ガンプラ命- Z's Gundam Model Review

Badass boxart is badass. This is one of the few times, if not the only times, where I see a “protagonist” Gundam looking so menacing (heck, or any Gundam for that matter).

I did decided I wasn’t going to pick this model up but I’m a sucker for swords… and so I bought this Gundam on an impulse *cough* ^^;. What can I say? The Sword Impulse is my favorite of the three.

The Stuff

While there are 25 individual runners for this model, half of them are small and for dedicated parts so it is not as much as it seems.

Being that this is just Impulse with a different silhouette, the only new runners different from the MG Force Impulse is of course… the Sword Silhouette and the newly modified Excaliburs.

The Works

For WISP on the Impulse Gundam itself, you can check it out in the MG Force Impulse Review. No point in taking the same pics twice ^^;

Sword Silhouette

Since the Sword’s backpack doesn’t look as “big” as the Force silhouette, you would think it is simpler or has less parts. The Sword Silhouette actually has its own complexity in the way it slides into shape from the flyer to Impulse’s back. The silhouette is made up of many little parts and top coating it was hard because it has so many sides and barely any space to hold onto. The same can be said about the boomerang.

Excalibur

As you can see, the new Excaliburs from the Sword Impulse is actually different from Force Impulse’s (despite coming from the same silhouette… supposedly). The handles are modified to be thinner so the hands can hold onto the outside. Sword’s Excaliburs can slide in and has a different hilt that allows it to slide into its silhouette.

Impulse Gundam

You just gotta love its color scheme. Very attractive. Red/White/Black works really well for Impulse and the matte top coat finished up the look perfectly. The proportions are one of my favorite parts about this model; the Impulse looks sleek, sharp, and just way out of the anime-look compared to other MGs. Yea, I know the blue core splendor is an eyesore but it’s anime-accurate! I couldn’t repaint it because I already had it topcoated/finished and didn’t have the right paint ^^;. It’s really not so bad though since you can only see it at a certain angle with the sword silhouette on.

Force Impulse Gundam

Don’t you agree that the Force Silhouette looks oh so much better with this color scheme?

Sword Impulse Gundam

*cue Sword Impulse’s Final Fusion*

Shield and beam rifle is actually borrowed from Force Impulse. Couldn’t care less about guns when I have big swords ^^;

Even with the swords on the silhouette, this model is not backheavy at all. Impulse is very balanced (and very light) from top to bottom. If it does tilt back, then its swords will save it from crashing flat. Oh, gotta love the blue painted camera sensor!

For some odd reason, the Force Impulse’s color scheme just doesn’t look right with the Sword Silhouette on…

So back to the Sword Impulse where it belongs…

*prefers swords over guns*

Enough with the beam rifle. You deserve to be cleaved if you buy a SWORD Impulse and pose it with its beam rifle >_>

J-Quath? Can Shinn actually use the boomerangs like this? (the manual and box shows it does >_>)

Since the boomerangs were oh so light and thin, the Impulse can actually hold it pretty well. The pink looked really out of place on the beam effect parts so I painted clear red.

EXCALIBUR!!!

THIS is what the Sword Impulse Gundam is all about!

Yes, the excaliburs are a bit on the heavy side. Sometimes a bit too heavy for some more extravagant poses but I think Impulse’s arms can hold its own for the most part. I’m actually quite impressed with how much wear the joints endured for the photoshoot. At the end, the shoulders and wrists were giving out a bit but was able to maintain some decent stances with the Excalibur.

Since the Excaliburs are longer/taller than the Gundam itself, it poses unsurprisingly better in the air since it has more room to wield it around :)

We all know this scene right?

GATTAI~!

With the Excaliburs combined, it actually makes it easier for Impulse to hold it ^^. With the thinner handle, Impulse was able to hold onto both the inside and outside so both of its hands can support the combined Excaliburs. The plug on its hand was kinda useless though…

However… trying to take a nice photo of the full length was rather irritating…

… like not being able to decide which shot at which angle was the best ^^;

Ultimate Sword Impulse Gundam

This is how Sword Impulse really should’ve been! :D

Yea yea… it’s almost highly impractical but who cares about that when you have the awesome factor?

Summary

Well… like the MG Force Impulse before it, the Sword Impulse has impressive articulation. sturdy joints and balance makes this a great model to play around with. Despite its size, the pair of Excaliburs can actually be utilized by the Gundam and thus, adding to the fun factor. Complaints? I do have some… the waist is easy to pop off but just as easy to pop back in. Just annoying while I was doing the photoshoot. The shoulders are actually a bit weak and loose but nothing too hindering. Lastly, the pegs on the hands… they’re almost useless as I see that they don’t really stick onto neither the beam rifle slot nor the Excalibur. All of these are minor issues though and can be easily ignored. This is still one of the best (and favorite) Gunpla I’ve built.

OTHERS’ REVIEW:

Gaijin Gunpla

Random Stuff from the East

It’s a Gundaaaam!
…

STRIKE VS IMPULSE

IT’S ON NOW!!!

“Why must we fight each other?! ToT”

“Because it’s all your fault!! >:(“

OPEN GET!!!

“*insert how-fighting-is-meaningless-emo-babble here*”

“SWORD STRIKER! HASSHIN!”

“DON’T THINK YOU’RE THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN DO THAT!!!”

“SWORD SILHOUETTE!!!”

“*insert more stop-fighting-emo-babble here*”

“KUSO!!!”

*RAWR!!!!* “I’LL STOP YOU!!! TODAY! RIGHT HERE!”

“But what about tomorrow?! D:”

“YOU JUST WON’T DIE!!!”

“But… but… tomorrow!”

我がエクスカリバーに、断てぬものなし！

*a new challenge appeared in the distance…*

“SHINN ASUKA! I CHALLENGE YOU TO A DUEL!!!”

“oh shi~…!”