By Loran
Boy, I sure have the worst timing, don’t I?
Shortly after I wrote the article on the HGUC kits Bandai has coming out this summer, bam, they announce a few more! And knowing my luck, they’re going to announce like two or three more a week after this article gets published. But hey, that’s just how it goes, and it’s always good to see new product coming out, especially when it’s something that seems to have taken them a bit long to put out. Since only two new Universal Century 1/144 scale kits have been announced so far, I’m gonna take a look back at some of the kits I showcased last time
July’s HGUC release is going to be one that a friend of mine and I were discussing about a week before the announcement-the GM III! This poor guy got little to no exposure when it was first introduced, only appearing a handful of times in Double Zeta and in the climax of Char’s Counterattack. It didn’t even get an old no-grade kit during the 80’s! Stupid Bandai and their GM hate. Much like the Dreissen, appearing in Unicorn seems to be this guy’s second wind, and I have a strong feeling it’ll be released under the Unicorn banner. Saldy, it seems like it won’t use the “universal GM joint system” that all GMs released since the Powered GM have used. Still, it looks to be a great kit, and I’m glad we’re finally getting some more post-Zeta grunts that aren’t Jegans! Now, Bandai… give us the GM II!
Also in July Bandai’s “Real Grade” series of kits continues, with one that was inevitable: the mass-production type Zaku! For the most part, this kit will just be a recolored Char’s Zaku with some minor changes, mainly the inclusion of an antenna-less head, different leg thrusters, and a different backpack. Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it’ll be including any new weapons, like the leg missile pods or the Magella Top gun, and I haven’t found any pictures yet that include the bazooka. I haven’t built any Real Grades yet myself-I just find it hard to drop near-Master Grade prices on 1/144 scale kits that are just as big as everything else on my shelf. Still, they are quite impressive from a technological standpoint, and I’d probably grab one of the Zakus out of sheer curiosity. Painting these looks like it’ll be a pain, though!
The boxart for next month’s HGUC, the Dreissen, has been released. Pretty awesome. It also has the green version of the Gaza-C on the cover. Maybe we’ll see one of those soon? I still don’t like that kit that much, though…
Switching gears, scales, and universes a bit, we’ve got the Master Grade Gundam Epyon scheduled for June! Boy, sure makes me wish I didn’t spend all that time on my old High Grade Epyon… Still, I don’t often go for Master Grades, but I’ve taken a pretty big interest in the Ver. Ka Wing kits, and I plan on grabbing them all once they’ve been released. Some people have said they don’t really like this take on the design. Personally? I think they need to put the nostalgia goggles away, but I WILL say the orb on the chest of this one is… kind of weak. But otherwise, it’s great to see the old boy back, and nastier than ever.
I had high hopes for this summer, Gunpla-wise, when I first heard about the Dreissen, but it sure seems like Bandai’s been one-upping themselves with even more awesome suits and kits. I’m excited! FPNYC should have a bunch of these by the time summer is over, so keep your eyes peeled.
