[Kit Insight] HGUC 1/144 RX-0[N] Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn [Destroy Mode] Theatrical Limited NT-D Clear Ver. (Straight Build)

This is easily one of the more unique limited edition kits in my collection. Featuring a blend of three different limited finishes for Gunpla (standard clear, glitter clear, pseudo-metallic finish), this special Banshee Norn nevertheless suffers from the highly-visible stress marks that plague clear parts, although said drawback can be easily rectified or hidden.

Surprisingly, the parts also come in a plethora of different colours, more so than even the regular HGUC kit, making for a very delightful and beautiful build.

[Kit Insight] HGUC 1/144 AMX-101E[G] Schuzrum Galluss [Ground Commander Type] (Customised Build)

Model Number: AMX-101E[G] Schuzrum Galluss [Ground Commander Type]

Designation: Neo Zeon Limited Production Heavy Terrestrial Combat Mobile Suit

The original Galluss was a high performance combat machine, able to hold its own against high end Federation mobile suits quite decently. The Schzurum Galluss that appeared during the final episode of Unicorn was in a word, underdeveloped. It didn't kick much ass before taking a booster to the face, what a tremendous waste that was. A ground combat variant of the Schzurum Galluss, this limited production mobile suit combines the best of modern and past technology. Incorporating features that made the Zaku so formidable during the One Year War, the ground type Galluss features substantially more armor, many more weapons and of course a proper thruster-equipped backpack that was curiously missing on the original.

Outfitted for heavy terrestial combat, the Schzurum Galluss Ground Type is able to stay on the battlefield for a lengthy period of time before requiring resupply. Issued to veterans and mobile suit team commanders, the Galluss is able to outperform most of its Neo Zeon and Federation contemporaries in terms of armament, armor or maneuverability. One striking feature of the Galluss is the lack of beam weaponry, armed almost to the teeth with solid weapons. This is due to the proliferation of I-Fields and other anti-beam technology, choosing to focus mobile suit resources on reactor power and speed than on the megawatts of beam weaponry. Therefore, the Galluss is a nightmare for mobile suits that have no answer to its speed or anti-beam coated armor, quickly reduced to shrapnel from the Galluss' machine guns and bazookas. 

[Kit Insight] HGUC 1/144 RX-0 Unicorn Gundam 03 Phenex [Destroy Mode] Ver. GFT Color Clear Ver. & Limited Gold Coating Ver. (Straight Builds)

Personally, I prefer the one with the gold coating, but it costs almost twice as much as the glittery clear version.

Nevertheless, they are still Unicorn kits with Armed Armor DEs - simple, rugged and beautiful.

*Warning: lots of photos after the jump.*

Kit Insight: HGUC 1/144 Expansion Effect Unit for Neo Zeong "Psycho Shard" (Light Build)

Just a small add-on for my little HGUC 1/144 Neo Zeong.

Okay fine, it's huge.

Kit Insight: HGUC 1/144 MSN-06F Sinanju Schwarz "The Black Death" (Customised Build)

Model Number: MSN-06F Sinanju Schwarz "The Black Death"

Designation: Neo Zeon Custom Newtype-Use Psychoframe Mobile Suit

Designed with long range assault and siege warfare in mind, the Sinanju Schwarz features an astonishing loadout of ranged weaponry to decimate foes from afar. It doesn't help that the mobile suit is best used with a Newtype to take advantage of its psychoframe's deadly properties.

One of the more puzzling features on the original Sinanju is the absence of psycommu weapons to take full advantage of the psychoframe embedded into the mobile suit. The Schwarz addresses this deficiency, featuring a pair of somewhat Sazabi-style Funnel racks housed on top of the boosters, for a total of six medium funnels. In addition, the Schwarz also mounts two fin-like salvos of Funnel Missiles on its legs, for a total of 20 missiles to obliterate foes.

In the age of beam dispersal screens, I-Fields and beam-resistant coatings, the need for solid-based weaponry has been revisited. Even though such munitions deal lesser damage than beam weapons, they still pack a wallop, and can be a force to be reckoned with in the right hands. The Schwarz mounts two rocket bazookas as standard equipment, one under the beam rifle and another under the shield. This gives the mobile suit an all-encompassing style of attack, blending solid and beam weaponry into a vortex of destruction that few can escape from. The only downside is that each bazooka only holds a total of five rounds, but the weapons themselves can be ejected once ammunition has been spent to avoid becoming deadweight. 

Kit Insight: HGUC 1/144 RX-0 Unicorn Gundam [Destroy Mode][Deactive Mode] (Expo Limited Mechanical Clear Ver.) (Straight Build)

This is one beautiful limited edition Unicorn kit.

Gunplanerd: Towards the Future

First of all, I would like to thank all for the support shown to Gunplanerd. It is truly heartening to see page views to each of my posts, however low they may be. As long as people are visiting the Gunplanerd blog, I will continue to publish posts.

On this note, I am pleased to announce that I will refining the theme and style of Gunplanerd. Rather than focus on model kit reviews, which are actually very commonplace online, I have decided to shift the blog’s focus to my customs, placing emphasis on the real-world applications of my modified model kits.

This objectives of this renewed thematic approach is twofold. Firstly, it serves as an anchor and focal point for my modifications: to always try to get the most grounded, most realistic approach to model kit customisation. Military applications of mobile suit technology are broad and varied, with multiple tracks of technological development presumably in progress during any of the conflicts in the Gundam metaverse. For example, the Jesta Plus, which is a logical progression that will not be out of place in the continuity of Gundam Unicorn, a “what if” scenario.

Secondly, this theme will make full use of my creative juices, fleshing out would-be scenarios for my customs, throwing them into “real” combat situations. This would give everyone a better idea of this particular modification, what was the motivation behind its development and what role it is supposed to fill.

Once again, thank you for all the support and stay tuned for more updates from the Gunplanerd!

Kit Insight: HGUC 1/144 AMX-101E Schuzrum-Galluss [Heavy Assault Type] (Customised Build)

Model Number: AMX-101E Schuzrum-Galluss [Heavy Assault Type]
Designation: Neo Zeon Anti-Ship Combat Assault Mobile Suit

Gallery

Kit Insight: MG 1/100 ZGMF-X56S/ι Destiny Impulse Gundam Regenes [P-Bandai Exclusive] (Straight Build)

Pics first, words later!