In Gunpla, there are good kits and there are great kits, and there’s that one kit that blows you away. A certain kit’s value differs greatly from person to person, and unless you love to follow the latest Gunpla trends, you sacrifice your hard-earned money only to that one kit you just have to have.
[signoff icon=”info-circled”]- MG 1/100 Hi-Nu Gundam Ver. Ka (Release Date: Aug 2014, Price: 7,560 Yen)
- P-Bandai Online Hobby Shop Exclusive: MG 1/100 Hi-Nu Gundam Ver Ka HWS (Heavy Weapon System) (Release Date: Summer 2014, Price: 3,024 Yen)
Imagine my delight at the announcement of the Hi-Nu Gundam ver Ka. In fact, I made several articles about it. Now, imagine my face when this latest image of the kit was uploaded in Gundam Guy.
When the Hi-Nu Gundam was first released in Master Grade form several years ago, it was redesigned to appeal to a consumer base that is “used” to seeing slim robots. Remember that the Mobile Suit Gundam franchise has just been revitalized by Gundam SEED, SEED Destiny, and Gundam 00 and all of these shows have very slim lead robots. In order to sell, the Hi-Nu Gundam had to appeal to an audience most of whom were too young to remember the Universal Century shows and movies. The kit produced was actually good, and I believe it sold pretty well. However, for a lot of fans who knew what the Hi-Nu Gundam originally looked like, it was back to the waiting room.
Fast forward to 2014, and looks like we got our wish. After several images showing the kit in its 2007 redesign colors, BANDAI finally revealed the fully decaled Hi-Nu Gundam Ver Ka. At last, it was the Hi-Nu fans like me were waiting for.
The decals are standard Katoki fare, although some people have pointed out that it seems to have less decals than we are used to. Which is fine, because if my experience with the Nu Gundam Ver Ka is any indication, building this will take some time especially if the colors in the funnels are actually decals. I really loved the purple color. I love the blue, but this one looked really special.
It will be using the emotion manipulators that are now the standard in main releases (provided it’s a new mold). The details are also great, at least as far as the images can tell. Everything about it screams power, in the same way that everything in the Nu Gundam screams efficiency.
If that is not enough, BANDAI is releasing a Heavy Weapons System add-on as an Online Hobby Shop exclusive. While I myself am questioning the logic of further powering an already powerful design, the images are very convincing. Not only that, it has two forms. Yes! Two!
The first form is your standard HWS with a big shield, added armor, and modified beam rifle. Oh yeah, you also have two big cannons (or missile pods?) on both the suit’s shoulders plus two in his chest ala Heavyarms.
The second form has you putting the gargantuan shield (with boosters underneath) on the suit’s back. They will open up to reveal to Hyper Bazookas. You also have leg thrusters for added mobility, and as I said, the shield has boosters which, when attached to the back, gives the mobile suit added thrust. Oh, and did I mention that there are small arms under the HWS skirt armor like The O? Over-kill, I say. Pure, delicious, overkill. The suit is so powerful that I can put it in, say, Front Mission Evolved and decimate the whole of Apollo’s Chariot.
Needless to say, I can’t wait for next month! I promise to give you lots of unboxing and building pictures.
Now, if only someone is willing to sponsor me for the HWS add-on….
All images were taken from the Gundam Guy blog.
Pictures of the original design of the Hi-Nu Gundam were taken from Gundam Wiki.
7 Comments
MG nightingale nalang kulang! I still dont understand why they haven’t done it! The RE version is not nice 😐 mas maganda pa iyong MC model na nightingale
Fact is, mas mura para sa kanila yung nightingale but yes, bakit nagawa ni MC model maglabas ng sarili nila diba? Yan ang question.
An MG Nightingale will push the final cost of the kit towards the PG range. Most buyers are casual builders who might not buy a kit that’s really expensive. It’s the same reason why we haven’t seen a new PG for years now. The RE version would have to do for now.
gusto ko ng VF-17 Excalibur lol :3
give away b yan akin na lang 😀
it’s all good gatchaa
it’s all good gatchaa