ガンプラ命- Z's Gundam Model Review

I love Super Robots… or just any mecha that uses attacks instead of weapons to fight. It’s just so much more awesome that way. I don’t know when I first watched G Gundam (it was not on TV) but I remember how much I loved the SR-style “Shining Finger” attack :D. It was only natural that I pick up this MG since it is one of the cheapest in its line up (around $20-25) while also offering a lot of play value during its time of release (2002).

OUT OF THE BOX

14 total runners (10 runners of actual assembly), manual, two bags of screws, gem for chest, uneven beam saber parts, spare rubber V-fin (Sweet!), rubber hands, SHINING FINGAAA, Domon Kasshu, and your usual set of clear stickers, foil stickers and decals… oh wait, there is no decals in this model!

ARM/SHOULDER UNIT

This is totally your preference… I decided I didn’t like the yellow (even though it is a lot better than crap-gold) so I painted it with my Gold Gundam marker. It is more color accurate this way as well. If you decide to forgo the painting, then this entire model is pretty much a breeze.

There aren’t many parts to the arms but they still require special attention in some areas; some of the parts require you insert it in a certain alignment then turn it 180 degrees so it is secured in.

FOOT/LEG UNIT

The majority of the screws are for the legs and thanks to them, the joints are able to stay snug and tight. Compared to the MGs we currently have now, the whole assembly process isn’t as bad as it looks and actually felt a bit simple ^^;. The black stripes on the ankle armor are painted in with a black Gundam marker because the foil sticker included isn’t cut to the right length.

WAIST UNIT

Painted the black stripes on the front skirt armor. I’m sure you can tell how to assemble it just by looking at the parts. What is different about this waist is that the body has to be built right on top of it instead of the usual “separate assembly then join together”.

BODY UNIT

I did not expect the body to be so simple and to be of so few parts. The top half is hollow and that will become troublesome later on- the chest piece tends to collapse inward when you apply pressure on it, making posing difficult when you have to hold onto the body. The purpose of it being able to collapse is that so you can pose it with its arms crossed…

CORE LANDER

The single most color-inaccurate part of this entire model- the yellow thrusters. The thing is supposed to be white… why the heck did they mold it in yellow? It’s not like this model doesn’t have any white runners… -_-. Anyway, I painted the thrusters gold also since I intend to leave Shining in its Super Mode at the end.

BEAM SABERS

One hilt is longer than the other.

HEAD UNIT

Some might not like that you have to swap parts to “open” its face but I personally prefer it like this since with part swapping, you’re pretty much guaranteed that the form stays solid or become loose… and seriously now, once you open that face I don’t think you would want to change it back anyway =P.

SHINING FINGER

GOLD PAINT SUGGESTION

This is the Gold Gundam Marker that I used. If you do intend to paint it gold, I highly suggest that you use real paint instead of this marker. While this marker does give off a nicer color than most, it is VERY easy to rub off (even after sealing it with top coat). Any sort of grinding or rubbing, light or hard, will get the paint off. This is most severe for the inner shoulder parts and forearm thrusters since they will be rubbed against the side of the body and arms respectively during play.

COMPLETED MODEL

Since this model doesn’t come with any decals (the manual doesn’t even have a marking map to show you where to place the clear stickers), you are free to do whatever you want with the clear stickers. Thought I’d add a few to not make this MG look so plain since it doesn’t really have any panel lines either.

In its regular form, Shining Gundam looks rather… stocky. And a bit round. However, this model feels very solid and has a very confident stance thanks to all those screws in its legs.

Closer look at the details and stuff. You can kinda tell its head has a really thick faceplate xD. As you can see, it really needs a few more panel lines here and there… it is almost kinda hard to tell that this is actually a MG o_o.

ACTION POSES! READY! GOOOOO!!!

”出る！シャニングガンダム！！！” *Snaps finger*

*Cues 燃え上がれ闘志 忌まわしき宿命を越えて*

“Mobile Trace System- Checking brainwaves, blood pressure, pulse, respiration, temperature, metabolism. All green.”

“HA! HU! AH!”

/failed attempt at replicating stock footage Gundam power-up scene.

Articulations on the arms are pretty good with a wide range of motion but the screws made them really stiff and hard to work with.  I suggest to not tighten them all the way or try to loosen it a bit to make the joints roll more smoothly.

The waist can barely turn thanks to the side and rear skirts obstructing it.

The legs are also well-articulated but since the thigh/hip is rather basic (no twist joints), range of motion is limited somewhat. The front skirts also serve to limit the range the knees can go up… preventing a proper Gundam Kick D:

Yea… this is as good of a Kick as I can get out of it.

Shining is not that tall.

BEAM SWORD

G.GUNDAM!

One set of hands specifically for holding the beam sabers swords.

The beam is actually hard unlike your typical UC beam effect parts.

Not easy changing pose with the oh-so-stiff arm joints…

SHINING SLASH TYPHOOON!!!… or whatever he names his beam sword attack…

FACE

Yea you can see the topcoat rubbing off… Good thing that I can brush most of it off with a dry paintbrush and I wouldn’t noticed the scruffs.

”俺のこの手が光って唸る！お前を倒せと輝き叫ぶ！砕け！必殺！！！”

シャニングフィンガー！！！

This is where the model SHINES!

That hand really does glow in the light… it would’ve been even more awesome if it also glows in the dark!

Then you realize the problem that there is nothing to grab…

Who would’ve thought something like an open palm could make such an awesome attack?

SUPER MODE

Pull out the shoulders, forearm thrusters, open up the leg thrusters, and raise the yellow things on its head and viola! スーパーモード！！！

For some reason, Shining Gundam’s proportions become a lot more appealing in this form! I don’t know how or why… it just looks better. Like it doesn’t look stocky but instead, it looks more muscular.

This form has its not-so-super side though; there is nothing holding up the white shoulder parts so they could just slide down with ease. Same goes for the leg thruster covers. I imagine this might become a problem in the long run when the parts might become loose.

The shoulders on my SD Shining Gundam can’t be lifted up anymore… it’ll simply just drop right back down. MG Shining’s hands can be used by SD Shining Gundam.

More SHINING FINGER! SUPER MODE STYLE!

I see absolutely no reason to change him back to the regular form >_>

PROS

- It looks great; the design does the Gundam justice

- Very solid joints… maybe too solid. Very sturdy construction… can probably take a fall or two without problems.

- I’m sure it has one of the best articulation of its time.

- Spare V-fin… when was the last time you get a spare V-fin with your model?

- not expensive at all; definitely of the cheapest MG you can buy.

- SHINING FINGER!

CONS

- Nothing to lock Super Mode in place

- Chest caving in can get annoying

- articulation probably won’t please today’s generation of Gundam modelers =P

- Might look a bit plain to some… this is purely subjective.

- Could probably use more sets of hands to make up for the lack of weapons or a movable set of hands.

- Nub marks are bigger than usual and are in very apparent spots.

VERDICT

Despite its age, the MG Shining Gundam has a very solid construction and can just barely able to faithfully reproduce most action poses in the anime. This is also one of the least expensive Master Grade models you can pick up so there is not much to really complain about. Granted the Gundam itself doesn’t have much in terms of accessories, but at least you have a full frame and SHINING FINGAAA! Not to mention even if regular mode looks a bit funny, Super Mode does more than make up for it! If you like the Shining Gundam, I don’t see how you can regret picking it up.

OTHERS’ REVIEW:

FigurativelyGunpla

Random Stuff from the East

“GUNDAM FIGHT! STANDBY!” “READY!!! GOOOOO!!!”

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“You’re going down! Domon! DOMON CASHEW!”

“Just shut up and fight!”

*beams clash*

“Destiny is on my side today!”

“CHANCE!”

“IT’S OVERRRRRRRR!!!”

“HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!”

”明鏡止水！” “OH $#!T!”

“I can see everything, including your attack patterns!… though I still can’t see why kids love cinnamon toast crunch!”

“SHINING CHOP!” “UWAHHH!”

“Oh yea?! I still have THIS!”

“So it has come down to that…”

“THIS HAND OF MINE IS BURNING RED! MY ANGSTY RAGE IS TELLING ME TO DEFEAT YOU!”

“俺のこの手が光って唸る！お前を倒せと輝き叫ぶ!”

“HERE I GO!!!”

”必殺！！！”

“SHINN-ING FINGAAAA!!!”

“シャニングフィンガァァァァァ！！！”

>:O                                  O:<

“OH MY GOD!!!”

“O_O!” “Article 1 of the Neo Gundam Fight International Regulations!”

“The winner must completely destroy the opponent in order to advance!”

“I ain’t takin’ nuttin’ from j00!”

“SHINING FINGER!!!” “No fair!”

“IT’S OVER FOR YOU!!!”

“The imitator can never beat the original…”

“NOT YET!” “So you still got some fight left in you… well then…”

“SSJ MODE!!!”

“HENSHIN!”

*breathes deeply*

“I don’t care if the scanner says your power level is OVER 9000!!! Take this!”

“SHINING PAUNCH!”

“GEMU GIRU GAN GO GUFOU!!!”

“SHINING FINGER SWORD!”

“RISE!!!”

“TAKE THIS!”

“MY LOVE! MY ANGER! AND ALL OF MY SORROW!”

“UWAHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

“!”