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Blurrz wrote:

Jesterhead wrote:

Blurrz wrote:

And the holy grail, MG Freedom. I hate Strike Freedom, so the original Freedom was just pure love when I got it for X-mas. I've panel-lined the hell out of it. I avoided the decals as much as I could, but couldn't resist putting them on the shoulders.

Whats the articulation and inner frame details like on MG Freedom? I've always fancied Freedom and might pick up the kit, since it's pretty cheap nowadays

I'd be pretty temped to paint it in a Cagalli Strike Rouge color scheme!

The inner frame is just outstanding. much like any of the recent Master Grade figure. The armor isn't something you can take off every day, because the plastic is delicate, and it will take awhile to force off the armor off. The next MG I plan on getting is probably Wing Gundam Zero Custom... that thing is the epitome of Gundam awesomeness.

No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Do NOT waste your money on the MG Zero...I used to build MG's, and have about 60 or so in a box (I got out of MG around the 2.0 version releases and focused on PG and 1/ 60 exclusively)and MG Zero SUCKS. Disproportioned, tiny compared to other mecha. Only advantage is it can hold the BFG for a while, until the polycap stress becomes to great and it flops. Same with the wings. If you really want a great wing kit, go for the Wing ver. KA, that kit kicks ass, really. Here's kits I'd recommend from my MG days:

RX-79G (although I'm sure a 2.0 is coming someday soon)
RX-178 Mk.II 2.0
GP-03
Zeta 2.0
Zeta C plus 1 (It's so badass really, like a stealth Zeta, looks unbelievable in person, and the frame kicks ass, Test ones are OK too)
EX-S
Sazabi
Nu
OYW RX-78-2

If you ever plan on taking the plunge into PG kits, do it now. You'll never want another MG or HG kit again after seeing that massive gundam goodness and after building a PG, MG's just won't cut it anymore. When you run out of PG's, then you go to G-system like I did and spend about 300-400 a kit and your wallet will hate you, but the 1/60 NT-1 Alex, Kampfer, Guncannon conversion and Wing Zero KA conversion are worth it.

On another note, try the Macross Frontier kits as well. Great little kits. I highly recommend Armored Ozma and Super Alto.

Damn! Those are some impressive kits, and a far cry from the 1/144 scale kits of Rx-78 and Char's Zaku 2 that I got from this local hole-in-the-wall hobby shop I used to go to (think it was called Westpoint Hobby) in the early 90's. Those simplistic kits were my first exposure to Gundam years before the figures hit in the U.S. I remember picking up some F-91 kits there as well as my Gerbera Tetra and A-Azieru Mobile Armor.
Used to be a guy who worked there who did beautiful work on his kits with automotive grade paint and an airbrush.

I have a couple of Perect grades in my colleciton. But the price tag is what keeps me form going for more, and shelf space. I mainly go for MG's because I like to have more to work on when building and they're more affordable than the PG's. Also 00 Gundam/Raiser is bypassing the MG treatment and going right for PG if there are any fans of the Gundam.

Also, even if you hate MG Strike Freedom, it's not a bad model. I have both Freedom and Strike Freedom and I have to say, SF has some improvements over the original to allow better posability that the original Freedom lacks. With Freedom you do want to paint the inner skeleton because if assembled, it suffers from loose joints. I actually spent over a week working on my SF, delaing with paint, detail work (save the DRAGOONS, which I do intend to go back and deal with soon). Onc ei get my batteries put into my MG Exia I'll take some pics. It wouldn't be right without the Ignition Mode lighting.

Well Strike, I'll take your recommendation on passing on MG Zero... leaves me more money on TFs and the HG 1/144 Gundam 00 series..

I'm really pumped for the PG 00-Raiser, although I fear that I'll like it so much that I'll never buy any more Gundams XD.

Blurrz wrote:Well Strike, I'll take your recommendation on passing on MG Zero... leaves me more money on TFs and the HG 1/144 Gundam 00 series..

I'm really pumped for the PG 00-Raiser, although I fear that I'll like it so much that I'll never buy any more Gundams XD.

Hold your judgement until we finally see the Gundam 00 Quanta and if it gets a PG treatment.

Strike: As for MG Zero. What the heck were you doing to end up with polycap stress? I've had mine over 2 years and it's fine. I like it better than that crappy EW HG version from several years back with the breakable rear wings. Heck the only good model to come from that HG line was the Heavyarms.

Unless 00 Quanta has a Red Haro saying '0-Raiser Docking Modo, 0-Raiser Docking Modo', I'll probably stick with 00-Raiser being my favourite Gundam. Actually I think I like the Gaddess better, but that hasn't arrived yet in stores...

Well, just preordered the 00 Raiser...wow that's expensive, but with the Light up GN drive and stand, etc. it's actually not a bad deal, really. Shame they won't make one without the extra crap for less, but oh well. I was torn on this since I like 00 but I'm not a huge fan, but then, my collection wouldn't be complete if I didn't. Between this and Black Convoy MP, I'm done for a while...until they make a blue frame PG which I'm sure is coming in the future...Bandai loves their repaints.


Blurrz, MG Zero was a great kit for it's time. When it came out, MG was really turning a corner from merely being a step above HG to becoming really great. It's just time isn't kind to it, it's not Bandai's fault as much as it is just the design itself. If you really want to get a good Zero rendition, go for the 1/100 HG and add some paint (not as good as the MG, but half the price so if something happens oh well), or just pony up the extra and get the PG (They're pretty cheap, about 100-120 on ebay now), it is the worst of the PG kits, but still superior to any MG or HG out there. If this is your first PG, you'll be blown away by it, however after building the PG Strike/Red frame or MK.II, you'll realize how it falls short compared to them.

Here's a PG breakdown with my observations:

RX-78-2: Granddaddy of all Gundam, and all PG kits. Good kit by today's standards, cheap, and simple, but it's supposed to be.
Zaku: I like this kit, most people don't. Limited by the design itself, but still manages to be capable of a lot of posing. Hose system is ingenious, don't have to worry about the beads falling off like on an MG. Bad news is the feet are limited for posing, as the ball joint for the foot to ankle pops out if you try and pose it to far back. Good side is it's under the armor so it's not visible, and doesn't affect it at all. Horrible LED wiring...
Zeta: Beautiful PG, awesome Transformation (about 45 min), cool gimmicks, lots of posability. The bad is the insane transformation will scare the hell out of you that you'll break something, and it's ultra unbalanced. Be very careful posing it. Static poses are ok, but dynamic poses not so much, make sure you have it solidly planted.
Zero: Ugh...great kit gone bad. Looks amazing, lots of metal in the inner frame to compensate for the backpack, great posability and frame design. But the backpack with the wings wrecks it. Can't hold many good poses, to backheavy, wings with the auto spring spread randomly, this thing would be a lot better with a stand. What was Bandai thinking?! I have made a wooden stand for it that works well. Anyone wants the specs to make one of their own, shoot me a PM.
MK.II: Tedious build up, cockpit is a pain in the ass (The little ball), Bazooka clipped to it's back makes it backheavy. Great kit though, lots of posing, very heavy and durable feeling.
GP01: In regular mode, a good figure model. In FB mode, it's basically a static kit. Looks great with the stand/hangar though, very cool. Not as backheavy as you might think in FB mode.
Strike: Perfection, sheer perfection. The ultimate PG, and quite possibly the ultimate action figure/mecha. Rivals Revoltech posability, very balanced, details are incredible. Armor actually shifts itself via PC's on slides to compensate for bending the legs, arms, etc. Beecraft version also is a plus over the anime version. No pics can do it justice...you have to see this one for yourself. Aile kit is a must too.
Red Frame: Strike retool, almost as good. Looks great, almost the posability of the strike (it's the same frame almost), but the armor hinders it a bit more than the strike. Still easily the secondbest, and the aile stand works on it.

Well, that's it until the Raiser is released. I can also do the Glorious HY2M if anyone's interested in the dom or gouf, or any older 1/60 kits, or RD, HG, etc.

Roadbuster wrote:

Blurrz wrote:Well Strike, I'll take your recommendation on passing on MG Zero... leaves me more money on TFs and the HG 1/144 Gundam 00 series..

I'm really pumped for the PG 00-Raiser, although I fear that I'll like it so much that I'll never buy any more Gundams XD.

Hold your judgement until we finally see the Gundam 00 Quanta and if it gets a PG treatment.

Strike: As for MG Zero. What the heck were you doing to end up with polycap stress? I've had mine over 2 years and it's fine. I like it better than that crappy EW HG version from several years back with the breakable rear wings. Heck the only good model to come from that HG line was the Heavyarms.

Just different poses on my computer stand. Bandai admitted that the plastic in polycaps does wear and degrade over time, just like PG EVA 01's rubber underarmor. The MG could still hold some posing, but not with the gun anymore. And heavyarms? Tallgeese was far better, D-Hell wasn't bad either as a static kit.

I'm really liking Gundam 00.
Does anyone know if there are any 3.5 size action figures (like the ones we had here) available in Japan of the 00 mobile suits? Or is it all limited strictly to model kits?

Cobalt Prime wrote:I'm really liking Gundam 00.
Does anyone know if there are any 3.5 size action figures (like the ones we had here) available in Japan of the 00 mobile suits? Or is it all limited strictly to model kits?

I think HCM-Pro figures are about 3.5". They are smaller than 1/144 figures, I think closer to 1/200. They look like really nice figures, lots of weapons and accessories.


On another note, I got my MG Sinanju assembled and am beginning painting. Even painted up the tiny little Full Frontal figure!



Not the best picture, but you all get the idea lol.