Gundam's Come in Bunches (Apparently)

Wasn't long ago that Unicorn and Banshee were crowding my view, well that time is over it is now the season of the Astray. Fortunately the many versions of the Gundam Astray have all been stellar pieces and this MG by Kusganie is no exception.

Images courtesy of Gundam Guy and Master File. 

Shh Don't Talk

The YouTube channel GundamInfo has posted  the opening seven minutes of Mobile Suit Gundam The Origin I - Blue-Eyed Casval. Having taken in the splendor I'd like to take a moment to share my immediate thoughts. Any interested parties should hit the break for my full musings.

Banshee and the Amazing Technicolor Paintcoat

Seems everywhere I look either the Unicorn or it's sibling suit the Banshee are plucking my attention from it's casual wanderings. While I'm hardly a fan of the Unicorns candy cane color scheme - the white/green combo's another matter entirely - I've always loved the color combination of the Banshee. But what happens when someone alters that scheme?

This Banshee turned kaleidoscope answers that question emphatically. Honestly a paint job this fabulous doesn't need many words so I'll just credit the sources and shut up. Props to G-Farmer for pulling off some serious metallic coating and shout out to Gundam Family for sharing this with the world.

Better With Ninjas

Much like Pirates all things are made better with the inclusion of Ninjas, Gundam included. I defy you dear readers to gaze upon this Gold Frame and not see the awesome! Just go ahead I'll wait... See told you you couldn't do it.

This Gunpla modeled by Miniamp123 has been dubbed the "Astray Gold Frame Ninja Version" but I'm going to call it Konoha Gold Frame because much like the Shinobi from Naruto, this mobile suit don't give no damns about concealment (Ninjas were masters of camouflage).

Jokes aside this fantastic build highlights one of my favorite aspects of the Astray line, versatility. Parts swappable across Blue and Red frame mean anyone can easily kit bash one of their own and the nature of the design makes it easy to create some really awesome color combinations by changing the color of the armor, frame or both! Those of you interested in seeing the full gallery should head over to Gundam Guy post haste.

Ask and Ye Shall Receive!

It seems Karma has heard me and granted my wish! The master modeler hath returned with a Banshee Variant (BV) of his four legged Unicorn. Where the original kit was a frightening plastic beauty monster, the BV sports a more sombre look. Of course that could be my recollection of the last two Unicorn episodes coloring my opinion, but since they're my feelings I'm gonna own em!

Okay when I see the BV's naked frame somber isn't the word that comes to mind. That glistending gold frame is actually pretty freaky, gorgeous but freaky. Even still having this on my shelf wouldn't leave me wondering if toys only come to life in my imagination.  You can see the Unicorn that confuses my emotions here. If you wish to be further dazzled by this gold gilded Gundam visit Gundam Kits Collection for the full gallery. 

Tis a Lady!

In the sea of Sazabis, Sinanjus, Unicorns and Quant[T]s the Nobell Gundam is amongst the rarest sights indeed, but it appears at least one modeler is angling to change that.  

Modeller Riru has done some wonderful things with this HG kit. While the angel wings of Wing Gundam are often misplaced on other kits, they are a good fit for this kit, mostly due to the natural angles of the Nobell. The soft pink simultaneous plays up the both the femininity of the kit and lends it an angelic presence, while the hints of red remind us that this is indeed a dangerous piece of machinery. One complaint I do have is with the legs or rather the armor parts attached to the knees. The addition of these pieces detract from the slender elegance of the Nobell and adds an unwanted bulkiness to the kit. That said I still love what was done here and praise the efforts of Riru. If any of you intrepid blog readers have a lady Gunpla to flaunt we welcome your submission on GunplAfrica.

Images courtesy of Gundam Kits Collection. 

Beast Mode Activated

No this isn't a post about Seattle Seahawks Running Back Marshawn Lynch, rather it's about a frightening piece of craftsmanship.

Modeler Karma has smushed together a number of kits and flexed his scratch building muscles to create this winged mobile suit. Despite how awesome this model is I can honestly say it freaks me out a bit, it seems like something out of a Puppet Master Re-Boot.

Were I in possession of any scratch building skills of my own, I'd try this with a Banshee but I don't so I won't (yet). Instead I'll just head back over to Gundam Kits Collection and ogle more images.

Guntank Reborn

Ah Guntank, you lovable, impractical weapon of war. You've always been more cute than menacing but with the arrival of Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin you've finally been given a design worthy of a giant tank with cannons everywhere.

While the Guntank from the original series looked like something that would stop short of crushing a lilly on it's way back from the fridge with your cool glass of lemonade, the rebooted tank looks as though it'd crush everything at a monster truck rally including the stadium. Initially I took notice of the redesign whilst reading volume one of the Origin manga, but it wasn't until images of the model kit started circulating that I was truly drawn in.

Look at that thing there, even awash in shades of grey it looks awesome. So awesome in fact that I mistook it for a MG - it's an HG - but I know what you're thinking. You're thinking it's just a handy bit of professional modeling by Bandai and you're probably right, even still the resin prototype is also plastic awesome!

Despite my preference for Master Grade's I fully expect to have this kit in my possession as soon as possible, I like the redesign that much, plus I expect it'll be pretty cheap as well. Hopefully this better version of the Guntank will get a MG release, in which case I'll probably be compelled to also purchase the original Guntank for a side-by-side. Enough from me what say you readers, what do you think of the Guntank Early Type (Tentative Name)?

Images courtesy of Gundam Wiki and Gundam Guy

Custom Build Spotlight

I honestly can't tell you where the majority of the components in this lovely custom built 1/100 ZGMF-X89S Dust Gaia Gundam were appropriated from, what I can tell you is that I love the color scheme. Sky Moo of Gundam Family really knocked it out of the park on this kit, although in fairness he/she usually does.

If it tickles your fancy to do so, head over to Gundam Family and have a gander at the full gallery. 

HG Try Burning Gundam

So far I'm mostly enjoying Gundam Build Fighters Try, though not nearly as much as the previous Gundam Build Fighters series, but enough to anticipate the new episodes which air every Wednesday on Youtube. That said I've been largely unimpressed by most of the Gunpla in this show. While I understand the Build Fighters franchise largely exists for the same reasons Transformers existed in the days before it became Michael Bay explosion-fests (I can't that's too subtle I dislike the Transformers films), it still seems weird that there would be so few interesting Gundam design and few if any would belong to the heroes.

A bit of housekeeping before we go any further, this is not a review of the model kit which I do not own. Rather it is the inspired opinion of the design based on internet pictures, which continues after the break.