Converge vol. 20 update

The review of Converge Volume 20 has finally been completed with details about the possible figure conversions.

Massive Converge News...

After a rather long quiet Bandai decided to shellshock us with announcements of three up and coming Converge releases. And what release they are! The Converge Reboot can now be considered a fact, there will be no volume 21, instead the new volume #02 is announced. At first look it seems a bit hit and miss. I see 50% old figures (although slightly revamped) but I am wiling to forget all that because finally the Gaplant is coming, and putting a very evil titanic grin on my face in the process! The TR-5 and Barbatos are only icing on that cake. Two variants of Char's Zaku II does seem a bit over the top though, especially since we only just had a Revival figure.

The EX series also continues to expand with a pair of all-in figures, showing similarities to the recent Knight/Musha twin release. The EX09 figure also comes with the 5 year anniversary logo on the promo material.

All three releases are scheduled for March 2016, so start saving up your pennies already, it will be an expensive Converge month!

Gundam Converge vol. 20

Jubilee time! Converge has hit volume 20. Not that this was celebrated by Bandai or Fusion Works in any particular way. The latest incarnation of the series instead continues digging deep into the Gundam history and finding a number of less common designs. The set contains six new figures plus the traditional hidden seventh variation figure, and this time there are also no Revive figures brought back from previous installments.

Most of this review has been ready to go for quite some time now, but the coverage is not fully complete. Although this review will dig in to the respective figures as usual, there is also a parts conversion project to undertake, which has been held back by... bad weather! Shokugan uses daylight for all photography, and we are stuck in the middle of a dark autumn where it has been in rather short supply as of late. The blog entry will be completed once some favourable light conditions enable that photo set to be completed.

Converge 20 is really a rag-tag band of misfits with mobile suits brought in from all over the place. The set was released in late September 2015 and is the last regular figure set of the year. So far there has still been no volume 21 announced, instead we can prepare for more CORE figures as well as the up and coming Converge Reboot (see our separate article about the reboot here). Volume 20 seems likely to be the very last figure set in this line.

There are a couple of less apparent news in the boxes of volume 20 as well. The old plastic bags have been replaced by newtypes which are more see-through and less oily to the touch than the Converge oldtype bags. There is something unusual about the transparent figure support pieces as well, as they look a bit different as well. The last and more humorous oddity is that several figures have been inserted into the bags with their arms raised above their heads, in some weird Hulk Smash-posture.

Right... on to the figures.

114 : First out is the BG-011B Build Burning Gundam, which is a custom build from the Gundam Build Fighters Try anime. Here both kids and adults battle in a Gundam world tour pitting people's custom built toys against each other in a sort of virtual reality environment generated by mysterious Plavsky particles... Well, in short it is an excuse to sell the damned toys but the series is pretty good as a lighthearted homage to the history of Gundam and certainly watchable.

The Build Burning Gundam design itself has passed through a number of revisions from its original life as a GAT-X105 Strike Gundam from the old SEED series. The Build Burning design however is intended to do battle using martial arts which should explain why there are so few fun pieces in the box. With no weapons to wield, you might have hoped for a more interesting pose, maybe some expressive hands, some leg articulation gimmick, but no, this is a basic Converge figure which means you get a couple of arms that rotate at the shoulders, and a head that can look left and right. The Build Burning Gundam is a good looking design (just the fact that it isn't blue is a huge bonus right there) but as a figure it feels a bit lackluster.

115 : The next figure also hails from the GBF Try series. The KUMA-F Beargguy F (F is for Family, aawww) has its roots in the classic Zeon ACGUY amphibious suit. The first Gundam Build Fighters series actually featured a yellow Beargguy of its own, which is a spiritual predecessor to this abomination. Now, I know that there are many Beargguy fans out there, and yes, the original figure was a fairly clever if outrageous plot device in the original anime, but this thing is starting to go overboard now. With the millions of kawaiii Japanese mini figures out there, there is certainly no need to push them into Converge as well.

The main figure (that would be the white one) is named Mamagguy (yes, not Mamaggirl, try to keep up...), and the tiny blue version is of course a Petit'GGguy. Seriously, what have these people been smokinGG?

As for the figure itself, it has a couple of notable features. This is the only Converge figure with articulated legs. We're talking a simple bend here, so the trade off for it to sit down properly is that the legs look rather awkward in the stand up pose. Again we have no weapons with the figure. Although the base figure can extend a beam saber from its paw, there is no such accessory present which is a bit of a shame, but it wouldn't be too hard to create one. The Petit'GGuy (sigh...) can be attached or removed to a seat which is pegged into the Mamagguy's (sigh...) back. The Petit'Gguy's legs also bend although my figure's legs have a tendency to fall out of their sockets. Dreadful figure, on to the next!

116 : With the GH-001 Grimoire we get a second design from the recent Reconguista in G anime. I have yet to watch this series (not particularly looking forward to it) so I can't really say if the figure captures the spirit of the actual design, but I must say it looks rather striking. The overall impression of the miniature though is that it seems a bit short. As you can see in the introductory group photo at the start of this review the Grimoire is dwarfed by the other figures in this set (and in Converge in general), much like what happened to the Barzam, and the Asshimar.

Finally some accessories! The Grimoire figure comes with a removable shield and a submachine gun with the right hand molded directly onto it, so not really an optional but this is how we are used to get the Converge figures. The arms have the traditional rotating shoulders, but the oversized head is molded directly onto the torso.

117 : Halfway into the set, and now things are starting to heat up. We are returning to the Universal Century timeline, here represented by the bombastic LM314V23 Victory 2 Buster Gundam design. This massive and impressive figure continues to build the League Militaire representation in Converge, hot on the heels of the LM314V24 Victory 2 Assault Gundam which we encountered recently in Converge volume 19.

While the Buster Gundam features the regular Converge rotating arms and head articulation, it also has a couple of other tricks up its sleeve. Notice that the beam rifle is separated from the hand, making it completely optional, and that it is actually held in the left hand.

Even more interesting though is the fact that parts from this figure can be combined with parts from the Assault Gundam figure (Converge 110) to create the (of course) LM314V23/24 V2 Assault-Buster Gundam.

The conversion process is fairly straightforward. You just pick apart each figure and put all the cool stuff in one pile; that will be the Assault Buster Gundam.

Interestingly, the leftover parts can be assembled to create a complete figure on their own, kind of a completey stripped down V2 Gundam. This also neatly explains why the Buster Gundam figure was left-handed, just so that the Assault Buster could hoard that rifle too...

V2 Gundam breeding chart...

Unsurprisingly, the components of the Assault Buster conversion figure fit very well and the completed figure is not going to fall apart on you (like for example the recent Zeta Waverider), but as usual I recommend minimal tinkering with the parts as they tend to get worn easily.

V2 variation line-up, from left to right: Leftover V2 (spare parts from 110+117 conversion), the V2 Buster Gundam (figure 117), the V2 Assault Gundam (figure 110) and the V2 Assault Buster (figure 110 + 117).

I really like it when "regular" figures are designed to combine with each other since it lets people freely pick the figures they are interested in.

The mandatory Converge League Militaire line-up: LM312V04 Victory Gundam (Converge 23), LM314V21 Victory Two Gundam (Converge 24), LM314V24 Victory 2 Assault Gundam (Converge 110), LM314V23 Victory 2 Buster Gundam (Converge 117) and the LM314V23/24 V2 Assault-Buster Gundam (Converge 110+117).

118 : The RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 (Advanced Hazel) continues the line of Advance of Zeta figures started in Converge volume 19. We now get a third Hazel version, and this time around it looks more wonky than ever. The proportions on the Converge figure, in particular its massive forehead and bird-like feet, make it look rather odd and not particularly attractive. However, if you are in on the secret regarding this figure, that it is more or less a gimmick to be used in conjunction with the others, you will see through such initial impressions.

Because with the Advanced Hazel figure we get the last building blocks to create yet another Hazel version in what I would say is its official blue colour. So, is all this trouble really worth it, or would it have been better to just release and sell a blue figure separately? Let's take a closer look.

Converting the Assault-Buster Gundam was just the warming-up. Converge already has seven different variations on the various Hazel components. Apart from the four boxed figures we also covered the combination of the (white) Hazel Custom with its G-Parts support fighter back in the review of volume 19. The Advanced Hazel figure gives us the parts to create another two (official ones that is) variations.

RX-121-1 Gundam TR-1 ［Hazel Custom］ - Shield Booster Configuration

This is the easier of the two. Basically you steal the shield boosters from the new Advanced Hazel figure and put them on the white Hazel Custom.

The result is a very attractive figure with a good symmetry and colour balance. And speaking of balance, it will stay nicely on its feet unlike the bog standard hazel Custom which always wants to fall over. I actually like this configuration so much I am considering picking up another two figures (111 + 118) just to have a permanent one on display.

RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 (Advanced Hazel) - Final version(?)

Take the blue Hazel Custom (figure 112) and the Advanced Hazel (figure 118) and begin picking them apart by removing the parts shown in the above picture.

Then take the body of the Hazel Custom and most of the parts from the Advanced Hazel and combine..

So... what exactly is it we have built here? I am far from an expert on Hazel conversions but it appears to be a slightly different version of the standard Advanced Hazel figure, with a fancy blue body and one better looking (also blue...) shield booster. Was it really necessary to go through all this trouble rather than just selling the above figure as shown?

 Again, we can take all the leftover parts from this conversion and create our own leftover Haze, and honestly... I think it looks just as good if not better. Anyway, you are free to mess up these figures to create your very own favourite Hazel minis and although that can never be a bad thing, I don't really feel that Converge is the most suitable platform for such activity.

Converge Hazel Family, from left to right: The RX-121-1 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel Custom] combined with its FF-X29A G-Parts, a combination of figures 111 and 113, both featured in Converge volume 19 from June 2015, the blue RX-121-1 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel Custom] (Official colour) figure also from the same set, and the latest RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 [Advanced Hazel] from Converge volume 20.

119 : The last figure in the set is also the one I was the most excited about. Casual Gundam fans might take this for a Zaku II, but it is actually the RMS-106 Hizack as operated by the Titans elite Earth Federation unit from Zeta Gundam. After the end of the One Year War, the Hizack was the result of research into the Zaku II design and featured considerable improvements over it. Yet it retains many of its features, including a (rather attractive) green livery.

The Converge representation of the Hizack is simply gorgeous. It has a nice and chunky feel, and has many nicely painted details. The figure comes with two removable shields(although it would look weird without them) as well as the iconic 120mm machine gun, molded directly onto the hand as per Converge standard. If you only pick up one figure from volume 20, it has got to be this one. Top ten material!

Secret : When Converge volume 20 was announced, there was as usual no mention of the secret figure. In my mind there was only one possible candidate, and I hoped and prayed that Bandai would see things the same way. I was lucky. Because the secret figure indeed turned out to be the RMS-106 Hizack in its striking blue colours of the regular Earth Federation Forces version. Knowing Bandai this was far from certain, we might as well have ended up with another Beargguy wielding a beam saber or something of the sort.

What really surprised me about the secret figure is that it features a different weapon. Notice how Bandai and Fusion Works have been kind enough to give us a two part beam rifle (the handle bar sits on a little separate sprue from which it needs to be cut off).

Thematically you may wonder why regular E.F.S.F. soldiers get beam rifles, the bane of Zeon, while the elite Titans force has to use the 120mm machine gun. This is supposedly explained through the meager power output of the Hizack, which makes it less suited to carry weapons with a high energy consumption requirement (perhaps they expect Titan pilots to stay in the fight a couple of seconds longer...). You can of course change weapons in between the two figures if you wish. This figure is another absolute necessity on my Converge display shelf.

Conclusion

Overall, Converge 20 is something of a mixed bag. Just like with volume 19, we get high and low from all over the Gundam franchises blended together. I have a feeling many collectors will therefore opt to buy only the figures that interest them, rather than go for the full set. The quality of the figures remains on a high standard though, so I guess it will come down to personal taste whether you consider this set a success or not.

Gundam Converge CORE 001 : GN-0000 00 Gundam + GNR-010 0 Raiser

The format of this review will have a lot in common with the recently posted review of  the CORE 002 S-Gundam, which perhaps isn't that surprising given that the two figures have some things in common, these anonymous brown boxes for example...

...and just like with the S-Gundam, the outer box is wasting a lot of space on trains, planes and automobiles as freight forwarders all over Asia stuff their vehicles full of Bandai air.

Still, the 00 Gundam box is slightly larger than that of the S-Gundam. I am honestly a bit curious if the CORE 003 set (which will feature a trio of the Gundam, Guncannon and Guntank) will manage to fill out the box entirely. My guess is no.

Alright, joking about packaging done, let's actually take a look at the figure in question. Actually, I should say figures, since CORE 001 is a repackaging of two older figures and given the Converge Re-definition make over.

This set was released in August 2015 as a Bandai web shop exclusive item with quite a hefty price tag of ¥2000, fifty percent more expensive than the CORE 002 S-Gundam but then again here you actually get two Converge figures in the box. For comparison, a regular Converge figure sells at around ¥400.

Inside the box we find two bags of parts (unsurprisingly the same type of bags as used with the original figures) as well as a little assembly instruction sheet. The latter is very handy and I can honestly not remember having got one with the original figure(s), unfortunately I am too lazy to get up and dig around in the box storage so I'll just leave it at that...

As you can see each figure is made up of about half a dozen components which are easily snapped together forming the following two figures.

GN-0000 00 Gundam

This is the base mobile suit. It is a typical Converge figure with very limited articulation found at the shoulders and the right wrist only. The figure retains the basic colour scheme from the original release, although the colours are now a bit subdued, and features two minor detail additions to the paintjob. It is hardly Earth-shattering work.

A comparison of the original 00 Gundam (left), released as figure 51 in Converge volume 9 back in December 2012 and the recent CORE upgrade (right).

GNR-010 0 Raiser

The companion 0 Raiser figure doesn't introduce anything unusual either. The blue colour is toned down to match the new 00 Gundam and we have the 00 logo and a couple of white lines added on the wings which is a nice touch although it doesn't alter the appearance that much. In fairness though, I do like the upgraded 0 Raiser quite a bit more than the 00 Gundam.

Comparison of the original 0 Raiser (left) and the upgraded CORE 001 version (right). The original figure appeared together with the 00 Gundam in Converge volume 9, as figure number 52.

GN-0000 00 Gundam + GNR-010 0 Raiser

Of course the most interesting aspect of these two figures is the fact that they combine. There have been a number of Converge figures which pair up to create alternate designs, typically Support Fighters merging with their parent Gundams. This is accomplished by picking apart the 0 Raiser figure, and then removing the two GN Drives (the white cones, that is...) from its shoulders and sticking the 0 Raiser wings in their place. The fuselage is then attached to the mobile suit's back and snapped in place.

Lastly (or should I say optionally) you remove the GN Sword from the figure's hand and place the larger sword from the 0 Raiser in its place. The result is quite striking. The logos and stripes from the respective two figures add up nicely to create a more pleasing whole. I should point out that the original figures could also do this same transformation.

Converge Celestial Being family from left to right: GNR-010 0 Raiser support craft (Converge volume 9 as mentioned before), the GN-001 Gundam Exia (this particular version with metallic paint is from the Converge Limited double pack released in 2011), the GNT-0000 00 Qan[T] from Converge volume 14 (released in April 2014), the original GN-0000 00 Gundam from volume 9 again, and lastly the GN-0000 00 Gundam + GNR-010 0 Raiser combo from CORE 001.

Conclusion

As readers of the CORE S-Gundam review probably remember, I was less than enthusiastic about that figure. Not because the figure in itself was bad, far from it, it is a brilliant piece of Converge just as this set, but I do retain my reservations about the price point.

If you are a MSG 00 fan, and you don't have a 00 Gundam in your collection, then this is a no-brainer. Go grab this set before it turns rare (as Converge items have a nasty habit of doing), you won't be disappointed with the figures. And it will most likely be even more difficult and expensive trying to locate the two original figures, especially as several sellers like to sell them as a pair.

If you already have the original figures the recommendation will not be so clear, just remember that if you decide to skip on these figures only to come back later to try and find them, you will most likely turn up empty-handed. Personally I like to have both pairs so that I can display them side by side as separate and combined figures.

Gundam Converge : Custom Crew

No review today but instead a little diversion. My friend Marcin has been helping me to expand the Converge roster with a few new designs. We did not bother with any actual parts conversion and just stuck with the basic figures as such. Hope you'll enjoy this look at what he created.

AMX-109 Kapool (Corin Nander Custom)

Corin Nander's bizarre red Kapool from Turn A is the first custom unit, repainted from the basic AMX-109 Capule figure. This custom unit features a darker more gritty looking colour scheme and of course does away with the gigantic rocket fist.

The blue AMX-109 Capule belongs in the Universal Century timeline while the green rebranded AMX-109 Kapool (as well as Corin Nander's custom) hail from the Correct Century.

RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type (Desert Colours)

The limited production Ground Type Gundam was stationed in several locations across the globe. Although the majority were used in Southeast Asia, some operated in other environments, such as this particular unit, which was stationed in the dusty steppes of Central Asia.

The signature NFHI GMCa-type.09/180mm cannon is a trusted friend for the RX-79[G].

MSA-099 Rick Dias (Delphi Squad)

The A.E.U.G. Delphi Squad operates a slightly beefed up version of the base RMS-099 Rick Dias known as the MSA-099. Its most notable feature is an extra pair of binders attached to the forearms, though this particular custom unit has not yet been refitted with those.

The Converge Rick Dias figure comes in two colours; the basic figure is red, and it also features a secret version which is black.

MS-09G Dwadge

The Dwadge is a further development and the final version of the classic MS-09B Dom. Among other upgrades, it features additional fuel tanks to power its hover jets as well as improved sand filters.

With the seemingly endless supply of interesting colour schemes and custom paint jobs, more Custom Converge figures are bound to appear on the blog in the future. :)