Let’s Talk Gunpla 32 “Christmas Special!”

HO, HO, HO! We give you a Christmas Special.

Hello and welcome to all of you to our 32nd episode and to our 1st Christmas Special Edition (it sounds like we are selling some P-Bandai shit) Let’s Talk Gunpla! We are going to be doing something different this time around and take a break from covering kits that slotted to come out to instead just talk about the kits that we all look forward to for a change. Don’t worry we shall still have our usual programming on this coming Wednesday because there is some P-Bandai stuff that we wanted to talk about, it just that we felt it’ll be fun to change it up a bit and have something different.

So, we decided to make a Top 5 list of the current and upcoming kits that we all are looking forward to getting (hopefully) in 2018! We are not just making one general top 5 we are instead will be doing 3 top five’s of each respected grade and scales with an exception of one as well our reasons of the inclusion of that line but without further ado….

So, let’s get into it, shall we?

Top 5 SD we look forward to getting in 2018!

Legend BB Musha Gundam Mark III (SD)

Release Date: 2017/11

Retail price: JPY 1,170* (MYR 42.02* / USD $10.31*)

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

Yes, we realize that we haven’t been covering the SD Gunplas in the blog as often as we should, but it doesn’t mean that we aren’t remotely interested in the SD kits. Oh, far from it, all of us here love the SD kits. It’s a line of kits that was meant to not be taken seriously and one we find quite charming and as well at times ridiculous. That is especially true with the Sengokuden and the Sangokuden SD lines. Due to that reasons alone, it was as well why we don’t feature the SD’s here, because of its ridiculousness its often thought to be a toy, well to be fair that’s the same misconception you’ll have with the rest but the SD’s look more toyish here. Regardless we all still love the SD’s because of its ridiculousness.

Funnily we didn’t pick this one because of its ridiculousness. In fact, we just decided to pick this one up because it was by far the most normal/average looking one that we have seen by far and its one that has no weird gimmicks attached to it. Its just one that looks badass and yet conventional.

The Musha Gundam MK III is a very handsome looking kit, one with a decent number of weapons and as well some beautifully crafted detachable armor sets. Even in its light armor look this kit looks awesome. Not to mention that they have some entertaining lore comic included with this kit!

Though this kit is already out on the market, we still haven’t had the chance to pick this one up. Plus it is one that is quite elusive as well. Hopefully, we would be able to do so and finally do a proper review for this one next year, that is if we can find it of course.

Shin Goka Syourettei Ryuso Ryubi Gundam (SD)

Release Date: 2011

Retail price: JPY 3,600* (MYR 129.30* / USD $31.72*)

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

Well, as you guys can see at the start of this, this the kind of ridiculousness that we talked about and why we both hate and love this SD line of kits. Yeah, we agree with you guys that there are others that embody that ridiculousness better, but we like this one more because it embodies the concept of ridiculousness well. We just love all the gold and that ridiculous sword so much that we have put this one on the list!

Not to mention the Shin Goka Syourettei Ryuso Ryubi Gundam has a more balanced look too (in all its ridiculousness) and oh, did we mention that is one of the bigger SD kits out there? 196mm in height and 375mm in width. Yeah, its almost as big as an HG kit, eh wait I think this might be slightly bigger though it still not as tall as the HG’s but it is definitely bigger, we think…..well maybe when we get this we can really compare it with the HG kits or heck maybe we should try to see how this one compares to the MG kits that we have in the Homebase.

Yes, this is definitely a kit that we would love to have here next year and yes this is one of the most expensive SD kits on the list.

RX-93 Nu-Gundam (SD)

Release Date: 2014/01

Retail price: JPY 1,080* (MYR 38.79* / USD $9.52*)

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

Oh yes, the Nu-Gundam SD. Not the first variant of it we know, the second iteration of it. Speaking about the first variant of the SD version of the Nu-Gundam, if we recall the SD Nu-Gundam was actually released back in 1990 and it was the first version that gives us the first glimpse of how the HWS Equipment would look like before its eventual release in the HG form in April 2009 and later in Dec 2016 in MG P-Bandai form in both extension parts and a full MG kit.

Even back then the SD Nu-Gundam looked hella impressive but it is one that is really restrictive, cartoonish and pointless. Really that version of the Nu-Gundam I really can’t consider it as a gunpla, because it felt like a toy more than a Gunpla, none of the funnels were detachable and them legs are really ridiculous to look at. Regardless of that we still appreciate its existence and it is still quite good looking, but it is not one that we consider have a part of our gunpla collection. It’s impressive when to think that it took Bandai 27 years to release a new SD Nu-Gundam that completely changed our views of owning an SD Nu-Gundam and our overall view of how an SD kit is.

Yes, it is a completely different animal as what you get with the first version of the SD Nu-Gundam! No more the SD Nu-Gundam looked to be more of a kid’s toy that had limited movements and poses, this new version had some better arm movements and the elongated legs THAT IS hella a lot better than its previous version. Yes, this might not come with the HWS equipment but the gimmicks and the stuff that comes with this almost mirror the ones you get on the HG kits (not the leg part of course).

We are really looking forward to getting and building this one, but it is one like the Musha Gundam MKIII, that has been proven quite hard to get so far. We do hope that we will have a better luck getting it in 2018. We really do love the SD look here but unfortunately, there is one that won our hearts more than this one.

There is an SD that is better than this?

And that one is the

SD Gundam EX-Standard ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam (SD)

Release Date: 2017/02

Retail price: JPY 540* (MYR 19.45* / USD $4.77*)

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

Yes the SD Gundam EX-Standard SD kits, how can’t we not include the new SD lines here on the list! We could’ve put other SD EX-Standard kits here but the only one that have been winning our hearts here more, the one we really want to get first in the list is and as well one that we have been having trouble finding, the SD EX-Standard Destiny Gundam.

Did we mention that this is cheaper than the Nu-Gundam? No? Well, this is a hella a lot cheaper than the SD Nu-Gundam.

Even though it is a lot cheaper the SD Version of the Destiny Gundam still embodies all the same trait as the 2014’s SD Nu-Gundam, with its movable arms and this is aswell comparatively a much more poseable kit as compared to the older SD kits. Though the bigger reason of why this won our hearts more here is that the SD Destiny Gundam had more serious tone to it (not to mention there is no more of that goofy cartoony eyes), as well the impressive weapons set that this kit has (and remember this is cheap) and an ability to combine those weapons to the existing HG kits to give the SD more relevancy amongst the much more serious Gunpla builders. Though we can’t really understand what’s the practical need for this, but we like the fact that Bandai is doing their best to promote the SD lines to a wider audience.

Yes, with Bandai including that feature in, it does make us want to own this just to see what kind combinations that we could make to the HG kits that we owned, Ha-ha. Plus the price is something that we felt is the biggest selling point in making this attractive to all of us here. Don’t be surprised if you see this being reviewed first before the SD Nu-Gundam.

Though you might think with the love we give the SD Destiny, why isn’t this higher up on the list? Why you may ask? Let us now finally give you the reason why.

NZ-999 Neo Zeong (SD)

Release Date: 2014/06

Retail price: JPY 1,800* (MYR 64.82* / USD $15.89*)

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

Oh yes, the SD Neo Zeong, we remember seeing it for the first time in the stores and thought to ourselves, what a glorious looking thing this. It’s huge and glorious not for being ridiculous (well because the normal Neo Zeong itself is ridiculous enough) but for just being purely hugely awesome.

We are really struggling to write about it because really, what is it not to love? Just look at this.

When we all saw this put-on display in one of the Gunpla Shops that we all frequent to, the only thing that came to our minds is on how much we really wanted this kit in our collection. We don’t even care if it is an SD kit when we all first saw it, we just really love how this looked overall. Plus, you get 2 kits for the price of one! Why not you want this glorious thing? SD or no we are definitely getting this one up and we do hope it is as good as it looks. It would really suck if it’s not.

With that ends the SD section of this let’s move on to the next one

Top 5 HG and RG’s that we look forward to getting in 2018!

First before we get into this lets first talk about why we combine these 2 lines together, firstly even though the RG’s are a much more an elaborate and detailed Gunpla line, but we felt both are made from the same scale and secondly, we kind of owned most of the RG kits out there and the ones that we want won’t make 5 kits so…. yeah…hahaha.

But not to say that the HG kits are not as exciting, in fact with the recent HG kits we’ve seen, it is looking that HG kits are getting as good…no we would even go as far by saying some of the Recent HG kits out there that is as good as the best RG kits out there. It kind of speaks a lot of the kind of quality that we’ve seen on the recent HG releases.

with the disclosure done, let’s now get into it!

RG 1/144 RX-0 [N] Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn

Release Date: 2018/02

Estimated price: JPY 3,400* (MYR 122.43* / USD $30.02*)

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

Yes, the fist kit listed here is an Upcoming RG kit that we are looking forward to getting in this coming February. Coming out strong after the release of the Unicorn Gundam, the Banshee already has some positive feedback from the all the Gunpla community and I know for sure that for most of us here it is one that we are looking forward in getting as well.

Not to mention on how awesome this one looks here. There is much that can be said about this kit, but one thing is for sure, with how awesome the Unicorn has been this is looking to be more of that awesomeness attached to it and to see more of the Banshee during the Next Gunpla Exhibit (mostly from other sites pictures) it already seems to look quite promising.

Definitely, this is one that all of us here look forward to in 2018.

HG 1/144 MS-06K Zaku Half-Cannon (HGUC)

Release Date: 2017/11

Estimated price: JPY 1,620* (MYR 58.34* / USD $14.30*)

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

Another one in the list is as well another kit that we have talked about in this segment but one that we haven’t had the chance to actually buy yet. We do feel bad for not getting this one up but honestly, there are just too many kits that are released in 2017 that is just too awesome to pass up tbh.

Regardless, this is a kit that we felt one that is the best variant of the Zaku II HG Origins kits and honestly, all the HG Origins HG line has been quite excellent so far. No in fact, if we were to be more precise, what we really feel is that both the HG IBO kits and the HG Origins has been the BETTER part of the 2017 gunpla releases and it has been overshadowing most of the standard HG releases and as well some of the RG releases as well. Bandai is really making it good with the HG lines in 2017.

Regardless, it is still one that we are looking forward to getting, we can’t say on how good this would be up until we get it, but it is one that we will explore definitely at the start of 2018, maybe. So do look forward to that.

RG 1/144 MS-06-R1A Zaku II Shin Matsunaga (RG) [P-Bandai]

Release Date: 2018/03

Estimated price: JPY 3,240* (MYR 116.67* / USD $28.61*)

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

Yes, you guys would definitely see this coming already haha. How can’t we not have this on the list? This awesome piece of plastic?

We are quite taken by how the Shin Matsunaga’s variant looked overall and we’re really excited about seeing more of it and possibly having it here. Though our feelings might change if the RG R-2 turns to be a disappointment. Though with that being said we still have a slight hope of this and the R-2 being good after just recently coming off building the Unicorn. We just hope that we are not wrong on this.

Regardless just by looking at the kit that is enough for us to justify getting this one up, as it is one of the best looking Zaku II RG Variant to date and one that would be a shame if we do pass this one up.

Though you might be thinking why not feature the R-2 Variant here instead? Well, that is because we already had the R-2 here and we might be doing a feature on it soon! 😀

HG 1/144 RX-79BD2/BD3 Blue Destiny Unit 2 & 3 (HGUC)

Release Date: 2017/12 (for unit 2) 2018/03 (for unit 3)

Retail price: JPY 1,440* (MYR 51.85* / USD $12.71*) – Unit 2

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

Estimated price: JPY 1,360* (MYR 48.97* / USD $12.01*) – Unit 3

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

This is what happens when you can’t decide between these two kits. Honestly because of the two looks, oh, so awesome. The Blue Destiny kits have always been ones that we all quite interested with but one that we never get around to actually get, due to it being so similar to the 2007’s RX-79 [G] Gundam Ground type.

But the new remasters, these? These have been making all of us here water our mouths in envy and it has been killing all the thoughts of doubts of this being just another kit in some new clothes just with looking at how awesome the Blue destinies remakes kits were. Even for Kimi, the only one here that has made and owned the original Blue Destiny unit 2 was quite impressed by how this looked and acts. He aswell admits the difference between the old and new (by just looking at the promotional stills) is at a very huge margin.

We might be doing a double feature for the Unit 2 and the unit 3 when the unit 3 comes out, and this is definitely a project that we are really looking forward to making. It one that we and to see how much it has changed since the last Blue destiny kit. To finally know if this is as good as what people claimed it to be.

HG 1/144 Rick Gyanko / Command Fumina (HGBF) [P-Bandai]

Release Date: 2018/01

Estimated price: JPY 2,700* (MYR 97.23* / USD $23.84*) – Rick Gyanko

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

Estimated price: JPY 2,592* (MYR 93.34* / USD $22.89*) – Command Fumina

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

Yes, we know we know. but you guys should know already that this two would definitely take the top spot and yes, we are having some trouble in choosing which one that should take the top spot for this segment. Yes, we are split between two camps here as well. In the end, we just decided (after a botched voting system), fuck it and put both of them up there.

Honestly, these are the P-Bandai HG kits that we are looking forward to getting in 2018. Though there wasn’t a lot of good reviews for both the Winning Fumina and the Hyper Gyanko even with all of the negativity and as well due to our weeboness we can’t help to prioritize getting these ones first over the rest of the list. Sorry guys we have let you down, but they are our waifus.

Plus, the both of them looked awesome here. How can we not love em?

With that ends the HG / RG section, now let’s move on to our….

Top 5 MG’s that we are looking forward to getting in 2018

MG 1/100 RGM-79GS GM Command Space (Space Warfare Specification)[P-Bandai]

Release Date: 2017/11

Estimated price: JPY 3,780* (MYR 136.12* / USD $33.38*)

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

The GM Command Space is the one that we have been eagerly waiting for quite a while, unfortunately enough us Malaysians haven’t managed to get any of them GM Goodness here yet. So, we are looking forward to seeing it here by the end of this month or by the start of 2018.

You might be thinking why we are more excited for this one then the Retail release version of this, that is one good question. You might think we prefer this over the Retail version because of the color? Or it’s weapons system?Actually no, its just we do feel that this has more going for it then the retail variant, but not to say that we think that the retail version would be crap, far from it. Its just we felt the Space-variant is a much more worthwhile kit to own I suppose. With all the things this is getting, this looks to be a lot better as a retail release than the standard retail GM Command.

Plus, with our own experience with the MG GM Sniper II, we feel the build of the GM Command will still be a fast and fun one to make and we so looking forward to read the lore of this awesome GM Command variant. Btw speaking of the GM Sniper, we are having a surprise coming this Sunday so do look forward to that!

The GM Command is one that we are looking forward to getting in 2018.

MG 1/100 XXXG-01H Gundam Heavyarms

Release Date: 2012/01

Retail price: JPY 3,420* (MYR 123.15* / USD $30.20*)

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

This might be a surprise entry to this list and it was one that we have a lot of discussions on which variant of the Heavyarms do we put on the list. The discussion was centered around do we put the normal Heavyarms with its awesomely redesigned Gatling Gun or do we put here the P-Bandai endless waltz variant of the Heavyarms? After a heated discussion (and along one), we collectively agreed to put the normal variant of the Heavyarms instead of the P-Bandai variant.

The reason of why we chose this over the P-Bandai variant is simple, because the P-Bandai variant overall design of the endless waltz Heavyarms is just a recolored Heavyarms as well they trade off the awesomely designed Gatling gun for something mediocre and in turn made the Heavyarms look….meh.The original Heavyarms with the redesigned Gatling gun is just something to behold. Though the P-Bandai variant looked glorious, the Gatling guns on the P-Bandai variant is just disappointing at best.

Though it’s a very simple reason of shunning a fan favourite over a normal version, but it is one that really speaks a lot of the overall design of the 2012’s retail MG Heavyarms, it isn’t just the design of the Gatling gun that got us, it was as well on how the kit looked overall. As well P-Bandai just really didn’t capture the magic of the original well to make us feel like we should get both versions.

So that is why the retail Heavyarms takes the spot and not the P-Bandai version. This is one that we are looking forward to getting in 2018 hopefully we will be able to do so soon.

MG 1/100 MS-14B Gelgoog High Mobility Type Uma Lightning Custom (MG) [P-Bandai]

Release Date: 2010/01

Retail price: JPY 5,940* (MYR 213.90* / USD $52.45*)

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

Yes, another kit that is coming in the first month of 2018 and one that we have waited a long time to have a new variant of, the MG Gelgoog Ver.2.0. To finally know that this is would be released next month does excite us because we feel, besides the Zaku II Ver2.0, the Gelgoog Ver2.0 is one fine kit and one that we had tons of brilliant fun with. It is one that all of us here really wanted to see more of.

Thankfully Bandai finally graced us with a new Gelgoog kit, although it comes in a P-Bandai form. It is one that we are still quite happy that we get more of. Honestly, this is really one of the best looking MG kits we’ve seen in a while. As well the light blue and black color combination really fits this MS well and not to mention its wide array of weapons and equipment’s that comes with this kit. This really is one that we really can’t wait in having and building soon!

With our past experience with the MG Gelgoog ver.2.0’s, it would be no doubt that this one is as well would be something that would be a fun one to make and one that would be something that all of us here would be proud of owning.

MG 1/100 PMX-003 The O (MG)

Release Date: 2010/08

Retail price: JPY 10,800* (MYR 388.91* / USD $95.36*)

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

Our list wouldn’t be complete without including this one here, the crown jewel of the Retail release; The O. Goddamn, this one of the MG kits that we are dreaming about in our sleep every day, one that we just look at with envy every time we visit any gunpla stores and just to see this on the shelves and thought to ourselves when would we be able to get and own one.

Even though this has been one of the most expensive noncoated not P-Bandai mg kits, it is one that we have been hearing positive things about, though we can’t say if the positivity comes from the fact that this is just too expensive to complain about or if it is a really good kit. Regardless it is one that we hoped that we would be able to discover next year.

As well we have to say this is one rare expensive kit this. So far, we only see one retail shop in Malaysia that actually carry this kit and we do hope by the time we have enough to get it that it would still be there.

but yet this is not higher up on the list because the one below is what we are currently lusting for in terms of the MG releases and that one is the……..

MG 1/100 MSN-04 Sazabi Ver.K.A (MG)

Release Date: 2013/12

Retail price: JPY 10,800* (MYR 388.91* / USD $95.36*)

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

Even though the PMX-003 is an impressive looking (and the most expensive MG) kit when it first released and was one that did manage to be the talking point of everyone back in 2010 up until early 2013 when talking about an expensive and impressive kit. That all changed in December 2013 when the fire nation we finally saw the MG Sazabi Ver.K.A for the first time. We finally stopped talking about The O and started talking about the Sazabi.

Even when talking about this we all come to an agreement that this is one of the best looking MG Ver.K.A’s to date and as for how it was with The O, this is one kit that we keep seeing in the store shelves with a fading hope that we would own one of this glorious thing.

As well like The O, this is as well one that we heard so much positive press about and it was made more exciting when recently we saw only the inner frame for this glorious kit on display. We were left speechless on how good it looked even without its outer frame on. Seeing all that glorious inner frame does manage to give us the same feeling that we get building the Zaku II’s, Gelgoog and Gundam’s from the Ver.2.0 series. Looking at just the glorious inner frame is enough to make us convinced that this is one that we would have no doubt a lot of fun with.

Plus to finally have the Sazabi pose with the Nu-Gundam Ver.K.A that we have in the office would definitely help in completing the Char’s Counterattack Ver.K.A MG kits… now just need to wait for the MG Jegan and Jagd doga to be out on the market….Please Bandai, do heed our prayers for more Char’s counterattack MG kits, please.

With that ends the MG segment and our top 5 most looked forward to kits of 2018! As well with that, we can finally wrap up our first Christmas Special a.k.a our 32nd episode of our Let’s Talk Gunpla segment. What do you guys think of the list of our top 5 kits that we here look forward to? Does any catch your fancy?You guys may notice that we don’t have a top 5 PG kits listed here due to the fact that we felt that all of us here have no experience with the PG line to talk about the recent and previous PG kits and heck it would really take us a while for us to be able to financially able to own PG this year, ha-ha! We felt that we won’t be doing the PG kit list up until one of us won a lottery or the moolahs to do so, but not to worry one day it would happen and the list of the TOP 5 most wanted PG kits will be coming. It’s just not for this year, haha. Regardless do let us know your thoughts on all the kits listed here! As ever we do look forward to reading and responding to your comments and thoughts on the announcements and as well to this post!

We will be back with more Let’s Talk Gunpla Segment on the this coming Wednesday and we will be back as well this Sunday with a new Unboxing! What kit that we will be picking up this time to unbox and do a first impression of (well we kind of have hinted it off already)? Do stay tuned next week to know more! 😀

As ever please do leave us a like if you enjoyed this article, as well do give us some feedback and comment if you think we would be able to improve further in making sure that we can give you better content in the future! As well, we want you to know that your likes and shares would be highly appreciated in supporting and helping us grow further, honestly, your love and support means the world to all of us here in Kimi the Builder Blog editorial team.

As well we do want to take some time to wish all of our readers here to have an awesome Holiday week and as well to have a very merry Christmas! May happiness and love fill your household and your whole day ahead, my friends! We hope to see you guys again soon and we hope by sharing our love for Gunpla would be able to make your day and possibly your Christmas celebration better!

Anyways, we shall see all of you again next Wednesday, and we hope that you all have an awesome holiday week ahead! Have an awesome Gunpla building time there as well and until next time!

Ciao!