Hobby Talk: Model Kit Review: HG XM-X1 Crossbone Gundam X1 Full Cloth Type GBFT

Link to revised review here.

This kit taught me the importance of detailing gunpla kits.  At least at the most basic level.  Without this, my 3 earlier builds will still be without lining and decals.

Why this kit
I didn't break much sweat when building the build strike.  And I'm still into custom gundam models thanks to the build fighters series. The pirate themed custom gundam caught my eye.

Kit Details
The HG crossbone X1 GBFT kit was released in April 2015 with 14 runners and 1 big sheet of stickers.  Pretty generous considering older MG kits has less in the box compared to this one.  This kit is priced at RM 85.  A big price to pay for a HG kit which brings it close to RG and entry level MG kits.

Build / Difficulty
(Score: Neutral)
Generally the build is simple but interesting.  You'll get lots and lots of stuff to build on this kit and you'll wonder how all these toys going to fit on a small scale HG model. This is a very very sticker heavy kit and the small stickers will drive you nuts.

The yellow vents and gun barrel stickers, and the red stripes for the armor clothes are really tiny and requires a lot of patience to put on.

The entire build took roughly 8 hours.  And I went into overtime to do the panel linings which is a must to bring the full details out of this kit.

Looks / Details
(Score: +1)
This kit looks great right out of the box.  You'll get pearl white parts instead of regular gunpla white which boost it's vanity rating even more.  This kit's forte is to stand on your shelf and look great, nothing more.  Once you add all the accessories on, this kit looks fantastic.

Panel lining is a must for this kit.  This is how it looked without lining.

And with lining, it looks fierce and awesome.

The downside are the stickers.  It looks OK from far but upclose, it's very noticeable.

Accessories
(Score: +2)
Talking about generosity. Look at the picture below and you can tell how much accessories this kit is getting (which explains the 14 runners).

You'll get 2 beam brand (boxing glove that leaves the X mark), a beam shield, 2 small knives, 2 boot knives, a blunderbuss/buster gun, a beam cutlass/beam zamber (which can be combined with the blunderbuss to create the beam rifle), a peacock smasher and the muramasa blaster + beam effect parts.  Lots of accessories but despite this, the accessories are not really well detailed.  Lining can fix some of this, but mostly still quite dull looking.

Articulation / Pose ability
(Score: -1)
The Gundam itself is solid and has a wide range of pose ability.  But one you start slapping all the accessories on, it became a polar opposite.  The big armor cloth gets in the way of almost everything.  And all the big-@$$ weapons makes it a little bit worse.

The best you can do with this kit is for it to hold onto the weapon it has, stand there and look great.  Trying to put it into some other pose, not happening.  And having putting all the accessories on, it's a bit top heavy as well.  The joint on the legs are a bit weak causeing the legs to collapse when you start meddling with the kit.

To top that misery, all these oversized accessories falls of with the slightest of touch.  Once you try to move the arms holding the big weapons, BAM! the weapon fell off.  Adjusting the armor cloth to give way to some pose, BAM! the armor fell off.  Trying to move the kit around on your shelf, BAM! something will fall off.

Shelf presence

(Score: +1)
Despite all the complications, this kit does what it do best.  Look good.  Those big weapons, the different shade of white, the big armor cloth.  All these adds up to make this kit looks great.

Bonus
(Score: Neutral)
Everything you need is in this box.  I can't think of anything else you can do to make this kit even more complicated than it already is.

Summary and Rating
(Total Score: +3)
If you're looking for a complicated kit to build but not willing to spend the extra bucks for MG kits, this is the kit for you.  Not only it looks great, but it has tons of accessories to play with,

Gundam: Crossbone Gundam X1 Full Cloth Type GBFT
Code: XM-X1
Series: Gundam Build Fighters Try
Pilot: Lucas KanKaasryja
Weapons: Beam Saber, Beam Shield/Marker, Beam Zanber, Buster Gun, Heat Dagger, Muramasa Blaster, Peacock Smasher
Release: April 2015
Price: 2200 yen

Pundit: For those who wanted a more complicated HG kit but not willing to try the RG or MG kits.

Variants
You can pick up almost any HG kit and start building.

Dalong's Review

Up Next: MG 00 Raiser