[Kit Insight] Bandai SD G-Generation Zero Wing Gundam - Straight Build

Model Number: XXXG-01W

Designation: Transformable General Purpose Use Mobile Suit

#CircuitBreakerBacklogChallenge Build #7 - A (Buster Rifle) blast from the past!

[Kit Insight] Bandai SD Sangoku Soketsuden Ma Chao Gundam Barbatos (Painted Build)

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[Kit Insight] Bandai SD Sangoku Soketsuden Trinity Bike (Painted Build)

"Come with me if you want to live!" - Cao Cao Wing Gundam (probably)

[Kit Insight] Bandai SDCS RGM-79 GM [Early Type] (Customised Build)

A classic design in an updated super deformed package!

[Kit Insight] Bandai SD Sangoku Soketsuden Cao Cao Wing Gundam (Painted Build)

A fresh new take on a key figure of the Warring States!

[Kit Insight] Bandai SDCS LRX-077 Sisquiede [Titans Color] (Painted Build)

Model Number: LRX-077
Designation: Titans Prototype Close Combat Mobile Suit

A hybrid of Federation and Zeon that looks so badass!

[Kit Insight] Bandai SD Sangoku Soketsuden Guan Yu Yun Chang Nu Gundam (Painted Build)

Revisiting the Warring States!

[Kit Insight] Bandai SD Cross Silhouette Crossbone Gundam X-1 (Painted Build)

A SD model kit with an inner frame? What a time to be alive!

[Kit Insight] Bandai SD Aegis Gundam [Deactive Mode] (Painted Build)

Always preferred a duller colour scheme over a bright and loud one!

[Kit Insight] Bandai BB Senshi SD Knight Unicorn Gundam (Painted Build)

As with most Unicorn Gundam model kits, this one can also transform!

[Kit Insight] Suntoys Super Deformed Master Grade RX-78-2 Gundam (Straight Build)

A SD kit with a MG inner frame? Wow.

[Kit Insight] Bandai BB Senshi SD Gundam Barbatos DX (Ver. GPN)

Along with the SD EX-Standard Gundam Barbatos released earlier in the year, Bandai also dropped the BB Senshi DX version of the titular mobile suit from Iron-Blood Orphans. The DX version of the Barbatos comes with every piece of armor and weaponry worn/wielded in the anime series, including a SD-fied version of the Kutan-III Long Distance Transport Booster. For the price point, you get a lot of plastic!

That being said, you only get enough parts to create one Barbatos in a chosen form at any one time; creating the Barbatos in multiple forms simultaneously would require you to acquire more SD EX-Standard Gundam Barbatos, which is essentially the same thing in a smaller package with far lesser things. It is a blast to switch the armor pieces around to create different versions, but the 6th Form easily takes the cake.

Since it's still a SD at core, expect to apply lots of stickers or do a lot of painting to bring out the colours. But as compared to older SDs, the level of part separation here helps immensely. The feet are the troublesome, sticker-heavy part, while the Kutan-III is devoid of any other colour apart from white.

Accessories wise, the DX Barbatos set is loaded. From the Mace to the Long Sword to the 180mm Gliding Cannons, the Barbatos is spoilt for choice. The Wrench Mace even has opening jaws to recreate chomping attacks, although it can be a little stiff and may come apart if handled incorrectly.

If you're looking for a SD Barbatos to add to your collection, consider getting a DX one first, before deciding if you need five more SD EX-Standard ones to create all six forms of the Barbatos.

[Kit Insight] Bandai SD EX-Standard TBG-011B Try Burning Gundam (Straight Build)

The SD EX-Standard is the latest in Bandai's revised SD model kits that has strangely appeared to Japanese builders only very recently. For everyone else, these SD EX-Standards have largely served their intended purpose well: killing some time and producing a fun kit to toy with at the end of the day.

[Kit Insight] Bandai BB Senshi #400 Knight Superior Dragon (Light Build)

The Superior Dragon is an enigma: a gold-plated SD with gloss-injected red parts for the price of a high end High Grade model that looks superb out of the box. A little chrome to the silver parts and some gunmetal to the frame parts on the backpack makes this little cute thing stand out in your shelf.

The only gripe for this kit is that the plated parts are not undergated: they still use the same touchgate found on most BB Senshi model kits. Care would have to be taken when trimming the nubs to prevent accidental scraping or nicking of the plated gold.

All in all, the Superior Dragon is a beautiful addition to any Gunpla collection. Just don't expect to play with it much.

[Kit Insight] Bandai SD EX-Standard ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos (Ver. GPN)

The latest in Bandai's line of more articulated SD scale model kits, the Barbatos might be small on features and detail, but it is a largely adequate kit given the low retail price of S$9.90. Frankly, the Barbatos is one of the best-looking SD EX-Standard model kits thus far, with the stickers working pretty well here.

This Barbatos actually looks and feels like its NX Edge Style cousin, from the gigantic V-Fin to the detailing on its weaponry. But the NX Edge Style variant has bendable knees, so there's that.

This Ver. GPN build essentially retains the essence of the Barbatos and made use of almost all the stickers that came with the kit. For added depth, metallic black was used for the frame parts, dark blue was applied to the blue parts, some grey thrown in for good measure as well as Copper Gold for the striking V-Fin.

Overall, the SD EX-Standard Barbatos can help to shave off a lazy afternoon (or multiple lazy evenings).

[Kit Insight] MC Model SD 1/144 MSN 04-02 The Red Comet NIGHTINGALE SPRAYING Ver.

Bandai never got around to making a SD-scale variant of the surprisingly popular Nightingale from Char's Counterattack - Beltorchika's Children. So Chinese model kit manufacturer MC Model took it upon themselves to create a SD Nightingale, which was rather well received for its design, quality and finish, although blemishes still exist.

As an alternate representation of the same SD Nightingale, MC Model released this SPRAYING Ver. of their own model kit in 2016. Essentially a pre-built, pre-painted and pre-finished MC Model SD Nightingale, the entire kit feels more like a Gundam Fix Figuration or Chogokin action figure, with the gleaming, airbrushed metallic surfaces. Gorgeous.

The 2016 SD Nightingale comes with a plethora of stuff: the SD-fied Beam Rifle and Shield, all 10 removable funnels with accompanying funnel display effect parts (basically bendy clear plastic rods), one open hand, three large fuel tanks, a clear SD stand as well as metal decals of Char's personal insignia. It also has a LED as the monoeye sensor. All these fit nicely packaged in a huge, shiny box that is reminiscent of action figures, with a clear window showing the finished product sitting in its well waiting for you to free it from its bonds.

Don't expect much in terms of articulation. The massive Nightingale is not renowned for its ability to strike dynamic poses, and this SD variant is no different. The bicep armor pops off rather easily as well, although a little cement should eradicate that issue once and for all. The "toes" on its massive feet flap around as well, although the Nightingale looks much better when standing on solid ground. The Nightingale also looks imposing and cool just standing still doing nothing.

Apparently, this iteration of the SD Nightingale is only limited to a thousand sets, but take-up for third party model kits is slow to begin with, so at this moment, it should still be easy to secure a few sets.

The 2016 SD Nightingale from MC Model is definitely a looker with its fabulous paintjob, just don't expect to really play with it much.

[Gallery] Bandai SD Ex-Standard RX-78-02[EOD] Gundam (Explosive Ordnance Disposal Type) (Painted Build)

I went through masking hell to get the colours on, turned out alright in the end!

The olive drab makes it look like it has thick, heavyset armor for bomb removal duty!

[Kit Insight] SD EX-Standard RX-78-2 Gundam (Straight Build)

The new SD line was announced to decidedly mixed reviews. On the one hand, there are people who lauded the new design perspective for these refined SD kits, incorporating elements from the other grades into cutesy frame. On the other hand, the lack of colour separation and the amount of work required to beautify the kit can be deal breakers for some. Nonetheless, the new SD line is the culmination of Bandai's renewed foray to rejuvenate interest in one of the oldest product lines in its inventory.

[Kit Insight] BB Senshi #142 Tekki Musha Haganemaru (SD) (Light Build)

Another of those old-timey triple-changing SDs, the Tekki Musha Haganemaru is based on the ZII and feels like a premium kit with all those gold-plated parts, clear bits as well as a wide array of molded colours. However, the finished product shows its age and level of technology (1995), resulting in a sturdy SD kit that morphs into a rickety - yet awesome looking - Real Mode 1/144 scale model that is just too flimsy and fragile to fully appreciate.

But by god, it is a looker.

Here's hoping that they will remodel this particular series and update them with modern transformer technology.

[Kit Insight] BB Senshi #172 Goken Gundam -Kirahagane Gokusai- (SD) (Straight Build)

When the Star Winning Gundam transformed into its 1/144 Real Mode form, many viewers gasped in awe: they have never seen a SD kit accomplish this monumental feat of plastic engineering before, and waited with bated breath for the inevitable Gunpla kit to hit the stores. When the set finally became available, hobbyists and viewers alike exploded over the internet, commending and commenting on Bandai's ingenuity and engineering excellence, heralding a new age for SD model kits.