V for Victory!
What a busy week! After all the hiatus and an SAN, I've finally return to the construction of Victory...
Alas, assembly is pretty straight forward and little panel lining work is needed, but the application of the decals and stickers really took a bulk of my time... As a result, I've spent the whole New Year's Day in my den fiddling with the MS... ^^;
Before further reading tho, please have a look at a couple of short reviews (In that order...) prior to the finale for more insights and piccies on this Gunpla kit... ^_^
Bottom Fighter in deployment mode sans Core Fighter...
It doesn't look like much, but just like its counterpart, the Bottom Rim is designed to be compact for easy storage in the MS Hangar... ^_^
And now to dock with the Core Fighter... ^_^
Some transformation is needed to allow the Core Fighter to actually connect with the Bottom Rim... An extra connector piece is required to bridge between the two... This particular connector piece also double up as a link to the optional Action Base...
With the Core Fighter aboard, Bottom Fighter now looks more powerful and a lot more intimidating when compare to its original deployment state...
Looks especially delicious when view from a low angle... XD
Onwards to the transformation of the Bottom Fighter! Detaching the Core Fighter and the connector from the Bottom Rim, extend the inner frame at the knee to form the MS's legs...
Flip the whole Bottom Rim over and rotate the legs at a 90 degrees angle downwards, flatten the feet along the way... :D
Now focus upon the top part of the Bottom Rim... Pull down both legs at the hip joints to form the pelvic frame. Unhook the side skirts from their locks and rotate them downwards...
Flip the pelvic armour downwards to lock pelvic area in place. Turn the rear hook upwards, this piece will serve as the connection between the Top and Bottom Rim...
Finally, attach the Top Rim to the Bottom Rim via the hook from the last step...
And there you have it, Victory Gundam in its full glory!
On side note: I'm a little disappointed at the version KA stickers as they've started to peel themselves off a few days after application, especially those applied around corners and edges... -_-
For a transformable Gunpla, V is severely limited in its articulations around the legs... For one, the thigh cannot raise beyond the front skirt. Also worth mentioning is the knee frame is single jointed instead of the standard double joints of the latest MGs...
Another note: The ankle joint is extendable allowing better freedom of movement at that part...
Normal leg splitting is OK for V, but side split is a little... ^^;
There are no articulations from upper chest to the pelvic area! Sacrifice is needed in perfecting the transformation gimmick it seems...
BTW, one of the hooks at the inner part of the shoulder that locks the Core Fighter onto Top Rim broke... I told you so... ^^;
A standard Action Base connector is included, which will be attached between V's crotch... The grip isn't very strong tho, and will drop at any slightest movements... >,<
Mentioned last time, I've glued the Energy Expansion Pack onto the Beam Pistol permanently to form a Beam Machine Gun... ^_^
Speaking of glues, I'd to glue a couple of loose pieces as well, namely the armour pieces behind the lower legs... ^^;
Running with Beam Rifle...
Gun-toting ala Matrix!
Standard in flight hover mode...
Attacking from cover!
Beam Sabre, Harisen Mode~! Now lookin' for a Manzai partner to hit with... XD
Roaring with dual Beam sabres...
Beam shield bash!
Ending V's review with a size comparison with its forefather - Crossbone...
V does look significantly smaller and slender...
This is a summary of my verdict on the MG kit...
Pros
• Versatile transformation
• Extra crystal clear parts
• An extra Core Fighter
• That's all about... it? 0_0
Cons
• Too plain unless spammed with decals and/or stickers
• Too many loose parts like Beam Shield Packs, Action Base connector and optional fingers of hand units to name a few
• Self-peeling stickers... Should have upgrade to the ones included in MG BF2R / Macross Frontier Messiah Valkyrie series
• Crisp and fragile parts
• Part swapping system on hand units
• Lack of articulations all round - Chest, waist, legs...
From the looks of it, MG V Dash and perhaps MG V2 may come along?
An omake in a review!? Well yeah... This is something I cooked up while documenting the last review... 0_0 It's a side story of Sisterly... Love series called Mecha Love... Enjoy the randomness...! XD
As always, unedited panels if you're interested...! XD
Extendable ankle inner frame...
Armour glued onto inner frame permanently... >,<
Literally "God's Wind" - suicidal attack...
Action Base connector attaches onto here... Too loose the grip tho...
*Roars~* Gao! Gao~~~~~!
Very, very loose fingers... >,< Falls down when it have every opportunities...
Side skirt...
Connecting hook...
The clear amour are really really nice o.0!
It gives a good feeling about it lol
In your comic strip.. i think the same thing happened with Gundam Seed Destiny... the Freedom VS Strike(Shinn)... Shinn was using one too many parts...
That also happens in the Gundam VS Gundam arcade and PSP games.
In fact, Usso's main attack is to ram his enemies with Top Rims and Bottom Rims... ^_^
Yeah... But the original Spare part idea comes from Victory anime series thus the 4koma.. ^_^
Umm...Shinn pilots Impulse.
Alright! A new panel! We want mecha love! The gauge reminds me of gundam dynasty warriors! LOL!
Well... I did model the guage after Gundam Musou afterall... ^^;
*gauge
LOL Only noticed the spelling error just now... ^^;
Kachinng!!! (Gattai sound )
Quite a bit of cons there... I do shy away from transforming Gundam kits after my debacle with MG Zeta Gundam. Their transformations just isn't as good as a Valkyrie or Transformers. But I have to say this V Gundam looks great! The head is always something I pay attention too. It's always nice to have something different than the original RX-78-2 head. Which is why I got suckered to get Zeta...
"Cheater!"
Which version, the original or the Ver 2.0? I have the original and yes, the transformation sucks horribly. Never managed to get the Ver 2.0, but I hear the system is greatly improved on that one, and nowhere near as 'floppy'.
It was the first version... after that, I was pretty much traumatized and don't want to try that again ^^;
Not surprised. I bought mine ages ago (back in my College days!), only because the HGUC Zeta Gundam hadn't come out, and the older Zeta kits were no longer available. I actually got it with me right now, been putting off re-modding the old kit.
...partly because I've had to wash off the bug nits that have formed on it through the years (yech). And because I've got a lot of kits I've been putting off as well. Sometimes I even forget what I'm in the middle of doing.
I have a version 2.0 and I don't see many problems with it beyond certain articulations limitation similar to V...
V really awesome..
Yeah I thought MG V2 will come soon enough, good 4koma btw.. I never thought making a gundam 4koma will be this great..
but I think Usso win in term of skill with Amuro but not in experience..
Use a clear coat spray before and after applying decals. The first layer of coating is a lot better surface to stick to, and the second coat seals the decals in.
I have no problems with decals at all... Just the Old Type stickers... >,< Nooooo another one peeled itself off... >,<
Same tactic--clear coat underneath, and another clear coat over it. Do you use your hands or do you use a hobby knife/tweezer to apply the stickers? Using your hands kills the 'stickiness' of the stickers, so that may be another reason.
Also: try using a hobby knife to cut the sticker closer to the emblem. This makes the sticker smaller--less area and edges that can peel off.
I also use Mark Softer on the sticker to 'soften' it when applying it to a non-flat surface (like edges)--Dengeki Hobby recommends using clean water to do the same job (except you dip the sticker in it before applying).
I use tweezers BTW for stickers...
Mmm... Never tried the water tacnique before... Maybe I'll try it on Unicorn... ^_^
Haven't used the water technique myself, but see it a lot in Dengeki Hobby and Hobby Japan magazines when doing decals.
Just asking--what kind of weather/environment do you build and keep your kits in? Back when I was in the Philippines, gunpla modelling was a pain because of the weather, since I could only work on my kits outside (no painting indoors, parents say). I started using primer for my kits because enamel paints cracked when dry (due to heat and humidity) without a lacquer base coat.
I don't paint my kits... And I usually do them within closed envoronment with air conditioning...
i never got the coat thing for the crossbone to work, it was too complicated, LOL. still dont know how to put it on after a year...
most of your cons can be elminated via modding.
This review is intended for those without the means or will to mod... ^_^
spare parts spamming in GvG is the way to go! NEXT dash cancel-fire spare parts-regenerate-NEXT dash cancel-fire-repeat.
That's why I love V more than any MS from other series in GvG games... XD
finally u complete it, and i lol-ed hard at ur "unlimited sparepart work" XD. brilliant idea !!
Although this is a transformable MS, you've forgotten that ver.Ka models have generally less articulations.
Agree.... but they always look beautiful, that's the thing...