Hobby Talk: Model Kit Review, MG MSN-06S Sinanju Anime Version (Revised)

Kit Details
Gundam: Sinanju
Code: MSN-06S
Series: Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn
Pilot: Full Frontal
Faction: Neo Zeon
Weapons: Beam Saber, Beam Rifle, Beam Axe, Rocket Bazooka
Release: March 2013
Box: D4
Runner: 23
Parts: 477
Price: 7500 yen




Build / Difficulty
(Score: +2)
Good: Very interesting and challenging build.  Massive kit for build enjoyment.
Bad: Might be a bit difficult for first time ZEON kit builders.
Difficulty: Hard
Panel Line: Average.
Decals: Not too many, optional stickers and water slides.

Looks / Details
(Score: +2)
Good: Fantastic looking red beast.  Very well detailed.
Bad: Not sure if there's any on this good looking kit.

Accessories
(Score: +1)
You get: a bazooka, a beam rifle with grenade launcher, a huge shield, 2 beam saber and 2 beam axes.




Articulation / Pose ability
(Score: +1)
Good: Lots of mobility despite a bulky kit.  Tight joints improves pose-ability.
Bad: Solid during build, a bit flimsy when put together.  And the big backpack makes it back heavy.  Weapons and shield are over-sized so can be a challenge to pose.
Ugly: Parts randomly falls off.  Waist connection is too weak for a huge kit like this.




Shelf presence
(Score: +2)
Good: Big red machine.  Shaquille O'Neal to other MG kits.  Details are amazing.
Bad: Can be a challenge to pose. 

Bonus
(Score: Neutral)
None

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

Looks absolutely stunning, fun and challenging to build, really big in size and it's bright red.

Variants
Two other variants of the Sinanju to choose from.
1) Sinanju ver Ka (2008) - exactly same as this one but with lots more decals.
2) Sinanju Stein (2013) - a white gundam-ish looking Sinanju.

Dalong's Review
Dalong's Score: 112

Hobby Talk: Model Kit Review, MG MS-06F Zaku II ver 2.0 (Revised)

Kit Details
Gundam: Zaku II F
Code: MS-06F
Series: Mobile Suit Gundam
Faction: Neo Zeon
Weapons: Zaku Machine Gun, Zaku Bazooka, Heat Hawk
Release: March 2008
Box: A2
Runner: 13
Parts: 300
Price: 3500 yen




Build / Difficulty
(Score: Neutral)
Good: Relatively easy and straightforward build.
Bad: The pipes are a nightmare and will kill your fingers.
Difficulty: Easy
Panel Line: Average.
Decals: Not too many, dry transfers and stickers.

Looks / Details
(Score: +1)
Good: Fantastic looking.  Simplistic design.
Bad: Almost too plain.




Accessories
(Score: Neutral)
You get: a quite plain looking machine gun, a bazooka and a heat hawk




Articulation / Pose ability
(Score: +1)
Good: A bit fat but very pose-able.
Bad: Ankle feels weak making the feet not planted to the ground.  Waist joint is weak connecting the chest unit and the nuclear reactor is terribly lose.




Shelf presence
(Score: +1)
Good: Very recognizable Gundam icon.
Bad: Not really a tall kit so can get lost in sea of UC giants.

Bonus
(Score: +2)
Bonus 1: Comes in lots of variants and colors.




Bonus 2: Lots of modding possibilities



Summary and Rating
(Total Score: +5)
X Avoid
X Consider
O Shortlist
X Buy

Whether you're a ZEON fan or not, you should consider adding a Zaku or 2 to your collection.  And a very good base kit for modders.

Variants
There are too many variants for the Zaku.  Just listing out a few.
1) Zaku II 2.0 S Mats (2008) - white variant
2) Zaku II 2.0 J Ridden (2008) - red variant
3) Zaku Cannon (2008) - tan variant
4) Zaku II 2.0 J (2008) - different design + rockets
5) Zaku II Minelayer (2008) - with mine laying accessories
6) Zaku II 2.0 Black (2008) - you know it, black variant
7) Zaku II 2.0 Char (2007) - Char's pink
8) Gegloog 2.0 (2008) - plus other variants
9) Hi Zack (2004)
10) Rickdom (2003)
11) Gouf + variants (2000)
12) Marasai (2012)
13) Geara Dooga (2013)

And.... many more.

Dalong's Review
Dalong's Score: 108

Hobby Talk: Model Kit Review, MG MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki ver 2.0 (Revised)

Kit Details
Gundam: Hyaku Shiki
Code: MSN-00100
Series: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam, Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ
Pilot: Quattro Bajeena
Faction: Anti Earth Union Group
Weapons: Beam Saber, BR-M-87 Beam Rifle, AE/ZIM.C-BAZ-531300mm Clay Bazooka
Release: May 2015
Box: D0
Runner: 14
Parts: 342
Price: 6800 yen




Build / Difficulty
(Score: +1)
Good: A very detailed but quite easy build.  Gold parts are under-gated and awesome.
Bad: Gold parts are hard to manage.  Panel line mistake on the gold parts are deadly.  Really bad nub marks on the blue chest unit.
Difficulty: Easy
Panel Line: Average.
Decals: Not too many, dry transfers and stickers.

Looks / Details
(Score: +2)
Good: Gold!  The glorious gold!  And good looking red/silver on black for the exposed parts.
Bad: Non gold parts have bad nubs.  Stickers looked awful on gold.




Accessories
(Score: Neutral)
You get: a rather plain looking beam rifle, clay bazooka and 2 light sabers.





Articulation / Pose ability
(Score: +1)
Good: Kit has wide range of movement.
Bad: Most joints are tight.  But waist and shoulders are a bit too loose. A bit of top heavy.




Shelf presence
(Score: +2)
Good: Gold!


Bonus
(Score: Neutral)
Bonus 1: Ballute system... meh, not worth it.





Summary and Rating
(Total Score: +6)
X Avoid
O Consider
X Shortlist
X Buy

A superb looking kit but requires a lot of attention on the gold parts.  A really expensive kit and can seriously be considered if budget allows.

Variants
Get the 1.0 if you prefer the chrome gold finish.

Dalong's Review
Dalong's Score: 103

Hobby Talk: Model Kit Review, MG XXXG-01Wfr Wing Gundam Fenice Rinascita (Revised)

Kit Details
Gundam: Wing Gundam Fenice Rinascita
Code: XXXG-01Wfr
Series: Gundam Build Fighters
Pilot: Ricardo Fellini
Weapons: Beam Mantle, Beam Saber, Buster Rifle, Handgun
Release: June 2015
Box: D1
Runner: 20
Parts: 462
Price: 4800 yen




Build / Difficulty
(Score: -1)
Good: Colors and effect parts.
Bad: Complicated build due to transformation.  Really bad nubs on green armor.
Difficulty: A bit difficult.
Panel Line: Average.
Decals: Little less, dry transfers and stickers.

Looks / Details
(Score: +1)
Good: Looks amazing.  Color scheme is great.  Wings are hefty and large.  Effect parts look great.
Bad: Nub marks are quite visible on the green armor.



Accessories
(Score: +1)
You get: a buster rifle, an uzi type handgun, a beam sword which can be combined into a super big beam cannon and a huge rinascita wing shield.  Also pink curtain effect part and an action base.





Articulation / Pose ability
(Score: -1)
Good: Kit itself has wide range of movement.
Bad: Pose-ability limited by effect parts, big weapons and shield.
Ugly: Parts likes to fall off.  Weak joints due to transformation and very back heavy.




Shelf presence
(Score: +1)
Good: Unique colors, way oversize weapons and shield, big wings, effect parts
Bad: Wing fans might be confused if they didn't watch Build Fighters.




Bonus
(Score: +2)
Bonus 1: A quite good looking transformation.





Summary and Rating
(Total Score: +2)
X Avoid
O Consider
X Shortlist
X Buy

A recycled kit from 2004 with all the troubles from the older kit.  Nub marks are horrible but it is really good looking kit.  Should consider this if you're a Build Fighters fan.


Variants
This kit is actually a derivative from the original Wing.
1) Wing 0 Custom (2004) - For the wings...
2) Wing Ver Ka (2004) - Katoki's version of Wing EW
3) Wing Gundam EW (2010) - The other variant of the Wing
4) Wing Proto Zero (2011) - From the movie

Dalong's Review
Dalong's Score: 99

Hobby Talk: Model Kit Review, MG GAT-X105 Aile Strike Gundam ver RM (Revised)

Kit Details
Gundam: Aile Strike Gundam
Code: GAT-X105, AQM/E-X01
Series: Mobile Suit Gundam Seed
Pilot: Kira Yamato, Mu La Flaga
Faction: Earth Alliance
Weapons: Beam Saber, Armor Schneider, 57mm High Energy Beam Rifle
Release: May 2013
Box: D0
Runner: 15
Parts: 370
Price: 4200 yen




Build / Difficulty
(Score: Neutral)
Good: Straightforward build.  Not much complications.
Bad: Quite a bit of detailing is needed.
Difficulty: Easy
Panel Line: Average.
Decals: Lots, dry transfers and stickers.

Looks / Details
(Score: +1)
Good: Clean and simple looks.
Bad: Not much complications.





Accessories
(Score: Neutral)
You get: a beam rifle, a shield, 2 armor schneider, 2 beam saber and an aile striker pack + battery pack.  And a super huge action base.




Articulation / Pose ability
(Score: +2)
Good: Super pose-able.  Great inner frame.  Solid as rock.  No weight issue.
Bad: Aile striker pack is flimsy.




Shelf presence
(Score: Neutral)
Good: Recognizable icon of Gundam Seed.
Bad: Too plain looking and doesn't stand out.  But there's a way to fix that.



Bonus
(Score: +2)
Bonus 1: Perfect Strike




Bonus 2: Universal Booster

Summary and Rating
(Total Score: +5)
X Avoid
X Consider
O Shortlist
X Buy

Shortlist this as your next build.  A gunpla builder must build a strike in his/her building career.



Variants
There's too many strike variants available.  A few newer and more popular ones listed.
1) Build Strike Gundam + Universal Booster (2014) - From Gundam Build fighters and are based on the remastered frame.  I've built the HG version and the MG is definitely worth to get.
2) Astray Blue Frame D (2014) - Blue framed variant, color and armor variation + lots of toys.
3) Sengoku Astray (2014) - Red framed samurai variant of strike.
4) Strike Rouge + Ootori (2013) - Cagalli's pink strike with lots of add ons + toys.  Bug fixes in the striker pack.  Kind of version 1.8 of this kit.
5) Buster, Blitz and Duel (2012) - The other 3 bad guys from the original Gundam Seed.  Based on the 1.0 strike frame.
6) Astray Blue Frame 2nd, Red frame (2009/2010) - Original 2 astray based on the 1.0 frame.
7) Sword/Launcher Strike (2008) - Expansion pack for the perfect strike.
8) Many many more...

Dalong's Review
Dalong's Score: 105

Hobby Talk: Model Kit Review, MG RX-93 Nu Gundam ver Ka (Revised)

Kit Details
Gundam: Nu Gundam
Code: RX-93
Series: Mobile Suit Gundam Char's Counterattack
Pilot: Amuro Ray
Faction: Londo Bell
Weapons: Beam Saber, Large Beam Saber, Beam Rifle, Hyper Bazooka, Fin Funnels
Release: December 2012
Box: D1
Runner: 25
Parts: 592
Price: 7000 yen

Build / Difficulty
(Score: +2)
Good: Complicated but awesome build.  And psycho frame!
Bad: Some color separations are done using stickers.  Funnels are repetitive.
Difficulty: Difficult.
Panel Line: Average.
Decals: Lots, water slide.

Looks / Details
(Score: +2)
Good: Big and awesome looking.  Psycho frame not too overpowering.  Best looking kit ever.
Bad: LED unit is hard to access and not that bright.  And it's optional extra.

Accessories
(Score: +1)
You get: a beam rifle, a hyper bazooka, a shield, 2 beam sabers and 6 fin funnels.





Articulation / Pose ability
(Score: Neutral)
Good: Very pose-able kit.  Great inner frame allows for lots of poses.
Bad: Not very solid.  Parts always falls down.  Fin funnels likes to fly away.




Shelf presence
(Score: +2)
Good: Big and awesome looking.  Lots of pose-ability.  Fin funnels offer lots of awesome poses as well.
Bad: Needs a lot of shelf space.



Bonus
(Score: +3)
Bonus 1: Triple fin funnels add-on pack and effect parts.



Bonus 2: Black light
Bonus 3: LED conversion



Summary and Rating
(Total Score: +5)
X Avoid
X Consider
X Shortlist
O Buy

Must have.  Best MG kit ever.  A bit hard to pose but it will guarantee to look good after all that effort.

Variants
Few variants of this kit that you can also consider.
1) Gundam Mark II ver 2.0 (2005) - Roughly the same frame, and have lots of play-ability.
2) Nu Gundam (2000) - Original version.  Not recommended since the ver ka is so much more awesome.
3) Hi Nu Gundam ver Ka (2014) - Amuro's other MS.  Less awesome compared to this one.

Dalong's Review
Dalong's Score: 120

Hobby Talk: Model Kit Review, MG RB-79 Mobile Pod Ball ver Ka (Revised)

Kit Details
Gundam: Mobile Pod Ball
Code: RB-79
Series: Mobile Suit Gundam
Faction: Earth Federation
Weapons: 180mm Recoilless Cannon
Release: December 2004
Box: A0
Runner: 6
Parts: 148
Price: 2000 yen

Build / Difficulty
(Score: +1)
Good: Build is relatively easy and panel lining is mandatory.
Bad: The wires on the arms can be quite tricky and some fragile parts.
Difficulty: Easy.
Panel Line: Average.  But is a must.
Decals: Lots, dry transfer and stickers.

Looks / Details
(Score: +2)
Good: Very good details, if you panel line and do the decals.
Bad: Looks horrible without pen and patches.

Accessories
(Score: Neutral)
You get: a head mounted cannon.



Articulation / Pose ability
(Score: Neutral)
Good: Sit there and look good.  Arms can grab things.
Bad: Without the base, this thing just rolls around.




Shelf presence
(Score: +1)
Good: Unique looking.
Bad: Don't have many pose.


Bonus
(Score: Neutral)
None

Summary and Rating
(Total Score: +5)
X Avoid
X Consider
X Shortlist
O Buy

Must have.  It's cheap, doesn't need a lot of effort to build and it looks awesome.  Triple kill!

Variants
Few variants of this kit that you can also consider.
1) Ball 08 (2005) - Color variant and different head mounted weapon.
2) Ball Shark Mouth (2006) - You guessed it, with shark mouth stickers.

Dalong's Review
Dalong's Score: 100