Post by Hayabusa on Jul 18, 2005 15:01:08 GMT 8
This is a review of Bandai’s 1/60 scale Perfect Grade Strike Gundam. The model used for this review is still unpainted just to show what it looks straight out of the box. Upon completion, it stands approximately a foot tall. Most of the plastics in this kit, around 85%, are made from ABS, which are used mainly for the inner frame. Only 3 metal pieces are used for this kit, 2 for the knees and 1 for the crotch. Despite the lack of metal parts, the kit still weighs in at around 1kg.
The level of articulation of the PG Strike is quite impressive. For the arm, the engineers added 2 extra joints between the wrist and the elbow. These joints allow the forearm to curl slightly. The fingers are individually jointed and the entire hand almost comes pre-assembled. The metal piece in the crotch, where the legs are attached, can be swung forward and locked allowing the Strike to crouch perfectly. Most of the articulation can be found in the legs. Like the arm, the lower leg also has a joint that allows it to slightly rotate on its vertical axis. The joints are all held by polycaps, which work rather well in keeping the Strike from being all floppy. Still, there is that fear of the joints becoming loose from repeated posing since none of the joints can be tightened.
Compared to the PG Wing Zero Custom, the Strike’s armors or outer shell doesn’t pop off as easily even when making some extreme poses. A couple of these armors even swing open like on some of the PG kits. Also, unlike the other PG kits, its lighting system is very simple that it doesn’t even have wires. The lighting system is just like a box with an LED sticking out at one end and the switch on the other. Once you put a watch battery inside the lighting system, it simply slides inside the head. As for the weapons, the Strike has 1 beam rifle, 1 shield, 2 armor schneiders, and 1 grand slam sword. The shield by the way has a fully functional handle and connecting ports. It even has a sliding blast cover for the peep hole.
The Strike also sports a couple of attachment points for the 3 striker packs and a stand. The top most attachment point in the 3rd pic is for the beam rifle. I’ve studied the manual of the big-scale 1/60 Strike and its striker packs doesn’t seem to be compatible with the PG Strike.
Height comparison with the PG Strike:
(Left to right) 1/48 Yamato VF1-S, Master Piece Prime, 1/100 Astray Red Frame, NGE vol.9 Rei figure, GX-11MA, 1/60 PG Wing Zero Custom
Follow-up Review: PG Sky Grasper & Aile Striker
Although labeled as a Perfect Grade, the Sky Grasper seems more like an MG version. It lacks all the internal details one would expect from a Perfect Grade or a Master Grade even. In fairness, it has a nicely detail c0ckpit and the panel lines are well distinguished. Everything is molded in color, the only things that needs painting are the panel lines, landing gears, and the c0ckpit details. The landing gears are the snap-on type and it detaches when you want to portray the Sky Grasper in flight. It's made from ABS plastic, which is quite capable in supporting the weight of the Sky Grasper with the Striker attachments. The Sky Grasper also has movable rudders on the wings, articulated beam turret, opening hatches to accommodate the Striker packs/weapons, and a choice of Mwu or Cagalli as pilots.
In contrast, the Aile Striker pack has all the internal details and engineering one would expect from a PG. Beware that it has a couple of thin and fragile pieces that requires extra care and attention. The wings of the Aile can be folded down and it can also be rotated around its base. The two thrusters of the Aile can also be rotated vertically and horizontally up to a certain degree. Painting is needed for the panel lines, engine details, and the lights at the tip of each wings. The Aile fits nicely on the Strike leaving only a small gap on the top of the shoulders to allow movement. The supplied display stand holds either the Sky Grasper or the Strike. I find the display stand to be very convenient because the Strike in itself cannot support the weight of the Aile unless you lean it too far forward, which makes it look pretty unnatural. Just be prepared to allot a huge area on your display cabinet or desk because the whole thing put together(Strike, Aile, & display stand) will be uncommonly sizable.
Size comparison: PG Sky Grasper & 1/60 VF-1A
The level of articulation of the PG Strike is quite impressive. For the arm, the engineers added 2 extra joints between the wrist and the elbow. These joints allow the forearm to curl slightly. The fingers are individually jointed and the entire hand almost comes pre-assembled. The metal piece in the crotch, where the legs are attached, can be swung forward and locked allowing the Strike to crouch perfectly. Most of the articulation can be found in the legs. Like the arm, the lower leg also has a joint that allows it to slightly rotate on its vertical axis. The joints are all held by polycaps, which work rather well in keeping the Strike from being all floppy. Still, there is that fear of the joints becoming loose from repeated posing since none of the joints can be tightened.
Compared to the PG Wing Zero Custom, the Strike’s armors or outer shell doesn’t pop off as easily even when making some extreme poses. A couple of these armors even swing open like on some of the PG kits. Also, unlike the other PG kits, its lighting system is very simple that it doesn’t even have wires. The lighting system is just like a box with an LED sticking out at one end and the switch on the other. Once you put a watch battery inside the lighting system, it simply slides inside the head. As for the weapons, the Strike has 1 beam rifle, 1 shield, 2 armor schneiders, and 1 grand slam sword. The shield by the way has a fully functional handle and connecting ports. It even has a sliding blast cover for the peep hole.
The Strike also sports a couple of attachment points for the 3 striker packs and a stand. The top most attachment point in the 3rd pic is for the beam rifle. I’ve studied the manual of the big-scale 1/60 Strike and its striker packs doesn’t seem to be compatible with the PG Strike.
Height comparison with the PG Strike:
(Left to right) 1/48 Yamato VF1-S, Master Piece Prime, 1/100 Astray Red Frame, NGE vol.9 Rei figure, GX-11MA, 1/60 PG Wing Zero Custom
Follow-up Review: PG Sky Grasper & Aile Striker
Although labeled as a Perfect Grade, the Sky Grasper seems more like an MG version. It lacks all the internal details one would expect from a Perfect Grade or a Master Grade even. In fairness, it has a nicely detail c0ckpit and the panel lines are well distinguished. Everything is molded in color, the only things that needs painting are the panel lines, landing gears, and the c0ckpit details. The landing gears are the snap-on type and it detaches when you want to portray the Sky Grasper in flight. It's made from ABS plastic, which is quite capable in supporting the weight of the Sky Grasper with the Striker attachments. The Sky Grasper also has movable rudders on the wings, articulated beam turret, opening hatches to accommodate the Striker packs/weapons, and a choice of Mwu or Cagalli as pilots.
In contrast, the Aile Striker pack has all the internal details and engineering one would expect from a PG. Beware that it has a couple of thin and fragile pieces that requires extra care and attention. The wings of the Aile can be folded down and it can also be rotated around its base. The two thrusters of the Aile can also be rotated vertically and horizontally up to a certain degree. Painting is needed for the panel lines, engine details, and the lights at the tip of each wings. The Aile fits nicely on the Strike leaving only a small gap on the top of the shoulders to allow movement. The supplied display stand holds either the Sky Grasper or the Strike. I find the display stand to be very convenient because the Strike in itself cannot support the weight of the Aile unless you lean it too far forward, which makes it look pretty unnatural. Just be prepared to allot a huge area on your display cabinet or desk because the whole thing put together(Strike, Aile, & display stand) will be uncommonly sizable.
Size comparison: PG Sky Grasper & 1/60 VF-1A
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