SD Ryubi Gundam

SD Ryubi Gundam (Bandai)

Wow, I'm on a roll right now.. Having three kits posted and reviewed on the same day, I have my sugar rush kicking in.. hehehe :)

Anyway, these kits are long built and have the pictures saved on my computer.. I just can't find the right moment and time due to hectic work schedules I have lately.. But thanks to the two pancakes, sausage and a hot choco I have this morning, not to mention the TGIF syndrome(LOL!!!)..  I'm pumped on doing this.. :))

Front Box

Package Content

Manula Sticker

Runner 1 (A2)

Runner 2 (A1)

Runner 3 (B)

Runner 4 (C) and PC 

The version I got has an extra C runner which includes the Dragon Sword.. Not a big deal since you can also get this when you get the Shin Shouretsutei Ryuubi kit which I highly recommend! 

Unpainted Kit (Front)

Unpainted Kit (Back)

Unpainted kit Armor On

Unpainted with weapon 1

Unpainted with weapon 2

Unpainted with accessories

This is the usual thing on SD Sangokuden.. Unless you're going to detail them with paint, kits will be boring, plasticky and toyish specially if stickers are applied..

Though details and linings are well engraved on each part of the kit, parts are usually are molded in one piece..

So if you want to have each part of the kit to stand out and have it's details pop, a lot of masking and painting will be needed.. Part separation are minimal to none.. :( 

Another thing, you have to be careful when cutting or snapping those frosty gold parts.. They're brittle and tend to snap or crack easily if force is applied.. (More on this with my upcoming review on SD taijin DOM)

PAINTED:

Painted Kit (Front)

Painted Kit (Back)

Painted Weapons

I was pleased on how I painted the swords.. I didn't expect for the swords to have those details specially after painting it.. But goodness - it's tedious!!

Painted kit and Weapons

As you already know, SD kits are not known to have fantastic articulations.. They have limited movements which makes posing a bit constricted.. Which IMO adds a little flavor and characteristic to them.. 

Another thing, it comes with a custom adapter for holding the normal and full form dragons swords.. Which I really don't bother.. It will go straight right at the zip lock anyway..

Conclusion:

Maybe because this kit was based on the RX 78-2 that's why it has a soft spot on me.. But that aside, this is one solid kit.. I enjoyed building and painting this one.. I got this on sale for roughly $3, and even for full SRP, i'll still buy this!

SD Shin Hakugan Ryusei Ba

SD Shin Hakugan Ryusei Ba  (Bandai)

A couple of months ago, I was able to snag a couple of SD San Gokuden Kits (Brave Battle Warrior) when our local toy shop have their kits on sale at 30 to 50% off.. I have no intention on getting in this line, but after seeing the discounted prices, I gave it a try was surprise how fun these kits are.. Not to mention the anime too.. :)

So first in the review is the standard horse of the allies, SD Shin Hakugan Ryusei Ba..

Front Box 

Instruction Manual

Seeing the kit only has 2 runners, it doesn't come with a separate manual.. Instead, Bandai used the inner part of the box to print the instructions for it.. 

Whole kit packaged on one plastic bag

Runner 1 (SU1)

Runner 2 (SU2), Sticker and bendable wire.

Unpainted Kit (front)

Unpainted Kit (back)

Out of the box and 10 minutes later, you'll have a super bland kit with no color detail.. The kit looks ugly and lifeless.. 

Painted Kit (Front)

Painted Kit (Front)

Painted Kit (Front)

Painted Kit (Back)

Then after like 2 hours of painting, here's the kit painted and looking sharp with all the needed color details and panel linings.. I was tempted to use the sticker but decided to use only the eye and insignia stickers since it kinda hard to paint those part ..

As you expect, the kit has little articulation.. POA's are on legs, knees, ankle and head.. The only pose you can do is to have it's feet doing the usual lazy horse stand.. Any thing than that then you'll have the kit stumbling on the mat..

With SD Zhao Yun

With SD Zhao Yun

With it's little brother - Mini Zhao yun and it's horse :)

Conclusion:

I don't know if i'll be getting this on retail price.. It lacks any gimmick nor accessories to be a stand alone kit.. The only thing this kit is good at is being an accessories to other SD figures.. Other than that, no more..

At a discounted price and planning to army build, go pick this up.. If you'll paying SRP, I say pass.. 

HG 1/144 RX-78 2 Ver. G30th Review (Bandai)


From the latest Lead Gundam I reviewed before,  now we're looking at the mecha that started the whole franchise of real robot thing..  The HG RX 78-2 Gundam!

PACKAGE:

And since I'm so excited to build this, I forgot to take a picture of the runners on their plastic bags.. Anyway, the kit comes with 3 runners composing of A, B and C parts, a polycap, foil stickers, metal chain (Sweet!) and a manual.

Manual

Runner A

Runner B

Runner C

*Remember when I said I'm excited to build this, well you can see that I already build some of it before taking a picture.. LOL! :p *

Polycap, Foil Sticker and Metal Chain.

The quality of the plastic and grooves on the panel lines are Great!! Just as expected from a Bandai Kit.. :)  

THE KIT:

Without lining and stickers - the kit looks plain, bland and boring..

And here with it's weapons and accessories.

After putting the eyes/neck stickers and lining the grooves.. The kit dramatically changes from uber boring robot into a "Real Gradish" mecha.. I don't usually like kits with many panel linings, as it makes the kit looks busy, but the amount of lining grooves really compliments the blandness of it..

POSEABILITY:

This kit offers above average posseability, capable of doing some dynamic poses but not much compared to HG 00 Gundam and HG Age-1 Normal.. One culprit for this is the single jointed knees which limits the range of crouching and kicking posses.. *See picture Below*

Despite the little issue on the posseability area, it's still capable executing kneeling posses that the MG Ground Gundam can only dream of.. 

Conclusion:

Despite the little nit pick I have on the kit.. This is one kit you should go and pick up for your self.. The panel lining is great on this kit, and with the right tool and a bit of effort, you can make this stand out and look "Real-Gradish".. :)