Manga: Red Astray Powered Option Set

As always, the Astray mini-franchise from the Gundam 'verse has some outrageous designs that translate well to toys. The Powered Option Set for the Red Astray is one such design, and here's the manga:

Taghobby Link: http://www.taghobby.com/?p=153098

Campaign Parts Modification: Gundam 1.75

The Gundam 1.5 from  Gundam 00 is one of the more unusual designs, in that it's essentially two mecha in one, except that it's been modified from the Gundam 1 so that it does not have the remote gun bits anymore.

Thanks, however, to the power of promotional campaign parts, you can now combine some aspects of the Gundam 1 and the 1.5.

Modified: HGGS 1/144 Astray Gold

One nice thing about the Astray is that its idea of partial armor plates seems to make it such a favorite when it comes to modifications. This is probably due to the fact that it looks like it's modified anyway. In my case, I simply armed it with the Red Astray's flight unit, with three added Caletvwlch sword/weapon systems. After that, I took the Blitz arms from the old HGGS kit, and did some polycap switching to get the right shoulder-to-chest armor separation.

I'm still a bit on the fence about keeping the katana with it, but so far it looks good with it.

Sneak Peek: HGGS 1/144 Astray Gold Frame

1/144 Gold Frame and Amatsu Mina Astray Gundams: Brothers in, err, arm.

I've finally been able to duplicate most of my Astray 1/100 set faithfully in 1/144. I'm now seriously thinking of selling the larger 1/100 set, since I'm really not for gold plating and all that...

Links:
1/100 Gold Frame Astray
1/100 Amatsu Mina / 1/144 Amatsu Mina
Gundam Seed Entries

Will take more comparison and set shots in the future. For now, here's a teaser:

HGGS 1/144 Astray Green Frame (Modified)

This is a rather recent addition to my 1/144 Astray collection, and as you can see, I've added some equipment that will hopefully make it look better. Bandai, you better have an improved version of this kit coming out soon!

Click here for more entries about Gundam Astray Kits.

 

 

Random Mecha Photos: Gundam Strike Brothers

Since we're coming into the age of the Gundam Build Fighters anime, I figure that I should take some random photos of all the stuff I kitbash.

Here's two of them: Strike Sword and Launcher units with some additional parts.

More about Gundam Build Fighters at the Gundam Wiki

Here's a promotional video for Gundam Build Fighters:

Vintage Kitbash: Astray Gold with Blitz parts

Now, this is a bit funny in origin. I had gotten a Gold Astray, and at the same time, I had a scrapped Blitz Gundam with a broken leg and missing head pieces. And since the Amatsu came out with Blitz Gundam parts, I decided to emulate it with this one, as well.

Vintage Kitbash: Astray Amatsu

Some further photos on my kitbashed Astrays. In this case, I minimized the weapons load out of the Amatsu type. In retrospect, though, I think I'll remove the long missiles.

Vintage Kitbash: Gundam Astray Options

I've been going through my old stuff, looking for what I can sell, and I'm coming across ideas that, though old, I should really get into a "done" status.

Here's one: I'd always pictured that the Astrays from Gundam Seed would be a bit more modular - so I came up with this: A pair of Astrays - Normal and Amatsu - that have an option set of weapons and arms. To be honest, though, if I had more budget, I'd get myself two red astrays and then remove as much of the gold plated parts as possible.

Anyway, here it is. Enjoy! I'll probably do more shots of this set... After I take photos of other stuff I found... (wink-wink!)

HGGS 1/144 Gundam Astray Blue Frame Second L: Add-Ons/Extras

I do believe that there have been many reviews of the rather lengthily-named Astray Blue Frame Second L. So, I won't be concentrating on a review on it, in so much as what possible add-ons or extras will go well with it.

 

Here are the pieces I used:
1) Bazooka and Shield from the original HGGS Astray Blue Frame
2) Leg launchers from the HGGS Ginn (I think it was the original variant that had this - will research and edit this one later)
3) FG Astray rifle (will explain later why it has to be the FG)
4) Hazel/HGUC-type shield clamp and button

First, for the bazooka, the problem is that the grip is to narrow. TO make it posable, I just added blue-tac to the inside of the fist. That way, it can stay in position.

This one was pointed out in quite a few reviews already: it's the leg slot where you can fit the Ginn leg launchers.

Now, the back of the arm does have a peg slot for a shield system - I suppose that this will come in useful, as the incoming Red Frame does have a shield. I found out that the HGUC shield clamp used in many other kits fights tightly with the peg hole. This makes it possible for the Blue Frame to carry the shield from the original. Do take note that I suspect that the peg hole can also mount the FG shields, but then, they would be mounted directly to the back of the arm, rather than on the side. That could make arm movements and posing awkward.

Now, about that FG rifle. Since the old FG astrays had simple hand designs, the trigger guard for the rifles has a gap so it can look like it has a finger on the trigger - even if it really doesn't. It's perfect for use with the left hand of the Blue Frame.

Here it is fully equipped. Not bad.

Review: RG 1/144 Gundam Seed Destiny - Destiny Gundam

My initial reaction with Real Grade kits has always been one of suspicion, thanks to my bad experience with the RX-78-2 RG kit, which probably winds hands-down for Gundam kits that simply have too many parts that tend to fall off and get lost. However, much of my faith was restored when I assembled the RG Destiny Gundam - though I still have some major gripes about it.

Head and Torso
The head itself is rather simple, with a gray internal block that seems to have some internal details... that do not get seen anyway. Also, the front and back main sensors and the eyes are all part of one transparent piece. If you use the right set of eye stickers, you can technically make the eyes light up by simple shining a light at the back sensor. I'll take more about the stickers later.

The torso itself is... simple. Given the complex internals I saw in the RG RX-78, the Destiny's internal torso mechanics were straightforward, and definitely devoted more to mobility than internal detail. In fact, the cockpit seems to have been designed as an afterthought, and I for one am not complaining, as there are no micro-figures to show such a detail off with.

Arms and Legs
First, the arms: They are nicely proportioned, and the mechanics are top-notch. Nothing much to say, as the only extra gimmick would be the mounted boomerang-sabers at the shoulders.

As for the legs, they contain one of my major gripes - the shifting or moving parts that, while they look impressive, mechanically, don't really makes sense, since armor is supposed to be a fixed plating for protection. Still, I like the proportions, except for the Donald Duck feet - and even then... Well, I'll talk about that later. 

Backpack and Accessories
The back pack and the attendant weapon accessories make sense from a toy  point of view, but I'll say it now: the backpack is HUGE. And the wings look somewhat stubby when in passive mode. They look great when fully extended, though.

The rifle is a standard thing for me, no great shakes, and the shield also has more detail, but isn't much more than an upgrade of the old HGGS Destiny's shield.

And the Blast-hands? They're large! I know it's a bit of an emphasis, and it looks photogenic, but in real life, it makes the whole kit look like an overgrown.... kid.

The beam effects and the energy shield are perfectly detailed, no complaints there.

As for the NUMEROUS markings? I am not a fan. I understand if it will make it look like some sort of Ver.Ka. in 1/144 scale, it's just that it looks like it will make the mecha broder on being tattooed all over the place.

Negatives?
One gigantic negative is the fact that the Destiny can hardly stand on its own - you will really need to buy a proper action base for it, Make sure, too that it's the right kind (the smaller one for 1/144), as the kit has its own connector end for the stand. Oh, and the wrist plates? be careful, they tend to get lost.

Conclusion
I will be honest, I am not a fan of RG kits, but this Destiny kit made a believer out of me. I heartily recommend this kit to anyone who wants to collect a high-quality Gundam kit in the 1/144 scale.


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RG 1/144 Gundam Seed Destiny - Destiny Gundam

Review coming up soon! For now, here are some pics of the RG 1/144 Destiny Gundam!

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