This MG is from Gundam Sentinel, a Zeta Gundam side story featuring transformable prototypes of all sorts. This Gundam is HUGE! Like… bigger than the MG Sazabi and Nu Gundam.
Out of the Box
There’s a total of 31 frame runners in the package, 31 screws (!), and a 30 page instruction manual. It will leave your workspace covered in a sea of plastic parts. The plastic for the most part are very good quality and doesn’t feel cheap… even the blue looks very solid despite most of its pieces have large surface area. The one part I did not like was the yellow parts on the head which includes the cheek piece and v-fins; they look utter cheap so I painted them a more solid yellow. I skipped the foil stickers for the most part and kept the wings a solid white with panel lines… I must say, I’m quite happy I did that.
Construction
This kit is no way simple O_O. Most of the parts have certain steps to follow and be built in a certain order. Slipping screws here and there aren’t so bad for this model since the bits drop right into the hole for the most part. Cutting the pieces out and filing them clean took a lot more time than putting them together. There’s just so many pieces to one little part! The legs and torso were probably the most complicated and time consuming parts of the model while the rest like the arms and backpack were slightly more straightforward after cutting them off and cleaning it… but even that takes some time. Overall, this model took me the longest to build; I spent roughly over a week on this project. Its beam smart gun also has a lot of pieces. Usually, rifles and cannons are just a couple of pieces clamped together but the Ex-S has a few layers on top of each other to assemble the impressive cannon. If I knew the color of the scope beforehand, I would’ve painted the inside green before inserting the clear piece >_<. Some odd things are how some parts REQUIRES you to use a screw to hold it otherwise it falls off (ex: rear side skirts). There are some leftover parts to complete another core fighter that you can display with the Ex-S on its base.
The one thing that’s not excessive about the Ex-S is….the markings. Decal placements and warning marks are very subtle for this model so I made use of the remaining decals and just slap them on wherever that makes sense or looks good.
Completed Model
Wow… After panel lining and putting on the decals, I was very impressed with the final assembly. It’s so ginormous in every dimension! It’s so… EX-Ssive xD. The average MG will be around 2/3 of its height and width. During construction, I was able to make the model stand but after adding everything on, it will simply topple backwards from its Ex-Ssive weight. Even if I could make it stand, the body will have to lean drastically forward to counterbalance the weight of its backpack… and the model would just look funny.
This model…for what it is and how big it is… CAN pose! The waist has no articulation but the limbs have enough where one can actually do some decent action poses with the beam sabers or the beam smart gun (cannon?). This much is already more impressive than the MG Sazabi and the MG Full Armor Double Zeta Gundam. Maybe it’s because it’s on a display stand?… Speaking of the display stand. I love it. When I saw it in pictures, I thought it would be in solid black plastic like that of the MG Zeta 2.0 but it’s actually slightly transparent.
Knowing my luck with previous transforming Gundam models, I didn’t attempt the transformation on this model so that’s why there are no pictures ^_^. I was afraid I might break something during the transformation and back. But the Ex-S Gundam in MS form is already impressive enough, I can care less to see it as a funky ship >_>. But if you are curious, here’s Dalong’s G-Cruiser.
This model is so big that it’ll be sure to catch someone’s attention almost immediately if they were looking at your collection. It’s a magnificent kit that consumes a lot of your time, patience, and energy but definitely worth the effort. For those of you who already have it but left it aside because you saw how complicated the manual was… GET STARTED ON IT! but only focus your view entirely on the pieces you cut out though… Do not look at the sea of runners since it’ll be the fastest way to demotivate yourself to build the kit xD
Some notes:
-Painted the yellow parts for the head
- Screw the foil stickers, the parts look better without it.
- Painted tail binder “windows” and chest pieces green
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July 16, 2008 at 11:10 PM
hi,great job! I have always been wanting to build a ‘clean look’ gundam and i am really impressed on your models.How do you totally remove the ‘nubs’ after cutting it from the runner? Cus i really couldnt spot any of them on your gundam.
July 17, 2008 at 4:06 AM
Great, wait a minute, ah! that sucks. Now I had to do a 3D of this thing all over again, which is a big pain in the ass… well, if you wanna look the older version of the 3d i’ve done, go here http://kypmbangi.deviantart.com/art/Ex-S-Gundam-MSA-011-Ext-38360519
July 17, 2008 at 7:17 AM
it’s not only a pain building a EX-S, it’s a pain to transform it as well. >.<
July 17, 2008 at 6:21 PM
adrian- thanks for the compliments! “clean looking” models have always been my goal since I don’t paint them ^_^. For the nubs… you should either get a really sharp cutter or you just have to file/sand them down
Jutlanders- Do it! the one in your link looks great! I would love to see another one :)
Gordon- After looking over countless times on Dalong’s and the manual, I figured it probably isn’t so bad… but I still wouldn’t take the risk xD
July 19, 2008 at 4:48 AM
Hey, i post on gamefaqs, do you know who lol. Nice work, i’m really impressed on how clean you get your model, considering you don’t paint!! That was actually one of the main reasons i started painting, was to hide some of the sanding marks and such, but i’ve got to know how you do it if you don’t paint…
July 21, 2008 at 1:34 PM
haha hey there reddevils86. How I do it? The same way you probably do it before painting xD Great job on your Destiny btw.
July 23, 2008 at 2:21 PM
XD thanks glad to have finish Destiny now, i can’t wait to start Impulse once i get it :) keep up the good work. I think i won’t paint Impulse, it can quite expensive -.- i guess more attention and carefulness when getting that nasty sprue nub down.
December 17, 2008 at 10:53 AM
It’s a shame this kit cannot convert back to the normal S gundam…
December 17, 2008 at 2:30 PM
Not a shame at all ^^;
January 20, 2009 at 10:54 AM
Why can’t it convert back to S-Gundam? I’m thinking of getting this kit soon.
January 20, 2009 at 12:23 PM
I don’t remember exactly but I think it lacked some bits here and there? You technically can but just a little incomplete I guess? ^^
March 29, 2009 at 4:05 PM
what I want to know is why they didn’t make die cast parts for this in the legs. they did it for Nu but this one definitely needs it more. i’m kind of bored of having mine on the stand all the time.
May 4, 2009 at 1:15 AM
[...] 4. MG MSA-011 [EXT] Ex-S Gundam [...]
June 15, 2009 at 2:21 AM
woa… i always ampressed with other’s job, but myself never ‘treat’ mine as great as yours. i want this kit!!! so hard to find it in my place. if they do have it, it is only for display. hey z, can i ask u someting? what is ‘fudoushin’ means?
June 15, 2009 at 6:52 PM
不動心 = “Unmoving Heart”
June 20, 2009 at 7:09 AM
Hi Z! =)
Just dropping by to share me overwhelmed JOY & Excitement that I’m feeling right now!!! I… just… can’t control it… anymore!!!!
I just Got myself an MG Ex-S TODAY!!! WEEEEE!!!… Hahahaha!!!! Weeeee!!! (Going psycho…) -_-”
Remember I said sometime ago that if I had not bought myself the MG Sinanju, I could have gotten myself an MG Ex-S for just a little bit more of money… now I got both… -_-” It’s always like that… wanted to choose between the MG Nu & the MG Hi-Nu… ended up with both as well… -_-” Guess I’m really is hopeless when it comes to Gunpla… -_-”
Haha, you’ve even got the GFFs for the Ex-S as well, guess we somewhat the same then? =)
Qn: How do you make the “smoke” grey painting/effect inside the Ex-S Incom (img_38231)? I remember reading about it somewhere in your reply to others, but I just can’t remember where… ^_^ (Sorry…)
June 20, 2009 at 7:47 AM
My BAD…
After much digging & searching… I’ve found the answer to my Qn above… Hehe.. I was just simply too excited to wait for your reply… ^^;
Answer: Use panel line marker and toothpicks with rubbing alcohol to clean it up (Correct?) =)
Many Thanks Z!
June 20, 2009 at 7:02 PM
Yep ^^
July 3, 2009 at 10:36 PM
Hey Z!
You did amazing work with the Ex-S Gundam, looks very good ^^
I was looking for some images references of this gundam, because I’m planning to do it in 3d. Your review of MG Ex-s/GFF Ex-S,will make it much easier my life in the modeling process, thanks a lot :D
also i was looking at dalong.net for some references of the manual but the Ex-s scans are low quality :(.
I need the pages 3 and 33, where the Ex-s is showing in Front/side/back view.
I was wondering if you could give me a hand scanning these pages and share them with me.
(100dpi or 150dpi good quality will be perfect).
I will be grateful if you could help me
Thanks in advance
ShaTT
July 4, 2009 at 1:05 PM
Okay I’ll scan them tomorrow. Not home today. Wanna drop me your email addy so I can just send them straight to you?