Gundam Converge : Gold Edition

Sometimes the Converge retail sets are mixed up with special releases that are not EX or CORE figures.We have seen some 7-Eleven repaints and a couple of "Real-type" color variation sets but the Gold Edition set is different from these, here we are actually getting some brand new mobile suits and modified sculpts for existing ones. The set was released in late November 2020 and consists of a total of five different figures, each sold with a recommended retail price of ¥500.

 

Just like many of the recent Converge figures, some of the suits in this set also come with two bags of components.

 

 

242 : MBF-P01 Gundam Astray Gold Frame

 

The set fittingly opens with a machine that has Gold in its name. It is one of several prototype designs and eventually led to the mass production MBF-M1 Astray that we saw in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED (one of the machines I really want to see realized by the way) and it hails from the secondary SEED Astray storyline expansion.

 

Converge Gold is all about metallic gold colour and this machine is a perfect choice for this makeover. The regular blacks and whites contrast nicely with the metallic colours. The Rail Bazooka has also received a metallic treatment.

 

The Gold Frame Astray comes with two holding hands and an optional right hand which holds on to the shield. The only weapon included is the Gaebolg Rail Bazooka but it should be compatible with the weapons from the old Astray figures as well.

 

Notice the peg holes on the arms and legs that go back to the original Red Frame and Blue Frame era figures.

 

Posing together with the MBF-P03 Astray Blue Frame (Full Weapon) and MBF-P02 Astray Red Frame (Flight Unit) from 2016 (figures EX 11 and EX 10 respectively).

 

 

243 : MSR-00100S Hyaku-Shiki Kai

 

The Hyaku-Shiki Kai is an upgrade of the classic golden Hyaku-Shiki with additional weapons and a completely redesigned wing binder assembly with more powerful thrusters. The suit belongs to the Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam Mobile Suit Variation line together with its mass production type variation.

 

Just like the basic Converge Hyaku Shiki the improved machine looks excellent, with metallic greys and golds and a really nice dark red for detail. The new binder assembly itself is painted in a flat dark blue and is ironically the least eyecatching detail. More prominent is the redesigned large head which is a bit reminiscent of the Qubeley.

 

The Hyaku Shiki Kai figure comes with a beam rifle as its single equipment (and an antenna that you can easily lose so consider gluing it in place). The Kai has a bigger range of equipment available to it, such as a Beam Gatling Cannon for example. You can see the attachment ports on top of the shoulders but these are not functional on the Converge figure, that accessory was saved for the Mass Production Type figure only.

 

Development line showing the MSN-001 Delta Gundam, MSN-001A1 Delta Plus, MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki, MSR-00100S Hyaku-Shiki Kai and MSR-00100S Hyaku-Shiki Kai Mass Production Type.

 

 

244 : MSR-00100S Hyaku-Shiki Kai Mass Production Type

 

The mass production variant of the Hyaku Shiki Kai loses the entire wing binder assembly and sticks with a shoulder mounted 6-tube launcher with rather undefined properties. The Converge figure gets to keep the Beam Rifle however.

 

If someone remembers the Mobile Suit Ensemble review we did of the Hyaku Shiki Kai you might also recall that I was disappointed there was no optional backpack included in the Mass Production option parts suite. The Converge figure gets this right and as a result the figure feels that much more complete.

 

The Mass production type figure comes with already mentioned beam rifle and shoulder mounted launcher. The launcher will only fit on the right shoulder. It would have been nice to see an optional empty right hand included with the figure since the Mass Production Type machine is often presented without a hand held weapon.

 

Since the Hyaku Shiki Kai is such a rare figure, here is a comparison with a very fully decked out machine from Mobile Suit Ensemble. :)

 

 

 

245 : ORB-01 Akatsuki Gundam (Shiranui Space Pack)

 

The Akatsuki was one of the early Converge Sharp releases and has seen a price increase on the secondary market to around ¥1000 at the time of writing. I ave actually been surprised to see some figures I expected to be kind of rare crumble on the secondary market but the Akatsuki seems to be one of the more sought after ones. Good thing then that it returns to Converge in a more extravagant form than before.

 

Being another one of those all-gold designs the Akatsuki was the easiest prediction to make for the Converge Gold set. While I think mixed colour figures like the Astray Gold Frame are more interesting there is no denying that this figure looks awesome. It has just enough black and red detail to make it look interesting and the multi-coloured shield is especially pleasing to the eye. It is strange however that the beam rifle does not also receive a metallic paint job.

 

Man, there is a lot going on with the Shiranui Space Pack. The backpack features seven remote type weapons like those on the Providence Gundam or the Strike Freedom for use in space. Assembly seemed a bit daunting without instructions but if you just take it piece by piece and study each peg closely you will find that it can be done fairly easily after all.

 

Here the two Akatsukis pose next to each other. While there is no denying that the new figure is impressive I think I prefer the original Oowashi Sky Pack-equipped figure. The old figure's design feels more balanced and not so over the top.

 

 

246 : GF13-017NJ Shining Gundam (Hyper Mode)

 

The last figure in the set was a chance to set things right for the Shining Gundam.While we have already seen the God Gundam and the Master Gundam receive gold colour versions the Shining Gundam was missing out; this has now been fixed.

 

The Shining Gundam figure is the one that resembles a previous Converge figure the most, but it does receive a brand new hand sculpt for the right hand which is a nice touch. I wouldn't have minded an optional gold coloured clenched fist as optional gear however, after all the part is already available.

 

Traditionally the G Gundam suits never seem to come with any real accessories. It would have been cool to see the Shining Gundam with a drawn sword for example.

 

The Original Super Mode Shining Gundam figure was released as part of Converge #10 in March 2018. If you want you can of course swap out its right hand for that of the new figure to give it the Shining Finger attack.

 

All the three gold colour versions of the Mobile Suit G Gundam machines available in the Converge line-up. Will we ever get to see any of the other fighters?

 

 

 

Conclusion

 

There is no doubt here; I think that the Gold Edition set is a brilliant addition to your Converge collection. I am especially impressed that FusionWorks and Bandai went through the trouble to redesign existing figures to come up with all these new variations. Compare these to the upcoming 10 Year Anniversary sets of bog standard Gundams with a little bit of metallic paint on them and the difference is enormous.