Hobby Talk: Model Kit Review, RG ZGMF-X20A Strike Freedom Gundam

Kit Details
Gundam: Strike Freedom Gundam
Code:  ZGMF-X20A
Series: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed Destiny
Pilot: Kira Yamato
Faction: Orb Union, Three Ships Alliance
Weapons: EQFU-3X Super DRAGOON Mobile Weapon Wing, MA-80V Beam Assault Cannon, MA-M02G Super Lacerta Beam Saber, MA-M21KF High Energy Beam Rifle, MGX-2235 Calidus Multi Phase Beam Cannon, MMI-M15E Xiphias 3 Railgun, MX2200 Beam Shield
Release: November 2013
Runner: 11
Parts: N/A
Price: 3000 yen

Build / Difficulty
(Score: +2)
Good: Overall build is challenging.  Not a lot of very small parts is a plus.  Average surface details.
Bad: Default looks of the shitty gold is terrible.  I did numbers of spray paint work to improve the looks.  Spray paints used are (all Tamiya) TS17 (Gloss Aluminium), TS18 (Metallic Red), TS38 (Gun EMtal Black) and TS84 (Metallic Gold).  Build might get repetitive especially when you get to the Dragoons.
Difficulty: Difficult
Panel Line: Average.
Decals: You get 1 sheet of stickers, and sticker foils for the eyes and scopes.

Looks / Details
(Score: +2)
Good: If you improved the gold frame, the score on the looks improves by miles.  The SF looks very good.  There are sufficient exposure of the gold frame.  Thus the gold improvements are recommended.
Bad: The surface details are not as complicated as other RG kits.

Accessories
(Score: +1)
You get: 2 rifles, 2 beam sabers and a beam shield.  The accessories are not much to brag about as the main attractions are mounted on the kit itself.  The side railgun and the dragoon backpack.

Articulation / Pose ability
(Score: +1)
Good: Very good. The main body is capable of all sorts of movement.
Bad: All the additional bulks e.g. railguns, big dragoon backpack, attached to the Gundam may get in the way of posing.
Ugly: The backpack is super heavy!  The whole dragoon system could weight as much as the main body.  And mounting that off center of gravity, this kit has a real trouble standing straight.

Shelf presence
(Score: +2)
Good: Spread those dragoons and you're in of a treat. You just have to show of the glossy gold.

Bonus
(Score: Neutral)
N/A

Summary and Rating
(Total Score: +8)
X Avoid
O Consider
X Shortlist
X Buy

This kit is only worth building if you are willing to spend the extra dollar and extra effort of spray painting this kit to improve the default dull colors, especially the shitty gold.  Once you've done that, the payoff is super satisfying.

Variants
Few variants of this kit that you can also consider.
1) Freedom Gundam (2011) - The IMBA MS of Seed
2) Justice Gundam (2012) - Super awesome alter ego of the Freedom
3) Destiny Gundam (2013) - Supposed to be the star of Seed Destiny until SF rolls all over

Dalong's Review

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