Black and Stylish. Long pointy v-fin. Dual welding a pair of beam pistols. Long sleek wings. Grappling hooks. This Gundam could very well be Batman’s mobile suit. The Strike Noir will blend in nicely with the Batmobile, Batboat, and Batplane.
The build is very similar to the MG Strike/Rouge but different enough where you don’t feel nostalgic about having to build a similar model again. The two models only share the same parts in where it counts and that is having the same action base connector below the crotch and having the same slot for its striker packs; this is very good and practical because then you can have fun swapping striker packs if you have multiple Strike Gundams or want to use their base. Other than those two, the rest of the model seems pretty new and is actually better refined than the MG Strike’s structure because problems that I mentioned on the Strike Rouge (loose parts, no polycaps, flimsy joints, etc.) are not on the Strike Noir. Also unlike the MG Strike, the Strike Noir comes with multiple pairs of hands for holding its pistols and beam swords to ensure that they don’t fall off. Screws are included for each shoulder (and I don’t remember for anywhere else) to tighten things up so it doesn’t come loose for awhile (but I’m not fond of screw assemblies since they are sometimes a pain and you could screw up the parts… no pun intended). Another great thing is that this Gundam has very few foil sticker; just stickers for the eyes!
The completed model is gorgeous. It looks great just standing but the sharpness of its body gives it a “kinetic” feel to it like it MUST be in a dynamic pose. It’ll be a waste of its posing potentials if you just leave it standing. This model is a lot of fun to pose. It has great balance even in wide poses and its legs and feet will be able to keep it in position. This Gundam came with more guns than it can carry and store (5 beam rifles total) so most of the shots are shooting poses. It just looks so damn good no matter how you pull it off. The grappling cables work wonder if you want to imitate Batman since the way it clips onto the model, it can actually support its weight. I dare to say this model even pose better than the MG God Gundam.
The Strike Noir doesn’t come with its own action base… and after playing around with it, I don’t think it needs one. Why? I find its ground poses to be more striking than its aerial poses. Its Hi-MAT mode looks great and all but for some reason, I find it a bit more plain seeing it in the air but a lot more dynamic on the ground (the legs can really flex!).
Quirks? Problems of sort? I can’t say I have any for this kit. It exceeded my expectation. If I have to be picky, I’ll say it’s just a little (and I mean, A LITTLE) back-heavy from its wings and it takes some time to actually get the wings “symmetrical” (you know this is being VERY PICKY). You can push its joints to the limits, it’ll hold out.
SEED fan or not, this is one heck of a model. You can play with it for days without getting bored and without worries for its joints. No regrets buying this model… except for not building it sooner (sat on my shelf for over a year before it was built…)
My words cannot describe how great the MG Strike Noir poses
June 20, 2008 at 12:30 AM
WOW! I MUST BUY IT NOW
July 19, 2008 at 12:32 PM
I must say, I’m very impressed!
It wasn’t a kit I really took notice of before now, so thank you! Now I can blame you when I go poor! Lol
I also didn’t realise the kit has no white plastic at all! It’s all like a light grey colour isn’t it? Or does my computer colour need adjusting? =P
Good job anyway =]
July 19, 2008 at 7:23 PM
Yup, no white parts at all. This is probably one of the very few Gundams to not have any white parts. Just grey, black, and some red and yellow.
October 29, 2008 at 5:27 PM
Damn!! It looks awesome, sweet pics. I’m going to have to get this.
November 10, 2008 at 1:31 PM
I owned that MG too. But just like yours, I haven’t touch it for about 6 month. After reading your review, I don’t think I can’t hold myself now^^ Nice pics!
To the BatNoir!
January 4, 2009 at 9:00 PM
it would be cool to find baterangs that fit it
January 4, 2009 at 10:53 PM
making your own would be even more awesome ^_^
January 5, 2009 at 11:26 AM
wow, totally awesome Z,
i had one too and i haven’t touch it until now :)
anyway a question:
do you applied some topcoat layer to its?
i was thinking to do it on mine, perhaps i could use some tips, cause this is my first MG anyway :D
February 4, 2009 at 12:08 AM
did you need to paint anything on this fig?
February 28, 2009 at 1:39 AM
Will the MG Sword and Launcher Striker Packs fit on it?
February 28, 2009 at 7:13 PM
M, I didn’t need to paint anything.
yes, the sword and launcher packs will fit but probably not the shoulder pieces (easy fix- swap shoulder parts!)
March 2, 2009 at 3:34 AM
Just curious but did you topcoat the strike noir in the photoshoot?
March 2, 2009 at 10:51 AM
Nope. This was wayyy before I got into those fancy stuff ^^;
March 3, 2009 at 8:42 PM
Does the cockpit open up?
March 3, 2009 at 11:00 PM
yup
March 13, 2009 at 12:55 PM
awsome, really worthy of a MG title. However, they give you mulipule hands? Not hands with moveable fingers? I guess it can hold the beam rifles and swords better like that, but still…..most, if not all MG kits have moveable fingers…..-sigh-
oh well….
May 13, 2009 at 12:00 AM
I’m still saving my money for my first MG kit. I’m trying to decide between Noir, IWSP, and Force Impulse. Which do you think is best for a first time MG kit builder?
May 13, 2009 at 7:43 AM
definitely get the noir. hehe. its the best among the ones you’re choosing from IMO. LOL. >.<
May 13, 2009 at 4:55 PM
Boshi, what Ercjohn said ^^. The Force Impulse is pretty sexy too >_>
May 14, 2009 at 12:03 AM
ya boshi. i agree. the force impulse is a lot more menacing to look at than other force impulses. but get the noir first. its more unique and menacing to look at than force impulse. >.<
June 26, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Er, Z?
You mentioned above that “The two models only share the same parts in where it counts and that is having the same action base connector below the crotch and having the same slot for its striker packs”, but I just got a Strike Noir today and compared it to the Aile Strike I recently finished, and they share like at least 60% of their runners.
I haven’t built it yet of course, but upon close inspection, the arms and leg’s internal skeleton is exactly the same as the original Strike’s. Oh, and the Aile Strike actually came with polycaps, so I’m not sure I understand why your Strike Rouge didn’t have any.
This kit has 4 screws: 2 for the shoulder joints and 2 for the key joints on the Noir Striker (the Aile Strike has only 2 for the shoulders). The annoying thing about this is that there are no grooves for the screws to screw into – you literally need to dig into the plastic – and that’s pretty risky if you don’t know what you’re doing.
I don’t regret getting this kit, though. Even if the core Strike is almost exactly the same. The armaments and color scheme make for a badass mech. I’ll get to building this in the coming months.
June 26, 2009 at 1:36 PM
*tries to remember what he was thinking when he first built this kit…*
*reads his own review*
*puts this kit on the list of re-reviews*
Guess I wasn’t clear about some of the parts ^^;. What I meant about the polycaps was that the Rouge lacked polycaps in area where you would typical expect them there. Like the skirt armors and ankle plate. Those parts just flops on the Rouge/Strike. Can’t really remember much about the assembly…except I know I had a lot more fun building this than the Strike despite the similarities ^^;
June 26, 2009 at 9:56 PM
I see. So you wrote the review way after you finished the kit, then? If so, then perhaps your memories of building it weren’t as fresh, especially if you’re extremely busy with other stuff.
I admit I bought the Noir mostly based on your review, so I was a bit (just a bit) disappointed at the major similarities between the two Strikes. But don’t get me wrong – I like the kit, and I can’t wait to get started. I already got the decals for it. Gundam SEED Stargazer didn’t make much of an impact for me, so your review cast a whole new light on the Noir – I wouldn’t have considered getting this kit otherwise. And for that, I thank you ^_^
I must agree with the lack of polycaps on the skirt armors, though. Damn ball joint on the left front one of my Aile Strike is so loose it flops about. Maybe if I thicken it with a few layers of topcoat…?
July 15, 2009 at 7:28 PM
great review on the kit.
the first time the Noir was released, i just brushed it off as another Strike clone (even with all the additional gimmicks involved) after being disappointed with the quality of the Rouge. heck, even dalong’s review wasn’t enough to convince me to grab this kit.
but after reading your review, i was definitely convinced that the Noir was worth a shot…and the kit indeed did not disappoint. i’m still enjoying my time getting the kit to pose with its plethora of weaponry.
i’m thinking of getting another Noir and combining (most of) the Noir’s mech with the Rouge, then painting it with Rouge’s colors (or maybe even the Strike’s colors).
thanks z!
July 16, 2009 at 1:31 AM
Ckai, hehehe a rather late reply… Yea I wrote this review like six months after building Strike Noir (and so were the photos taken). Just glad you weren’t “WTF was Z talking about?” after picking up the Strike Noir and actually liked it xD.
Yo Ming, Yea… while the kit has a somewhat similar build, the model feels very different/better than the Strike models. hehe.. if you’re gonna paint the Strike Noir then wouldn’t it become… Strike Rouge? >_>
July 16, 2009 at 5:38 AM
Yo Ming, if you’re gonna get another Noir, may I suggest a MG Lucas’ Strike E + IWSP? The Strike model used is actually the Strike Noir, and it comes with the wicked cool IWSP and weapons galore, for about the same price (if not slightly cheaper) as the Noir. And it comes with all the cool hands as the Noir and I believe some more of those grapple wires.
I plan to get one and custom paint it blue & gold, with steel gray and gunmetal parts on the IWSP ^^
July 16, 2009 at 7:19 AM
@ckai
i think lucas strike e is a tad bit more expensive than strike noir… XD
July 16, 2009 at 8:42 AM
nope… both are 4500 yen each…
July 16, 2009 at 11:59 AM
The Strike E’s color scheme is horrible though >_>… but then again, if I have to choose a IWSP model then it would be the E. I still hate the original Strike model…
July 18, 2009 at 6:18 PM
OH you guys. I recently just brought Strike IWSP. Does that mean I can get this one now since the builds diff???!?!?!
No no no no no this isn’t your fault. I was gonna get this either way………………………… ;(
July 19, 2009 at 3:09 AM
@Z – yep, that’s definitely what i had in mind: converting the Noir into the Rouge since the former has a lot better frame than the latter.
@CKai – thanks for the suggestion. Unfortunately, i kinda find the ISWP at bit tad overkill when it comes to the weaponry. I usually prefer mechs with a sleek design and range of weapons.
July 19, 2009 at 5:10 AM
@yo_ming
ya the iwsp is an overkill…..and the strike e is more expensive than the noir……the strike e here costs 3000 while the noir costs only 2600….. XD
July 21, 2009 at 5:05 PM
@ercjohn – already got myself the Noir, and its definitely a sweet kit. btw, are you from the Philippines?
August 4, 2009 at 7:46 PM
which do you think is more cooler launcher\sword strike or
the strike noir??????
August 4, 2009 at 11:39 PM
The Strike Noir (as in the Gundam itself) is a better model than the Strike. More stable… and better looking. It’s up to you to decide on the packs.
August 13, 2009 at 4:44 AM
did you do some panel lining???
August 13, 2009 at 5:00 AM
muzta na!!! ayos ba?
October 4, 2009 at 5:09 PM
@lockheart : aside from the strike noir being better looking, the mech itself is a great improvement from the other Strike variations (maybe except for Lucas Strike). the quality and articulation of the mech was greatly improved.
October 4, 2009 at 5:14 PM
“The master of the Gun Katas is an adversary not to be taken lightly.”
That’s what I think of whenever I think to buy this kit haha
October 4, 2009 at 5:18 PM
@unknownXXX : dude, this is an international forum. better post in a language most familiar with the general population – english.