Assault Kingdom EX 02 : MS-06R-1A Zaku II High Mobility Type (Black Tri-Star Color)

This July saw the release of the second special pack in the Assault Kingdom series, and boy does it give the whole figure line an awesome boost! Apart from the fact that the Black Tri-Stars are always sought after, this triple-pack with all its optionals is quite simply the best product to come out of the Assault Kingdom line so far. Bandai have really gone out of their way to create a truly customizable figure set which at the same time really raises the bar for future releases. If only STANDart was up to this customization level...

Anyway, this set has probably not passed by that many Gundam fans unnoticed. I myself had been itching to get it once it was announced and now, with the figures in hand, I dare say it was easily worth the wait. The way this set expands the figure line is just tremendous. I myself can't wait for more Zeon forces to join the line but with the Black Tri-Star pack I will at least be able to overlook the fact that the next set will contain nothing but hero Gundam units...

This Zaku triple-pack comes in a small (14 x 11 x 6 cm) cardboard box similar to those used for the Gundam Converge SP-packs, and it is filled to the brim with utensils for bringing the troika to life. The three figures come in the same multi-compartment type of plastic bags as used in the normal figure line, except the three bazookas which are wrapped in a protective bubble bag.

Apart from the three figures themselves, the package contains a multi-part action base which can be assembled by following some illustrations on the inside of the box. While I personally do not bother with these action bases so much can be said, that this one consists of a two-part flat tile which is placed in a sloping fashion on top of four legs. Three multi-part arms of varying length can then be pegged to the base by choosing from nine available holes. Each arm can attach to one figure, allowing for it to take a flying or similar pose without needing to balance it on the ground. It is worth to note however, that the the three figures only have three points where you can attach it to the action base, there is a hole under each sole and one on the skirt-back, somewhat more limited than many of the figures in the Assault Kingdom line. Considering that the peg on the skirt-back is also used to carry the bazooka if not in use, this brings the available slots down to only two.

Alright, enough moaning about the action base. What will really get you going is this lot of accessories. Just look at that picture, you would be forgiven to think this was an MSIA action figure, or at the very least a HCM Pro figure. Each Zaku is given a complete set of weapons, and there are a total of sixteen hands (strangely enough all types are replicated in three except for the left hand forward leaning grip) to choose from. Interestingly, unit 03 which has the typical Zaku leader antenna has been given an alternate helmet without antenna which can be used instead if you so choose.

The figures can be loaded out way beyond any reasonable capacity. Apart from placing one or two weapons in their hands, you can also fit spare weapons on each Mobile Suit by pegging them into one of three available slots. As already mentioned, the skirt-back has a larger hole which can be used to attach the figure to the action base, or to place the unused bazooka on the figure's back, as is commonly seen in many figure lines.

A novel touch which appears in the Assault Kingdom line for the first time is the two small holes on each figure's hips. These can be used to peg a Heat Hawk (which is a fancy word for an axe with a high temperature blade) and/or the ZMP-50 120mm machine gun to the figure. Admittedly, once you start pegging weapons to the figure front, right and center, the articulation will become more limited with all the gear obstructing movements, but this of course is an acceptable feature.

Spaghetti western-style: These three Zakus are fully loaded with extra weapons.

Speaking about articulation, the three mobile suits feature great if not fantastic articulation at all the expected joints. You can rotate many of them 360 degrees as long as the limbs don't run into something hanging in the way, like a pegged weapon or the shoulder shield for example. The skirts are made from soft plastic and can be bent gently for some extra room for the legs to move more freely.

Still, the forward motion of the thigh is somewhat limited and the feet don't twist side to side, which makes it difficult to create a kneeling stance. Apart from this there is nothing to complain about, and you will be able to come up with a lot of interesting poses for the figures, especially when you utilize the action base components.

Below are some comparison shots to other similar Zaku figures. The first image shows the red standard Zaku II which was released in the second volume of regular Assault Kingdom figures this June. As you can see the two figures share many similarities though the red figure is slightly more articulated. Its look is nowhere near as impressive though.

STANDart also featured a Tri-Star figure, number 06 to be precise (STANDart volume 10, July 2011). The two figures are remarkably similar in size and appearance, though of course the STANDart figure has an overall less plastic appearance and finer details. The Assault Kingdom figure still looks very good next to it and has the STANDart figure outclassed on articulation of course.

Lastly a comparison can be made to the old FW Ultimate Operation line figure, which appeared in June 2004. Like most FWUO figures the old counterpart has a strong expression and a lovely chunky design. This is something which is hard for the Assault Kingdom figures to replicate, as they generally need be as slim as possible to allow for more articulation. On the other hand articulation on FWUO:s is generally limited to parts of the arms and a swiveling torso though. Both figures are great in their own right and ultimately it comes down to what you wish to accomplish with your collection.

In conclusion you may already have gathered that this Assault Kingdom triple pack is an absolute mandatory entry into your AK collection. It simply trumphs all the figures that have so far preceeded it, and I look forward to seeing future AK-sets drawing inspiration from its level of customization. Top marks to Bandai for this set, and I recommend you grab it now while it is still fresh and easily available.

Gundam Converge : Operation Jaburo

This Operation Jaburo multipack is an oddity in the Gundam Converge line. Appearing in December 2012 this collection box contains eight previously released mobile suits that all relate to an event described in the original One Year War series storyline. Jaburo is the name of an advanced underground E.F.S.F. facility in South America, which was attacked by Zeon forces in an attempt to destroy or prevent production of new mobile suits. The set contains figures that were typical for both the Earth and Zeon forces operating at the time.

To make this package more interesting to collectors (and at the same time helping to keep the value of long out of production figures intact...) each figure has received certain minor colour modifications. There are no other differences from the original figures that appeared in the standard line, which makes the set fairly redundant for those who have managed to collect these figures previously. However, considering the rarity of some of these figure today, the set should be very interesting for latecomers who would like to have these hard to come by figures in their collection. The Jaburo set is a welcome to those collectors indeed.

The set contains eight figures which come in individual plastic bags similar to those used in the standard Converge boxes. Each figure has the same weapons and/or equipment as you would expect from the original figures as well. As you can see from the image above, some minor assembly is required, especially for the Z'Gok and its delicate claws. Each side receives four figures.

E.F.S.F. forces:
 
RX-78-2 Gundam Real Type - original white version appeared in Converge vol. 1 in November 2010.
RGM-79 G M - Original version appeared in Converge vol. 3 in July 2011.
RX-77-2 Guncannon - Original version appeared in Converge vol. 1 in November 2010.
RX-75 Guntank - Original version appeared in Converge vol. 1 in November 2010.

...and Zeon forces:

MS-06 Zaku II - Original version appeared in Converge vol. 2 in January 2011.
MSM-07S Z’Gok (Char's Custom) - Original version appeared in Converge vol. 3 in July 2011.
MS-07B Gouf - Original version appeared in Converge vol. 2 in January 2011.
MS-09 Dom - Original version appeared in Converge vol. 5 in November 2011.

Below are some comparison shots of how the standard Converge figures differ from their Operation Jaburo counterparts. Unfortunately my own collection at this point contains none of the original E.F.S.F. figures, so I will only be able to compare the Zeon figures right now (this might change in the future if I manage to hunt down the missing figures, good luck with that...).

Comparing the Dom and Z'Gok figures from Operation Jaburo (left) with their original counterparts (right).

Comparing the Gouf and Zaku II figures from Operation Jaburo (left) with their original counterparts (right)

To sum it up I would say that the Jaburo set is a real treasure box for those who collect the One Year figures in particular. It contains several really iconic figures and the updated colour schemes are nice enough to warrant a closer look even if you already have some or all of the original models.

Gundam STANDart vol. 15

STANDart volume fifteen occurred in October 2012 and is truly a set to my liking. It contains a vivid selection of figures and colours, and a good mix between hero units and standard grunt types. This is the type of balance I would like to see in all sets, though of course it should not be expected more than occasionally. At the time of writing, almost a year after the set was made available, several of these figures are still readily available through the online market. The GM Sniper seems to be the most easily found at the moment, and there is where you can probably strike a good deal if you act soon.

As with the later STANDart volumes these figures come in the smaller type cardboard boxes, sandwiched in plastic and with the few loose accessories kept in a plastic bag taped to the plastic container. And since these are shokugan items you can of course look forward to your four pieces of blue gum.

Let's take.a closer look at each figure in the set.

056 : Set opener is the one hero unit of the set, the Sword Strike Gundam (or if you want to be more obtuse and use its full designation, repeat after me; GAT-X105+AQM/E-X02) which is taken from the Mobile Suit Gundam SEED series. It is basically a white gundam with a blue shoulder pauldron and a gigantic sword slung to its back. The figure's articulation is slightly more advanced than a regular STANDart figure but won't exactly impress you. The head tilts from side to side, the arms rotate at the shoulder and the shield arm has an extra rotating joint underneath the shoulder, which allows for some very basic stances. The sword is attached to the backpack and that is where it is going to stay. This is perhaps the most disappointing feature of the figure, as it is just going to stand there silently with its fists clenched at the side. Overall though an attractive and fairly detailed figure.

057 : Next up is the RGM-79SP GM Sniper II, an upgraded and refined version of the standard GM and intended as a cheaper replacement of the original Sniper Custom machine. The Sniper II certainly looks the part with a very attractive blue and cyan colour scheme and a number of small details and stickers in other colours. It resembles the figure issued in the old FW Ultimate Operation series very much and looks great beside it. The figure has some basic rotating features of the head and the shoulders, the shield is pegged to the left arm and the rifle is moulded into the right hand into a carrying posture. Overall a really beautiful entry into the STANDart series.

058 : Rounding out the set are two awesome and imposing looking versions of the Neo Zeon AMS-119 Geara Doga. The green mass production type comes equipped with a beam machine gun and a stowed away beam saber fit on the skirtback. The left arm also has the large shield which is supposed to be able to carry up to four sturm faust rockets on its backside. Just like the old FW Ultimate Operation figure though, the STANDart version somewhat sadly ignores this feature completely, there are no indications that such rockets would even exist. You will have to look to more advanced figures such as the HCM Pro or MSIA action figures for this equipment. Besides this drawback though the Geara Doga looks massive next to the other figures in the set and it weighs almost twice as much. As for articulation you get the standard rotating head and shoulders. One other odd feature about the green version is that the helmet has the hole for the commander unit antenna, surely it would have been easy to make a proper version of the helmet for this figure.

059 : last in the set is the red AMS-119C customized version of the Geara Doga in bright red livery as used by Neo Zeon ace pilot Full Frontal. Apart from the obvious colour cheme change it differs from the green version in that it has a leader type antenna on the forehead and it is wielding a larger beam machine gun. In spite of their shortcomings I feel the two Geara Dogas are absolute requirements for a nice STANDart collection and can easily recommend them. If you are looking for a more advanced (or blue...) Geara Doga though the slightly larger HCM Pro version might be more up your alley.

In conclusion the fifteenth installment of the now long running STANDart series is an easy recommendation, since all figures are really good looking and add variation to the series. As mentioned earlier, do not linger too long, as they are still readily available online but probably not for long.

Comparative size between the three types of figures in STANDart fifteen. From left to right, GM Sniper II (almost 8 cm), Sword Strike Gundam (about 10,5 cm) and Geara Doga (ca 9 cm).

Gundanium Gossip : Latest news from Bandai

Bandai has just announced that the NZ-666 Kshattriya is coming to the Converge line in December this year. The model will be sold under the same designation as used in the Assault Kingdom series, EX01, which represents the first in a series of high-end figures for Converge. The figure will apparently feature alternative and optional parts which can be used to tweak the appearance of the figure into the Kshattriya Besserung version, which is a promising turn for Converge line.

Meanwhile the online vote for the Revive mission continues into its third and last phase. Bandai webpage users have been encouraged to vote on which historical Converge figures they would like to see reissued, and now the vote has taken the list down to ten figures, out of which five will be selected. You need to be a registered user if you wish to take part in the vote.

Gundam Converge 64 : RMS-099 Rick Dias

In this post we will take a closer look at figure 64 of Converge volume 11, which is the one which got a secret makeover in this set. These figures were released in June 2013 and the secret version is a simple colour variation where the regular version of the figure is bright red, brown and gray, and the secret version black and gray. Gundam lore tells us that early units were painted black but that the A.E.U.G. later switched to a red colour scheme. Thus, the only difference between the two figures is the colouring.

Each figure comes equipped with a large clay bazooka which goes over the right shoulder, as is typical for Gundam Converge figures. What is not so common though, is that the hand is not moulded directly onto the bazooka. Instead, the bazooka has a handle which can be slid into the figure's right hand. There is no corresponding opening in the figure's left hand. Apart from the bazooka the mobile suit also has two beam pistols which are stored on the figures backpack and are not intended for use.

However, it is possible to tweak the appearance of your Rick Dias in a way not intended by Bandai. Due to the figure's bulky backpack and body, it is possible to slide in the clay bazooka under the backpack and lock it in place with one of the arms. This simulates the way several Gundams would carry their bazooka on the back when not in use. I have no idea if the Rick Dias was actually capable of this in the show, but it makes for some nice display variation.

Thanks to the fact that the hand is not molded to the bazooka you can also fit one of the beam pistols in the figure's right hand as alternative armament, something very rare for a Gundam Converge figure. If only Bandai would have prepared the left hand for weapons use as well, this would have made a dual wielding of the guns possible and attractive.

Comparing the Converge Rick Dias with the much more detailed versions from the Ultimate Operation series, released in September 2005.

The Rick Dias figure has very limited articulation. When equipped with the clay bazooka the arm cannot be raised that much as the bazooka will bump into the backpack. The head has some very limited side to side movement, 20 degrees or so in total. And with the hands molded directly into the arms they of course also not move. Still, the RMS-099 is a great army builder and a welcome break from all the Gundams, and I can recommend it to all Converge collectors.

Mobile Suits Gundam Ultimate Operation : GM III

I was always predisposed towards army building figures rather than hero units, it gets tiresome seeing all these outlandish hero units crowding in a spot. The Ultimate Operation GM III is a welcome balance for all the Gundams it has to share the collection space with. And better yet, the figure's posability makes it very useful for creating dioramas as we shall see.

Some background story first: The GM III appeared in June 2006 in the set of figures known as FW Ultimate Operation Plus 4 and is thus one of the last figures to be included before the series was taken out of production. In spite of being a regular army type unit it has not been featured much in the series we cover on the blog, it has yet to show up in Converge, and an entry in the Assault Kingdom series seesm most unlikely. However, two versions will be released in the STANDart series volume 18 this very August, though they won't look even half as cool as this one.

Taking a look at the contents of the packaging, you get the figure more or less assembled sitting in a blister with a couple of accessories, namely a battle-scarred shield and an extra left hand. The right hand is molded directly to the figure's only weapon, a standard beam rifle type. The shield has a peg that can fit onto the mobile suit's left wrist, or alternatively, by replacing the open hand with the closed fist the shield can be placed in this hand which enables the GM III to raise the shield in front of it.

As usual with FW Ultimate Operation figures the legs are molded to the lower section of the torso as one piece, and as usual for EFSF units with tiny feet, it has some issues with balance in certain poses. The tors swings at the hip and the shoulders rotate at their joint. The arms also rotate underneath the shoulder, and finally the hands and head can be turned as well. This gives a fair amount of poseability for this figure and with the optional placement of the shield the figure can parry attacks from multiple directions, which together with its overall dynamic pose makes it look pretty convincing.

The shield is the only battle damaged component of the figure. It would have been nice of Bandai to include an optional clean shield for variation. I don't know if the similar shields which come with the FWUO RX-78-2 Gundams are similar enough to be used by the GM III but that might be a possibility which would add more custoization to the figure. An optional open right hand would also have been nice, to make the figure more defenseless following an attack but I guess you can always replace the right hand with something custom.

UPDATE: Now that the Gundam STANDart volume 18 has been released there are two new GM III models available for comparison. Just as the initial suspicions indicated, the STANDart versions of the GM III are nicely detailed but a bit spartan and generally bland when paired with the Ultimate Operation figure. The UO figure features more coloured details and add-on equipment and a really chunky look which mostly makes the STANDart figure look like a half-dressed mannequin.

So, in conclusion; if you are looking for a nice GM to go with the collection the old GM III is an excellent addition to any Ultimate Operation collection.

Gundam STANDart vol. 7

If recent eBay trends are anything to go by, the early STANDart models seem to have become ridiculously rare. This is as far down the history I have been able to complete a set, the seventh wave, dating back to August 2010. As we near the beginning of the series the prices seem to race exponentially toward the sky, so don't expect to see any earlier sets here any time soon... :)

Right... wave seven. Three "white gundams" might not exactly tickle my fancy but then again I came here simply for a Zaku-fix. And oh-boy, STANDart 7 delivers here, with the hopelessly unusual custom Zaku III monster. Having said that, the rest of the figures are really nice too, especially the GP04, but I am getting ahead of myself...

The figures of wave seven come in the early large boxes where each accessory or part has a separate slot in a large plastic blister. This was later done away with as the boxes became smaller and the loose parts found their place into the main blister, or inside a taped-on multi-compartment plastic bag similar to the ones used in the Converge line.

Personally I think the move to smaller boxes was an excellent move. The STANDart figures rarely have more than a few additional pieces to assembly, the plastic bag system works alright and the smaller boxes are a real blessing when it comes to saving storage space.

025 : First out is the oddly named GN-0000 00 Gundam of Mobile Suits Gundam 00 fame. It looks a bit like a souped up Exia and has an attractive blue and white colour scheme with some nice looking details and features in other lively yellows, reds and greens. The figure is armed with a GN Sword type II, in its rifle mode. There is no optional mode for the weapon, and since it is molded directly into the figure's only right hand this is what it is going to use. The figure has fully rotating arms and waist, the shoulder armor being fitted to a backpack. The head can also be tilted sideways but due to the shape of its chest armour movement is rather restricted. Overall a nice looking figure, which is good, considering there are two of them...

025 (special) : Yep, the set also contains a colour variation of the GN-0000 known as the 00 Gundam (Trans-Am). This is not a separate machine or paint-job, but an effect of the use of the mobile suit's Trans-Am System, which generates increased power output and causes the unit to pulsate in a purplish tone. In model terminology, this means that the white colour has been replaced with a faint pink, and the blue parts with dark purple. Although attractive it doesn't really look convincing as a glowing effect. Note that this figure is not a special limited version even though it has a "special" suffix to its catalogue number. It can be somewhat confusing since most of the time, the STANDart "specials" appear next to a set of four figures, and not inside the set.

026 : Now here is the main attraction of this set, the AMX-011S Zaku III Custom, a two-tone green behemoth which looks a bit like a cross-breed between a Zaku II, a Dom and the Sinanju Stein. Although a mass production unit, the S-version is kitted out by ace pilot Mashymre Cello. The figure is massive in all aspects, with beefy legs and body, large armour and a huge skirt which covers the entire legs. On its back sits a compact backpack with two external propulsion tanks. Even the beam rifle looks meaty. As can be expected, articulation suffers a bit from it, the head is stuck in place but the arms rotate freely (the shoulder armour moves independently) and the figure can swing a bit at the waist as well. A really great looking figure which I hope we will see more of in the other product lines as well.

027 : Last figure is the awesome looking RX-78GP04G Gundam GP04G, or "Gerbera" as it is also known. Being a prototype unit it was later developed into the bright red AGX-04 Gerbera-Tetra but the GP04G itself is also a looker even without such unorthodox colour application. Everything about this figure just comes together very nicely. It has attractive colours, lots of interesting and good looking details such as massive fins, a nice shield, lots of colourful vents, thrusters, decals and a mean looking face. It comes armed with an impressive looking long beam rifle which is again molded directly into the hand. The figure has a rotating head, shoulders and waist. If it weren't for the fact that I am a Zaku-lover (and as such biased toward the Zaku III) this figure would easily be the best of this set.

In conclusion, I feel that STANDart set seven has a couple of really outstanding and unusual models worth seeking out, if you come across a good deal remember that you might not get that many chances on this set and go for it!

Comparative size between the three types of figures in STANDart seven. From left to right, 00 Gundam (ca 8 cm), Gundam Gerbera (about 10 cm) and Zaku III Custom (ca 9 cm).