My Comment to MG FA-78-1 Blue Color Version

Before working on FA-78-1, I had no experience with Version-2 Gundam, nor did I know much about its structure and design. Therefore it really puzzled me for a while what makes it stands out.

I am not sure what others think about Bandai’s RX-78-2 Version 2, but in my opinion the current design follows the original design concept from the time of Okawara Kunio. Personally I have nothing against Okawara’s style, yet somewhat mediocre comparing with Katoki Hajime, who is highly known for his work on Gundam, which brings more intense ear sensation and greater sense of military mechanical feeling, Katoki’s design is exactly my cup of tea. With this expectation in mind, I didn’t even bother to seek out the newly released RX-78 G3 because lacking of interest.

However don’t take this as your reason to believe that I resent the new FA-78-1, because I do not. If you do a little research on its history, you would find out that previous FA-78-1 model was released almost 30 years ago. And limited by technologies available at the time, it wasn’t much of scenery to modern eyes. And there is a good opportunity to shock ourselves with the comparison between that and latest reborn FA-78-1, and I couldn’t help myself being curious about it.

Bandai’s work of this Gundam, besides much advanced technologies, Katoki Hajime played an important role in this FA-78-1’s fundamental redesign as Version 2 model. Not merely integrated with Version 2 physical form, but also thoroughly transformed the entire model with modern mechanical concept and aesthetics.

As the first step to put all pieces together to recreate RX-78-1 Version 2, as we can see, the manufacturer really has done a excellent work on the interior framework of RX-78-2 Version 2, the design balanced very well of high mobility and delicate details. Especially for its mobility, a great number of dual-jointed parts were implemented to dramatically increase the mobility and flexibility at waist and other areas.

The new tri-level feet design greatly improved stability on all kinds of uneven terrain, to help display various postures according to fans desire. To sweeten the pot even more, aside from the regular frame, additional interior armor frames are included, for instance: chest, waist, shoulders, and lower waist part, plus elbows and knees, with the armor frame installed, the joints are securely protected, and the design gives a good sense of realness. Therefore modelers would be convinced that they are not just working on a toy model, but an authentic miniature Gundam robot.

Talking about the external design, it’s very convenient to install or uninstall the exterior armor attachments, and no extra tool or piece is needed, and it’s possible to switch to RX-78 or FA-78-1. The armors can be switched easily by the two following methods. First one: the lock-in style, this one can be found mostly on shoulder and limb parts (like forearms, cruses), it works by locking in both front and back. Second one: the stick-in style, it can be found on upper body, the sides of waist, knees, and soles. How stick-in armor attachment sticks? The secret is double faced tape, with the more adhesive face sticks to the armor, and less adhesive side sticks to the body, and then the armor is tightly attached to the body.

After this procedure, when taking off armor, the tape stays with it. Because the less sticky face puts on body, this leaves no obvious mark and simple for installation. Both methods bear the thought presents better mechanical and heavy armor sense, while preserving sophisticated but slim body structure.
Last but not the least, color selection was also often mentioned during the promotion, it diverted from the classic MSV green painting, the inspiration came from Katoki’s blue FA-78-1 in GFF, that painting concept is once again picked for the newer model. I think this FA-78-1 Blue Version is quite a nice match with the formal green version.

A great pleasure to craft this FA-78-1 Blue Version, I enjoyed it very much! First of all, this is a good opportunity to relish Bandai’s latest MG product. In addition, Bandai’s reworking on the classic MSV FA-78-1 brings back lots of memories. From now on, whenever I see this FA-78-1 Blue Version, I feel I can’t help grabbing and admiring it. It’s easily a must-have as a masterpiece Gundam model.

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My Comments to MG Deathscythe Gundam

Have to admit I did feel a little “ambivalent” when I heard the upcoming new edition “Deathscythe Gundam”.

Years ago, when the “Endless Waltz OVA” was aired, I have built every single model of the entire series, included: All five Gundam, “Tallgeese III” and the “Heavyarms Mass Production MS” of antagonist, and it will be pretty lame for this new “Deathscythe Gundam” to follow the footsteps of those models by adopting the old HG design of Bandai, countless fans would be disappointed as well…but I wasn’t sure if the manufacturer would really let us down like that…so I accepted the request of truth finding, since who knows what tricks might still hidden inside Bandai’s sleeves.

Quite fortunately when I opened the box of this model it was full of surprises. They really did it this time, unlike all previous “Deathscythe Gundam”. We get an utter remake MG Gundam with numerous cutting edge MG technologies built into it. The famous Bandai Gundam MG models include following features: Design based on inner frame system, which enables extensive movement, and all details are superbly loyal to the anime. Plus external parts with great details and specific color indications, those designs would facilitate the construction and painting for fans.

Although the size Deathscythe, is the standard 1:100 MG size which is not too large, roughly as big as F91 and Crossbone Gundam, but to give you an idea: it takes ten pieces to construct merely the head part, even the two yellow air vents on the face take individual pieces to build, that’s how detailed it is. The torso, looks simple, yet is also built by numerous parts. As I’ve mentioned before, MG has a great reputation of detailed pieces and specified painting process, and reflect to this Deathscythe’s upper torso, besides the fine presentation of pilot cabin, the articulation on the waist is also taken care of, both the appearance and movability. So it’s quite obvious that the manufacturer did a superb job on all aspects on this exciting Gunpla.

Example of other noteworthy spot, is the shoulders and attached armors. Although they don’t look complex to assemble, but actually the manufacturer puts in extra pieces to it and its internal rocket devise, in order to increase both the sense of reality and movability, so the very essence of original anime isn’t missing.

As for the feet and thighs, pieces are joined together by vertical-snap fit with a internal frame system inside, as Bandai did on previous versions. But for the calves, two-parts tradition of HG version has been abandoned, instead Bandai provided almost ten different armor pieces agree to the design lines on the legs, one highlight is that armors on the calf articulation are separated parts as on most MG, unlike those on HG which are parts of the legs. Advantage of doing this is to avoid seeing the snap line, and after completion the whole part looks much alike the original anime, plus extensive movability.

Addition to those, the bottoms of the feet are improved as well. The tiptoe is constructed by two individual pieces, also allows extensive movement, and loyal to the original anime. The number of pieces required to build the bottoms of feet has increased, so these entire parts have a great degree of detail.

To summarize what I see here, it’s a bit hard to tell much difference between new Deathscythe and traditional Endless Waltz HG Gunplas on the surface level. But once you start to work on the construction, you will find out it has a whole lot to offer within. The extensive movability makes classic poses possible to be restaged, and high loyal appearance to the original anime, plus superbly detailed parts, are the final reasons to own this model. Many parts have been redesigned, besides more pieces, high details and movement capability, also make the painting process easier.

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1/144 HGAW Gundam X Divider Review

The 1/144 High Grade After War Gundam X Divider is the second of the HGAW line, following the Gundam X. Code named GX-9900-DV, this divider-equipped mobile suit is part of the Gundam X series, and is kit number 118 in the High Grade line.

Contents of the box includes:
-(Foil) sticker sheet
-Polycaps
-8 Runners (A, B, C1, C2, D, E, F, G)

This kit is basically the same as the Gundam X kit without the satellite cannon.

Additional weapons and accessories includes:
-Beam machine gun
-Large beam swords x2
-Hyper bazooka
-Divider shield with built in beam harmonica
-Closed fists x2, trigger hand, open palm

One thing that particularly stands out for the this Gundam X Divider is the color separation for the parts. In older high grade kits, painting is required to make the kit look good. But with the X Divider, there are 8 different colors separated individually. Only minor painting is required for the more detailed location such as the chest vulcans, panel lines, and details on the weapons and shield.

In terms of articulation, this kit is highly articulated. The head and neck utilizes a double ball joint, allowing the common chicken bobble movement. The shoulder has a ball joint, connected to the side of the body that has a hinge allowing extra extension of the arm to turn. The body sits on two ball joints, one in the middle section of the chest, and the other sitting towards the bottom of the chest. Each leg is connected by a ball joint at the crotch area which is capable of some left-right movement as well. The knee has two points of articulation, but the elbow only has one point of articulation. Each of the backpack's fuel tank is connected by a peg, and the divider shield can be opened up to reveal the beam harmonica, and can be attached to the backpack. With such great articulation, you can actually pull off some pretty impressive poses with the help of an Action Base 2.

Compared to the older 1/100 HG Gundam X Divider, which I personally feel was overdone for the panel lines, Bandai did a great job with the release of the HGAW line. The 1/144 kit looks proportionally better in that it is less bulky than the 1/100 scale. The color separation for each piece makes the kit look great even without painting, and if you do choose to paint, the separation makes it easier to paint due to minimal masking required.

In summary, I personally believe Bandai put in great engineering into this kit to provide it with detail, gimmicks, and great articulation. I highly recommend this kit as the build process was fun, and so was posing the kit with the different combination of weapons and accessories. My favorites are the beam swords with the gleaming glow of the florescent clear green, and the divider shield opened up to reveal the beam harmonica. I certainly look forward for Bandai to release more of the 1/144 High Grade After War line.

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