Right now, everyone is talking about that upcoming Perfect Grade RX-0 Unicorn Gundam and rightly so because it’s the first real PG release in years and it also looks like it deserves the moniker “perfect”. But since for a 1/100 builder/collector like me, the Expo revealed an interesting line-up for the Master Grade and RE/100 lines for the first part of 2015.
For the RE/100 line, after a good start with the Nightingale, the next release is the Mark III Gundam and the Expo has a colored kit on display. The Mark III is part of the Zeta Mobile Suit variations and is the technological successor to the Mark II Gundam. It wasn’t shown in the Zeta Gundam anime because the Titans never got around to using it. This kit is perfect for those collecting in the 1/100 scale who love those lesser known kits that might never see any Master Grade release.
After the Mark III, the next release in the line is the GP04 Gundam. Unlike the Mark III, many fans actually know this one and the design turns up occassionally on fan wish-lists. There’s an uncolored prototype displayed in the Expo and it looks like a strong one.
The surprise of the line is the next kit after the GP04 which is the Dijeh, or “that ugly Amuro Ray suit”. Fans who’ve watched Zeta Gundam will remember this unit as the one Amuro Ray used during the attack on Kilimanjaro. It was the developed from the RMS-099 Rick Dias and has the distinction of being the only Amuro Ray mobile suit that does not have a Master Grade counterpart. The RE/100 line is shaping up to be the go-to line for the lesser known mobile suits and I couldn’t be more happier.
The Master Grade line feels like it is going through a transition. After years of having a monthly release, we’ve seen a reduction in new kits for 2014 along with a steady increase of P-Bandai Online Exclusives. To be fair, most of the recent kits are really good, from Gundam X, Turn-X Gundam, and the Hi-Nu Gundam ver Ka. Since Bandai will be releasing the Perfect Grade Unicorn Gundam, it is understandable that we won’t see a Master Grade release for the upcoming holidays. But the line has at least two new (well, at least one of them) kits coming out for the first quarter 2015 to make people excited.
Coming on February 2015 is the Exia Dark Matter from Gunpla Build Fighters. As expected, much of this kit is taken from the old Gundam Exia Master Grade but with a lot of new parts. Perfect for those fans of the Gundam 00 type mobile suits who are starving for a new release.
On March 2015, comes the turn of Gundam Double-X from the series After War Gundam X. When Gundam X was released earlier this year, it had great reviews even though it was a tad too simplistic for some. This one, however, is significantly bigger, and looks to have a lot of detail (as well as articulate hands).
Those two aren’t exactly “hard-hitting” releases, but they do look good and would definitely satisfy fans of both shows.
There is a really interesting reveal for the Master Grade line. Unfortunately for some, this is a P-Bandai Online Exclusive which seems really robust this year. On 2015, you can order a Grey Wolf Zeta Gundam seen from Gundam Evolve. This isn’t your normal recolor, the kit actually has a lot of new armor details that normally would have warranted a regular release. Not only that, the Red Snake Zeta Gundam will also see a release (there’s already a kit that’s facing backwards in the Expo).
This marks the first time an original kit from Evolve ever received any model kit treatment not counting the Zeta Karaba version which was just a recolor of the original mold. I don’t usually have any issue with regards to Bandai’s current infatuation with releasing online exclusives, but I feel that these two designs would have done well if released in their regular line. Be that as it may, this is a really tempting one for me because I have this personal goal of building and collecting Zeta Gundam and its different variants.
Going back to the Grey Wolf Zeta, you can see from the pictures the level of detail on this kit that sets it apart from the original design (not to mention its big-ass gun). I have probably a month to think about if I’m going to get this or not.
The Master Grade line seems to be churning out fewer releases but with better technology and detail (at least for the really new kits). That might actually be better for the line in the long run, with most of the re-colors and variations being released as an Online Exclusive, and the obscure designs being released in the RE/100. One thing is for sure, 2015 will be a great year for Gunpla.
5 Comments
Gunpla is the cause of self despair
?
He means it has caused much sadness because of poor wallets and broken savings hahaha
ganda, nood na lang ako ng gundam build fighters
Mas nakakainggit manood bruu… gumagalaw dun eh :3 haha