Gundam Converge EX 13 : FA-78 Full Armor Gundam

The Converge EX series has now virtually doubled in size since the turn of the year, if this trend continues we'll see more exclusive figures than standard ones. With the similarly recent onslaught in Assault Kingdom I am beginning to feel a bit of a burnout when it comes to these things. I suppose I should be glad that a lot of money has been invested in the furthering of this figure series but I cannot help but feel that some of its innocence and entertainment factor has been lost in the process. I am starting to get a similar vibe even from the SD super deformed Gashapon figures that keep evolve and become more and more complicated with each passing release. The Gundam generation has apparently grown up, as far as marketing people are concerned.

The latest Converge EX figure to join the fray is another of those "ret-con" types of figures that are inserted into various segments of the Universal Century timeline. Here we see the FA-78 Full Armor Gundam, which hails from the recently conceptualized MSG Thunderbolt setting. Although I have yet to be exposed to this section of the U.C. mythos and now as much that we're dealing with a subset of the E.F.S.F. and Zeonic One Year War taking place in "Thunderbolt Sector", far away from Char and Amuro's iconic battlegrounds. However a new prototype Gundam design ended up in such backwaters I'll never know...

Figurewise we're dealing with something of a mix of new and classic Converge. The figure itself feels like an updated old design, although the improved detail, many parts and overall flexibility screams Converge reboot.

Although first impressions might deceive, what we are looking at here is really nothing more than your bog standard RX-78 with some extra flair in the form of colouring and a bit more accessories than usual.

The basic figure comes with a peculiar looking righthand. The hand is can accommodate the heavy twin beam rifle (which bears more than a passing resemblance to the classic FA-78-1 gear) and a shield to cover it. On the left wrist is provision for a multi-tube missile launcher and again a shield to protect it. If you want you can skip these weapon systems and attach the shields directly to arms, or even leave the figure bare bones.

On the back the figure has an extra large flight unit and weapon rack which is so heavy it is in no way possible to allow the figure to stand upright without use of the large transparent support piece. Here is a figure that really would have benefitted from the new black bases with peg for the figure's foot to help it stay upright. I guess the FA-78 Converge model was developed in the era before the new action bases had been devised.

There are three preconfigured display variants for the FA-displayed in step by step detail on the included paper sheet. Honestly, these three are really only minor variations on a theme. Above you can see the first type, which makes use of only two shields and instead features some sort of protective shields sticking out from the backpack and protecting the sides of the head.

The second variant removes these head protectors and instead places the remaining two shields on long flexible arms that give flank protection. I think the first variant looks tighter but it is difficult to avoid playing with the full amount of shields provided in the box...

The third variation just takes the flexible arms and repositions them to cover forward instead of the flanks. The figure looks more striking when viewed from the front although a lot more of the details is obscured by the shields. You can play around with whatever mode you like the most, it is not as it matters a great deal after all.

To place the FA-78 Full Armor Gundam in context here it is with some of its closest kin from the Converge line up. The two old MSV FA-78-1 Full Armor Gundam designs look very primitive when compared to the new figure, which looks decidedly more hardcore. This is not only a product of Converge evolution but of mobile suit design evolution in general. The "new" FA-78 looks less like a toy and more like it means business. To the right we can also see the ol' RX-78-2 in two "Real Type" colour variations. I suppose I could have put the RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam in the picture also.

Overall the FA-78 is a really nice Converge figure, although it doesn't really strike me as a must have in any way. There is something lazy about an updated "FA-78" replacing the existing "FA-78-1", just like the RX-78-02 Gundam from The Origin feels like a boring variation on the RX-78-2 Gundam theme. At the relatively high price of ¥2200 this equals four standard Converge figures. Unless more Thunderbolt era figures are made available this strikes me as a completist figure only.

Gundam Converge #03

It seems all we review lately is one special release or another, so it is good to get back to a plain old Gundam Converge figure set. You know, low-priced, mass-produced candy toys readily available in shops. So I do savior this fine moment. Converge #03 is of course the third set since the relaunch and it continues its fine tradition of upping the game on the original series. The new Converge figures are simply great.

I am really impressed that we have been getting so many brand new models since the relaunch. I confess I was expecting "upgraded" molds of the old figures but so far we haven't had to deal with much in the way of reissues. Converge #03 upholds this fine tradition.

As usual with the new Converge figures there are no longer any secret version involved, instead we typically get two minor variations of the same model, clearly labelled and marked in its own box. This is commendable.

132 : Well, what do you know, a new Gundam figure. I am actually surprised it took this long for it to appear after the relaunch. But to be fair, this is not the RX-78-2 Gundam we all know and love, this is the alternate The Origin adaption with the somewhat unimaginative name of RX-78-02 Gundam (The Origin). As a figure it shares many aspects of the original figure even though there are many details that set the two apart. The most characteristic feature is of course the aesthetic of holding the shield upside down.

The new Converge Gundam figure follows the new tradition of making the weapon, here a beam rifle, detachable from the hand, presenting you with some options. We also get a loose beam saber hilt which attaches to the backpack. I get the feeling someone prepared this figure for a beam saber accessory as well, which was maybe axed for budget reasons. However you look at it, it is a really tremendously missed opportunity to make the figure impress.

RX-78 lineage from left to right. The basic Converge RX-78-2, here represented by the most detailed version from last year's CORE set, the Detail Up retail figure from Converge volume 16 (released September 2014) and our new Origin version RX-78-02.

Overall the RX-78-02 is a fine Converge figure that will pair up nicely with Char's Origin Zaku II, but it doesn't really break much new ground. Oh well, at least we didn't get two separate figures with one accessory of its own, guess that is a small improvement of sorts.

133 : The most spectacular figure in the set is no doubt the ORB-01 Akatsuki  or rather Akatsuki Gundam with Oowashi Sky Pack. With this majestic figure Converge begins exploring the SEED Destiny mobile suit line and what a start it is! The detail work on the new Converge figures really is something else when compared to the old designs. Just look at that shield. You'd need to go SP to see something like this before. This is what the Jagd Doga shields should have looked like.

Although the Skypack is adding a lot of the greatness in the Akatsuki the basic figure is nothing to sneer at either. it has a particularly great colour scheme and its modular accessories give you some flexibility to play around with. The figure has the typical Converge articulation except that it has also been given an articulated left hand. More and more figures are getting this, and it will be interesting to see if Bandai and FW have something particularly in mind to explain why.

The Akatsuki is comparing quite well when paired with the recent SEED Astray Gundams which belong in the EX price range.

If the Akatsuki, a basic figure, is the bar for all the coming SEED design, then fans of the series can look forward to a very interesting year of Converge releases. The Akatsuki will be followed next by a pair of premium Converge CORE Orb machines as well as the next two SP sets featuring the Providence vs. the Freedom and the Destiny vs. the Infinite Justice. We will also get a Strike Freedom in Converge #04.

134 : Continuing its tip-toeing into Iron Blooded Orphans, Converge #03 features the Graze, in two different styles. First up is this EB-05s Schwalbe Graze (McGillis Fareed Custom). This is a peculiar and interesting design although I personally have some issues with the appearance of its tiny feet.

The Graze has a rather unusual weapons configuration. The right hand is slid inside the rifle which functions more like a glove. And again we have an articulated left hand which cannot really do anything. Otherwise we have the classic articulation of arms rotating at the shoulders, and even the quirky head can look to the side which is usually not the case when we deal with unusually shaped heads. We also have a pair of boosters on the backpack which can be deployed or stowed when not in use.

In this box there are also two white components which I just could not wrap my head around. One of them obviously being some sort of arm replacement while the other left me completely clueless, some part of connector for the arm perhaps? It certainly did not help that I have no familiarity with the Iron Blooded Orphans setting either. I could not find any clues on the photos of the box and found no obvious places to attach them to the figure. It was a mildly frustrating experience, which has happened quite a few times before with these figures.

135 : Since I couldn't solve the mystery of the extra parts I went on to the second Graze figure, the EB-05s Schwalbe Graze (Gaelio Bauduin Custom). It has a lot in common with the blue variant we just looked at, its major difference being the lance style armament as opposed to a rifle.

Again I was mystified to find two white components that i couldn't see an obvious use for. Sure I thought, here comes a second arm with a grapple claw, but it was another left arm as opposed to a right arm which would have made more sense. Maybe it is supposed to illustrate some state of damage, like in the Kshatriya Repair or Exia Repair? Nah... doesn't make sense. I had to go online to find the answer to this riddle.

Gundam Barbatos Third Form

Yeah that's right. The custom components were not intended for the Grazes, but for the ol' Gundam Barbatos from Converge #02. Now, I don't much about IBO, but it appears to be that the custom parts are intended to change the appearance of the Barbatos from its fifth form to its third form in its development history.

It is when you begin to pick apart figures like the Barbatos or the Hazels that you realize just how far Gundam Converge has come.

In the above image you can see the base Barbatos figure with its arms disassembled. To the left and right are the parts from each Graze respectively. Using these you can trick out the Barbatos with its older variant arms and a grapple claw weapon of its own. If you replace the back skirt with one of the two coming from each Graze (it seems odd that they included one also with Gaelio's Graze since you only need one of them) you can then steal the leg shields of either Graze and put them on the Barbatos. It is a bit like Hazel all over again.

Overall the modifications to the Barbatos feel a bit gimmicky, and the colours of the shields clash with the rest of the machine's colours. I suppose the third generation arms look rather nice, I guess you can always get a second Barbatos figure and place these arms on it (and I might just do that myself).

136 : This set has been really strong so far, but it is at the end we find my two favourites. The first of them is the somewhat legendary AMS-119 Geara Doga, operated by Neo Zeon. The basic figure has a lot in common with the feel of the recently released Hizack, in that it is a very sturdy and compact design. It has many nice details especially the Sturm Faust missiles attached to the back of the shield. An early Converge would probably just have molded these as part of the shield or omitted them completely.

The bulkiness of the Geara Doga also shows in its limited articulation. Here we do not get an articulated left wrist (which could of course also mean that the design is older than the seemingly recent design decision to enhance them) and the customizable head also does not seem to be able to move.

The head, of course, is the main gimmick of the Geara Doga figure. In something unprecedented for Converge in general, we get no less than three optional styles for the "helmet" part. The basic headpiece can be replaced with a variant which contains a hole for the commander an antenna, and there is also an alternative head design with more protection along its sides. While this is of course fun to play around with I don't recommend messing too much with the components, as recent Converge joints seem to loosen pretty quickly. I am still debating with myself whether to hunt for a couple of spare Dogas to build and display all three variants side by side, the price will be the sole determining factor here I guess. Stay tuned also for Converge #04 which will feature Rezyn Schnyder's custom blue unit.

137 : Ahhh... saving the best for last. The indomitable RX-110 Gabthley (anything else you might have seen in Zeta is A.E.U.G. propaganda only...). This major Converge upswing for the Titans Faction has been a very appreciated theme here on the blog the past couple of months. Someone at FusionWorks must have been rewatching Zeta Gundam because they just keep pumping these guys out like no tomorrow. Now only a few of the iconic figures from the show are missing, let's see if they manage to release them before turning to other interests (SEED does seem to be the thing of the moment right now for example).

The Converge Gabthley shares is one of those figures that are molded in a particular pose, something usually done when large weaponry is involved. Here even the right arm is molded in a perpetually bent mode, something I cannot recall having seen in Converge before. The head also sits on a shaped peg which is a bit surprising, perhaps a traditional rotating head was deemed to flimsy since the Gabthley's neck is very slim.

The Awesomeness of the Titans elite team is growing.

In sharp contrast to this, for some reason FusionWorks decided to make the left hand articulated. This begs the question why, as I don't expect we will be seeing any further equipment for this unit. Perhaps it is simply the new standard they are trying to embrace with the relaunched Converge figures. All in all, a faithful and awesome figure but it feels more like a statue than your average Converge.

Conclusion.

As I mentioned in the introduction, Converge #03 succeeds in furthering the excellence of the Gundam Converge series as a whole, and the relaunch series in particular. There is not a bad figure in this set and I can't wait to see the next installment of Converge #04. Get these figures while they're hot!

Gundam Converge Custom Part 2

It is time for a new departure into custom Converge territory, as we have a new set of repaints of a couple of the basic figures. I guess once you reach that plateau in your collection where stuff becomes hard to find, you begin to press on in new directions. Suddenly it begins to make sense to army build and customize stuff just because you can't resist those little figures on that shelf. So, once again my friend Marcin has been messing around with Converge figures based on some suggestions on my part. Let's dive in and see what he came up with.

MS-06R-1A Zaku II High Mobility Type

Converge has been blessed with two versions of the High Mobility Zaku II, the R-1A in Black Tristars livery and the R2 in Ace pilot Johnny Ridden's red colour. Both figures came out in 2012, and are not too difficult to find these days, the Black Tristar machine being the easier find. I find it a bit strange since I know there are a lot of Zaku II fans out there.

Here we've taken the R1-A type and converted it into a basic grey/white machine clearly inspired by Shin Matsunaga's custom white. However, with no commander antenna readily available I didn't want to steal one from another figure so this is just an ordinary grunt suit. Not familiar with Gundam lore, Marcin didn't realize the crappy mold of the bazooka front handle and painted up the part that was supposed to be empty as part of the targeting system. I think it turned out really cool so we decided to let it stay. Another option for this machine could have been Anavel Gato's custom machine, which also features no antenna. Perhaps we will do it in the future as well.

XM-07S Vigna Ghina (Berah Ronah Custom)

I happen to think that the Vigna Ghina (of Gundam F91 fame, or rather lack thereof...) is one of the best basic Converge figures, especially when you compare it to the figures we had seen up to that point. It has a remarkably sleek and deadly look about it, and the colours are perfect. The Converge figure looks even more menacing than the "real" thing. Its F91 heritage of course makes it less popular, and it makes my heart sad to see that it doesn't get more attention. The Converge Vigna Ghina appeared in October 2013 and I would say it is readily available and one of the cheaper things out there.

Our custom Vigna Ghina is based on an MSV repaint of the basic machine which is also piloted by Cecily Fairchild/Berah Ronah. The full MSV design is a bloated mess of ornate detail so our figure is a bit spartan by comparison. I can't wait for Bandai and Fusion Works to turn some love into F91, the Crossbone Vanguard has a pile of awesome looking machines in the XM-series. With any luck though, one can be sure that if we will get more Crossbone Vanguard stuff it will be robed Gundams.... sigh.

AMX-107 Bawoo (Glemy Faction use)

The AMX-107 Bawoo is a Neo Zeon design from the ZZ Gundam era. Although the Converge figures (especially the red one) have a rather garish look, it still feels rather conservative when compared to many other designs from that show. The Glemy faction splinter group however, preferred a more basic light grey livery. The Gundam Converge Bawoo premiered in September 2014 and the basic red figure also had a secret green variant of the mass production model (ironically you would think it should be the other way around...). I'd say neither of the two Bawoo figures is particularly difficult to find, with the green slightly pricier.

I think that the toned down colours of the Glemy Faction really make this figure feel more believable and interesting. I guess that's just what happens when companies design figures to sell toys. : )

RMS-141 Xeku Eins (Titans use)

I guess if I was asked to pick a second favourite faction, the New Desides have a really strong position here thanks to their awesomely unique Xeku series of mobile suits. When the Converge Xeku Eins figure appeared in late 2013 I was still much of a Gundam novice and hadn't yet heard of this design and it just punched me in the gut much the same way the Marasai did before.

It is too bad that the Titans and New Desides are predominantly major assholes, because they have the most awesome fleet out there! And with the New Desides originating out of the Titans, it made perfect sense to have a Titans conversion for it. Especially since I don't know of any official MSV's or custom repaints of this thing. I am really thankful that FW and Bandai gave us this figure, perhaps the S Gundam simply needed something next to it to seem more imposing... On the collector market, the Xeku Eins is still a moderately easy figure to find, and generally not too expensive.

So, there you have it folks, another round of custom Converge. Hope to be able to see more of these in the future.

Gundam Converge : 0083 The Last Decisive Battle Option Set

As promised in the Neue Ziel review, here comes the continuation in the form of the special edition Stardust Memory equipment set. This introduces a brand new product category in Gundam Converge; we have never seen an add-on kit for a Converge figure before. This feels natural when you are dealing with Shokugan candy toys but as we all know, Converge has evolved beyond that phase by now. This equipment set is not only not a regular candy toy, it is also not distributed through the usual retail channels, being a Bandai exclusive item. In fact I bought mine in a bundle with the Neue Ziel figure itself, which is how it appears to have been distributed directly by Bandai. Below is the traditional and boring unboxing process, showing how the Neue Ziel and the gear set were packaged together in this case.

The actual equipment option set is a thin black box with roughly the same dimensions as an Assault Kingdom EX box.

Inside we find three bags chock full of stuff and somewhat surprisingly a printed leaflet showing the new assembly options. A nice touch that I had not expected.

As you can see from the below image we have a set of about twenty new components with a clear overweight on gear for the Neue Ziel.

We'll go through all the components and see just exactly what it is they do.

RX-78GP03 Dendrobium Option Set

Let's just get this guy out of the way first, because frankly, there is not a lot of Dendrobium action in this pack. Specifically, there are only three parts for the Dendrobium, below you can see them together with the related parts from the standard Dendrobium figure.

Comparison picture of the old and new manipulator arms as well as the old (left) and new (right) beam saber.

Basically we are getting one additional beam saber, to be held in the second of the two manipulator arms. We also get two alternate moulds of said manipulator arms, in extended mode. You will need to reuse the upper claw piece from each original manipulator and attach it to the new corresponding lower part. Both new manipulator arms retain the same holes for the beam saber pegs, so that you can choose to equip one or two just as with the old claws.

The Dendrobium using the new extended manipulator arms and the additional beam saber.

While the new parts are all nice and dandy, the Dendrbobium is really getting shafted in this pack. If you were hoping for openable hatches and their contained goodies, or perhaps some optional gear for the Gundam figure you will be disappointed. It doesn't help that the new beam saber, will nice and shiny, is not really matching the color of the old one. You have to wonder why they didn't just include two sabers in the standard kit or at least produce the bonus sabers in the same run as the original ones. Not impressed.

AMA-X2 Neue Ziel Option Set

With almost ninety percent of the contents in this box aimed at the Neue Ziel this mobile armor is getting really configurable by now. Here is a comparison image showing the new parts (left side) and their matching counterparts from the standard figure (right). Displayed underneath the shoulder assembly is the new skeletal frame (left) which replaces the old (right) if you want to make use of the remote claw arms.

Basically, the new equipment can be sorted into two different categories; beam sabers and remote arms.

Beam Sabers

Thanks to the option set, the Neue Ziel is now bristling with half a dozen elegant translucent beam sabers. Two new main claws with their fingers closed can now project a beam saber from the fingertips, and the two support claws on each arm can do the same. The two supporting arms on each side can also be titled individually up and down, for some nice display action.

While it may look a bit messy if you decide to activate all six beam sabers the figure deals with it without any problems, and it is good fun to mix and match to find a suitable combo. This is easily my favourite aspect of the option set.

Remote Claw Arms

The second new feature is the two remotely controlled arms, which now replace the existing arms of the standard figure. To equip them, you also need to dismantle the entire arm and use the new skeletal frame (the one with transparent pegs) instead of the old one, as it contains the hole for the balljoint cable mount.

The cables then attach into similar holes on the forearms which enables each arm to dangle around as it pleases. The cables are rubbery in feel and are fully flexible. A pair of transparent stands are included with the option set, which the arms can attach to, to allow for some more interesting poses than just letting the arms hang freely.

The remote arms are a little bit more fiddly to display nicely and I am not a huge fan of them due to the large footprint of the respective action base. While it is nice that these bases are transparent, it does look a bit odd when the figure itself has a black action base. You can of course mess with display poses where an arm is grabbing some poor E.F.S.F. mobile suit and skip using the support entirely. In addition to the arms, we also get two new open claws which are not hugely different to the ones that came in the standard box, but they do add some variety.

No matter how you put it, the 0083 Option Set was clearly devised with the Neue Ziel in mind. There is not a great deal of value here if you only want to pimp your Dendrobium mobile armor, it would make little sense to buy this set just for that extra beam saber. Bandai might as well have included those few Dendrobium parts with the original figure directly.

Not looking too good for the E.F.S.F.

Ultimately your lust for this option set will be driven by your owning a Neue Ziel figure or not. I can't shake the feeling that the Neue Ziel beam sabers were purposely separated from the main figure, perhaps to keep the price down, and also to test the waters for future equipment sets.

Certainly not a necessary purchase, but it really enhances the playability and coolness-factor of your Neue Ziel mobile armor.