We’re officially at the latter half of 2024, but it isn’t different from the first half, or even the previous years, as we continuously get new and upcoming kits with packaging illustrations I can feature on a monthly basis.
HGCE 1/144 Duel Blitz Gundam
July 20, 2024 / ¥2,700
Order via HobbyLink Japan
HGCE 1/144 Lightning Buster Gundam
September 2024 / ¥2,600
Order via HobbyLink Japan
Everybody cheered when Yzak Joule and Dearka Elsman showed up during the climactic battle of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM, especially after seeing them rocking upgraded versions of their original mobile suits from Gundam SEED. Speaking of their mobile suits, Yzak’s HGCE Duel Blitz Gundam is set to be released this month. But given it’s basically a package deal with the HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam in September, they decided to reveal the box arts for both kits.
Unlike the Mighty Strike Freedom and Infinite Justice Type II which are meant to be two halves of the same illustration, the Duel Blitz and Lightning Buster are the same shot taken from two different angles. You can even imagine where the camera would be for the mobile suit at the back. If you’re a fan of these two characters, then getting these two kits is a no-brainer. As for me, I will get two kits, two of the Duel Blitz, as I wanted one with the armor and the other as just the vanilla Duel Gundam.
Figure-rise Standard Lunamaria Hawke (Gundam SEED DESTINY)
July 20, 2024 / ¥3,800
Order via HobbyLink Japan
Moving a couple of years behind the Cosmic Era timeline, we are also getting the Figure-rise Standard Lunamaria Hawke as she appeared in Gundam SEED DESTINY. This was one of the kits I was initially looking forward to getting, but I had to cancel my pre-order eventually. And now that I think about it, I don’t really need one. But I can’t blame folks for getting this kit as I myself really liked her character design. What’s more, this is the first Figure-rise Standard kit in a pilot suit, plus the ‘gimmick’ they decided to include in the box.
MODEROID Volonthe
July 2024 / ¥7,900
Order via HobbyLink Japan
Capping this list, for now, are two kits that make halves of a larger illustration. These are MODEROID Nellie Brain and MODEROID Volonthe from Brain Powerd. I don’t really care for Volonthe, but I had slight interest with Nellie Brain since there was a Good Smile Online Shop exclusive of the kit that came in the same colors as Hime Brain. I ordered that exclusive kit when Good Smile Company had set up an official local shop. But it had to close down due to some issues and I’m hoping to still get that version of Nellie Brain.
It will make sense if I get the Second Revival version once I eventually get the initial version, so we’ll see. Oh, and while I’ve been mostly talking about Nellie Brain, the kit being released this month is Volonthe as the former was released last May.
