The invasion of the HG kits

Hello and welcome to our 29th episode of let’s talk gunpla! As the year drawing so ever closer to the end, we in Kimi the Builder blog thought that Bandai would take it easy with the recent announcement of the RG 1/144 Banshee Norn. We thought that the announcement with the new RG Unicorn retail release would be enough to make us look forward to 2018.

But no, apparently Bandai has more up their sleeves to showcase to all of us here for their 2018 plans and as we were looking through the announcements made for this retail Bandai releases, we felt that this is by far the best HG kits announcements to date. One that really showcases Bandai’s grip in the plastic model industry.

Without further ado, let’s get into the announcements, shall we?

HG 1/144 Build Strike Galaxy Cosmos (HGBF)

Release Date: 2018/02

Estimated price: JPY 1,530* (MYR 55.27* / USD $13.59*)

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

The first one on the list is a kit from the Gundam Build Fighters series, one that is confirmed to be showcased in the next battlelouge series and one that we feel is the best iteration of the Build Strike family.

When we first saw the Build Strike cosmos, we kind of had some trouble looking for a difference in between the Star build strike and the Cosmos (besides the abilities that these two kits had) but this version does fix the problem by actually giving some major upgrade to the ‘Build Strike’ Gundam family by giving it that huge and glorious backpack (freedom-esque) system.

Well if the look of this kit doesn’t convince you guys that Sei Iori loves the Freedom and the Strike Gundam we don’t know what more evidence that we can put on the table, ha-ha.

Well in by no means we would be implying that this is a bad looking kit, not at all. In fact, like we said at the start of this, we feel that this by far the best-looking variant as compared to the others. Major upgrades to the body shoulder armor set, as well as new parts, added to the leg section and the new badass looking backpack system that was equipped for this variant.

We really have no idea what it does, and we don’t care what it does because it looks fucking awesome. Though it does makes us think if we are seeing the final iteration of the build strike or will we be seeing more of it in the future?

All we know is that Bandai really needs to stop screwing around and finally give us a proper new season of the Build Fighters or give us a new season of G-Gundam at least. Getting more and more battlelouge doesn’t really help to soothe our need for a new original Gundam series and not to mention the pain of waiting for a new Thunderbolt movie and the Origins is real.

Regardless as we come to a close for this matter we came to the final question on ‘Would we get it though?’ question. As we ponder on this the obvious answer comes to light, ‘Fuck yes we would’.

Moving on to the next annoucement.

HG 1/144 Blue Destiny Unit 3 ‘EXAM’ (HGUC)

Release Date: 2018/03

Estimated price: JPY 1,360* (MYR 49.13* / USD $12.08*)

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

Finally, the circle of the Blue Destiny remasters has come full circle, looking at the love that Bandai is giving The Blue Destiny series we wonder if Bandai would actually have any plans to remaster this awesome game into the new generation consoles? With the games released untranslated and undubbed, it was a game that was quite inaccessible to us players, even with the translations given by 3rd parties it was one that really takes us out from the immersion of the game. we know that Bandai did re-release the game as apart of the Gundam Side Stories compilation for the ps3, but there was no official western release for it, and no translated version too. Its a shame since a proper Gundam games are just too few in between releases and not to mention that we heard that the game was quite excellent and fun to play.

We do hope that Bandai would really consider re-releasing the game for the new generation consoles and finally give us the much-needed translation support into the game. If Bandai does make this happen, they can rest assured that we would be the first to buy this game in boxes. If they make the special editions, yeah we would buy that one too. Just please give us a proper Gundam game, please?

Enough about the games, let’s get into our thoughts of the kit.

Though in all honesty, since the first release of the remasters we really haven’t gotten our hands on any of them, but it is one that we have been hearing awesome stories about. As well at first, we can’t really find much difference in between the two in terms of looks to justify buying it at first, but then we saw what it could do. After such then we started to see the bigger picture of what the remasters could do. To some of you here that have already owned all three of the first iterations of the Bue Destiny series would be wondering “what the hell were they talking about and where is the proof of your claims of this difference in between the old and the new?” The proof? Oh, let us compare the two, shall we? We give you first the old version; –

And now just one picture, the new version.

As well the look of the remasters have been quite good including the newly announced Blue Destiny Unit 3 remaster. It looks a lot better then its older counterparts (as well not a bad looking kit itself actually) and as well the remastered Blue Destiny unit 3 equipment set is hella impressive, definitely better than what the older version got and that beam rifle-shield thing? We just love the looks of that.

This one for sure takes the spot for the most anticipated HG kits of 2018 indeed!

Moving to the next release, is understandbly from a different series, but one that all of us here am really excited for when we heard and see this annouced.

We present you the Pacific Rim: Uprising HG lines and the first of the line that we will be talking about is

HG Gipsy Avenger (Pacific Rim: Uprising High Grade)

Release Date: 2018/03

Estimated price: JPY 1,615* (MYR 58.34* / USD $14.34*) – normal version

Estimated price: JPY 2,520* (MYR 91.03* / USD $22.38*) – DX version

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

This the Gypsy Avenger, the new variant of the Gypsy Jeagers line.

Before anything, we should say that the Pacific Rim: Uprising’s High-Grade lines, these were a surprising entry to the Bandai’s line of High-Grade kits. We personally thought that Max Factory would be releasing the Pacific Rim kits since they have been releasing kits from 1st movie. When we first saw this piece of news highlighted in hobby search we all went “Oh max factory is releasing new Pacific Rim kits, pretty nice looking, eh, why does it have an HG tag attached to it? Wait a minute, is this made by……BANDAI?”

Oh yes, Bandai honestly when we saw this we were both surprised and not at the same time because really recently Bandai has been really at it this year, with releasing kit for the Macross delta series, DBZ, Star Wars and now Pacific Rim? Insane. I do wonder what other Sci-Fi series that they would take on to make HG lines of, we do hope that they would take on more Sci-fi franchises but one that we hope that they would make is really the dropship and the Sulaco from the Aliens movie. If they ever make that be sure that we would get that one, haha.

Anyways, let’s get into the business of the kit itself. By the looks of it, the Pacific Rim HG really benefitted a lot from Bandai’s past experiences with its Gunpla’s and it shows from the level of features and details the Gyspy Avenger is getting from only looking at the promotional stills.

Not to mention as well how awesome the look of this kit is. As well to add, this kit comes with the DX version which in turn comes with the stand and a LED unit. Why does this HG kit needs a LED unit you may ask? Oh easy, its becauase of this:-

Yes, the middle section of the Gypsy Avenger had a clear middle section that is really made to house a LED Unit for itself and yes that really made the look of the Gypsy Avenger even more awesome than before. We are really honestly looking forward to this one, the look itself is enough to make us want to get this and the really best part of all of this?

This is not the only Pacific Rim HG kit.

HG Bracer Phoenix (Pacific Rim: Uprising High Grade)

Release Date: 2018/03

Estimated price: JPY 1,955* (MYR 70.62* / USD $17.36*)

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

Oh yes more Pacific Rim HG kits!

The second Pacific Rim HG kit on the list is a real looker, this is probably our favorite one from all the other ones that we’ve seen (and we haven’t talked about the final one yet haha). The reason being is that we like the fact that this looks bulkier than the Gypsy Avenger that’s all to be honest…..as well as the boobie plasma rifle? Yeah, that too we guess. Though when we really looked at this we kinda see the slight resemblance to the Striker Eureka, well the Steroid induced version of it.

I guess after the first showing the Eureka decided to head straight to the gym huh?

Anyways, there isn’t much information besides the look of this kit that we can talk about, and usually, this lack of details does spell some pretty bad things, though we don’t want to be speculating at the moment.

I guess the best thing is just to wait and get the kit ourselves, maybe then we can tell you more about this one.

Honestly though? We would get it even if its bad, the look is enough for us here and yes the tit gun got to us, damn you del Toro.

HG Obsidian Fury (Pacific Rim: Uprising High Grade)

Release Date: 2018/03

Estimated price: JPY 1,955* (MYR 70.62* / USD $17.36*)

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

The last one on the list is a kit that does look suspiciously like the Gypsy Avenger, minus the awesome looking the clear middle part of course. As well not to mention this is looking to be a lot taller than both the Gypsy Avenger and the Bracer Phoenix.

As for how it was with the Bracer Phoenix, there isn’t much detail too on its articulation but at this rate, we can safely assume that all three would have roughly the same range of movements and poses as to what we’ve seen with the Gypsy Avenger.

In terms of looks, this is probably our least fav kit out of three. The plasma Chainsaw thing does look cool but the looks for this one………not really the best even when compared to the Jaegers that we’ve seen in the first movie.

Well, at least the Chainsaw looks cool.

Overall for all three of this kit, does show some promise. Though we have our concerns on certain aspects of these kits but with Bandai on the helm of developing these kits we have no doubt that they will do a somewhat decent job at least. As well if the movie does turn out to be awesome, we can foresee that Bandai is going to have a hit on their hands.

If it’s a flop however…..well it is still a good line of kits to have displayed, now to wait for Bandai to make Jeagers from the 1st movie as a part of their HG line and hopefully, they will do aliens next.

Hopefully.

That’s all we have for you peeps this week with the 29th episode of our Let’s Talk Gunpla segment. What do you guys think of the overall announcements of the kits? Does any catch your fancy? We are honestly quite taken with Bandai taking over kit building duties from Max Factory (maybe we aren’t too sure, do correct us if this is the case), plus the HG Bracer phoenix is really the one for us to snatch first! Ha-ha. Looking back now, we are quite excited for them to be released in this coming March! Anyways, as ever we do look forward in reading and responding to your comments and thoughts of the announcements and as well to this post!

We will be back with more Let’s Talk Gunpla Segment on the next coming Wednesday and we will be back as well this Sunday with a new review, that is everything goes well for Kimi for the upcoming review, haha! As well we will most likely have an extra content planned to be released…maybe this Friday that is if we all aren’t tied up too much, ha-ha. So do look forward to that one as well :D!

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.

We hope by sharing our love for Gunpla would be able to make your day!

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

Ciao!

Sources for the awesome pictures:-

http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/gundam/

We are not sponsored by them, just so you guys know haha.