Gundam STANDart : MSA-0011[Ext] Ex-S Gundam

This review is a double feature of two different Gundam STANDart figures which both depict the Ex-S Gundam mobile suit from Gundam Sentinel. Both were released as rather pricey limited edition figures, the original Ex-S appearing in March 2014 and the recent CORE revisitation coming out in July 2017. The original figure had a price of ¥3600 while the CORE version upped it to ¥4167. Somewhat amusingly, the 2014 version was hailed as the first step in the next ten years of FW Gundam figures, we all know how that went.

Each figure comes in a large box the size of roughly two normal STANDart boxes, and contains all pieces in separate slots for easy storage and with extra soft plastic sheets in between to avoid pieces rubbing against each other and messing with the paintwork. To date there have only been three premium STANDart figures like this; apart from the two Ex-S versions we also have a magnificent Sinanju figure that was released in between.

Each figure comes with full assembly instructions which come in extremely handy as there are many specific features of especially the action base configuration which would be tricky to sort out through trial and error.

Each figure contains the exact same parts, with mainly paint applications differing between the two.

Instructions are included to display each Ex-S figure in up to three different modes. We'll be looking at both figures simultaneously as we go through the different poses.


Mode 1 - Basic standing mode

The Ex-S Gundam figure is pretty massive and has several heavy parts attached to its back which makes it difficult to display on its own. Hence we get an action base with three different configurations. Even in the most basic form a simple stand is used which clips into the figure's crotch keeping it securely upright. This is necessary since the legs are only loosely attached to the torso. This is done to allow for the figure to either stand upright or dangle its feet while flying.

The basic mode omits the most iconic accessory of the mobile suit, which is instead featured specifically in the next display:
 

Mode 2 - With Beam Smart Gun

Notice that the action base now uses a sturdier stand which attaches the Beam Smart Gun on a separate arm in front of the figure (this is the famous smart gun claviature pose...). The Smart Gun attachment point is rather loose and the gun will easily spin around or fall off in this position. Note also that the mobile suit is now propped up from the ground and is instead hovering above it.

Other than this, the first two modes are very similar and you could easily remove the front arm holding the smart gun to display the base mobile suit only.
 

Mode 3 - Parts Separated

The parts explosion mode removes several components from the mobile suit itself and floats them around the basic mobile suit by attaching them directly onto the action base instead. This has a more natural looking Beam Smart Gun positioning at the side of the suit rather than it being dangled in front.

Out of the three variants this is easily the most imposing and also the main feature of the figure.


Comparisons

Here you can see the two colour schemes next to each other. The standard Gundam red-white-blue is enhanced with a sharp two-tone blue zigzag pattern and there are also several smaller distinct colour changes giving the CORE version a more modern look (the old colours are beginning to look a bit vintage already). I am not entirely sure I appreciate the updated white action base though. Although it matches the figure quite well I think it is attracting too much attention and could have benefitted from being toned down or why not even fully transparent.

If you are a Gundam Converge collector you will recognize the colour pattern used for the CORE figure from the Converge CORE redefinition of the S-Gundam figure as well. Both figure series are/were manufactured by FusionWorks after all.

The STANDart Ex-S Gundam is significantly taller than the average STANDart figure. Although the figure line is not done to scale, the Ex-S Gundam has been allowed to retain the same proportions as the S Gundam that it modifies, which is a really nice touch.

2017 has really been a Gundam Sentinel year in the Gundam Shokugan series. We have got new Sentinel-themed figures also in Universal Unit and Gundam Converge and even Assault Kingdom was revived to provide us with a FAZZ recolouration of the old FA-010S Full Armor ZZ Gundam figure. The E.F.S.F. Sentinel line-up is now pretty daunting when you combine figures from all these 1/220 figure series.

Overall the STANDart Ex-S Gundam figures are highly enjoyable and both are given centerpieces in a 1/220 line-up. Their main problem is of course the high prices. The CORE Ex-S figure is currently commanding around ¥3500 on the Japanese market while the original figure is getting harder to find as well as more expensive, expect to pay at least ¥4500 for it.

Universal Unit : MSZ-006C1［Bst］ Zeta Plus C1 Hummingbird (Ver. Red)

"Version red!", screams the dull box and the greyscale coverart points to yet another Premium Bandai release. Sometimes I wonder just how much cheaper it is to forego colours in printing but I suspect there is a lot of money to be saved here although it sure makes for uninteresting packaging.

The red Hummingbird release is just what it claims to be, a colour variation of the retail blue figure which we also reviewed here on the blog recently. Both were released in the February/March shift of 2017 and each came with a suggested/actual price of ¥3800 making this a pretty expensive Universal Unit release. However, where the retail figure has since dropped down to around ¥2500-¥3000 the premium red version is going the opposite way, selling for around ¥4000-¥5000 on the secondary market.

Both kits come prepainted although there is a lot of detail that you may want to complete yourself, specifically blacks and greys. The figure is pretty attractive out of the box though, and features some surprising colour applications such as the light grey abdomen which is really easy to miss.

The parts in the box will allow you to build the basic Hummingbird mobile armor form of the Zeta Plus or alternatively as the Waverider flyer mode. Parts are also included to create the basic MSZ-006A1 and C1 mobile suits which is a nice touch.

In this review you will see the various forms of the Hummingbird displayed side by side. While you can reassemble the figure from one mode to another you are only ever able to create one figure at a time; I have made use of three separate kits to accomplish these multi-figure displays.


MSZ-006A1/C1 Zeta Plus A1/C1

While not really emphasized on the cover you are able to build the basic Zeta Plus A1 or C1 version figure, making this an extremely pricey version compared to buying the stock grey figure and repainting it. Since the Zeta Plus is available as a basic retail figure I assume it was easier for Bandai to just reuse the existing runners and just add the missing parts for the Hummingbirds into the mix.

In this review I have chosen to build only the MSZ-006A1 Zeta Plus A1 version since the red and white version is featured in the Gundam lore as Amuro Ray's personal steed. I have also made a few custom colour applications with a black marker pen, mainly in the elbow and knee area as well as on the various engine exhausts.

While it isn't particularly complicated to parts swap the A1 into the C1 version I prefer not to fiddle with the figures too much since many parts have very tight fits and I would hate to damage or loosen any joints unnecessarily. The above photo displays the basic A1 and C1 Zeta Plus figures that you can create also from the red and blue Hummingbird kits. My blue versions C1 is kitted with the Hummingbird's weapons array.

I really enjoy the mobile suit mode of these Hummingbird figures, not only because of their attractive proportions but because of their great articulation. Unfortunately the mobile suit mode has no support for an action base so you end up having to build custom stands or bases (I use the bases from Assault Kingdom in these photos) to display them in any sort of interesting poses which is such a wasted opportunity.

The beautiful Zeta Plus A1 version has also been released in 1/220 scale as a Gundam STANDart display figure (STANDart no. 073 released in January 2014). Unless you are looking for articulation the STANDart figure has the Universal Unit version beat in any other regard although the Un2 figure is doing a pretty good job itself. It is truly disappointing however, that we don't get some stickers for the A1 in sich an expensive a Premium package. The regular figures came with unit numbers and this figure would have benefitted greatly from Amuro's logo and the number "018", it seems like it would have been an easy thing to include.
 

MSZ-006C1［Bst］ Zeta Plus C1 Hummingbird

The Hummingbird form is the main feature of this mobile suit and doesn't have very much in common with the mobile suit mode. It uses a separate set of shoulders and arms and replaces the legs with heavy boosters. Another set of boosters are also attached to the arms. It is an imposing and over the top design.

While the Hummingbird retains articulation in the arms and its leg boosters (which sit on ball joints) there isn't a whole lot of posing you can do with this behemoth. The included stand attaches into a hole on the lower torso and since the peg is rectangular you will get no alternative posing out of it. The clear peg on the stand can be repositioned up to 90 degrees upwards so you could pose the figure looking straight up into the sky although I don't see that happening much...

Overall the Hummingbird looks impressive but feels a little bit static. I wish it would have been possible to tilt the mobile suit on its base a little to create impressions of turning or acceleration. The stand is very sturdy though, so it sits safely on top of it.


MSZ-006C1［Bst］ Zeta Plus C1 Hummingbird (Waverider Mode)

The final mode of the Hummingbird is its high speed Waverider form. This configuration does not use that many parts when compared to the other forms and you end up with an almost complete figure in the spare parts lot, almost enough parts to create a Zeta Plus mobile suit (the backpack, fins and hip guns are used here) but not quite.

I really like the Waverider mode of this figure and it was the first mode I set out to build. When I had completed it I didn't feel like taking it apart and so I went out and bought another Hummingbird kit and from there on I ended up with three blue and three reds...

The Waverider figure is even more static than the Hummingbird but it feels more acceptable since it is an aircraft form after all. The good news however is that the round peg used to attach the Waverider to the action base is compatible with Assault Kingdom. This makes it possible to use Assault Kingdom bases to alter the attitude of the craft (you'll most likely need to use several AK bases to make the display sturdy enough) which is really helpful.


Conclusion

The Universal Unit Hummingbird kit is really expensive for being a candy toy but also offers a lot of fun out of the box. As far as I know Bandai never made a High Grade (1/144) Hummingbird kit which would most likely also have been the most serious competitor if they did. It is hard to recommend something as expensive as this figure unless the price is not an issue. Considering that the retail blue version is currently almost half the price of the red figure that would be a cheaper way to grab it. If you are only looking for the Zeta Plus A1 the STANDart figure should be the go-to in that regard.

Overall I am very pleased with my Hummingbird figures and they make for spectacular displays (can't wait to do a Sentinel display with all the new 1/220 releases from 2017) but it was also a bit painful saving up for them. As usual with these figures, at the time of writing they are fairly easy to obtain on the secondary market but will probably become scarce in the near future (especially the red version) so don't sleep on the decision for too long.