MG Strike Freedom Review Part 1 (Boxart and runners)

It's my favorite mobile suit turn this time, "Strike Freedom.. ike masszz!!!!!!!!!!!!!"...

The first gundam series that completed which is in 2005 was Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny. I thought Shin Asuka was the main character that time and i don't even realize there is Mobile Suit Gundam Seed which Kira Yamato is the main character for these 2 series. I remember when it first appearance in the anime already show how deadly this mobile suit is (plus the "super-coordinator" as the pilot) but the pilot choose to use this as deadly weapon to disable other mobile suit rather than killing the pilot ( like what Kio in gundam age FX doing now "kio, you're not the first one who fight that way, hahaha" ) "how holy can it be". It's predecessor Freedom gundam was almost invisible except the battle with Providence Gundam and Impulse gundam but with the upgrade weapon system to this Strike Freedom gundam (combination with pilot ability), it become even more powerful from any other Mobile suit in its era (cosmic era). Some people might hate the concept of this mobile suit and its pilot because its too powerful and this is why i like it so much. 

The concept of this mobile suit was almost perfect in any attribute. It is agile and strong (in terms of offensive and defensive) due to it power by ultracompact hyper deuterion nuclear reactor that provide unlimited of fire power, propulsion and energy armor. Two beam saber which can combine for any short range combat, two beam rifle which also can be combine for both medium and long range combat, "Xiphias 3" cannon which effective against any energy shield or underwater  combat, "Callidus" multiphase beam cannon ( which also similar to positron/ plasma cannon but in smaller size), "Voiture lumiere" propulsion for confusing enemy target censor, two energy shield for defensive and lastly, 8 DRAGOON (Disconnected Rapid Armament Group Overlook Operation Network) units just like what the OO gundam series fang, Age series Bits or the UC series funnel. With such weapon system and unlimited energy from its powerplant (which most of the mobile suit in any series suffer), even the most powerful Gundam Unicorn might have doubt for taking it down ( just my silly opinion). No matter in space, atmosphere or ground battle, 1 on 1 or like (Ip Man " i want 10") will not be a problem for this mobile suit. The only drawback should be the stamina of the pilot although he is a "supercoordinator".

Alright, enough for the introduction and lets get back to the kit.

MG Sword Impulse review part 3 (proportion and articulation)

trying to squeeze down the delay this time...

I didn't take much photos from the previous MG Impulse 's' i bought few years ago. My skill for stretching it dynamically for the photo was not good enough in that time. I was thinking to re-shoot this kit when i free and i think this will be the good test out for the kit and lighting system. 

So, from the assemble process already show how well that this kit can pose. The articulations were great and most of the joints work very well. One thing that must be highlight is it won't have any problem when doing dynamic poses such as falling skirt armors. Another great thing is the joint for this kit is very sturdy even after it built for few years (my old one is still standing very well and those joints still hold a lot of different pose). 

As for the proportion, it really give me feeling of robot damashi or STANDart gundam feel. No matter how i pose it, it still look great. But there is still one draw back for the entire kit proportion design which are the legs slightly too long ( it was mentioned from someone else i forget his/her name when MG Force Impulse released). I do agree with that and if the lower torso (abdomen) was slightly extend its length might make it look better. 

Although everything look good from review part 1 till here (boxart, runners, color separation, detailm structure, design, proportion, articulation, blablblablabala.....) but there is one problem with this kit, the weapons. Huge sword or gun is nice but when it come to posing, weight and size (as for this will the length)  does cause problems. For example, if you want to take photo with the entire sword combine in the picture might make the mobile suit itself look too small. The extra HG/NG manipulators use for holding the sword is another issues which it can't really hold it "tightly". 

Well i guess that's all for the words, let the photos explain the rest: 

MG Sword Impulse Review part 2 ( assemble, details and structure)

Alright, finally I'm back.

So, this post will be the part 2 of the review for this kit which will related to assemble process, detail and structure.

First, i will start with the assemble process. Basically everything is straightforward, no complicated assemble process like the MG SF wings or mesh pipe for MG Mk2. All of the steps only involved direct snap and fits, there not much complicated multilayer snap and fit process. This means it will be easier for painting because most of the part can be easily disassemble. As for the detail, i will elaborate it from the pictures.

MG Sword Impulse Review part 1 (boxart, manual and runners)

Alright, another new build. Basically this will another OOB kit that i going to build for my boss but before that i'm going to create my own review about this kit.

How the first photo look like? Sword Impulse was in WW2!!! Damn, i really love the way they design the boxart for MG Seed especially this one where it destroying Orb Fleet. This scene should be around episode 20 plus after Orb signing the treaty with the Earth Alliance and starting to assault Minerva after it sail of from Gibraltar. Whenever Shin put on the sword silhouette, that's the killing time except the first episode. 

So, the specification about the mobile suit itself, i'm sure most of you know what it got such as weapon, power output and other special gimmick stuff but i still want to cover a bit here. The mobile suit itself was design to be flexible which can equip with different silhouette for different ability such as Force Silhouette, Sword Silhouette and the Blast Silhouette (similar to Strike Gundam). One thing that improve the flexibility of Impulse gundam is it's separable body part which divide into chest flyer, core splendor and leg flyer (similar to RX-78 2, ZZ gundam and also Age 3 gundam). This flexibility enable it to change it damage part such as arm, legs, main censor or camera which is the head unit and also it silhouette pack during combat within certain duration. Impulse gundam itself already equip with beam rifle, expandable shield (with Force Silhouette mode), two "folding razor" (similar to Armor Schneider) anti-armor knife and CIWS mounted on the chest (instead of the head). Without any silhouette pack, Impulse gundam itself already quite deadly.

As for this kit, it come with Sword Silhouette which its more focus on short range or melee combat. With sword silhouette, it give Impulse additional weapon which is the 2 x "flash edge" beam boomerangs and 2 x "Excalibur" anti-ship sword. Although the sword was called as anti-ship sword and it look not as flexible as normal beam saber but it is more destructive compare to beam saber especially attacking strongly armored mobile suit like GFAS-X1 Destroy gundam. With the design of the sword which more "tangible" to beam saber, it can even stab through the shield of Freedom gundam. Even though the sword silhouette was made to enhance Impulse gundam in short range combat, Impulse still able to carry its original weapon which is the beam rifle and shield unlike Sword Strike gundam. The only pitfall for Sword Impulse might be the mobility which it can't operate as flexible as Force Impulse on the air combat.

Gundam Mid-Year Challenge 2012 (Malaysia)

I almost put the wrong name on this event as the theme/title of this event always change. Last year was GWBC and before that is BAKUC, this year should call as GMYC as short form. I was there on the day it set up. Luckily the day before the set was also the event for Power Ranger which host by the same organizer so the set up can be done a lot more earlier. Participants were only to display their work around 2 a.m. on 3rd June. 

At the same time, LYN which is Low Yat.Net forum also hosting a straight and OOB group build category with the theme back to basic. It is a very interesting category as there are many modellers still not master basic very well and straight go on customizations especially ME. The seller from M.G.S2U (Tkting) told me the same thing as well when he look at my submission.

Another good thing for me is able to meet rayloke from Lowyat.net which also one of the professional modeler  in http://forum.zerogunz.com if i'm not wrong. He is one of the who organize the group build for straight build or OOB category. I was sitting in a group who participate in that category but too bad i can have some chat with him for some.... gunpla mod.

So, lets check out the photo of the event and as for the detail rules, prize and others, please follow this link:

http://forum.zerogunz.com/viewtopic.php?f=26&t=11538