Gashapon HG Mobile Suit Selection 28

Today we are looking at the 28th of 40 volumes of Gashapon HG figurines. The set is unique among the basic 40 in that it is completely dedicated to Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, the wave released in the summer of 2003 as the series was nearing its conclusion. I would classify the set as one of the lesser seen waves of the Gashapon HG series but the prices don't really reflect it. I picked up a second full set as recently as this autumn priced at only ¥1000.


The HG figures continued to evolve during their lifetime and at this point in the series the figures have become quite complex with multiple components and articulation points that unfortunately also have to fit within a tiny Gashapon capsule. Bent parts continues to be the biggest nemesis of Gashapon figures even to this day.


Each figure in this set typically comes in a couple of smaller plastic bags, with the components more or less separated. This is how the figures came out of their packaging this time around but you will see individual differences, sometimes a component will be attached to one figure but loose on another, and you can pick these figures apart even further if you like. Notice how two of the figures do not get any support for their legs and that the Freedom gets one of the standardized flying bases used across this figure series (and a few related ones).



GAT-X370 Raider Gundam


The booklet has the Freedom on the front cover but not inside so I will start with the figure at the front, which just so happens to be one of my absolute favourites as well... The Raider figure is quite complex with a lot of things going on but when all is assembled it still comes off in a rather static pose. It suffers from bent cannon syndrome here and there but overall has great colouring even with little yellow splotches on the wing tips. This set is the only source for two of the three Earth Federation "boosted man" suits (the Forbidden Gundam is too big to fit in a capsule and sold as a Gashapon HG DX figure) so this is where you need to go to get your fix. There is no mobile armour variant of this figure in the line either.






GAT-X131 Calamity Gundam


Next up is the very uniquely coloured Calamity. For a cheap Gashapon figure the paintjob is outstanding, just look at that shield. A pity then that yours may end up really bent coming out of the capsule. The packaging for these sizable figures with lots of elongated components can be a bit of a nightmare. I sold off my first copy of this figure since the shield was just too bent for my liking. A small leg support is included with the figure but if yours comes out with unbent legs it shouldn't need one (more on that later...).






ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam


The Freedom premiered in volume 27 and follows it up immediately with this flying version. It returns once more on a flying base in volume 33 with its railguns extended. After that three variants of the Strike Freedom would follow. I really like the pose of this figure but the wings will almost certainly take a beating from the packaging. I may try to place it under pressure for some time but it isn't unusual for the plastic to slowly warp back again to its original state. Some sort of material memory if you will. Packaging issues aside, it is pretty impressive what Bandai can do with a cheap capsule figure.






GAT-X103 Buster Gundam


The Buster Gundam is up next and I can already hear your thoughts, how on Earth is that thing going to come out straight from a capsule? Yeah, let's just say I have seen mixed results and that I ended up with a rather good and looking figure here, the bazooka is straight and the feet stand flat. When Gashapon HG delivers you get great mini-figures that can be used for all sorts of dioramas or gaming needs.






GAT-X207 Blitz Gundam


The Blitz Gundam is rarely seen in figure form, not because of its Mirage Colloid stealth system but for reasons known only to Bandai. This particular pose is very dynamic but my figure is borderline dealing with it. The legs are a bit bent as you can see and this raises the feet from the ground and making this thing fairly easy to topple over. It does get a large leg support that you can use but I never appreciated those things, the base plate thing that Converge has going right now is easier to stomach I think. This figure returns in the SEED Best special edition together with a translucent plastic colour variant to represent the Mirage Colloid system at work. I haven't yet opened up the packaging of those two, hopefully they will be a little bit more stable in their feet.






MBF-M1 Astray


The last figure in this lot is the unlucky Orb Union mass production type that got pretty much crushed in most of the scenes it was featured in (a frustrating fate that it shares with the Windam). We have a very spindly looking figure with a huge shield and backpack but no leg support is included. Due to constantly skipping leg-day both my figures have problems with thin and bent legs and just won't stand up unaided. Rather than stealing someone else's leg support (which will often be a poor match) I just put something behind it for this review. I consider putting it on a clear base or something to that effect but haven't made the decision yet.





Conclusion

Although I harp and moan about the figure quality a lot in this review I really adore these little figures. There are means to rectify some of their issues but sometimes it might be easier to just look for a replacement figure with a better posture. The good news is that Gashapon HG figures are usually quite cheap, the bad news that they are becoming more difficult to find. Another word of caution is to treat second hand items in used toy stores with a bit of extra scrutiny, sometimes they are missing key components that even the seller will probably have no idea about.