I just realized that it’s almost the end of September and while we don’t have much on the Gunpla front, we do have one highly anticipated kit. But Good Smile Company has your model-building itch covered with several kits this month as well. So, let’s take a look at some of them.
I don’t exactly remember how many Real Grade kits have been released in 2023. But as far as Gunpla goes, the most hyped for the year is RG Gundam Epyon over here. As much as I wanted an HGAC kit to go along with my other Gundam Wing High Grades, I am sure I will not pass up on this kit. Given that Gundam Epyon transforms into a two-headed mobile armor mode, the solicitations highlight locking mechanisms in the hip joint assembly, which is integral in its stability given its function during transformation. And like RG Wing Gundam, it has an RG-original transformation feature that fortunately makes total sense and doesn’t look as dumb as the “real bird” mode that the Wing Gundam had.
And no, I still don’t have plans to get that kit.
RG 1/144 Gundam Epyon
September 30, 2023 / ¥4,200
Order via HobbyLink Japan
With that done, let’s take a look at several MODEROID kits released, or to be released, this month.
I previously covered MODEROID Big Dai-X since I did have the intention of getting a copy to eventually compare with my Super Minipla Ideon whenever I get to build that kit. To those unfamiliar, Big Dai-X comes from the marionette/puppetry series X-Bomber or Starfleet when it was brought to the west. Which means technically it’s a Tokusatsu show but regardless, I really like the aesthetic and functional similarities with Ideon: both are large red piloted robots that split in to three individual vehicles.
That said, I don’t really feel the urgency to get a copy immediately, but this is one kit that’s definitely on my to-buy list.
MODEROID Big Dai-X
September 2023 / ¥9,500
Order via HobbyLink Japan
Next is MODEROID Godannar Twin Drive Mode and it’s being described as the first model kit for this mecha design. For those unfamiliar, Godannar in its Twin Drive Mode is actually a combination of two individual machines: Godannar and Neo Okusaer, and this is where the “Twin Drive” in the moniker comes from. Do note that this kit is just for the combined mode and doesn’t split into Godannar and Neo Okusaer.
Likewise, Good Smile Factory and Max Factory collaborated for this kit to incorporate the engineering used in the joint assemblies of the MAX Alloy Godannar Twin Drive Mode figure to this model kit. Hopefully, that will provide stability when building and posing this kit.
MODEROID Godannar Twin Drive Mode
September 2023 / ¥6,600
Order via HobbyLink Japan
Last on this list is not a new kit, though according to Good Smile Company’s official website, this 2023 reissue of MODEROID Mazinkaiser will feature improved molding, use of polycaps on certain joints, and one visual difference between the two releases. I’ve placed stock photographs of both kits below if you want to spot the difference. And I’m not counting possible color differences between the time when both photos were taken.
Besides the package art, the one visual difference between both kits is the use of a clear red part for the tip of the sword hilt for the 2023 reissue.
I have no plans of getting this kit at the moment, but it looks like they’re building a good assortment of Go Nagai/Ken Ishikawa designs with Mazinkaiser, Shin Getter 1, and two more upcoming kits — Mazinger Zest and Shin Getter Dragon. Bandai Spirits attempted to do the same with their HG Infinitism kits though I believe they currently have no plans of doing more kits.
MODEROID Mazinkaiser (2023 Reissue)
September 2023 / ¥5,000
Order via HobbyLink Japan
