Time flies so fast! I still remember writing about the RE/100 Nightingale, and here we are, nearing the release of the GPO4 Gundam – the third – with a fourth (Dijeh) on the way. It’s easy to see that the line has attracted a respectable number of fans who appreciate having designs in 1/100 scale that would otherwise not make it into the Master Grade line.
What I personally like about this line is that not only is it easier to build and more stable than the old No Grade 1/100s, it is also a good start for novice builders who wanted to get into the 1/100 scale but could not afford to buy a Master Grade to practice their skills with. With the exception of the Nightingale, the next two kits in this line are priced at ¥3,500. As you have seen in custom builds, these kits look really great when panel-lined or given more detail.
I have really high hopes for this line, and with that said, here are my top five designs that I hope I’ll eventually see in RE/100.
5. PMX-001 Palace-Athene
Palace-Athene isn’t exactly obscure, being created by Paptimus Scirocco and piloted by Reccoa Londe in Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam. But it is greatly under appreciated. Hardcore Universal Century collectors will definitely be happy to see any model of the Palace-Athene in 1/100 scale. Sadly, a Master Grade seems very unlikely for this poor fellow. Perhaps RE/100 would be more forgiving?
4. NZ-666 Kshatriya
This one is pretty obvious: the Nightingale was done, why not the Kshatriya? I understand the difficulties of making this monster in MG form (see Elyn’s attempt), but RE/100 offers simpler construction methods. Of course that doesn’t mean making it will be easy, but unlike the MG, Bandai would not need to bother with an inner-frame which can add to the weight of the “wings”. This will help in making it a lot more stable too. Again, the price point will be the main consideration, but with the excellent HG, Bandai just might reconsider.
3. GAT-01 A2R Slaughter Dagger
RE/100 has only produced UC lines so far, and it’s been good. But if ever I have a non-UC suit I’d like to see in 1/100 form,that’s the Slaughter Dagger from the Gundam SEED Destiny Stargazer OVA. And why not? It’s obscure, it probably would not appeal even to Cosmic Era fans because it’s not a main suit. But it’s an interesting design, a mass-production version of the Strike Gundam. I have a soft spot for mass-produced versions because it gives off a feeling of “continuity” between the prototypes. After all, most of the main suits from the various Gundam shows were meant to be mass-produced. The rub on this design is that since it also has an X-Frame, it’s not that difficult to make it in MG. I was torn between this standard mode and the Lightning Slaughter Dagger, but I doubt Bandai would even make the standard one in the first place. Basically a niche design for a niche audience.
2. CB-001.5 1.5 Gundam
The second non-UC design that made it into my Top 5 is the 1.5 Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam 00V: Battlefield Record, Mobile Suit Gundam 00P, and Mobile Suit Gundam 00I. I love Gundam 00, but haven’t really followed its side stories. However, I still love this design, which was developed from the 1 Gundam (because this is 1.5, duh), a half-prototype design of the Reborns Gundam (which I would love to see in Master Grade form). It does look a lot like Reborns without the gun-cannon transformation part. It also has an “attack mode” which doesn’t look any different from it’s base mode except that it has several weapons or watchamacallits (sorry, I’m not really updated on Gundam 00’s side stories, despite actually loving the series and movie). It is obscure, and something I personally could not see being made into the MG. Perfect for an RE/100.
1. ORX-005 Gaplant TR-5 (Hrairoo)
Going back to UC for number one, and this one is really special. As in “instant buy” type of special for me. The mobile suit designs fron Advance of Zeta (most especially its reboot) are out of this world, and something I do not expect in a UC mobile suit. It can look weird to other people, but it combines three of the things I love about mobile suits: an imposing design, an out-of-the-box concept, not to mention various modes: it has an MS mode, an MS mode with support visor, an MS mode with support unit, and a mobile-armor mode with support unit that doubles as its wave-rider form (viva la Zeta!) for a grand total of four. That, and the fact that it’s a Titans mobile suit, really screams “bad-ass” to me. It’s pretty unlikely to have an MG too unless some miracle happens.
The Gundam metaverse has hundreds of designs waiting to be used in a kit. I’m sure all of you have your own lists too. This is what’s great about this hobby: lots of opportunities, lots of choices. All for having a great time.
Honorable Mentions:
Here are some of the designs that I considered, but did not make it.
1. The Throne Gundams from Gundam 00 – they’re off from the list because I would want all three in. That’s not really going to happen.
2. Blaze Zaku Phantom (Gundam SEED Destiny) – fell off the list because it’s a Zaku, and more likely to have an MG than an RE/100. It also has a No Grade 1/100 kit already.
3. Zaku III (Universal Century) – because it’s a UC Zaku, and Bandai has all the tools to make this one. It’s not that known, though, and the reason it’s off my list is because I want an MG of this.
4. Psycho Gundam – simply not going to happen.
4 Comments
GP04 Gerbera
TR-6 Woundwort + addons and other forms / packs
Nobel Gundam! The 1/144 was just a preview if a RE/100 line comes a long, it would be modfeed galore!
The Psycho Gundam happened in HG, so a MG isn’t entirely impossible. 🙂