Mobile Suit Ensemble Part 1.5

Mobile Suit Ensemble Part 1.5 is the third colour conversion set in the Ensemble figure line. The first such set was Part 2.5 released in December 2017, Part 3.5 followed in November 2018 and here we have some of the very first Ensemble figures reissued with new colours in May 2019.

Regular Ensemble figures are typically distributed both as colour coded Gashapon capsules as well as randomly packaged cardboard boxes. Ten such individual boxes can be bought i a 10-Box which normally (but not always) contains two of each figure. This review will be based on a Gashapon capsule set. While I normally prefer getting the cardboard boxes to avoid bent parts (round capsules really aren't optimal for storing bendy plastic components) the capsule versions come with the nice printed booklets which are not included in the box versions.
   

058 : RX-78-3 G-3 Gundam

The main figure of this set is the old Gundam figure redone in the G3 type colour variation. Bandai's G3 figures have a tendency to be all over the place when it comes to colouring, from all over medium grey figures to something resembling light purple in other figure series. Ensemble is a middle of the road type with its two-tone light and medium gray colour scheme and some unique markings on select bodyparts.

The figure appears to be colour coded into the green Gashapon balls, just like the original Gundam figure in set 01 was.

The Ensemble figures are a mix of soft bendy and rigid PVC and ABS plastic and for the most part this is ok although soft pieces like the V-fins are almost always out of shape. While I don't really mind it for the v-fins both the G3 and the Unicorn's shields were bent quite out of shape and that bugs me a lot more. The figure comes with a beam rifle which is made from hard plastic and it has some more accessories in the equipment set which we will look at further down the review.

Here you see the original RX-78-2 Gundam figure from Part 01 next to the G-3 variant. There is also a Roll Out-colour silvery version available but since I jumped on Ensemble quite late I haven't managed to track that one down yet.
   

059 : G-Fighter (G-3 Color Ver.)

Next up is the G-Fighter figure which is filling the vehicle/mobile armor slot of this set. It is a really compact figure and much smaller than the mobile suits. I guess this is a cost cutting strategy of sorts.

As you can see from the parts count we're dealing with a much simpler figure here. We don't get the standardized hands and joints sprues but instead a smaller transparent sprue containing half a dozen two-way pegs which can be used to combine items together for customization purposes, they are not really needed for this figure.

Since there are no build instructions included with Ensemble figures you will probably struggle a bit to find out exactly what to do with the components, especially since not all of them are required to build the G-Fighter. Bandai currently publishes build instructions for the Ensemble figures on their official Ensemble website but who knows how long that site will survive in the future? My recommendation is to download this content unless you are planning to toss these figures out as soon as you are bored with them.
   

G-P.A.R.T.S. - G-Fighter

To build the various combinations of the G-P.A.R.T.S. vehicles you will need minimum one G-Fighter and one Gundam figure, although some of the designs really require two mobile suits as we shall see. First off, let's begin with the G-Fighter which is the only design you can build straight out of its box or capsule.

Notice that a couple of the components in the box are not used to construct the G-Fighter. A very stumpy G-Fighter at that as well.

The new colour scheme is quite a treat and it figure looks great next to the G3 Gundam. As far as moving parts go you can rotate the gun turret and change the elevation of each gun separately.

The stumpiness of the MS Ensemble figure becomes extra evident when you park it up next to something more "aerodynamic" like the beautiful G-Fighter from FW Ultimate Operation...
 

G-P.A.R.T.S. G-Bull

Next up, let's build the G-Bull, a weird little tank variant of the G-P.A.R.T.S. components. To build it you would really want to G3 Gundam figures since you need two shields to complete the design and Bandai are too stingy to include a spare one with the G-Fighter figure (lame) so here I made do with a spare shield from the original Gundam figure.

If you like me are not planning to mess around with the different modes of these figures but still want to try them out I would recommend building the G-Bull first. You start by assembling the G3 Gundam figure's torso and arms and then snap the rest of the G-Fighter components on top of it.

Well, it looks like a G-Bull. But it isn't particularly thrilling is it? It might have helped if we had a second gray shield for the review but whatever, let's move on.
   

G-P.A.R.T.S. G-Sky

Next let's take a look at the G-Sky, which combines the torso of the Gundam with the booster section of the G-Fighter. It is pretty straight forward. Notice that you will need to attach the skirt and groin section to the Gundam's torso and then attach the leftover connector piece from the G-Fighter box to connect the two.

Be warned that these stick together very tightly, you will have to wiggle the connector piece back again slowly to avoid accidentally breaking the ball joints in the groin section.

And there we have it. While no shield is required for this design you can attach one or more to the figure is you so wish of course. What it really needs more than a shield however, is an action base, because standing upright like that looks ridiculous.

Luckily the G-Sky fits neatly on top of an Assault Kingdom action base. This pose immediately looks more dynamic and interesting. Actually it is not half-bad, if I end up with a spare Gundam and G-Fighter eventually I might build a G-Sky and keep it assembled.
  

G-P.A.R.T.S. G-Armor

The most complex transformation actually isn't all that hard either. You basically take both the G-Bull and the G-Sky components and apply them all at once. If you are going through the motions I would re commend the following build order: Start with the G-Bull, next the G-Armor (because you attach the skirt and groin section to the torso), the G-Sky (and here comes the Gundam head) until finally building the mobile suit and the G-Fighter as separate pieces.

Again we have to make use with a spare shield from somewhere else. This is so annoying; why not include all the components in a full set of 5?

With my G-Armor assembled I have to say that it is leaning all over the place. Several of the pegs like to move about a bit after assembly and this thing looks like it is taking a corner on one track. Notice also the very different look you get on the side of the gray shield (which is quite nice) and the red one (which isn't...).

Another issue with this transformation is that the arm with the beam rifle doesn't really have anywhere to go. In fact both the arms lean out to the sides while more compact designs such as the Gundam Converge G-Armor solved this more elegantly.

So all in all the G-Fighter is a somewhat entertaining parts swapper but the lack of components is a bit of a detriment. If you would like to pose all the different combinations seen here you would require no less than five Gundam mobile suits and four G-Fighters (the fifth Gundam is needed because both the G-Bull and the G-Armor require two shields each while the G-Sky needs none). so have fun with trying to source those...
   

060 : RX-0 Unicorn Gundam (Awake Mode)

The second mobile suit in the set is the Destroy Mode Unicorn which is easy for Bandai to colour swap. Just replace the red with green and you are good to go with an Awake Mode conversion. However the basic white colour of the suit is now also tinted a slight mint green.

The soft plastic used for this figure works reasonably well but again the thin shield ends up being very uneven and easy to bend even when handling it.

The Unicorn comes with a beam rifle and a shield. If you picked up an Ensemble 10-box or more than one Unicorn figure you will have access to multiple shields which would be interesting since you can do a bit of work with those.

Mobile Suit Ensemble now has four different Unicorn figures under is belt and a fifth is due for Part 10; the base RX-0 Unicorn in its Unicorn Mode. Not a terribly exciting figure on its own perhaps but it is at least nice to get both modes available.
   

061 : MS-06F Zaku II (Marking Plus Ver.)

The last mobile suit in the set is the good old Zaku II. Bandai went for a cheap cop out here doing one of their "Marking Plus" type figures for when inspiration is running a bit low. I mean, it wouldn't exactly have been that hard to come up with a canon version Zaku II like say Garma Zabi's or a White Wolf custom.

Anyway, a new green Zaku II figure isn't all that bad, and this one is pretty discreet about it. The two green colours have been changed a bit and we have a couple of faux model markings on the shield and body. It somewhat resembles various "Real Type" colour schemes we have seen in the past as well.

The figure comes with the classic Zaku machine gun and you can also army build with some of the accessories from the equipment set. One thing I am missing here is an alternate head piece with a commander antenna. After all, they already did one in the Ensemble line for Char's Custom machine. Notice the broken hand on the upper sprue in the photo above. Luckily this is not something I have seen very often with Bandai products. Fortunately there are a couple of expressive hands in the equipment set so I gave this figure one of those as you can see in the various photos.

Comparison shots with the original Zaku II from Ensemble Part 01 and the Real Type-color variation of the old Zaku II sculpt from Gundam Converge.
   

062 : Equipment Set for Wave 1.5

The equipment set for this wave is one of the most generic and useful that I have seen in Ensemble. I'm not entirely sure what purposes all the little components are intended to serve, but many of them can be quite useful.

Apart from a pretty large number of different weapons we also get various connector pieces, some transparent and some dark gray, which are modular and will combine nicely with the various connection points on the figures' arms, backs and legs. While some gear is intended for specific figures other components are completely generic.

There are a total of eight weapon accessories in this set, each of them is intended for a specific mobile suit (except those two Sturmfaust missile launchers perhaps because I don't know if they are supposes to go with the Zaku somehow). The two Gatling cannons for the Unicorn are made of bendy soft plastic which has almost ruined them both but the other components are rigid. I have painted the handles of the beam saber and the heat hawk because they just look ridiculous when they are completely transparent.

The G-3 Gundam has two weapons clearly intended for it, a Hyper Bazooka and a very basic beam saber that would fit most any figure. If you pick up a second equipment set you can give a Gundam double Bazookas to mimic its appearance in the final battle.

The Unicorn gets two Beam Gatling guns which can either be wielded in hands or attached to the shield. The Unicorn figure has attachment points for shields on both of its arms (and the back of course) so if you have multiple figures and equipment sets you could deck one out with two or three Gatling Shields which would look kinda smart.

The Zaku II gets the Zaku Bazooka launcher as well as a Heat Hawk for close combat. Both are great even though the Bazooka looks kind of funky if you try to aim it at something.

The two single use rocket launchers resemble Sturm Fauss like you would find on the Geara Doga or the Kämpfer but I don't really know who they belong to in this set. Regardless you can plaster them on some mobile suit to beef it up, the knees offer suitable attachment points for example, or why not store them on the back?

The two Bazookas (and most of the rifles for that matter) also have peg holes which enable you to clip them to the mobile suit back skirts as they are often carried. Here is where those transparent little pegs come in handy. However it gets a bit crowded and the weapons will not fit perfectly. Notice also how the Hyper Bazooka with its connection point so far to one side looks a bit weird and unbalanced when carried.

Here are some other crazy custom things you can do with the components you find in the equipment pack. The only thing I see really missing here is some kind of base plate which the figures (or connector pieces holding figures) could attach to so that you could build some nice poses. Ensemble suffers from some really bland and uninspired figure stands and without peg holes in the figure's feet you kind of wonder at this lost opportunity.


Conclusion

In conclusion Ensemble Part 1.5 is a typical colour swap set. It offers some nice additions to your line-up but fails to add anything new as far as parts or accessories go. I mentioned it before but since Bandai insists on recycling complete waves of figures (probably because they know they can get away with it) you will always end up with subpar sets of figures where a proper colour swap set should feature carefully selected mobile suits instead of throwing in this "Marking Plus" BS. Still, a fine figure set but hardly a necessity for the Ensemble collection.