Post by V2 on Jul 19, 2009 10:13:46 GMT 8
GUNDAM FIX FIGURATION NEXT GENERATION #0042: AILE STRIKE GUNDAM
With the war of Naturals vs. Coordinators shifting towards the ZAFT faction thanks to their superior mobile suit forces, the Earth Federation engages on a secret project to produce their own mobile suits. One of the results of this project was a G.U.N.D.A.M. (General Unilateral Neuro-link Dispersive Autonomic Maneuver Synthesis System) designated as the GAT-X105 Strike.
Aside from being able to wield beam weapons and having a state-of-the-art Phase-Shift Armor system, the Strike's ideal concept was its design as an adaptive multi-role unit - thanks to its "Striker Weapons System" that gives it the necessary armament/equipment based on its mission specifics. One of them, the AQM/E-X01 Aile Striker provides the Strike with added mobility, flight and additional beam sabers for melee combat. Despite these advanced weaponry, the Strike has one major flaw - with the power requirements of these weapons draining its energy battery, it has a limited operational time.
Throughout its deployment, the Strike has proved its own against ZAFT's mobile forces and even against its GAT-X series brother units (Duel, Buster, Blitz & Aegis) thanks to its Coordinator pilot Kira Yamato. After being rebuilt from a suicide attack it was later passed on ace pilot Mu La Flaga and was finally destroyed protecting the Archangel. Throughout the war, various versions & modifications of the Strike was made and deployed, and it popular concept served as the basis for one of ZAFT's second stage MS designs later.
Back then, Bandai would promote GFF releases beautifully - as if they're flawless and perfect thanks to brilliant advertising. The actual stocks released were the opposite however - as they were plagued with various QC issues: bent parts, smudged paints, broken/loose joints and many more. As a dedicated GFF collector (I love Katokish designs), I was pretty much meticulous on getting each - I had to spend at least an hour picking out which one amongst the stocks were the best and "most tolerable". So if you see someone getting GFFs but were comparing numerous stocks with each other for a while, that'll probably be me.
And so enter Bandai's new line: the GFF "Next Generation" - in which they boast of superior material (diecast content, better plastics), better QC, details/markings and greater scale. I was skeptic on getting the #0041 release due to reasons stated above (despite the fact that it took me 3 hours to fully display the ZII decently) and decided to get the next release instead - hoping it would be a design that needed an improvement: like the MSZ-006 Zeta.
Surprisingly, it turned out to be the GAT-X105 Strike - yet still it wasn’t such a disappointment. After all, I used to be a sucker on getting the failure that was called "Advanced MS in Action" series and acquired all versions of the Strike back then - just because it was GFF-ish. But enough of the past - time to move on to the present and look towards the future.
And the future is GFFN.
BOX ART
Like the #0041, the box art is different in style compared to previous GFF releases. The front has a plastic cover (secured with velcro) that features a great lineart of the Aile Strike. Detach it from the velcro seal and you can see the figure and its accessories below - which is a relief for me since its easier to check for QC issues. The backside follows the traditional GFF design - featuring the accessories and specs of the figure.
GAT-X105 STRIKE GUNDAM
HEAD
The design looks a lot slimmer compared to the MG version. In terms of QC, it’s almost perfect (form, paint and detail) except for the chin area - as the paint tends to bleed excesses in other stocks (actually this was the only QC problem that I found barely significant). I also kinda find the CIWS (vulcan guns) on the head too small as you can barely see then. Neck articulation is pretty good - there's an extra joint where it allows extra range for the head (for flight poses).
The "collars" on the chest tend to come in contact with the head but not to the point it’s restricted. However, once you insert the Aile Striker pack, sideways articulation is limited to an even greater degree (due to the intakes).
Like the GFFN #0041 Zeta II release, There's also an extra head antenna accessory - probably for the purpose of having spares I guess.
TORSO
The torso tends to follow the upper design of the PG version but also looks a bit stubby compared to both PG & MG version. The details are excellent as the markings are well done (and yet so small!). As for the backside you can see that it doesn’t follow the designs of the MG & PG version.
The upper vernier has a slot wherein you can connect it to the base stand. The skirt armors tend to be quite large (especially the side skirts). The front & rear skirts are well articulated and can be moved to the point where the Strike can perform kicking poses. The side skirts are connected via ball joints and open up to reveal storage compartments for the armor Schneider.
ARMS
Connected to the "movable sockets" in the torso via ball joints, the arms have a great range of movement and are sturdy (not like the cosmic region series! goodbye "poppy arms"!) The shoulder armors are being connected directly above the upper arms - because of this it tends to follow the PG/MG style of articulation as you can raise the arms sidewards and the armor will follow through.
One disappointment is that the elbow joints - despite being metal are not double jointed.
Handsets come in four pairs: Closed fist, Open Palm, Saber/Knife/shield wielding & one for holding the beam rifle. All fit firmly and grasp the weapons (except for the beam rifle) pretty well.
LEGS
The pelvic joints are made of stronger ABS material which gives the legs better resistance to sagging. The knees (double-jointed) are made of diecast metal - and the connection between legs and metal is pretty tight (no more wobbling!).
Take note that the knee armors follow the style of the MG but in my opinion seems to be designed the wrong way - the shin part of the leg is left more exposed (which is somewhat wrong) especially when doing kneeling poses.
As for the feet, the design is pretty much like the MG but somewhat a bit wider. Articulation is perfect thanks to the ankles (double-jointed).
Details? Perfect as I don’t have any complaints whatsoever. There's also a certain part on the back part of the shin that can be articulated (verniers, perhaps?) like the PG/MG version.
AQM/E-X01 AILE STRIKER PACK
This MG design-based striker pack connects to the slot on the backside of the Strike thanks to a "U-shaped" prong that has extensions on the sides to lock it in. Though it fits well, what worries me is that it’s made of ABS material which can be prone to breakage if one is not too careful.
The wings can be folded down (pre-launch position) which is good for space-conscious collectors (ahem). With that joint made of diecast metal, I don’t think it'll break easily. The lower verniers are connected via ball joints that are quite tight which is good - all these features give the Aile pack great posability - just like the MG/PG versions.
I'd like to add however, that the holders for the beam sabers can be moved forward - which would give the possibility of a Skygrasper (probably in the next release or so).
WEAPONS
Beam Rifle
The design looks a mixed design from the PG and MG version - only a bit shorter. Only minus I find with this is that it tends to be a bit loose with the respective handsets. The support handle can also be moved to allow for "RX-78" shooting poses.
Beam Saber
Your usual GFF-style beam sabers (with markings of course). The beam blades fit well and they fit decently onto their respective handsets. Can be stored in the Aile Pack when not in use.
Armor Schneider Combat Knives
Utilizing a different design compared to the PG & MG, these knives can still be folded and stored at the compartments at the side skirts securely thanks to slots on the handles.
Shield
Somewhat a mix between the PG & MG version in design, You can connect it to the slot below the Strike's forearm thanks to an L-type brace. Connection is just right - not too loose and not too tight. Also, allowance from the arm is pretty good - that way it won’t come in contact with the shoulders that'll hinder some poses.
CONCLUSION
Throughout years, Bandai has been improving their GFF line - Better articulation & posability, great detail and a shower of accessories. However, despite all these the line still suffered from problematic QC issues (paint smudges, bent/broken parts, etc.). This time around with the Next Generation series, they have addressed those issues beautifully (the only significant issue I found on mine is the chin (red) had some bleed excesses). Whats more they added along a good amount of diecast metal to the mix... and the connection from plastic to metal has never been sturdier (no wobbling!) - making its price well worth for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
With this, I'm sure Bandai would definitely release other variants of the Strike (Strike noir, Strike + IWSP, Strike-E + IWSP and that new fugly Gale variant - hopefully they'd make it a bit more decent!) fully exploiting the mould - and I don't mind investing in all of them... heck I'm already set on getting the Sword & Launcher (just announced) already!
If you're an avid GFF collector and a fan of the Strike's design, then this release - probably one of the best GFF up to date is well recommended. The details, PG/MG-ish articulation & posability, gimmicks, good level of diecast content and almost zero QC issues gives great value that can be compared with the price. Bandai has claimed redemption from their track record with this one... so why don't you?! Jump right in - the water's fine!!!
With the war of Naturals vs. Coordinators shifting towards the ZAFT faction thanks to their superior mobile suit forces, the Earth Federation engages on a secret project to produce their own mobile suits. One of the results of this project was a G.U.N.D.A.M. (General Unilateral Neuro-link Dispersive Autonomic Maneuver Synthesis System) designated as the GAT-X105 Strike.
Aside from being able to wield beam weapons and having a state-of-the-art Phase-Shift Armor system, the Strike's ideal concept was its design as an adaptive multi-role unit - thanks to its "Striker Weapons System" that gives it the necessary armament/equipment based on its mission specifics. One of them, the AQM/E-X01 Aile Striker provides the Strike with added mobility, flight and additional beam sabers for melee combat. Despite these advanced weaponry, the Strike has one major flaw - with the power requirements of these weapons draining its energy battery, it has a limited operational time.
Throughout its deployment, the Strike has proved its own against ZAFT's mobile forces and even against its GAT-X series brother units (Duel, Buster, Blitz & Aegis) thanks to its Coordinator pilot Kira Yamato. After being rebuilt from a suicide attack it was later passed on ace pilot Mu La Flaga and was finally destroyed protecting the Archangel. Throughout the war, various versions & modifications of the Strike was made and deployed, and it popular concept served as the basis for one of ZAFT's second stage MS designs later.
Back then, Bandai would promote GFF releases beautifully - as if they're flawless and perfect thanks to brilliant advertising. The actual stocks released were the opposite however - as they were plagued with various QC issues: bent parts, smudged paints, broken/loose joints and many more. As a dedicated GFF collector (I love Katokish designs), I was pretty much meticulous on getting each - I had to spend at least an hour picking out which one amongst the stocks were the best and "most tolerable". So if you see someone getting GFFs but were comparing numerous stocks with each other for a while, that'll probably be me.
And so enter Bandai's new line: the GFF "Next Generation" - in which they boast of superior material (diecast content, better plastics), better QC, details/markings and greater scale. I was skeptic on getting the #0041 release due to reasons stated above (despite the fact that it took me 3 hours to fully display the ZII decently) and decided to get the next release instead - hoping it would be a design that needed an improvement: like the MSZ-006 Zeta.
Surprisingly, it turned out to be the GAT-X105 Strike - yet still it wasn’t such a disappointment. After all, I used to be a sucker on getting the failure that was called "Advanced MS in Action" series and acquired all versions of the Strike back then - just because it was GFF-ish. But enough of the past - time to move on to the present and look towards the future.
And the future is GFFN.
BOX ART
Like the #0041, the box art is different in style compared to previous GFF releases. The front has a plastic cover (secured with velcro) that features a great lineart of the Aile Strike. Detach it from the velcro seal and you can see the figure and its accessories below - which is a relief for me since its easier to check for QC issues. The backside follows the traditional GFF design - featuring the accessories and specs of the figure.
GAT-X105 STRIKE GUNDAM
HEAD
The design looks a lot slimmer compared to the MG version. In terms of QC, it’s almost perfect (form, paint and detail) except for the chin area - as the paint tends to bleed excesses in other stocks (actually this was the only QC problem that I found barely significant). I also kinda find the CIWS (vulcan guns) on the head too small as you can barely see then. Neck articulation is pretty good - there's an extra joint where it allows extra range for the head (for flight poses).
The "collars" on the chest tend to come in contact with the head but not to the point it’s restricted. However, once you insert the Aile Striker pack, sideways articulation is limited to an even greater degree (due to the intakes).
Like the GFFN #0041 Zeta II release, There's also an extra head antenna accessory - probably for the purpose of having spares I guess.
TORSO
The torso tends to follow the upper design of the PG version but also looks a bit stubby compared to both PG & MG version. The details are excellent as the markings are well done (and yet so small!). As for the backside you can see that it doesn’t follow the designs of the MG & PG version.
The upper vernier has a slot wherein you can connect it to the base stand. The skirt armors tend to be quite large (especially the side skirts). The front & rear skirts are well articulated and can be moved to the point where the Strike can perform kicking poses. The side skirts are connected via ball joints and open up to reveal storage compartments for the armor Schneider.
ARMS
Connected to the "movable sockets" in the torso via ball joints, the arms have a great range of movement and are sturdy (not like the cosmic region series! goodbye "poppy arms"!) The shoulder armors are being connected directly above the upper arms - because of this it tends to follow the PG/MG style of articulation as you can raise the arms sidewards and the armor will follow through.
One disappointment is that the elbow joints - despite being metal are not double jointed.
Handsets come in four pairs: Closed fist, Open Palm, Saber/Knife/shield wielding & one for holding the beam rifle. All fit firmly and grasp the weapons (except for the beam rifle) pretty well.
LEGS
The pelvic joints are made of stronger ABS material which gives the legs better resistance to sagging. The knees (double-jointed) are made of diecast metal - and the connection between legs and metal is pretty tight (no more wobbling!).
Take note that the knee armors follow the style of the MG but in my opinion seems to be designed the wrong way - the shin part of the leg is left more exposed (which is somewhat wrong) especially when doing kneeling poses.
As for the feet, the design is pretty much like the MG but somewhat a bit wider. Articulation is perfect thanks to the ankles (double-jointed).
Details? Perfect as I don’t have any complaints whatsoever. There's also a certain part on the back part of the shin that can be articulated (verniers, perhaps?) like the PG/MG version.
AQM/E-X01 AILE STRIKER PACK
This MG design-based striker pack connects to the slot on the backside of the Strike thanks to a "U-shaped" prong that has extensions on the sides to lock it in. Though it fits well, what worries me is that it’s made of ABS material which can be prone to breakage if one is not too careful.
The wings can be folded down (pre-launch position) which is good for space-conscious collectors (ahem). With that joint made of diecast metal, I don’t think it'll break easily. The lower verniers are connected via ball joints that are quite tight which is good - all these features give the Aile pack great posability - just like the MG/PG versions.
I'd like to add however, that the holders for the beam sabers can be moved forward - which would give the possibility of a Skygrasper (probably in the next release or so).
WEAPONS
Beam Rifle
The design looks a mixed design from the PG and MG version - only a bit shorter. Only minus I find with this is that it tends to be a bit loose with the respective handsets. The support handle can also be moved to allow for "RX-78" shooting poses.
Beam Saber
Your usual GFF-style beam sabers (with markings of course). The beam blades fit well and they fit decently onto their respective handsets. Can be stored in the Aile Pack when not in use.
Armor Schneider Combat Knives
Utilizing a different design compared to the PG & MG, these knives can still be folded and stored at the compartments at the side skirts securely thanks to slots on the handles.
Shield
Somewhat a mix between the PG & MG version in design, You can connect it to the slot below the Strike's forearm thanks to an L-type brace. Connection is just right - not too loose and not too tight. Also, allowance from the arm is pretty good - that way it won’t come in contact with the shoulders that'll hinder some poses.
CONCLUSION
Throughout years, Bandai has been improving their GFF line - Better articulation & posability, great detail and a shower of accessories. However, despite all these the line still suffered from problematic QC issues (paint smudges, bent/broken parts, etc.). This time around with the Next Generation series, they have addressed those issues beautifully (the only significant issue I found on mine is the chin (red) had some bleed excesses). Whats more they added along a good amount of diecast metal to the mix... and the connection from plastic to metal has never been sturdier (no wobbling!) - making its price well worth for collectors and enthusiasts alike.
With this, I'm sure Bandai would definitely release other variants of the Strike (Strike noir, Strike + IWSP, Strike-E + IWSP and that new fugly Gale variant - hopefully they'd make it a bit more decent!) fully exploiting the mould - and I don't mind investing in all of them... heck I'm already set on getting the Sword & Launcher (just announced) already!
If you're an avid GFF collector and a fan of the Strike's design, then this release - probably one of the best GFF up to date is well recommended. The details, PG/MG-ish articulation & posability, gimmicks, good level of diecast content and almost zero QC issues gives great value that can be compared with the price. Bandai has claimed redemption from their track record with this one... so why don't you?! Jump right in - the water's fine!!!
keeping the site active as a place to dump info for easier backtracking. 