It has been a while since we visited the Full Color Custom series and its super deformed modular mobile suit figurines. The early sets in this line even got two different types of booklets which is a luxury I have never seen anywhere else. Full Color Custom 08 was released in February 2007 and features a total of ten different figures.
While you would have found these figures in Gashapon vending machines back in the day, with individual figures selling at ¥100 each, it is rare to find this type of Gashapon with their actual capsules preserved. I picked up this set from Mandarake in original bags but without capsules and paid ¥1500 for the set. I have found that Full Color Custom figures tend to be a little bit pricier than the older Full Color figures, presumably because the quantities manufactured are not as large.
071 : RX-75 Guntank
It may seem odd for Bandai to place the Guntank into the first slot of a figure set but it follows the Guncannon which fronted volume 07 and the RX-78 itself which was the face of volume 06. It wasn't considered interesting enough to get a picture on the front of the booklet however, instead the illustration is made up of parts of various figures from this set, showcasing the customizability of this figure series.
This version of the Guntank is a bit more compact than the versions that appeared in the SD Full Color series, one of which you can see parked next to it below. The old figure is overall more elegant with details being stubbier or thicker overall on the new Guntank.
072 : MSM-04G Juaggu
In the next slot we have a real rarity, the Juaggu, which is an early MSV design. The head is somewhat reminiscent of both the Z'Gok and the Acguy and the machine was also developed during this era although never animated until it got a cameo in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn. According to the lore several had been manufactured at Zeon's California base and it was originally intended to join the assault on Jaburo although that never happened.
The Juaggu fills the fire support role with some truly fearsome armament. Each arm can hold triple 32cm rocket launchers and the torso features no less than four mega particle cannons. The SD Full Color Custom figure comes with an optional right hand so that you can choose to arm your figure with a total of three or six rocket launchers.
073 : MSM-07S Z'Gok (Char's Custom)
We continue with another U.C. 0079 era amphibious mobile suit and this figure will warrant no further introduction. I really like how this set allows you to build a nice Jaburo assault force and someone of course has to lead the way forward.
We have certainly seen Char's Z'Gok in this format before. The new figure has better colour separation and features moving arms and a swiveling torso where old SD figures were of the fixed statue type. You can also switch the arms around. Notice how only the two front facing sections of the head have been painted black, a cost saving option we also saw recently on the MicroWars Z'Gok figures. This would be a simple touch up and will improve the look of the figure.
Comparison views with the fixed pose Z'Gok from SD Full Color Stage 3 (released all the way back in April 1998) as well as a translucent red version of the new figure featured in the SD Full Color Custom SP Clear 2 set from September 2008.
074 : MSM-04 Acguy
Rounding out the Jaburo assault squad and Zeonic underwater gang is the Acguy (if you were also looking the older MSM-03 Gogg it eventually made it into SD Full Color Custom volume 14...).
This Acguy figure is dominated by a chocolate brown coat although you can find some of the lighter areas on the torso and mainly the feet. The black section on the head is missing on the backside which is par for the course for SD figures but if you are careful you should be able to fix it up with a steady hand. The figure comes with two different arms so if you manage to grab multiple figures this opens up for some customizing options.
075 : RGM-79 GM
The first five slots in this set have been assigned to U.C. 0079-era figures and here the Guntank receives some back-up from a mass production type GM mobile suit. The figure is armed with both a Beam Spray Gun and a Beam Saber, as well as a shield that can be carried on either arm or stowed on the back. Great stuff if you want to build a squad with different appearances across the individual units.
Actually it looks like this poor GM has been included in the set to round out the Jaburo theme with some target practice, just look at all the holes all over its body. In all seriousness though, this adds to the play options for the figure but as a standalone display piece the result is a bit lacking. This figure is also one of the worst examples of how blocky some of the Full Color Custom figures get compared to their predecessors.
Notice the clean proportions on the two older figures flanking the Full Color Custom GM. Less moving parts usually also translate to better looking poses and as a bonus there is less risk that you will end up with missing pieces. Apart from missing weapons I have found that Full Color Custom figures appearing on the second hand market often lack their backpacks, wing binders and similar components which might be less obvious unless you are paying close attention.
076 : ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam (pearl color ver.)
The second part of the set is comprised of mobile suits from the Cosmic Era with appearances from both Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and SEED Destiny. We start with one of the more common mobile suits to make it into figure form. There were eight or so Freedom figures in the SD Full Color series and about half a dozen in Full Color Custom. This is the second appearance from the Custom era.
This figure has a really clean look and is a classic version of the Freedom armed with a beam rifle and shield. The wings are neatly folded at the back which brings additional stability to the figure. The Freedom's body has a pearl color coat while the wings and shield feature a more metallic appearance.
I couldn't be bothered to dig up a number of Freedom Gundams for comparison but here you can see a clear color Strike Freedom Gundam (this one is from SD Full Color Stage 62) and how it compares to a Pear Color figure.
077 : ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam
The Freedom gets to duel with the large and terrifying Providence Gundam. This figure does not get the pearl color treatment but its base colors have a slight metallic finish to them as well.
The Providence is equipped with a really oversized beam rifle as well as a unique defensive system featuring both a massive beam saber, shield and offensive capabilities on its left arm yet it is the massive DRAGOON system on its back which steals all attention. I find that this pack tends to dominate deformed figures to the point where it starts to detract from the overall appearance and I do prefer the older figure which has a more toned down backpack.
The Providence as it appears in SD Gundam Color Stage 47, Full Color Custom 08 as well as the special transparent black color variant from Full Color Custom SP Clear 2.
078 : UMF/SSO-3 ASH (Mass Production Type)
We have reached what is for me the absolute highlight of this set; the very rare bird that is the UMF/SSO-3 ASH. Apart from an appearance in the old SD Gundam Full Color series I don't believe this mobile suit has ever been featured anywhere else, except for one of those old SEED Destiny model kits. This is a beast I would really like to see featured in Gundam Converge.
The ASH is an underwater type mobile suit and is clearly inspired by the Universal Century Z'Gok although the design has several distinct differences. It is well armed with multiple different weapon systems as well as claw style manipulators instead of hands. The figure itself as two pegs on each arm which allow the arms to be positioned at an angle or stretched out to the sides.
While the ASH does partake in a couple of the massive battles in SEED Destiny they don't get much in the form of screen time and usually just flash by before getting destroyed or sending a barrage of missiles downrange. The mobile suit also has a type of underwater mobile armor mode in which the legs transform and the top of the head faces forward. There is no particular gimmick associated with this mode for the figure.
079 : UMF SSO-3 ASH (early type)
I couldn't believe my luck that Bandai decided to give us two versions of this mobile suit. There is of course no difference between the two figures except for the colours and I'm not sure there are any real differences in-universe either.
Notice how this figure has its arms stretched out to the sides. This is done by using the alternate pegs on the arms, compare to the gray figure shown earlier.
The old SD Gundam Full Color figure is even nicer than the Full Color Custom figure although it is only available in green. Notice the additional colour applications on the old figure. I'd really like to see the production numbers on these things. There must have been an obscene amount of Gashapons made back in the day, I get all teary-eyed thinking about it. :)
The green coloured version of the ASH is seen in one single scene where a ridiculously large team of Z.A.F.T. special forces infiltrate Orb and try to take out the building where Lacus Clyne is staying. A pretty weak effort considering we can see regular frontline units sinking Orb warships with single volleys from their launchers...
080 : ORB-01 Akatsuki Gundam (Oowashi Sky Pack)
The last figure here is the mighty golden Akatsuki Gundam - if drug lords could afford mobile suits this is how they would decorate them. The mobile suit is usually seen in two variants - equipping the winged Oowashi Sky Pack for atmospheric flight or the advanced Shiranui Space Pack for operations in zero gravity. This particular version is the Sky Pack version, a Space pack figure was featured in Full Color Custom 07.
This figure has a flight pack which is somewhat similar to the one used by the Infinite Justice Gundam. Notice how the two beam rifles can either be held in hands or stowed on the flight pack when not in use.
Here the Oowashi- (left) and the Shiranui-equipped (right) Akatsuki Gundams from volume 08 and 07 pose next to each other. The Shiranui version comes with a really nice beam rifle that emits a beam saber effect and a shield. Sadly this particular eBay find is missing its beam rifle.
Conclusion
Full Color Custom volume 08 is a really nice set with two differently themed line-ups. While I do think it is a little heavy on the reissues (especially since most of the earlier figures looked better in my opinion) the unique figures found in here are really worth seeking out if you like underwater-themed mobile suits.
The right Juaggu arm is from MSV where it was in green camo colors
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