rico soul's Review
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Metal Kingdom 1/100 MBF-02+EW454F Strike Rouge Ootori
Metal Kingdom 1/100 MBF-02+EW454F Strike Rouge Ootori [Comment]
Dec 09, 2022
Likes:
rico soul: There are already quite a few reviews of this as it's yet another KO of the Bandai metal build strike.

Overall this should be a good alternative for people that have trouble finding or affording the Bandai metal build strike. The quality control is going to be a bit inferior to Bandai but the overall package should be acceptable. The Strike Rouge I believe will have less errors than the original Strike copy since they've had some time to improve on the assembly and molding of the KO.
[Coming Soon] Daban 1/60 PG RX-0 Full Armor Unicorn Gundam Plan B Model Kit
[Coming Soon] Daban 1/60 PG RX-0 Full Armor Unicorn Gundam Plan B Model Kit [Comment]
Dec 10, 2022
Likes:
rico soul: I'm pretty torn on this. Tackling a PG Perfectibility KO may be a bit frustrating when all the little parts and pieces don't fit properly, and I will still need to find the divine expansion and a LED pack. But Bandai's reprint just occurs a couple months ago so the next printing is going to be a while, and even then, it's almost 2x the price to get the Bandai kit.
Steel Legend 1/60 PPGN-001 Gundam Amazing Exia Version 2.0
Steel Legend 1/60 PPGN-001 Gundam Amazing Exia Version 2.0 [Comment]
Dec 11, 2022
Likes:
rico soul: This is such a mess of a figure. It's like they had too many ideas and things just didn't work out when all put together. It's a solid display piece for people willing to put up with it's quirks I guess.

So to start off, this is essentially the YJL MG Amazing Exia GK, blown up to 1/60 scale. Maybe because of that, the proportions feel a bit off with the legs being too long (as YJL GKs like to elongate the legs).

The neck is just awful. They made the peg about 2mm too long so it looks horrid. If you have some model building skills, you can cut and shorten the peg to make it look more appropriate. See the attached picture from Youtube. The left is the original neck, the right is the modified neck. The modification isn't too difficult but will reduce the range of motion.

The rest of the figure is actually alright. The main body articulation is lacking and the joints aren't tight enough but you can tighten the joints with some thread locker.

The LED lights come both with individual battery units for each of the 9x GN drives, and separate USB rechargeable ports for the shield, the sword, and the backpack. Kind of a weird hodgepodge of lights.

Finally, the stand. The stand is bad. It's not adjustable and holds the unit at an awkward angle in the air rather than just supporting it on the ground. You'll have to figure out something with that.

Overall, I'd think this is really only for fans of the YJL amazing exia but it's a nice big mech display piece (after some modifications)
MENG Model Mecha-001LM Evangelion Unit-01 Ver1.5 Model Kit
MENG Model Mecha-001LM Evangelion Unit-01 Ver1.5 Model Kit [Comment]
Dec 14, 2022
Likes:
rico soul: I really prefer the adjusted proportions of this version over the original 1.0

The cost is actually lower than the original, maybe because there's less accessories? Hope the final product looks as sick as the CG renders. With how good the 1.0 is, I don't think we need to be worried. I do hope the inner frame is nice and tight on this 1.5
Hsiang HMT-Beginner's Suit Tools Base Set for Gundam & Mecha Girl & Military Model Blue Version
Hsiang HMT-Beginner's Suit Tools Base Set for Gundam & Mecha Girl & Military Model Blue Version [Comment]
Dec 14, 2022
Likes:
rico soul: This is actually a great kit for the price.

1. Single bladed nipper with sheath. Even cheap ones will run you at least $20 just for this
2. Sand paper holder. Ok it's just 2x pieces of precut plexiglass but it's a pretty crucial part of making sanding sticks
3. 5pcs 600grit and 5pcs 1000grit sand paper. I would have prefered to also see some 400 grit and 800 grit but this is plenty to help you with basic sanding and polishing
4.Hobby knife. Not much to say here, another crucial tool for nub cleanups and decals and even a cheap one is useful
5. part separator. I have pretty much this exact one and it's very useful when trying to disassemble something for customizing or just to pop open small articulated gimmicks on the model
6. Tweezers. again, not much to really say and you can't really go wrong with cheap one.
Sentinel Toys Riobot Tetsujin 28 FX & 17 Phoenix Set of 2 Normal Version
Sentinel Toys Riobot Tetsujin 28 FX & 17 Phoenix Set of 2 Normal Version [Comment]
Dec 16, 2022
Likes:
rico soul: Wow, now this is a classic retro giant robot. Think this is a redesign? The original source material is a bit too old for my knowledge
BaoBao Model 1/100 Maneuver Striker Upgrade Pack for MG Gundam Model Kit
BaoBao Model 1/100 Maneuver Striker Upgrade Pack for MG Gundam Model Kit [Comment]
Dec 18, 2022
Likes:
rico soul: Well, so I did end up ordering one to use for some kit bash ideas and it actually looks pretty decent. The molding looks sharp on the runners and hopefully everything will fit together well. Attached some photos for people interested.

One important note for anyone considering getting this though: Unlike the original Bandai release, every runner on this copy is labeled ABS plastic. I personally like working with ABS plastic but be very careful when you panel line it or if you plan on painting anything. DO NOT use flow type gundam markers or metallic markers, and don't use tamiya panel liner either without first top coating everything.

Acrylic based panel liners like mr weathering color would be the safest choice
MoShow 1/72 Progenitor Effect Wu Chenghou
MoShow 1/72 Progenitor Effect Wu Chenghou [Comment]
Dec 19, 2022
Likes:
rico soul: So my understanding is this is the "full armor" sort of layout of the MoShow Wu Chenghou. The shoulder pieces and back cannons and swords can all be removed to see the bare mech, kinda like the Strike gundam vs the Perfect Strike gundam.

Personally, I really like the more super robot futuristic looks of this to set is apart from the takeda shingen and date masamune, which felt a bit too similar with their katanas and japanese themes. Now I know some people have said that this has no references at all to Wu Chenghou the person, but since I don't know anything about Wu Chenghou, to me this is just a sick looking mech.

The LED effects they've done on this is really a step above all their previous works with the flashing shoulder sequence and even the color changing when the should boomerangs are detached. This thing just looks sick.

Moshow quality is amazing as always so I'm really looking forward to getting one in my hands.
SH Studio & GM Dream 1/60 MSN-100 Conversion Kit for PG Gundam Hyaku-Shiki
SH Studio & GM Dream 1/60 MSN-100 Conversion Kit for PG Gundam Hyaku-Shiki [Comment]
Dec 19, 2022
Likes:
rico soul: Man why is the Hyaku-Shiki such a badass looking gundam. This GK looks sweet.

If people didn't see it in the listing, this is a resin conversion kit and requires a PG Gundam MK-2 as the base.
If I had a PG Mk-2, and if I had the model making skills to probably build and detail a resin kit, and if I had the painting skilling to airbrush chrome gold, I would totally jump on this lol.
DaSin Model 1/12 Popeye the Sailor Pop Eye
DaSin Model 1/12 Popeye the Sailor Pop Eye [Comment]
Dec 20, 2022
Likes:
rico soul: Wow, this is such a good sculpt of Popeye. Not sure how many Popeye fans are here in the gunpla model kit crowd but this looks to be a nice figure.