It’s less than one month before Mobile Suit Gundam the Witch from Mercury drops so it’s no surprise which kit is getting an early packaging preview.
We already saw the clean packaging style for the HG THE WITCH FROM MERCURY kits last month with the HG Gundam Lfrith and HG Beguir-Beu. On that note, let me get on a little tangent because I wasn’t able to make it to the first production run of the kits from the prologue special. Granted I knew I should’ve placed my pre-order the moment they went up as people tend to get excited for these kits. The same also happened with my RG God Gundam pre-order which frustrated me as well.
I can’t remember if I pre-ordered the HG Gundam Aerial right after solicitations opened, but I won’t be surprised if I also get backordered on this kit. Let’s see.
HG 1/144 Gundam Aerial
October 2022 / ¥1,300
Order via HobbyLink Japan
A kit I knew I wanted from day one is the HGAC Shenlong Gundam. Say what you will about Wufei but I personally think the Shenlong Gundam is one of the better-looking kits from the original five from Gundam Wing. My dilemma for this kit comes from how I don’t really want to build the HG Gundam Heavyarms, but it wouldn’t make sense to just leave that one out.
HGAC 1/144 Shenlong Gundam
September 10, 2022 / ¥1,500
Order via HobbyLink Japan
Going a little off tangent from the Bandai Sprits stuff, Good Smile Company / Good Mecha Smile also released the packaging illustration for MODEROID MADOX-01 which is also coming out this month. To those unfamiliar, this came from the 80s OVA Metal Skin Panic MADOX-01 where the titular powered suit accidentally traps a civilian inside and then a whole bunch of stuff happens. The design of MADOX-01 itself shouts the 80s aesthetic and I’m glad it’s finally getting its own model kit.
I had this kit on pre-order for the longest time but decided to drop it around last month since I heard somewhere that most MODEROID kits sell at lower prices in the aftermarket. So, I’m taking a shot at getting this kit at less than SRP, which we’ll see once it comes out.
MODEROID MADOX-01
September 2022 / ¥7,900
Order via HobbyLink Japan
I mentioned last week that I was waiting for this week’s release updates as two more kits of interest are coming out this weekend. First is RG GaoGaiGar which we already had a straight build preview thanks to the folks over at Bandai Namco Korea. You will also notice the new Real Grade blurb specific to GaoGaiGar, and already seen when they solicited the Premium Bandai exclusive RG Goldymarg, and as you can read below.
Real Grades are designed to recreate the “real thing” with fine details and a variety of colorful parts. Moveable parts with the widest possible range of movement and transformation/combination mechanisms based on the settings have been implemented. This product offers the joy and excitement of assembling plastic model kits to all generations who know and love KING OF BRAVES GAOGAIGAR. Please enjoy the countless gimmicks that have been condensed into a kit that fits in the palm of your hand.
You will also notice the license info now saying “Bandai Namco Filmworks Inc.” instead of what would’ve been prior to the company renaming.
RG GaoGaiGar
September 17, 2022 / ¥6,000
Order via HobbyLink Japan
Then there’s Figure-rise Standard Ultraman Suit Tiga -Action-, an inevitability I saw a mile away when they released the non-Action version. That said, everything’s not bad with that kit. In fact, this one doesn’t really have a massive advantage when talking about articulation. The silver parts of the first kit are also produced in “extra-finish” silver while this one is more likely to be that injection-molded silver that many are likely to repaint. If you bought Ultraman Suit Tiga Sky Type -Action-, then you have a good idea of what to expect from this one.
Figure-rise Standard 1/12 Ultraman Suit Tiga -Action-
September 17, 2022 / ¥3,000
Order via HobbyLink Japan
