Universal Unit Volume 4

Yep, it's been a while since Universal Unit popped up here on the blog and I still have a couple of figures sitting in their boxes waiting to be assembled. So I have at least finally pulled myself together and completed piecing together the last figures of volume four. I actually begun working out on this set hot on the heels after the Universal Unit volume 3 review last summer but... I only progressed halfway before my attention was diverted elsewhere...

Universal Unit volume 4 is the last of the four regular figure waves that saw the light of day in this relatively short-lived series which didn't even last a full year. The first figures were out in August 2016 and this set which was also the final release came out in May 2017. The figures were initially sold in semi-blind boxes (you'd know which mobile suit you were getting but not which equipment variant) but at this stage Bandai had given up that shady practice and labelled the boxes with A and B versions accordingly. The figures  had a recommended price of ¥500 and were distributed in 10-boxes which would typically net you a complete sets and a couple of extras.

Ultimately the Universal Unit figures were a kind of stepping stone towards Gframe and are perhaps best known for putting an end to the Assault Kingdom action figure line and replacing it with miniature model kits.
   

RX-93 Nu Gundam

Volume 4 has some rather eclectic figure choices but it starts out with a really overused and done-to-death figure, the RX-93 Nu Gundam. I think that in many ways Universal Unit managed to do a good job of releasing some unusual mobile suit choices but there were plenty of common figures as well. Somewhat surprisingly there is no Sazabi in the UU line-up (and none of the other machines from Char's Counterattack either for that matter).

Combination photos displaying contents from both the A and B versions of the figure. Notice the common bag marked 1 which is included with either version. The bags 1-A and 1-B are included in the boxes marked A and B respectively.

The equipment on the left side of the figure is exclusive to the A-version, and the one on the right to the B-version.

The component shot above will give you an idea of the points of articulation of the basic Universal Unit figure. All the figures in this set share the same build and the joints are in many places quite similar so that you could customize the figures a bit if you wanted. Say, putting the Nu Gundam legs on the Alex and so on, as long as different bulky components don't get in the way of each other that is.

The basic mobile suit before adding equipment. It has been touched up a little with various paint apps since it is quite white out of the box.

The A-version of the Nu gets the Beam Saber, the nice two-colour Beam Rifle and the shield...

...while the B-version receives the large Fin Funnel pack and a bazooka.

This figure combines all the accessories from both the A- and the B-version of the Nu Gundam.

As bored as I tend to be with the Nu Gundam I have to say the Universal Unit figure is looking really on point. I guess you can always ask for extra features such as the same nice two colour-scheme on the bazooka or a black inside panel on the shield etc. but overall one of the best UU figures for sure.

Can you spot the UU-figure in this line-up of other proper prepainted 1:220 figure? Here it mingles with the STANDart versions (012 with dual Fin Funnels from 2009 and 054 from 2012), the Funnel-less Ultimate Operation figure from 2006 and the rather anemic Assault Kingdom figure from 2014.
   

LM312V04 Victory Gundam / LM312V06+SD-VB03A V-Dash Gundam Hexa

Here is where UU4 takes a turn for the more unusual and interesting. The designers have taken a step out of their comfort zone and left the bulky angular Gundam designs behind and take on the sleek and rounded shape of the Victory. This is actually a first for the League Militaire in the entire 1:220 history which I find commendable.

The A-version of the figure has parts to create the Victory Gundam while the B-version makes it possible to build a Victory Dash Hexa.

The Victory figure is the only figure in this set which offers two distinct mobile suit options in its A- and B-modes. While the A-box lets you build the standard LM312V04 Victory Gundam the B-version offers up a LM312V06+SD-VB03A V-Dash Gundam Hexa. The latter actually also has a different head sculpt which is not something you would normally find in Universal Unit.

LM312V04 Victory Gundam armed with both a beam rifle and a beam saber. It has been panel-lined as well as painted in places.

The basic Victory Gundam is a really beautiful design and the seam lines on the figure aren't too bad 8especially when compared to the Ground Type Gundam in this set). The mobile suit stands around 15 meters tall instead of the usual 18 meters for your typical Gundam and the figure is also somewhat shorter than the other Universal Century suits although scale is usually not a super strict thing in candy toys.

LM312V06+SD-VB03A V-Dash Gundam Hexa armed with its Overhang Pack granting additional speed as well as two powerful beam cannons and a mega-beam rifle.

The B-version pack really transforms this figure into a very different beast. i think the Bandai engineers have done a really great job with this figure. The only thing I kind of wish for is its beautiful beam shield but as it would be a large translucent piece I understand why it was axed.

Concept art for the LM312V04 Victory Gundam, LM312V04+SD-VB03A V-Dash Gundam and then the LM312V06 V-Dash Gundam and its LM312V06+SD-VB03A V-Dash Gundam Hexa variant.

One neat thing about the Universal Unit Victory figure is that you can take the parts from an A and a B box and scramble them to create the remaining two versions from the line-up above; the V04 Victory with and Overhead Pack creating the Victory Hexa and a V06 Victory without the Overhead Pack. It is something I didn't realize until I sat down with this review and I may actually go through the trouble of picking up a couple of extras for that purpose.

The Universal Unit Victory together with a Strategy of Gundam 1:300 Victory Dash Gundam (notice the different heads).

Amusingly, Strategy of Gundam features the opposite modes of the Victory - here the Universal Unit V-Dash Hexa poses next to a Victory Dash.

It is a shame that the Universal Unit figure line didn't stick around long enough to produce also the Victory 2 Gundam and the various Assault and Buster configurations. It would have been a perfect P-Bandai product (can't believe I just typed that...).
   

LM111E02 Gun-EZ

So far we have seen two really well executed figures in this set but here comes my real favourite. It is the only non-Gundam figure of the set and also a brand new mobile suit to enter the 1:220 figure line-up. I guess you can think of the Gun-EZ as the Mobile Suit Victory Gundam equivalent to the mass production type RGM-79 GM.

The A-version of the Gun-EZ comes with a beam saber and a beam rifle, the B-version only with a bazooka.

It appears that all the effort spent on the Nu Gundam and the Victory figures meant that the Gun-EZ will have to suffer as a result. I mean, look at that equipment selection. There are only three simple weapon choices here and Bandai decided to split them up like this? Very poor effort. I get that they like for us to buy more figures than we need but surely the Gun-EZ could have been a simple A-version figure only (like the Wing Gundam in volume three). I have a feeling the skimping on equipment is one of the factors that killed Universal Unit.

As you can see this is a very basic design but it stays pretty faithful to the original mobile suit. Notice that both arms are able to equip the beam shield, an accessory that is only available in its deactivated mode. Imagine if the Victory and Gun-EZ Universal Unit figures had been allowed to get their beautiful pink translucent beam shields. Even if they only appeared as an expensive P-Bandai pack I would be all over them.

The Gun-EZ posing with Strategy of Gundam counterparts; the LM111E02 Gun-EZ (right) and LM111E03 Gunblaster (left).

I know it would not have made sense from a financial point of view but imagine if Bandai had spread the love and also developed the LM111E03 Gunblaster for the 1:220 line-up. It is not as easy as switching out the head of the Victory Gundam but I would easily have taken it over something bog standard like a zillionth 1:220 scale Nu Gundam...

Overall the Gun-EZ figure is simple but quite accurate. As evident from the above photo I really enjoy it and perhaps one day I will look into pimping them with beam shields recovered from some of the other Victory or F91-era figures out there. Gundam Converge and Ensemble may have something of value to recover.
   

RX-79[G] Ground Type Gundam

I'm sorry but the last figure in this set feels like some kind of afterthought. I love the Ground Type Gundam as much as the next guy but it feels like it was just thrown in here because it is relatively cheap to manufacture. This is a figure that should have been so much more.

The A-version figure gives you two rifle options and the shield while the B-version comes with the 180mm cannon.

Just take a look at this component shot. Are you telling me that only one of the figures comes with a shield? You know, the shield which is supposed to feature the iconic "08" stickers? Bandai even included a sticker sheet with optional unit numbers but only fifty percent of the figures will even be able to use them? I'm sorry but this is pathetic. And hold on... where is the backpack? You couldn't even give us a simple plastic rectangle? Incredibly disappointing. Look to Mobile Suit Ensemble to see how it is supposed to be done...

The A-Box comes with the S-000011 Beam Rifle, the Type.37/100 Machine Gun and the Ap-A Shield (not equipped in these photos).

The Ground Type Gundam comes with some really distracting seams lines on its knees. Other than that its appearance is quite nice and its multiple colour applications on the torso are much appreciated.

The B-version figure comes with the 180mm Cannon only, here it uses the Ap-A Shield from Box-A.

I just can't get over the fact that not only is the shield not a standard accessory for both the A and B versions of the figure but if there is one figure who needs it it is the one that equips the cannon. The missing back-mounted weapon rack is also a huge disappointment. I wonder if it would be possible to equip one from the Ensemble Ground Type figure, which unfortunately is in very limited supply as it seems to be really popular.

While the Universal Unit figures are not the best at posing it is at least possible to do some kind of poor version on the classic Ground Type Gundam knee-bending pose.

Ground Type Gundams from Assault Kingdom, Universal Unit and FW Ultimate Operation.

Imagine if the Universal Unit Ground Type Gundam had been allowed to flourish, it could easily have been one of the best figures of the entire line. Again, an equipment pack with some of the missing accessories, a backpack and a GM head would have been pretty great. Then they would have the excuse to do a limited Ground Type GM as well...  :)
   

Conclusion

While the review did kind of end on a sour note I don't really want to chastise the figures too much. Sure, the Ground Type Gundam implementation was rather lazy and yes, more could have been done with the Victory Gundam figures as well but I really enjoy all the figures in this set (even if some of them are starting to overstay their welcome at this point). If you enjoy Universal Unit these figures are an easy recommendation. At the time of this review, Bandai has completely abandoned the 1:220 line-up after 14 consecutive years of awesome figures and I just hope that they will return to it eventually.