Bandai Ultimate Solid Mobile Suit Gundam

Today's chosen item is a bit of an oddball appearance. I encountered it by chance and became curious since I had never heard of the product line before. After a bit of research I am not really that much wiser. I know that Bandai uses the Ultimate Solid name for some of their Kamen Rider figures and they love to throw in the word Ultimate in a lot of their figures lines in general. The Gundam-themed Ultimate Solid set however appears to be a one-off. It was released as a Gashapon capsule set in late 2008 and is generally compatible with the Gashapon HG and related lines, which places the minis in what amounts to roughly 1:280 scale.

Now, if we are to believe Hobbylink Japan's product blurb Bandai put together this set themed around artwork by Naochika Morishita. I checked the name and found a lot of nice images but I don't really see a general connection to these particular figures so not entirely convinced. The text on the booklet only partially supports it by crediting the artist for the front cover picture. Anyway... let's take a look at what this set has to offer.


GN-0000 00 Gundam

For a bit of context, I should start by pointing out that Bandai ran a very successful figure series labelled Gashapon HG Mobile Suit Selection between 1995 and 2006. The series featured 40 regular sets as well as a handful of special theme sets. The line spawned a separate boxed DX-line which produced four sets between 2005 and 2006 and was also supported by the Mobile Armor Selection series in 1999-2000 and the Mecha Selection series between 2000 and 2004. Since all of these series folded before Mobile Suit Gundam 00 premiered in 2007 none of these series feature suits from the Anno Domini timeline. However, a Gashapon HG spin-off series called HG C.O.R.E. addressed this in its short but intense run between 2007 and 2008. Still, the 00 never featured in that series either. This fact alone makes this figure very interesting from a collection point of view.


As you can see from the images the figures in this set go heavy on paint detail and weathering effects. Perhaps this is where they take their inspiration from Morishita. Weathering is pretty much unheard of in the previously mentioned Gashapon lines and so this ups the realism considerably even though it is almost cranked up to eleven here. I am not sure if it is related to the paints used but I have noticed that the figures in this set are very prone to falling apart compared to their sturdier older cousins. I might resort to gluing them for peace of mind although this is impractical from a storage perspective.


As usual the parts-shots used here illustrate how the figures came out of their packaging. You can continue to pick them apart beyond what is shown here but it will give you a fair idea of their overall complexity. As is also evident, the plastic is mainly of the bendy sort common in Gashapons from this era. Very durable but also a source for annoyance since you will have to deal with bent weapons and such from time to time. So, why are there two figures on this picture? Well it is because there is also a "secret version" of this figure that looks like this:


Yeah, I know, not super-exciting. Basically the GN Swords are now held in Rifle Mode. It sure would have been more exciting if the figure was in Trans-Am colours instead but you take what you can get.

Side-by-side comparison between the regular and the secret versions of the figure. While all the figures in this set have alternate variants shown in the booklet this is the only one with a blackened silhouette and the words secret version printed next to it. Notice also the clip-on bases that help the figures stand upright. These are a common sight in Gashapon from this era and always equally ugly. Luckily you rarely need to use them.


While not exactly a fair comparison I still think it is interesting to see this Gashapon next to a high-quality 00 from Bandai's STANDart Shokugan line. The paintjob on these Gashapons is not bad at all.


RX-78-2 Gundam

Up next is the RX-78 from the front of the booklet cover. I tried to find a similar picture somewhere on the Internet, figuring it would be perhaps famous box art or such but didn't manage to find anything resembling it. I would be very surprised if the artwork was commissioned for this set so it is probably out there somewhere...


While I am usually not too excited about the RX-78 in figure form I have to say this is one of the better looking ones. The pose is great and I like the heavy gray-tinting of the basic fuselage does wonders for it, kind of like the Real-Type versions that I usually also prefer. Bonus points for painting the targeting camera on the Beam Rifle and painting the back of the shield a nice dark gray colour. Job well done.


Here you can get a basic idea of the articulation of the figure. The legs have shaped pegs that forever bind the figure to the same action pose but the waist can spin just like the arms at the shoulders and hands at the wrists.

The optional bazooka weapon also works well with this pose. The weight is balanced nicely by the held out shield. Both options look great.


RX-78-3 Gundam G-3

While not displayed in full in the booklet the G3 Gundam is shown as a small option to the regular RX-78-2 but is still listed as a regular figure. I don't know anything about the actual distribution of the figures in the set but I would normally interpret the booklet as featuring all figures in the same frequency except maybe the two 00 Gundam versions which would most likely be split up in A and B packaging versions (meaning one pack would contain one of each figure except for the 00 which would be either the A- or B-type making it somewhat more rare).

What to do with a gray G3 Gundam figure when you have already turned the usually white RX-78-2 gray already? Well, you turn it up one extra notch and so the Ultimate Solid version of the G-3 is a bit darker than you would normally expect. The end result is something that looks almost military utilitarian style.


Parts-wise everything here is the same as the RX-78-2, so unlike the two 00 Gundam variants you don't get any weapon variations. While it could have been nice if one of them had an alternate weapon - say a beam saber - it would probably look weird considering the outstretched weapon arm and so I think it is better this way.


I really like the muted colours on this G-3, it looks even better from behind. Here it poses with the Hyper Bazooka which is also darker than the one used by the other RX-78 figure in this set.


The stands used by the RX-78 figures would perhaps not be so hideous if they were molded in clear plastic. I don't really understand Bandai's philosophy here since some of the early Gashapon HG figures featured clear stands and supports so surely it could have worked here as well? Perhaps the painting budget just got in the way of such extra frills.


ZGMF-X56S/α Force Impulse Gundam

Next up we have a mobile suit from SEED Destiny and the Cosmic Century Era, this set is all over the place. It is a bit of an odd choice since you would normally find the Aile Strike in this slot but perhaps Morishita has done a particularly nice illustration of the Force Impulse.


While I did think that the whole Impulse Gundam concept was just a lazy rehash of the Strike Gundam (and one of the many problems with Destiny) I have to give credit where due, this figure looks fantastic. The figure is incredibly well balanced where all of the components interact beautifully. It is easily my favourite figure from this set.

If you want to, you can remove the Silhouette Flyer Pack and transform the figure into a basic Impulse Gundam. There is also an optional weapon available in the package, an enormous MMI-710 Excalibur Anti-ship Laser Sword. You would normally expect to see a pair of these on the Sword Impulse Gundam variant (and man, I would have loved to see that figure in Ultimate Solid form) but here it is.

The sword has a nice laser cutting edge effect painted onto it but as is often the case with these large Cosmic Era weapons in Gashapon form, the blade is a bit bent. The pose is a little bit awkward also, I would much have preferred a proper Sword Silhouette Pack. I just love the Sword Impulse Gundam and its rival Sword Calamity which is even cooler (Gundam Converge form, where are you?).

If you also thought that this figure looked familiar it is because it has been mostly recycled from the Gashapon HG figure line (the Excalibur sword is actually new). The Force Impulse debuted there in its traditional white colours in December 2004 as part of volume 35. The original figure is already very attractive in its own right but the Ultimate Solid treatment is superb.


MS-09 Dom (Units 12, 25 and 60)

This set just gets weirder with each passing entry. I did not expect a set that started out with iconic Gundam-type mobile suits to end on a trio of Dom aggressors. This line sure had potential too bad we only got to see a single set because I would have been really curious to find out what they would have dreamed up for volume two.


While these Dom figures stay more true to their original colours than the Gundam figures the colour palette is somewhat muted and a bit more realistic. Most of the weathering appears to be on the back of the legs from excessive use of those booster jets I assume. The three machines are alike except for their individual machine numbers which translate to the personal steeds of Lt. Gaia, Mash and Ortega, better known as the Black Tri-Stars.

Each figure has the same basic armament. A large bazooka in hand and a heat saber stowed on the back. These thin sabers are no match for the forces of a Gashapon capsule and so are bent beyond recognition. You will have your work cut out for you if you want to straighten them out. It is the only real major issue with this set and many are the Gashapon figures with this problem. Sometimes I wonder why Bandai insists on repeating this sin.


There are many Dom variants released through the original Gashapon HG line. Here the Ultimate Solid figure poses with one of the smaller ones, a Rick Dom from volume 8 (released in 1998) and a large Beam Bazooka equipped Rick Dom from the 2004 limited edition set. s you can see, Gashapon HG can be quite liberal with its relative figure scaling.


Conclusion

The Ultimate Solid selection is an interesting figure set for those who enjoy collecting the Gashapon HG figures and the 00 Gundam is especially interesting since it adds a new mobile suit type to the line-up. However, the size of these figures aren't really compatible with any other figure types on the market and so will be of limited interest to everyone else.

Gundam Converge : RX-78F00 Gundam (Gundam Factory Yokohama Limited ver.)

Unless you have been sleeping under a rock for a while you are familiar with the live-size RX-78 that is parked at the Gundam Factory at Yokohama's Yamashita Pier. Open for visits by the public since December 2020 it will supposedly remain in place until March 2022 which is going to cut it a bit tight if you are planning to visit it, considering current travel restrictions. But don't you worry; Bandai has you covered - with a gazillion commemorative products that have infested the Gunpla product range and even the Converge figure line is now graced by its presence.


The Prototype Gundam from Yokohama factory, with its cute RX-78-F00 designation stumbled into the Converge figure range in December 2020 as a Gundam Factory exclusive. It has so far been reasonably rare on the secondary market. I picked one up from Mandarake this March for ¥2500 which is a significant climb from the original ¥1650 factory price. I really enjoyed the colourful boxart and it is nice to see a motif with a blue sky rather than the usual space backdrop. At the same time, the box also feels rather thin and flimsy compared to your average Converge EX product.


I actually did not expect to see a chewing gum included with this figure, as a Yokohama Gundam Factory exclusive they are free to sell it just however they want. :)


As you can see, the majority of the components are parts for the docking cage which you will have to assemble according to the instructions. All the parts for the dock are flat grey plastic, it would have been nice to see a quick wash or a little bit of extra detail here.


We'll take a look at the included RX-78 figure first. It isn't terribly interesting really and most of you probably own a couple of these already. FusionWorks have recycled the new sculpt from Converge #08 (released in October 2017) and given it a repaint with some new markings and metallic colour. The figure of course features the Beam Rifle, Bazooka and Shield of the original release. However, since the figure is intended to stand in its dock unarmed i think Bandai should have considered developing an empty right hand for the figure rather than just including the standard holding hand. This is a cost cutting effort of course but still kind of lame since in my opinion the original figure should have received also a weapon holding hand for the left side (it is bound to come out once they want to do the Final Battle version anyway).


The F00 carries some unique markings on its shoulders including a pair of position lights. It also has a couple of metallic colour specks painted on its front skirt and mudguards and the Vulcan Guns now have yellow sockets.


Side by side comparison together with the original Converge #08 release (left), the CORE version from March 2018 (center) and the Yokohama version (right). This line-up will soon be joined by the ten year-anniversary version which will feature gold paint on some of the yellow sections. Notice also how the basic blue colour shifts notably from release to release.


Right, so the main point of interest of this release is the factory cage itself. As you can see from this image, you will have a lot of nub marks in very obvious places that you'll want to address.


The cage features three separately moving docking arms that can swing outward. There is plenty of space inside for the RX-78F00 to lounge about casually as long as you do not attempt to gear it up. Notice the weapon holding hand on the right side that I mentioned earlier. At least it will be partially obscured by the docking arms but from an aesthetic point of view it nearly ruins the entire set-up. Bandai pulls this half-hearted crap far too often in my opinion.


So how does the docking cage compare with some other figures? Since there isn't much to write about in this package I decided to see how it checks out with some other figures. You'll quickly discover that while suitable for Converge use beyond the RX-78 itself there are a lot of figures that will not fit comfortable inside the dock. In the example above, the Zaku I is doing just fine but the Gogg will have to stay put outside and that is not exactly a gigantic Converge figure. For a more generous cage check out the Banpresto Mobile Suit Factory line instead, you can see an example of that set-up it in the Cold War Report.


The cage actually works reasonable well for some of the more slender mobile Suit Ensemble figures like this Stark Jegan but is unfortunately completely useless for the wide figures in the MicroWars series which is a shame since this accessory would be perfect for them with their opening hatches and articulated crew.


Looking at fully proportioned mobile suit figures a couple of the Gashapon ranges could be suitable for cage. Here we have a Gashapon HG Guncannon II which is roughly 1:285 and a smaller 1:300 scale Zaku II from the Strategy of Gundam series.


Your first instinct might be to convert this cage into Unicorn use. Well, you can forget about the 1:220 scale figures since they are much too tall to fit inside, however you could remove the roof of the cage if you really wanted to. Seen here is an Assault Kingdom 1:220 Unicorn 02 Banshee as well as a typical Evangelion Gashapon figure, in this case Unit 02'y from Bandai's Evangelion Neo ACT series.


Here we try to repurpose the cage for use with a Valkyrie Battroid from Bandai's old Macross 3rd Mission series that barely fits, and a small SEIKA Sharpener style EVA Unit 00 which also just barely fits inside.


A couple of the Battroids from the Kaiyodo VFC series are a decent fit for the cage but forget about repurposing it for your Wizkids Mechwarrior figures since their bases do not fit inside.

Overall, I am not all that impressed with this figure. While I do realize that this is a simple cash grab much like all the other Yokohama Version model kits that are erupting into Bandai's product catalogue I think FusionWorks could have spent a bit of extra effort here, the lack of an optional right hand being the main disappointment.

The latest Gundam Converge news...

Bandai's Converge ten year anniversary keeps going and the development team recently dropped a minor explosive piece of news; they are developing yet another Converge figure line. Shortly after the birth of the #Plus line featuring figures not realizable within the traditional 500 yen price limit it went for larger or more elaborate designs priced at ¥900. Now we can say hello to the latest concept; FW Gundam Converge SB where "SB" stands for Space Battleship. Yes, it is time to branch out into the warships segment, an area that has been dead for the past couple of years as far as release go. This however, will be with a Converge-style super deformation take on the idea.

Converge SB will be a strict Premium Bandai-affair which just goes to show just how much of a niche-market spaceship miniatures are. There was the MegaHouse Cosmo Fleet line that ran between 2007 and 2012 which produced many wonderful miniatures that are hard to come by these days but even that extensive line was only really able to dip its toes into the wonderfully heterogeneous world of Gundam-themed spaceships. I don't know exactly how accurate the Google Translate effort was in decoding this announcement but it suggests that "it will be a series ... which has a lineup of 'battleships' that were active in the 'Mobile Suit Gundam' series!". Depending on how you read this translation you can interpret it as a short series of ships related to the original television series only. Another interpretation could be the most significant and well recognizable "battleships" that have been visible in the various series; think White Base, Albion, Argama, Ra Cailum and so on. Either way it seems I should get my hopes up for the Alexandria or Kusanagi to sail in on the screen any time soon.

Converge SB ships will apparently not stray too far from the regular mobile suit figures which makes sense from a collecting and price-tag perspective. This of course makes it a bit awkward to pose the ships next to the mobile suits (it would be worse trying to do it next to the larger mobile armors such as the Neo Zeong or Neue Ziel) but it can probably work if the ship sit in the background. As much as I love warships (and keep hunting down those expensive resin kits) this series looks like it will have to fight a bit of an uphill battle to reach success. Personally I would have appreciated an awakening of the CosmoFleet series where old ships could have been reissued next to new ones that didn't make it the first time around.

Alexandria, when?

So far the only announced vessel is the SCV-70 White Base (which is also one of my least favourite Gundam-themed ship of all time) and I will be looking forward to see what is announced next. If the series goes Musai and Salamis my interest will be be piqued but something like the Nahel Argama and Ra Cailum seems more likely. The White Base is currently open for pre-order and has a price tag of ¥4950. Delivery is scheduled for August.

The SB figures will come with simple flat bases but Bandai takes the opportunity to plug their generic Shokugan figure stands in the same post. These will set you back another five thousand yen which is rather pathetic. But if you have the money to spend, sure...

Lastly just a reminder about two of the upcoming projects also running the campaigns right now. The Converge #Plus02 line-up is expected to ship in July and the new collector boxes which have also been plugged for Converge (Bandai sure is milking it hard right now) are expected to be delivered in June. On the lower end of the spectrum, Converge #21 should be out pretty much any day now. Good, old retail figures... :)