Gunplanerd: [Kit Insight] Bandai HGUC 1/144 RX-0 Unicorn Gundam Unit 03 "Phenex" [DESTROY Mode] (Narrative Ver.) (Gold Coating)

Model Number: RX-0 Unit 03

Designation: EFSF Prototype Full Psycho-Frame Mobile Suit

Once again, the Phenex arises. This time, with a vengeance.

With the impending release of the latest tale set in the Universal Century, Bandai is aggressively pushing out refurbished, refitted, reissued UC-era model kits to oil its massive marketing machine. The golden Phenex is the cornerstone of the Gundam Narrative or GundamNT movie, being the central and literal plot device for the entire show. How best to promote the movie than by reissuing the ever popular HGUC 1/144 Phenex model kit. With tails.

I decided to apply some paint to the non-gold parts of the kit, although I feel silly now because the shine and sheen of the gold coating just overpower everything else. In any case, the following colours were used:

Red Fox Dark Blue
Nippon Pylox Deep Blue
Red Fox Flat Black
Mr. DIY Sparkling Black
Tamiya Gun Metal
Samurai Grey
Nippon Pylox Deep Grey
Bosny Gold
Bosny Aluminium Silver
Red Fox Bright Silver

Essentially the same HGUC 1/144 Unicorn Gundam model kit released in 2009, the Narrative Ver. Phenex includes two new 2018 runners for the "Goldilocks Extensions" to the Armed Armors DE. However, the biggest change by far is the deeper saturation of the gold coating used as compared to the OG GFT Phenex. This gives the Narrative Phenex a yellowish sheen, which also makes it a little more regal.

HGUC 1/144 Phenex (Ver. GFT) (Gold Coating) for reference.

Being a 2009 model kit, there is absolutely no undergating on this kit. Therefore, prepare for an abundance of nub marks punctuating the formidable presence of the Narrative Phenex. You can go over the nub marks with gold paint or you can simply leave them be and attribute them to environmental damage incurred by the Phenex as it drifted through the cosmos after disappearing in UC 0095.

In keeping with the Narrative, erm, narrative of this build, I decided to forego all of the included handheld weaponry. From the GundamNT trailers, the Phenex is shown to be immensely powerful with just its psychoframe alone, able to control the Armed Armors DE like funnels, much like how Banagher Links did with the Unicorn Gundam in UC 0096. Therefore, I swapped out its stock hand units with more expressive, open palm ones from the HGBC 1/144 Jigen Knuckles set. Although the gold I used ain't exactly the Phenex's gold, it's good enough.

The Unicorn's beam Magnum is still included with the Narrative Phenex (along with one shield). A gun pose still looks pretty kickass! You also get four beam saber handles but not a single beam saber blade, unfortunately.

The Armed Armors DE mount onto the Narrative Ver. Phenex a little differently from the Ver. GFT set. Instead of pegging into the forward section of the DEs, they now plug into a new housing unit that holds the tail, resulting in a bulkier DE unit. As the new tails are now known to be altitude stabilisers, the new housing units may very well be additional engines to aid in the psycho-weapon function of the DEs favoured by the Phenex's pilot.

Now the question is: who gave the Phenex its new equipment? Guess we'll only find out when the movie drops next month!

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