[Kit Insight] Kotobukiya Frame Arms Girl - Materia (White Ver.)

Bandai may have its Super Fumina, but Kotobukiya has a whole range of Frame Arms Girls to give Bandai a run for their money!

[Kit Insight] Bandai NX Edge Style ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos

The release of the Barbatos in NX Edge Style format is logical and timely, since season one of Iron Blooded Orphans is currently building up to the climax. Being the latest in the line of highly articulated finished figurines, the NX Edge Style Barbatos brings its unique appeal to the fore. 

[Kit Insight] Bandai HGIBO 1/144 ASW-G-11 Gundam Gusion [Ver. GPN] (Painted Build)

The Gusion is an oddity: it's heavy, fat, bulky and it's also a Gundam. That said, the Gusion holds immense promise and potential as an adversary to the lean Barbatos, but that vision was cleaved in half when Kudel was cleaved in half.

Nonetheless, the Ver. GPN build represents my take on this non-conventional Gundam, painted in a colour scheme more befitting a militant organisation such as the Brewers. I also switched out its hands for larger, more menacing ones.

Now, we wait for the Barbatos-Gusion hybrid to hit the screen!

[Kit Insight] Bandai Star Wars 1/72 TIE/fo First Order TIE Fighter (Mass Production Type) (Painted Build)

Bandai has been doing a great job with its Starpla releases, and fans (like myself) were pleasantly surprised to see kits from the latest The Force Awakens appearing on store shelves! Being a closet First Order junkie, I picked up a couple of their sleek black TIE Fighters, intending to someday recreate the chase on Jakku, substituting the Millennium Falcon for a Gundam.

Maybe.

The First Order TIE Fighter model kit is at base a reissue of the Imperial TIE Fighter, which has the same design, but actually has many subtle differences. First of all, the First Order TIE Fighter has more parts, with the four pylons by the sides of the cockpit being separate parts and not molded with the main body, as on the Imperial version. Secondly, the distinctive solar panels by the sides of the First Order TIE Fighter are built more efficiently, with massive parts instead of smaller ones. Lastly, the First Order TIE Fighter has larger cannons and an antenna (that breaks very easily), along with a revised control interface for the new pilot.

Simply put, the First Order TIE Fighter is not simply a recolour of the original TIE Fighter: it is an improved version of an existing design, updated to reflect the First Order's emphasis on peace through power.

Now, I shall wait for the Special Forces squadron leader for my TIEs to be released in March!

[Kit Insight] Magic Toys MG 1/100 RX-121 TR-1 [Hazel Custom] (Straight Build)

The Hazel is an intriguing mobile suit: it is huge, bulky and seemingly packed with experimental weaponry and technology. Although a HGUC version of this popular suit (and its Titans Test Team brethren) exist, fans have been calling for more Advance of Z suits, specifically more kits bearing the flag of the Titans. Third party manufacturer Magic Toys has done just that.

For a non-Bandai kit, this offering from a third party brand is quite inspiring. The level of detail imbued into the kit coupled with a relatively smooth building process is a godsend to builders looking to build alternative kits. Fitment is excellent, with little to no issue, although some parts require a little elbow grease to snap shut. Parts-wise, the Hazel comes with many, many parts, especially for the beautiful inner frame. The feet also feature working pistons!

However, articulation is where the kit suffers a little, as the bulky design doesn't permit outlandish and hyper-dynamic poses. Nevertheless, the frame and armor pieces still manage to give you decent room to work with, but the bicep armor's strength and assembly leave quite a bit to be desired. 

Overall, the Hazel Custom is a fun kit, although the assembly itself is more thrilling than the final product. That said, this kit gives you an insight into what some third party companies can offer with the limited resources at their disposal. Imagine what they can accomplish with the deep pockets and backing of a global conglomerate.

[Kit Insight] Bandai HGUC 1/144 RX-78-3 Gundam G3 Full Spec. [Revive Ver.] (Light Build)

When improving a current model, don't stop at changing the colour scheme.

Add more weapons!

[Kit Insight] HGIBO 1/144 STH-05A Hyakuren (Teiwaz Mass Production Ver.) (Painted Build)

The Hyakuren is a unique design, blending samurai armor references with futuristic features. Despite its ostensible bulk, it still manages to achieve amazing dexterity in combat, although it is confined to space operation due to its alternative proportions.

This variant of the Hyakuren is the full mass production version manufactured (and likely sold) by Teiwaz once the Hyakuren production lines are up and running. This Hyakuren also incorporates the combat data gleaned from both Amida's and Azee's prototype units, to give Teiwaz pilots an edge over the many adversaries along the back lanes and shortcuts of the Ariadne Route to Earth.

[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] Bandai Tamashii Nations NX Edge Style Gundam Astray Red Frame with HG 1/144 Flight Unit

A semi-SD proportioned version of the Gundam Astray Red Frame, the NX Edge Style variant is immensely fun and playable, and has a solid plastic feel to it as compared to the rubbery touch of the NX Edge Style Strike Freedom Gundam.

The paint job on the main body is decent, but the katana is very well done, making it seem like it comes from a Figma or another toy set. 

A bonus gimmick: the Flight Unit of the HG Astray Red Frame fits very well onto the NX Edge Style version without any modifications!

[Gallery] Bandai MG 1/100 Gundam Astray Red Frame (Art of Gundam Ver.) with EffectWings MG 1/100 Flight Pack (Light Builds)

It's a plated Astray with clear armor parts, what more is to be said?

Oh wait, adding on the Flight Pack ups the badass factor considerably!