It was almost a year ago when Bandai Spirits announced the Entry Grade RX-78-2 Gundam and once it was released, everyone loved it. An affordable, easy to assemble, color-accurate and highly articulated 1/144 scale RX-78-2 Gundam with color separation better than the HGUC. With a winning formula in their hands, Bandai Spirits does the next best thing… and reveals a new Entry Grade.
The second Gunpla in the Entry Grade line is the Strike Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED. To recall, the Entry Grade line isn’t specific to Gunpla and has kits from various franchises — including Dragon Ball, Ultraman, and Kamen Rider. All of them have great color accuracy out of the box though they are not articulated, well except for the Gunpla ones as these are the only Entry Grade kits with articulation. So it makes perfect sense that the next Entry Grade Gunpla is also a simple design that could maximize the color separation and articulation the line provides.
Using the Fine Build system found in some High Grades and all of the 30 Minute Missions kits, parts corresponding to the same sections of the model kit are grouped together in the runners. This provides a more intuitive building experience, especially when color accuracy through the smart layering of parts. Heck, this kit might even have more parts to build the head unit than some High Grades. Assembly is made even easier with their Touch Gate technology, allowing you to pull the parts right off the runners without using any tools.
Oh, and did I forget to mention how articulated this kit is? This is through the use of ball joints placed in an arrangement that maximizes the range of movement, without using polycaps. Once complete, you will have in your hands an excellent-looking model using minimal effort.
Like the RX-78-2 Gundam, the Entry Grade Strike Gundam will be available in various assortments. There’s the normal version that would also include a beam rifle and shield, the light package version that includes a pair of “Armor Schneiders”, the Ichiban Kuji version that comes with clear parts, and a Strike Rouge recolor packaged in a round box similar to the special versions of the Entry Grade RX-78-2 Gundam.
With a seemingly once a year release schedule, Bandai Spirits is giving the event kit treatment to these Entry Grades. And I can already imagine that Gunpla modelers would once again go crazy when this kit becomes available.
Entry Grade 1/144 Strike Gundam (Light Package Ver.)
December 2021 / ¥500
Entry Grade 1/144 Strike Gundam
January 2022 / ¥700
Ichiban Kuji Mobile Suit Gundam Gunpla 2021 Prize D – Entry Grade 1/144 Strike Gundam (Solid Clear)
September 2021 / ¥790 (Lottery Ticket Price)
Gunpla in Round BOX – Entry Grade 1/144 Strike Rouge (Light Package Ver.)
October 2021 / ¥1,500 (Lottery Ticket Price)
