Custom part 19 is the penultimate outing of the classic SD figure series as we know it and perhaps at this point Bandai had started to experience profitability problems. As the series folded in early 2009 we saw a couple of experimental brands like Impact and Bind which disappeared jut as quickly as they had arrived. When Gashapon SD figures returned again in the form of the Gashapon Warrior NEXT series in December 2010 the figures had grown in size, begun getting rudimentary articulation and of course doubled in price to ¥200.
The Full Color series saw 20 main sets and a couple of specials and at this stage in its lifetime the number of shenanigans pulled by Bandai to milk it for all its worth can be seen in a couple of the figures. I get the feeling that the last couple of figures were being stretched out and released to make it to 20, padding the line-up with some clear colour reused molds along the way. Whatever the reason, the set came out in the summer of 2008 and saw a total of 10 different figures, sold in Gashapon vending machines for the humble price of ¥100.
Overall, I would say that the Full Color Custom figures are much rarer on the secondary market than their spiritual ancestors from the SD Full Color line. I hadn't managed to spot any of these figures before coming across a full set on Mandarake in 2019 or actually three different "full" sets. You see I had to buy three full sets of 8 figures each, it appears that three of the 10 figures were distributed at a higher rarity, effectively one rare for every 3 common figures. While I do not have any proof of this beyond this single observation (Bandai actively discourages the selling figures in sets as we all know) it would not surprise me in the least.
I have tried here to illustrate the contents of each package, the gaps showing how seven of the figures occur in each set while the other three are spread out. I have had other sellers offer me "A" and "B" version sets of Gashapon Warrior NEXT before, but this is the first time I have come across it in the SD Full Color Custom era.
As clearly seen here, it wasn't enough that the Full Color Custom line produced three complete clear colour-sets on their own; these figures crept into the regular sets more and more as well.
181 : GNX-603T GN-X
The set starts off with one of my favourites straight off the bat. The GN-X series of mobile suits is a typical adversary mass-production family of machines that gets far less love than it deserves. In Gashapon form you have to make do with the figure you see here as well as the larger GNX-803T GN-XIV which sits in Gashapon Warrior NEXT 02 and I really wish they were everywhere because they look great. Perhaps if the Gundam Collection 1:400 line hadn't folded when it did, we could have seen some really nice things happen in its 00-themed set. As a GN-X fan you have to make do with the scale kits or the large Robot Spirits figure line which has an impressive line-up although they seem relatively sought after, something reflected in their prices and availability on the secondary market.
The SD figure looks great and I wish it was easier to find more of them. It is a nice clean design and has a bright beam saber and good facial detail, not much else to ask for here except perhaps a rifle option, it does have two holding hands after all.
182 : MSJ-06II-ET Tieren Space Commander Type (Sergei Smirnov use)
The Tieren-family of suits fits the same purpose as the GN-X I guess; something for the heroes to target and dispose of recklessly. Having said that, the Tieren, while also being very rare, at least has a couple of Gashapon appearances. The Full Color Custom line has five different types of which you can see four on display here. The 1:400 line also has three different types while a couple of them are also scattered among the larger non-deformed Gashapon lines such as HGCORE and G-Flex.
Seen here from left to right are the A-series Ground Type and E-series Space Type (both from Full Color Custom 14), the SP-type Tieren Taozi (FCC 17) and the Space Commander Type from this set. Missing from the line-up is the C-series High Mobility Type from volume 16. Notice how the shoulder shields can also double as offensive knuckle shield equipment much like those used by the Zaku-family.
183 : GNW-001 Gundam Throne Eins (clear purple ver.)
Right, so here we come to the first of the three figures that this set seems to be so coy about. It is, as you can see, an exceptionally tasty looking variation on the Gundam Throne Eins in a colour that I would translate to black-currant flavour. All of the three secret Throne figures hail from Full Color Custom volume 16 which I sadly do not own so I cannot do a proper comparison. The figure comes with both a GN Rifle as well as its large GN Launcher which is attached to the backpack reminiscent of the GM Cannon but it can also be handheld if you so prefer.
184 : GNW-002 Gundam Throne Zwei (clear orange ver.)
Next up is Throne Zwei with a distinct Orange Marmalade pattern. It has a GN Handgun attached on the underside of the left arm and an enormous GN Buster Sword for encounters up close and personal. When not in use the sword can be stored on the right shoulder.
I do find that most of these oversize weapons rarely translate that well into the SD format, it mostly looks like a cluttered mess. It would be great to see this Gundam troika handled with a bit more finesse. Imagine what a Converge CORE or Ensemble triple-pack could look like. :)
185 : GNW-003 Gundam Throne Drei (clear red ver.)
The last member of the notorious team comes in raspberry flavour. You immediately notice its awkward pose as the GN Handgun it uses sticks out quite far, propping up the left side of the figure into the air. You can rectify this by pulling back the arm but it sort of limits the playability of the figure, perhaps I just got a bad copy. Some of you may also think that hang on, according to the lore, the GN Handgun equips to the right arm for Throne Drei. That may well be so, but this is how the figure came delivered and the weapon is held really well in its grip - so well that I fear the handlebar might snap if I try to pull it out, so left hand it is. :)
186 : ZGMF-X11A Regenerate Gundam
We are back to solid colours - and solid mobile suit choices too. The Regenerate Gundam is SEED Astray R MSV-design of sorts that can trace its lineage back through the mighty Raider Gundam to the Aegis. The SD format really cannot do justice to this imperial looking machine on its limited 100 yen budget and can I secretly dream for it as P-Bandai Ensemble release now with all the majestic SEED designs they released as of late?
Seen from left to right are the GAT-X303 Aegis, the GAT-X333 Raider Full Specification (that has never got a figure and so we see the classic black GAT-X370 Raider below) and the impossibly overblown design of the ZGMF-X11A Regenerate. I wouldn't necessarily want to go to war in such a machine but it sure does look pretty.
187 : ZGMF-X19A Infinite Justice Gundam (clear red ver.)
Still not done with the clear figures it seems... here we get yet another reissue in tasty jelly form. This particular figure was first seen in full colour (you now, hence the name of the figure series..?) form in FCC volume 09. It is actually the second version of the Infinite Justice which has a rather similar looking figure out in volume 02, seen below for comparison.
While the new figure lacks the beam saber effect part from the version one figure this second incarnation instead has a deployable Fatum-01 unit that can also be attached in flight mode to the suit. I think the version one figure would have worked better as a jelly treatment-figure because now everything mostly resembles a red blob anyway.
188 : TMF/A-803 LaGOWE
Without a doubt the least favourite figure from this set has to be the new LaGOWE figure. It is simply a massive downgrade from the original SD Full Color figure in every way. it doesn't even get the colour correct and the proportions are absolutely hideous. It is a massive head on legs; what is this - Disney's Mandalorian all over again?
I guess if you want to be charitable you can say that the FCC figure takes up less space in storage or on a really crowded gaming board but other than that the original Full Color Stage 41 figure from 2003 is the way to go.
The Full Color Custom series did good work in covering the TMF/A-series with four different mchines of which I have only managed to find two (yeah, the FCC figures are a pain in the neck to source...) but it appears they are all of the same tiny type. Seen in this comparison is "Waltfeld's Custom" TMF/A-802P-Mod.W BuCUE (from FCC 06), a regular TMF/A-802 BuCUE from SD Full Color Stage 40, the old TMF/A-803 LaGOWE from Full Color STage 41 and the new TinyGOWE.
189 : MS-05B Zaku I (Poison gas equipment)
Got to throw something in for the Universal Century lovers too, right? How about a Zaku I with a dual Poison Gas Launcher perfect for clearing out Ottaw... I mean, troublesome colonies. The figure has a spare old-type Zaku Machine Gun too and each weapon fits on the backpack so you can mix and match things to your preference.
The fact that this Zaku I comes packing heat makes it the most versatile of all the variant figures released in SD form, while perhaps not the most attractive. Imagine if Sunrise had drawn a Zaku Machine Gun in the Papua hangar from where Commander Gadem launched his mobile suit, then we would have had a lot more gear for our figures. Funny how things turn out, isn't it?
190 : RX-93-v2 Hi-Nu Gundam
When was the last time you saw the Hi-Nu Gundam whisked away to the jumbo slot of a figure set; usually it is the one fronting the entire wave. Just like the regenerate Gundam it suffers a bit from the 100 yen sales price, it could definitely do with some more colour applications. Having said that I find it amazing that this is the only incarnation of this well known mobile suit in the entire SD Full Color Range (well, there is a silver colour variant of the same mold floating about too). The machine has since got itself some nice incarnations in the Gashapon Warrior NEXT and Senshi Forte families but this particular figure is pretty forgettable.
Conclusion
Full Color Custom 19 is a bit of a mixed bag and all over the place in its concept. While I do not particularly appreciate the mixing in of clear colour figures (some with apparent higher rarity) it at least features a couple of really solid mass production types which is always a plus in my book.
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