the retail side strikes back, with a massive list of gunpla release announcements!

HELLO! We are back!

In today’s 166th edition of our Let’s Talk Gunpla segment, we will be taking a look at the massive Retail gunpla announcement that was made recently and from the looks of it, we do have a lot of very interesting kits that we are looking forward to talk about…So as always, instead of trying to talk about all of them. We will pick the first 4 kits that we here find interesting and then we shall cover the rest by the end of this week.

So without further ado, let us get into it, shall we?

HG 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam [Beyond Global] (HGUC)

Release Date: 2020/06

Estimated price: JPY 1,700* (MYR RM 63.83* / USD $ 15.53* / EUR € 14.05*)

*The price is subject to change, depending on the situation

This was a kit that we thought that was an interesting concept that they might plan to release somewhere in the future. Yes, even though we have seen and heard the rumors of the possibility of seeing this version coming out somewhere this year, we really didn’t imagine that they would release another gramps variant so close to each other like this.

But apparently, instead of waiting Bandai decided to release TWO versions of the same Gramps that would be released a mere 3 months apart from each other. We really don’t understand their reasoning for doing so at first, but after taking some time to think about it, we somehow get why they decided to do this.

Money.

So, looking at this. You might be wondering then what this version of the Gramps have here to offer us when the Origins Gramps looks to be offering so much more?

Well, from the look of it. there is quite alot that this version of the Gramps has to offer us, builders. But it doesn’t come in a form of parts or new additions, no, instead it all comes in a form of pretty badass gimmicks.

From what we are seeing here it looks like gimmicks it was taking alot of cues from the G40 Grandpa that was released late last year. Which does mean that this is a Grandpa variant that looks to have (from what we can see from the promotional pictures) a pretty awesome articulation. Yes admittedly, the articulation of the [Beyond Global]’s version isn’t as impressive as the human-like articulation of the G40’s but we here do feel that the more Mecha-like articulation of the [Beyond Global] Grandpa here appeal to us more here.

We are as well a fan of the overall design here too, Bandai in its all its wisdom decided to use the awesome design of the ‘GBN Grandpa’ as the base design and further improve upon it. Honestly, if we were to put this version side by side with the upcoming HG Origins version of the grandpa, there is no doubt in our mind that this would definitely look better.

Eventhough yes we don’t really like the idea of seeing another version of the Grandpa releasing so close to each other, but admittedly we are quite excited for this one and what it may bring to the HG table.

May we see more future gunpla kits using this kind of articulation system!

Oh speaking of the future.

HG 1/144 Me-02R Messer (HGUC)

Release Date: 2020/06

Estimated price: JPY 2,125* (MYR RM 79.79* / USD $ 19.41* / EUR € 17.56*)

*The price is subject to change, depending on the situation

This is a kit that we feel that is the only one here that is the only one that we have seen that is using the same new articulation system that was seen on the HG [Beyond Global] Grampa.

Why did we make that claim with this? Well, the reason for that is because alot of the features/gimmicks that the HG Messer is getting here looks like it was using the variation of the same gimmicks that we see on the HG [Beyond Global] Grandpa.

However, the gimmicks aren’t the only selling point for the HG Messer. Because we too are fans of the Badass overall design of the HGUC Messer. We all here think that the Messer looked like a buffier version of the Gaera Doga and we do think that it is nice to see the subtle Zaku II reference there.

Admittedly this might be the first time that we saw the actual design of the Messer, since we are not that familiar with the Hathaway flash’s novels. However, we do admit that after spending time staring at it, we are starting to be quite a fan of how it looked here, and yes, we are looking forward to seeing more MS design coming from the upcoming Hathaway Flash anime.

Maybe we get to see more buff MS coming our way? Hopefully?

HG 1/144 Wodom Pod (HGBD: R)

Release Date: 2020/06

Estimated price: JPY 1,955* (MYR RM 73.41* / USD $ 17.86* / EUR € 16.16*)

*The price is subject to change, depending on the situation

To those that have been following the Gundam Build Divers: ReRise anime, this was probably is one HGBD: R kit that we here thinks to be a very interesting release.

Based on one of the most weirdest MS designs in the Turn A Gundam anime, the HGBD: R Wodom Pod is really one of those kits that we here do take quite a while to digest. However, it is as well one of those kits that we can understand why people are so drawn to it because weirdly we do feel like it does look quite…cute to us.

What makes this release to be quite interesting is the fact that the HGBD: R Wodom Pod is the only instance of the Wodom being made into a Gunpla form. Yes, that may be one of the reasons why there is a lot of people that was interested in this kit. Because it wasn’t just drawing the attention of fans from the Gundam Build Divers: ReRise series, they are as well drawing the attention of fans from the Turn A series.

But that isn’t the only thing that we feel that is making people want to get this kit, there is as well the matter of how awesome it looked. Yes, it might look mighty weird overall, but thanks to ‘Mei’s version color scheme that was used here, it does make the Wodom look quite appealing.

We are quite interested to see how this kit turned out. Will it be a strange-looking kit that is fun to build or will it be a strange-looking kit that is frustrating to build? This we shall wait and see when June comes, but we all here really hope that this turns out to be an awesome kit all in all.

So we could see Bandai building the confidence to release more of them weird MS design from the Turn A series or any other that we have seen but have yet to see them getting the Gunpla treatment.

MG 1/100 GN-003 Kyrios Gundam (MG)

Release Date: 2020/05

Estimated price: JPY 4,250* (MYR RM 159.58* / USD $ 38.83* / EUR € 35.13*)

*The price is subject to change, depending on the situation

This was an MG kit that we all here have been quite excited to learn more of ever since it was revealed to us back in the Gunpla Next expo a few weeks back. Eventhough we all knew that the release of this kit is inevitable, we were quite worried at first that Bandai might have plans to delay the release of this MG kit since we didn’t hear any news of the kit at all in this past few weeks.

But finally, we get the news that we have been waiting weeks for and after taking the time to stare at it, we have a feeling that the MG Kyrios will look like it is going to be something amazing.

The reason why we all here think so is that there is something here we here find to be quite interesting. What is it you may ask? Well from what we are seeing here, it seems like parts of the inner frame and joints system of the MG Kyrios looked like it was taken from the MG Dynames. Why is that interesting you may ask? Well, one of the reasons is because the MG Kyrios is the only transformable MS out the 4 Gundams in the 00 series. So if it could transform into MA form using some of the same parts and joints as the MG Dynames that could mean that the MG Dynames’s frame articulation is actually more impressive then we think.

But then again, we did find the articulation of the MG Dynames overall to be quite impressive.

However, that is not the only thing that we are impressed by here as well, because from what we are seeing and reading through the MG Kyrios press release, it does seem like Bandai is indicating to us that the transformation of this kit will not require different parts to be used to transform the Kyrios into its MA form. They as well mentioned that there will be a locking mechanism to be put in place to ensure the shoulder and the leg/waist area would be locked in place as you transform the MG Kyrios into its MA form.

All of this is really impressive, yes, but truth to be told we are here are still unsure if all of these will work well in real life. We shall wait and see how well the frame holds up from its MS to its MA mode as soon we can have the MG Kyrios here in the Homebase.

It is our sincere hope that the MG Kyrios would be as good or better than the MG Dynames.

With that concludes today’s 166th edition of our Let’s Talk Gunpla segment! What do you think of these awesome retail release announcements? Are you looking forward to all of these awesome upcoming retail kits? This is a really good news week for all of us here, there are just so many upcoming awesome kits that we are quite excited for and best of all we still have alot more to talk about in the coming segment!

We are really looking forward to that!

Anyways, we will be back again with more Let’s Talk Gunpla segment this week on this coming Friday and the following week as well! Kimi will be back again this Monday with a new Unboxing or a Review or another WIP blog post. So do look forward to that!

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We hope by sharing our love and passion for gunplas here, it’ll inspire you to pick up the hobby or reignite your love for gunpla!

Anyways, we shall see all of you again on Friday, and we hope that you all have an awesome day and week ahead! Oh as well please do have an awesome Gunpla building time there as well and until next time!

Ciao!