear green blade. The figure comes with two beam shields, one powered down and one with the beam shield ignited. The F-91 has no problem wielding either its saber or shield.
The VSBRs can slide down under the F-91's arms.
The barrel of the VSBR extends and two handles can be flipped out. The toy itself is not quite dexterous enough to grip either handle.
Pushing in the ankles cause the spring-loaded leg fins to flip out. This also has the effect of launching the loosest fitting fin off into the carpet.
The rear armor plate has a mounting point for the beam bazooka.
The bazooka is tough for the figure to grip in a convincing manner.
The beam rifle is difficult for the figure to grasp properly. On its own it is a decent accessory. Much of it needs to be painted white to match the anime.
The F-91 is a few heads shorter than a typical Gundam.
The Big Scale Model F-91 is a real curiosity in the vast array of Gundam merchandise. While still more model than toy, it has enough durability and presence that it feels at home with other large scale Gundam items. The model kit nature of this piece makes me wonder what Gunpla enthusiasts have done with this figure. In the world of High Grades and Master Grades, this is the one Gundam F-91 that stands head and shoulders above the rest.
Comments
57 comments postedIt looks like this kit can't hold the guns it comes with.
Lookit how majestic he is! Pretty! ^_^
I have this set!
I haven't built it though. I bought it when the Deluxe Transforming Gundam toys were arriving in the US in the late-90s/early-00s, and I thought this was an earlier toy of similar nature- pre-assembled, pre-painted, etc.
Imagine my surprise...
Aside from the finned backpack, the F-91 is one of my fav Gundams (even though I haven't seen the OVA yet). Strike Gundam FTW too.
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CollectionDX Staff
I never realized the scale issues with this one before, my only experience with the older F-91 series was the Sihouette Formula RXF-90KAI and the Cluster Gundams. Those kits weren't bad but they left a lot of room for desire.
I built the MG F-91 where the corrected alot of the scale proportion issues, more accurately developed it in 1/100 scale than its first incarnations or even this kit. However I found myself troubled by the extremely delicate parts from such scale demands. the vents on the chest kept snapping to pieces for starters and some of the body armor kept breaking.
F91's on my list of top Gundams, but its models have never been good to me.
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Rob
The Gundam Model Guy
Wait a minute- I thought the whole point of all mobile suits in "F-91" was to make them smaller, more economic, & more efficient that their UC predecessors? Would that not determine that the F-91 & Co. would be smaller at any scale than previously-established designs?
VSBR (Variable Speed Beam Rifle) was developed for the same reason(s): they could carry physically-smaller beam weapons while at the same time providing the same types of variety in damage & range that a non-VSBR could.
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CollectionDX Staff
I bet you believe in Minovsky particles too.
Heard of, yes. Seen with my own eyes, no.
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CollectionDX Staff
Well, of course you haven't seen them with your own eyes. You'd need infrared or radio to detect them.
I thought Minovsky particles disrupted radio waves.
Sticks in my mind they primarily disrupt radar. In some of the earlier series, opponents would use unmanned/dummy balloon-like MS-shaped decoys because radar couldn't define them well, making an attacking force seem larger than it was. (Maybe it also limits the range of radio waves as well...?)
Supposedly, this is why all MS-on-MS combat is within visual range. rather than 'beyond the horizon'. This was also why the psychommu(sp?) system was developed- it could communicate through Minovsky particles without interference.
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CollectionDX Staff
Psycommu seems a lot more about using your mind to psychically control tiny little drone guns that move really fast and shoot robots full of lasers ala Lalah and the Elmeth, Amuro in his Nu Gundam, and Char in his Sazabi.
No, I mean the only Gundam I've ever seen was the first four episodes of "Gundam Wing", the first two episodes of "Gundam 00", and a bootleg copy decades ago of "CCA". Hence I haven't seen the episode(s) where they're explained, or seen them in effect. I've only read what I've found online.
Hence: yes, I know of them, but, no, I haven't seen them with my own eyes.
:P
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CollectionDX Staff
With the exception of the model's similarity to Wing Gundam Zero, I don't see anymore Gundam Wing here & there's no such thing as Minovsky Physics in Gundam Wing.
-R78
I had dropped the subject on request from the writer. But now that you bring it up...
Did I say Minovsky particles were part of anything other than the UC timeline? No.
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CollectionDX Staff
"I had dropped the subject on request from the writer. But now that you bring it up...
Did I say Minovsky particles were part of anything other than the UC timeline? No.
."
No, of course you didn't, but dwelling it?...THAT IS ANOTHER STORY TO LET GO. }:)
ANYWAY on to the Gundam F19, I would really love for Josh or you Veef to contact a Bandai Japan Rep, or go to Japan as VIPs & Bandai HQ & just ask Gundam directors to reconsider developing a Perfect Grade version of the F19 as somewhat of a homage to this unique model kit because it looks way ahead of it's time & it definitely deserves the Perfect Grade treatment.
If not, you can always go to the upcoming Toy Fair to ask about it.
-R78
I'm fairly certain neither Veef nor Josh have any say in what Bandai does or doesn't make.
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A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
"I'm fairly certain neither Veef nor Josh have any say in what Bandai does or doesn't make."
I said they should ask Bandai about making a PG F91 on their field coverage, NOT command them to do it.
-R78
All I meant was,I really don't think anyone at Bandai cares what two random customers think.
I agree it's a pretty good idea but I'm sure a big company like Bandai has the forseeable future all planned out.
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A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
Okay dude, I appreciate & thank you for the counter-clarification.
You might be right about Bandai not caring what 2 customers think, but they might be flattered and grateful for their thoughts on paying homage to this high grade piece when they give the green light for the PG F91 which is highly probable.
-R78
Highly probable? If we still haven't gotten a Nu-Gundam PG, I don't think we're going to see F91. The way I see it, Bandai released the recent MG and basically washed their hands of it... it's a pretty niche Gundam. CCA is much more popular, and like I said, we still don't have a Nu PG.
I'm also still trying to figure out who this magic person Veef is going to ask about the kit is.
http://prometheusrising.wordpress.com
Actually, in high enough concentrations, they do indeed affect the visual spectrum.
I thought the beams of the beam sabers were made of minovsky particles.
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A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
All MS/MA/space-only ship reactors- with perhaps a few notable exceptions?- use the particles for beam weapons (and later shields). They still need fuel for maneuvering, but the fuel is energized(?) by particles before it's squirted out of the nozzles.
The thing about VSBRs is they accelerate/decelerate the particles to change the type of damage inflicted (high-powered narrow speed for sniping, or wide-angle lower powered for more overall damage), which beam weapons previously couldn't regulate in the field.
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CollectionDX Staff
Just stop.
Is this why every thinks us Gundam fans are insane?
It's just Eva that's insane!
Leonardo Flores
CollectionDX Staff Writer-West Coast Bureau
Actually, most of this I got off of Wikipedia and MAHQ.net, not having seen it first-hand.
I'm not as big a Gundam fan as you may think by my nerd-spaz above. Truthfully, the only appeal to the franchise I find at this time is the mobile suits and a smattering of the ships.
Insane? Maybe. Disabled? Yessir, yessir.
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CollectionDX Staff
If you have never seen the originating material for the character or have nothing more to say about the figure then please don't post.
Am I the only one who wasn't sure why we were getting a history lesson on Gundam from someone who's never watched it?
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A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
I'm confused. Someone help me.
I hear you!!!!
I hear you!!!!
More and more over the last 2-3 years, I see more and more new folks commenting here and more and more it's like MW. So much argument over pointless details that make no difference to my two favorite 3-letter words: TOY FUN. A reason I don't even read that board anymore. RJ is slowly turning into mini-MW...
so now I just check TBDX, CDX and a few others that are fun and don't get bogged down on how many bolts a Zaku has, or what color the lasers are in Macross.
but here,
EVA has been discussing minutia of Gundam, a show he says he's never seen.
Everyone else doesn't care / is mildly offended that he's talking about a show he's never seen - ironic as many of you guys go on and on about other shows *you've* never seen on the boards. Oh how many times on RJ I've laughed as you guys wax poetic about shows you haven't even watched. How many of you have actually never watched the entire Voltes V, but got the SOC?
To me, being "a true fan" is a pointless contest. It doesn't matter if you've seen the show or not. If you like something, you like it. Just because you slogged through 100hrs of Gundam episodes doesn't make you any better than anyone else.
But on topic: This kit to me is utterly useless. It can't hold its gun. either of them. Am I the only one who noticed this in the review?
It does stink that it can't hold the guns well, but I think the F91 works just as well armed with its beam saber and hip cannons (which don't really need to be held :P) I want one for my 1/60 shelf.
http://prometheusrising.wordpress.com
Honestly I can live without the beam rifles and what not. It's got the hip cannons and I'm good.
Mmm, I've thought that for a while too- with a flexible weapon like VSBR, why do you need standard Beam Rifles or Beam Bazookas/Launchers at the same time, especially if you have two of them?
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CollectionDX Staff
Watching the movie answers all of your questions.
I uh... Meant the toy.
So did I. Self-sustaining weps on a giant robot- like rifles and swords, are not very practical when you can have them mounted directly to said robot. They don't have to be contented with holding a weapon or physically pulling a giant trigger to fire. Weapons are but an extension of the robot's potential, and should not preclude hands that are forced to grab them when those can be used for grabbing on to the side of a ship, base, or habitat. And, a pilot can lose a hand-held weapon too easily, whereas they're always available when mounted. This is why I like mobile armors- all their stuff is built internally (save for bits and the like).
And my opinion certainly extends beyond the realm of Gundam when I say that too.
...I learned that one from playing too much "Mech Commander". ;)
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CollectionDX Staff
Stop posting in this thread if you aren't going to be on topic. I'm getting tired of you constantly derailing my review threads.
Heh...I've watched the entire Voltes V, but I didn't get the SoC! :P
Anyway, I don't think it's just the fact that EVA's never seen Gundam, but feels he can talk about it. It's more the pedantic tone. Eh...whatever.
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Sanjeev
I don't think I'm any better than anyone else for watching more anime than them,if anything it makes me a worse person,since I could have spent that time doing something worthwhile.
That being said,when someone who hasn't seen a certain movie is explaining it to me,who HAS seen it,what sense does that make?
And I saw a couple eps of Voltes V but did not buy the toy. :)
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A master of mind control who hides inside a Ford Pickup
What a coincedence! Just bought some gundam kits today meself. :P
In the last picture of the review, what version of RX078 is that? :)
Thats the Perfect Grade RX-78-2. great kit.
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Rob
The Gundam Model Guy
I almost bought this years ago at Tokyo Kid. The MG came out a couple years ago and I picked that up instead. Did you buy this from Warrhead recently? If so nice score.
Actually it used to belong to Ginrai.
...and wasn't impressed. I got it to continue my collection of 1/60 scale-ish Gundams, but after getting this one, I realized I should have probably skipped it given its lousy quality. Good thing I only spent $35 on it.
I should've known that this is a prototype for the Perfect Grade Gundams to come. Even though the sliding cockpit is an impressive function, this model toy sadly needs a core interior & a pilot figure to sit in. In that way it'll be make the Gundam more organic in a sense, but let's be fair: It's a very interesting & impressive prototype of it's time.
You're very fortunate Ginrai gave it to you. It's a keeper.
-R78
Well, I sold it to him, not gave it to him. :)
Ohhhhh...I see sir.....Ohhhh. :(
-R78
Jesus Christ.
Verily.
On behalf of Earth, sorry, Andrew.