Review: HGUC 1/144 ORX-000 Messala

Admittedly, I've been waiting for the Messala to be updated as an HGUC kit, though one reason for that, I will reveal later. As it is, it's one large and impressive-looking kit. The Messala is a historic mecha of sorts, being the first transformable mecha to appear in the Zeta Gundam anime series.

Head/Torso
Given the Messala's transforming nature, the head and the torso are considered one piece, albeit it with a sliding mechanism that helps it in transformation from mobile suit to mobile armor mode. The detail for the mono-eye and eye-rails is impressive, but tendssds to be hidden by the faceplate design. That being said, thee is more than enough space in the main body to facilitate a small LED light, if you want a glowing mono-eye.

Arms/Hands

The arms are connected to the body by "shoulder extension" pieces, which will be swapped for other parts when the model kit has to be transformed into the mobile armor mode. Given the complexity that will probably be required, we may never see a true transformation setup for the shoulder, unless this mecha unit gets a Master Grade version - which would make it one of the largest kits in the line. This isn't called mobile armor for nothing!

Each shoulder houses missile/rocket launchers, and it's stated in the Wiki that they are supposed to be usable in both modes. In my experience, it is difficult to open the launcher covers in mobile armor mode, because while transformed, the lower-arm pieces that house the claws have little flaps that lock into the lower part of the launcher covers.

As for the claws, they use swap-parts for dormant and active claw usage. The same goes for the rather large sabers - I really can't figure where the heck it can store saber hilts that big, but hey, it looks impressive anyway.

Finally, we have the hands. Since this mobile armor seems to be a Monster of the Week, the hands seem to be hardly human in shape, but that also adds to the "alienness" of the design.

Legs/Feet
Assembly-wise, the legs and feet have the largest parts, aside from the backpack boosters. The feet, though strangely shaped (there's a reason for that!), will still allow for the Messala to stand on its own in a display setting. Still, the Messala looks better "floating in space" with its stand.

Stand by for the next installment of the Messala Review.

UPDATE: Click here for the second part of the review!Click here for more reviews!