Most of these are for August, but a couple are from late July, in case some would come asking.
MODEROID Ryu-Knight Collection Series 1: Ryu-Knight Zephy & Ryu-Mage Magidorar
Late July 2023 / ¥5,900
MODEROID Ryu-Knight Zephyr (Lord of Lords Ryu-Knight: Adieu’s Legend)
Late July 2023 / ¥3,900
As much as I’m not a fan of SD Gundams, not helped by the rather abysmal offerings of kits prior to the SD Cross-Silhouette and MGSD lines, Good Smile Company / Good Mecha Smile has been doing an excellent job in convincing me to get their SD mecha offerings. Not to mention they cover most of what’s out there outside of the Gundam and Wataru franchises. And now, their MODEROID offerings are further expanding to include the Ryu-Knight and NG Lamune Knight & 40 franchises.
While I know next to nothing about Ryu-Knight, their designs do interest me, specifically Zephyr being the main Ryu-Knight in this franchise. Two versions are currently available, one from the main series and the other from the Adieu’s Legend OVA. As far as I know, the kits only differ in colors and the included marking stickers. Well, the TV version is also packed in a set with Ryu-Mage Magidorar.
Unfortunately, the reuse of the same kit meant that for the Adieu’s Legend version, the large swaths of red in the shoulder armor are all stickers. If you want to paint yours, you might need to cut out the emblem on the left shoulder armor or create your own decals with the design.
HG Gilbow
August 11, 2023 / ¥4,200
Order via HobbyLink Japan
Figure-rise Standard Noir
August 11, 2023 / ¥4,200
Order via HobbyLink Japan
We are five episodes in with SYNDUALITY Noir and I’m quite enjoying it. My initial impressions based on the trailers were that it will be a serious series amidst all the colorful visuals. Well, I’m significantly off with that impression as it’s quite a fun series. I know that might change when the story deals with Noir’s origins, but at the moment, I’m having an enjoyable time watching each episode.
So much so that I might convince myself to get the HG Daisy Ogre kit, as well as the second “Cradle Coffin” they’re releasing, the HG Gilbow. The mostly white exterior with red highlights is giving me Unicorn Gundam vibes, and I don’t think I’m the only one thinking so. It also made quite the entrance so I won’t be surprised if many would be getting this kit.
Same goes for Figure-rise Standard Noir over here that she’s currently on backorder at HobbyLink Japan. As far as vibes go, Noir may look similar to another android with pale skin recently (i.e. 2B), but their personalities can’t be farther apart. I decided to go with the S.H.Figuarts version for Noir though I still think this will be a good kit.
HG 1/72 Protogouyo
August 11, 2023 / ¥2,400
Order via HobbyLink Japan
The first episode of Kyoukai Senki: Kyokko no Souki (or AMAIM: Warrior at the Borderline UltraSteel Ogre-Gear — that’s a mouthful) was just released and it appears to be a more serious take within this universe. It’s not dark and broody but I haven’t seen any teenagers and rather talkative anthropomorphic AIs as of yet, so we’ll see how it goes. The first episode did provide a good glimpse of the Protogouyo and how it decimated those enemy MAILeS units. Not to mention that I really like the colder colors of this unit, compared to the white and red of the Kenbu/Kenbu Zan.
Speaking of which, I have yet to get myself a copy of the HG Kenbu Zan, which indicates my current interest with these kits. Will this new installment turn my opinion around?
