#IJ Gundam

[gremoria411]

Since I did a post talking about all the Mass-Production units I liked in SEED/SEED Destiny, so I should probably talk about the Gundams I did like, especially now that I’m thinking about it with the new movie trailer.

Generally, I don’t have a high opinion of much of the Gundam-type mobile suits in the Cosmic Era, principally because I find they all look rather similar (that’ll happen when they’re all developed from the same five suits by only two factions). I’m also gonna be focusing primarily on suits that appeared in the animated series, since sidestories typically can afford to be a bit more “out-there” with the designs. The first three are the designs that I genuinely like and appreciate, whereas the last two have asterisks attached.

First up, the Infinite Justice. Narrowly makes it into the top spot for me. A good part of it is the novelty of having a bright pink Gundam, I admit. But I do love how, where the Strike freedom decides to add funnels and more guns with which to shoot people, the IJ instead gets a bunch of blades. Like not only is it pink, but it’ll also cut you. It’s still well-armed in the ranged department though, having a beam rifle, “fortis” beam cannons and a bunch of beam boomerangs. I do like the original justice Gundam as well, but the Infinite Justice just feels like a fuller vision of the concept, without being tied into resembling the Aegis too much, in contrast to the Strike Freedom, which felt like they nailed it first time and had to add a bunch of extra stuff on.

The Providence is a solid second, because I like the concept more than the execution. The background for the Providence is that it was supposed to be a heavy assault suit, but they had to retrofit it with the Dragoon tech in a hurry, hence the cabling on its chest and the system’s overall lack of integration. I love the concept of this, and the heavy weaponry it retains makes me imagine a sort of Full Armour Gundam 7th-style unit. I *think* that the whole Dragoon system on its back thing is supposed to give the appearance of a halo? So Rau is a sort of angel of destruction that Kira must stop? It doesn’t work, but I think that’s what they were going for. Providence is a pretty cool name though. I’m not really sure about the integrated beam saber/gun thing on its left arm, but its not bad. The Providence also gets a bump because I quite like Rau as a character, and this is his final unit.

Grabbing third (and bringing an end to the ranking) is the Akatsuki (specifically the Oowashi Akatsuki). The Akatsuki itself is this lovely melding of SEED’s Gundam Aesthetic with the Hyaku-Shiki, and I think it looks gorgeous. You can obviously see the Strike influence, but it’s blended together with elements closer to the Astray series and it all works rather well. Its sensibly armed with a shield and rifle with optional bayonet in addition to beam sabers. I should note that I specifically prefer the atmospheric-based Oowashi pack to the space Shiranui one. This is because the Oowashi pack actually looks like something - wings and two beam cannons evocative of those on the F91. The Shiranui’s just a big box with some funnels stuck on. I do like how the Akatsuki’s great against beam weaponry but crap against physical though, since it’s a nice reversal of fortunes compared to the start of SEED.

Now if only Cagalli actually did anything with it.

The Calamity is a bit of a cheat, since it’s at least partially here because it can become the Sword Calamity. I like a lot of artillery suits, and the Calamity is just my favourite here, mostly because of how sensible it’s weaponry is. Guns in the shield, beam weaponry fitted on the suit itself to take advantage of the generator, then a nice, lovely plasma-sabot bazooka to round out the armament. The only thing it’s really missing is a beam saber. It also makes the most of its integrated weaponry - most of its handheld and the backpack’s replaceable, but that “Scylla” cannon isn’t going anywhere. I also quite like the head. If we had had the Calamity instead of the Buster, I’d probably prefer it.

The Legend Gundam’s here because A) it’s got a nice head. And b) we saw virtually nothing of it in series. It’s here because I end up liking it when it (very-rarely) shows up in side content (like videogames), but it regards to the anime itself, it could charitably be described as “being there”.

[carnelianwings]

Just some personal ramblings … (it’s good things this time)

Went Gunpla shopping for the first time in 5+ years with the new-ish(?) friends I made over the past year at the card shop I play Vanguard at every week. They found out I loved Seed after I asked if anyone else wanted to go see Seed Freedom in theatres back in May. Turns out, just about the entire group did, so we all went together.

Fast forward to a couple weeks ago when I off-handedly mentioned I was getting really tempted to pick up Gunpla building as a hobby again, and turns out one of the other guys also likes it too so, yesterday turned into a group Gunpla shopping trip (wherein I def made some “debatable but I can totally afford to and I really love these suits” decisions).

And I kinda realize now how much I’d sort of hidden this part of myself away between being a manager at work and pushing myself super hard during the pandemic to meet work load expectations, and it just felt … really nice. To be able to hang out with friends, laugh, talk each other into making debatable merch purchases (me and the other Gunpla fan ended up spending the same amount because I convinced him to get the metal build Destiny we saw in the second shop we hit up as “revenge” for him finding me a shop that had both the PG Wing Zero Custom and a PG Strike Rouge/Skygrasper kits 😂).

Then I suggested a karaoke trip after mentions of singing (English) songs with parody/joke lyrics came up (because one of them is a V-Tuber fan) and one of the other guys said he’d be down for it sooooooo … we’ll see? But if it happens, oh boy they’re about to find out just how deep my love for my Main Fandoms (current and former) go … 😂 I’m pretty sure I can still do all 4 Wing OPs from memory, and I can def hybrid memorize/read my way through the lyrics for most of the Seed songs too 😂😂😂

And then there’s the Tales and i7 songs 🤣

[the-stray-liger]

bounce

[darthveda]

JESSE'S GUNPLA SHOWCASE #11

1/100 SCALE INFINITE JUSTICE GUNDAM

ORIGIN: MOBILE SUIT GUNDAM SEED DESTINY

PILOTS: ATHRUN ZALA

ACQUIRED FROM: LOST WORLD OF WONDERS

DATE KIT WAS ACQUIRED: JANUARY 2012

DATE KIT FINISHED ASSEMBLY: JANUARY 2012

The sixth and final kit assembled from the January 2012 Gunpla Raid. I had been looking forward to this one for a long time. While I may not have been a big SEED / Destiny fan in terms of the story or some of the characters, a lot of the suit designs always stood out to me, and the Infinite Justice was always one of my favorites.

PROS:

LOTS of weapons included with this kit. Specifically beam weapons.

Good articulation / flexibility

What you saw the IJ do in the show is what you get out of this kit if not more.

A little Athrun biography card comes with the kit just in case you thought the pilot was somebody else like Rau Le Creuset.

CONS:

Some parts will require paint.

The beam saber hilts have a small problem staying on the side skirts. Nothing big.

Unfortunately the Infinite Justice recieved the MG treatment a few years after this was released, and this kit became somewhat obsolete, especially considering both the 1/100 and the MG go for around the same price range nowadays.

I had lots of fun and enjoyment putting this one together. I slightly underestimated this one though; There were more parts than you'd expect. It falls in between the range of HG and MG as far as difficulty is concerned, so if you're getting tired of how easy the HG's are starting to get, give this one a try.

Well, that wraps up my coverage of the January 2012 Gunpla Raid. I killed a lot of time with these six kits, and especially this one in particular. While they weren't always sunshine and rainbows, this round-up of gunpla kits was an absolute blast....

..But it was only a matter of time before I initiated my next Gunpla raid. And it happened sooner than expected.

(I'll be taking a little break for a bit. More Gunpla in the very near future.)

[gremoria411]

So I mentioned recently (while rambling about SEED and SEED Destiny), that I’m not really a fan of most of the Gundam Designs from the series, exceptions being the IJ, Providence and Aegis. However I do like quite a few of the grunt designs.

First up, the Ginn.

Gundam SEED was intended to update Mobile Suit Gundam for a new generation. How successful it was is debatable. But Y’know what I think they got right? The Zaku-analogue. The Ginn shares the same basic features as the zaku, but integrates the commander horn into a lovely hawk, and has wings to emphasise its mobility. It’s armour looks almost contemporary with modern equivalents, but it’s all blended together in this visage of a knight. The monoeye retains its trademark expressive nature, and the design has that wonderful quality of being equally pleasing as a single mobile suit or a team of grunts. The sword is just the icing on the cake, since it enables some very fun poses and (at least in the beginning) emphasises phase shift armour.

Many of its variants are lovely too. The High mobility types (I (left)& II (right)) take the concept of an upgraded Ginn in two different directions, with the first adding new parts for a more complex look, and the other remodelling existing parts and adding a more samurai flavour, looking like a command variant of the original. The long range reconnaissance type is loaded with extra equipment, while the ceremonial decoration type - while functionally just a repainted regular unit - contain one of my favourite small details about ZAFT - since they had no formal culture they were drawn from, they simply ran a computer simulation as to which colours would best inspire the emotions they wanted for ceremonial duties. Which is honesty such a thing for them to do.

The CGue and GuAIZ (which I shall continue to pronounce “Gooey-as” despite being informed that it’s “Gwaze”, as in “graze”) are essentially just bulked-up improvements on the Ginn. I’m not really sure how to describe my fondness for the CGue, other than it feels sleeker and more fragile- like you’d need to be an ace to use it. The GuAIZ makes me think of the Gelgoog, but (unlike many of the Seed Destiny units) has an identity beyond that. It’s delightfully bulky and round, with the olive green distinguishing it nicely from surrounding units. Also, kudos for giving it a shield claw, a weapon I didn’t think I’d like as much as I do.

The BABI made this list alone for the seriousness with which everyone says it’s name. While it has very little focus in the anime itself, it’s design is interesting enough to be memorable. It’s essentially a flying brick covered in guns, with a very knightly design. Because of this, I find it evocative of the Gyan in the same way I find the GuIAZ evocative of the Gelgoog. It’s this wonderful mash of imposing seriousness and colourfully toyetic. I find the leg vents oddly pleasing as well.

I am rather fond of the M1 Astray aswell, but I’ll likely cover that if I ever chat about the Astray Series.