HG 1/144 0 Gundam A.C.D TypeOk so tri3dgE here to do another model review, this time I'll be looking at the High Grade 1/144 0 Gundam ACD Type (), which was seen in episode 24 and 25 of Gundam 00: Season 2. Sit back and relax, as we unravel one of the BEST High Grade in the market.
History:The 0 Gundam is a 1st Generation mobile suit developed by Celestial Being, and the first mobile suit to use a Solar Furnace or GN Drive successfully. It was originally piloted by Ribbons Almark before his defection from Celestial Being, and was used first (and seemingly last) used during the first Celestial Being Armed Intervention in Kurdish Republic, where in it saved a young Setsuna (known as Soran Ibrahim back then).
Suppose to be no one should live to see a Gundam (Gundam Wing reference anyone? ;D), during the early operations of Celestial Being, however Ribborns was astonished by the reaction of the young Setsuna, since he looked up to the 0 Gundam with great admiration, and decided to spare his life.
A year later, Ribbons tampered with the files of Veda and placed Soran as a candidate pilot for Celestial Being, and quit Celestial Being in favor of being an Observer of their operation.
The 0 Gundam since then has been placed into storage, and seemingly forgotten...(what a waste right?
)
However 5 years after the event of Season 1, the 0 Gundam's GN Drive has been salvaged and put to used by the Exia's and 0's successor unit...the 00 Gundam.
Near the end of season 2, Celestial Being decided to reactivate the 0 Gundam and fitted it with a GN Particle Tank for use during the battle against Ribbons (they also decided to give it a different paint job ;D). During the battle it was used by Lasse, but soon ran out of GN Particles and was deactivated once more.
However, Ribbons who was piloting a badly damaged Reborns Gundam at that time with a GN Drive at hand, located the 0 Gundam drifting in space and decided to reactivate it with the GN Drive.
The 0 Gundam met its final battle against the Exia R2 where it was pierced through the chest, and seemingly exploded and destroyed...together with it's GN Drive.
Weapons:GN Beam Gun
Shield
Beam Saber
Abilities: GN Feathers Emisison (from
wikipedia)
By releasing large amounts of GN Particles, together with control by the Clavical Antenna, the 0 Gundam can form huge wings of light. It provides stability to the unit while in mid-air while disrupting and jamming enemy radar.The wings of light combined with the Gundam's overwhelming power and presence creates a powerful psychological effect. Since the 0 Gundam was the 1st Generation test suit, the wing's enormous output was considered to be too inefficient and was not used in later development.
Well then, with all that said and done, let's get on with the review!
Quick 360 Shot:I. Design:*Note that I fixed the V-fin since I seemed to shaved too much and became too short...the actual V-Fin may be shorter or much longer than this*
Design wise its pretty simple, yet attractive. The suit is heavily influenced by the RX-78-2, and being the 1st Gundam to use a GN Drive, it pretty much fits the bill as a RX-78-2 incarnate in Gundam 00 series.
Colors are nothing fancy, your typical Gundam colors which is blue, red, yellow, white, and a dark shade of grey for the joints and particle emitters in the back of the legs.
*Note*This is not the 1st time you see the design of the 0 Gundam. It's first appearance came from the revamped design of the RX-78-2 from Gundam Evolved mini-series. The makers from Sunrise just decided to retool the design abit, and the result is the 0 Gundam.
So yeah the RX-78-2 and the 0 Gundam is technically one. (The same goes for their pilot, since the voice actor who did Ribbons is the same who did Amuro Ray)
II. ArticulationA. HeadThe head is connected via the same ball jointed neck joint used in the 00 Gundam line-up and the FG Gundam Seed/Destiny models. It can rotate 360 degrees and move up and down, plus it can also do the "chicken cluck motion".
B. ArmsThe arms are great! The shoulders are connected via a ball joint, and can rotate 360 degrees, the arms can go in and out, the shoulder armor can move up and down, and finally it can bend twice so it can achieve a full bend (as well as touch it's shoulder armor
)
Plus due to this joint, it can also move it's shoulders forwards and back like a Master Grade model.
C. BodyAgain, awesome! The torso is divided into two segments, one in the waist area and the other is just above the stomach.
It can rotate 360 degrees, plus it can bend forwards and back pretty far.
D. Waist AreaFirst off are the skirts...the front skirt comes molded in one piece but can be separated to move individually.
The side skirts are connected via the same joints used in the HG 00 Gundam, and thus they can rotate 360 degress, and can go forwards and back. However there is a minor flaw...unlike the 00 Gundam wherein the torso area blocks the ball joints from popping out, the 0 Gundam does not so sometimes often pop-off during posing.
The back skirt is molded in one piece, and thus cannot move. However...
There is a hidden panel which slides upward revealing a hole where an action base can attach to. Making it possible to pull off more dramatic in-flight poses without the awkward rod in the crotch area (which can look painful ;D)
E. LegsWow, the 00 Gundam finally has competition for being the "Limbo King", the 0 Gundam can also bend it's legs all the way out.
Add to that, they can also bend twice and achieve a full bend, plus it can also rotate just above the thigh area, so you can pretty much achieve many dramatic poses...as well as a few awkward once...such as this
The feet are also connected the same way as the 00 Gundam, albeit one difference, it is still connected via a ball joint while the feet are connected via a peg towards the leg
III. AccessoriesGN Beam Pistol
Shield
GN Particle Tank
GN Drive
x2 Beam Sabers
x1 Beam Saber hilt
A. GN Particle TankThe GN Particle Tanks is molded nicely has a fair bit of detail, it just plugs in the back via a hole. And might I add that if you attach the GN Particle Tank, the 0 Gundam really does look like the RX-78-2 due to their similar design in the backpack area.
B. GN DriveSame as the GN Particle Tank, nicely molded however it lacks a few details unlike the GN Drive of the 0 Gundam Roll-Out Colors version. It also plugs in the back via the hole.
*Note*Many of use were bedazzled when we first saw this in the anime...however the massive cone is not the real GN Drive, but just an armor to cover up the real drive...to those who own the SD 0 Gundam it perfectly shows how it works.
C. ShieldThe shield unit is pretty interesting, it has no peg where it attaches to the arm, but instead it has a handle and holder part. Although it looks like it may be flimsy, it can actually hold it alright (but if your really worried, just place a bit of blu-tack in the holder and it holds it alright
Additionally it has good amount of detail in the back. You'll just have to paint the back part white and the detail grey as seen in the anime since it comes molded in red.
D. GN Beam GunThe Beam Gun has good amount of detail for it's small size, however it has a flaw...the handle is too thin, thus the gun can be flimsy during posing. I just placed a blu-tack to keep it securely in place.
E. Beam SaberThe beam saber is pretty interesting, it is stored in the peg in the back. Plus it has two holes...one flat and the other rounded so you can either use the standard beams which came from the High Grade Seed/Destiny or Master Grade kits, or the 00 Gundam and High Grade Seed Astray line-up flat pegged ones.
IV: Final ThoughtsOverall this is by far one of the best High Grade kit in the market, possibility and design wise it is amongst my favorites. I liked the design so much, that I was suckered by Bandai to get the Rollout version (which comes with the GN Feathers emission).
But I was a bit sad that it only included few accesories, I was kinda expecting like a GN Bazooka or a GN Hammer because of it's RX-78-2 feel. Add to that, it has no additional open palm, which could aid in some dramatic posing.
This is the pinnacle of innovation in Bandai, and a starting point that High Grade kits are slowly becoming close to Master Grades.
Can I recommend it? Definitely a big resounding YES! If you'll have a choice between the 0 Gundam ACD Type, or it's RD version, I'll definitely get this since its more cheaper, plus one of the best kits out there in the market.
V. Verdict
Design - ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D/ ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D (5 / 5)
With looks that can kill, plus a RX-78-2 inspired color who can beat the combination?
Articulation - ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D/ ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D (5/5)
Great articulation and extremely Master Grade like
Pose-ability - ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D/ ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D (5/5)
Awesome pose-ability, and if you attach an action base, the possibilities are almost limitless.
Accessories - ;D ;D ;D ;D/ ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D (4 / 5)
Although the accessories are good, it could have been much better if they also decided to include GN Particle effects. But oh well, the Rollout version fixed that gripe
Final Score:
4.75 / 5Great model overall, if you don't own one yet or if you dig the RX-78-2 nostalgia. Get one now
.
Action Shots:Retail Price:1200 Japanese Yen
PHP 680~ PHP 800 Most Hobby Shops and Toy Stores.
Price bought: PHP 560 from Greattoys Sale in Alabang ;D