RG Aile Strike review

My turn. I notice that quite a lot of people starting to work or review this kit recently. I'm not sure is it coincident or its the trend, i pick this to review because I think this is something lighter for me to review during my exam month but I think i underestimate the awesomeness of this kit. I've been reading some of the review about this kit (oops, haven't read Dalong's version but i read his RG RX-78 and i think it should be similar) and the actual touch on this kit compare to reading the review from other source is completely different thing. I was very exciting when i saw the announcement of this kit come in RG but i was quite disappointed when i look at the actual product (I'm not sure why, maybe i prefer 1/100 scale model more than 1/144 scale) and that's why i hold my decision of getting this after it release ( that is also the time i found it sell only RM 83 in The Mines event).  Well, some of the intro about this kit must be made. (this is my official review, hehe). Lets see what i think on my first Real Grade.

The MS itself is come from the Gundam Seed series which released on 2003 and pilot by the main character Kira Yamato which later pass it to Mwu La Flaga after some serious damage with the Aegis gundam and acquire Freedom gundam after the battle. Since it is a main character's MS, the full potential of this kit was show with all its optional pack which are the Aile Striker (in this kit), Launch Striker pack and also Sword Striker pack (hope these will release in RG too). 2x Vulcan on head, Beam rifle, Shield, Armor Schneider (knife), beam saber and also Bazooka (only appear a while in the anime) are the optional hand carry weapon. Striker pack can be mounted on Skygrasper as support unit in the battle which allow Strike to change it striker pack for different weapon and also the battery of the MS. Lots of variation made from it from Seed to Seed Destiny, Stargazer, Astray series and other Astray series.

Lets talk about the model kit itself, it come in 1/144 scale in Real Grade (1/144 scale model with extremely well articulated inner frame). 

(articulation/posability, proportion, inner frame and armor detail, potential customization and other will come in part 2 of the review)

3D or CG design boxart. Something new and it really show what is the actual product is by looking at the (top or front) of the box.

Indeed, it is "Excitement Emboddied"

Nothing at the back of the box but just some black shining glossy paint which i think it make it look more prestige in 1/144 scale model.

Total of 8 runners with no poly cap runner (Awesome). Almost or all part are molded into different part with different colors. If you want it in original color scheme, i don't think you need to do any masking. All parts for inner frame are in runner F and B (Advanced MS Joint), (er, not food and beverages). I'm not good in spotting the potential area for variation part in the runners, if anyone found it please tell. A normal 1/144 HG model will come no more than 5 runners (except for those big one like Kshatriya or Sinanju maybe) but RG come with more runners not only due to inner frame but also many different independent molded parts. 

No dry transfer decal, all are marking stickers which can be easily apply.

The manual is not 2 pages folded type but in a booklet which similar to MG manual. I'm quite impressed with it.

And one thing that i notice from this new manual type is most of the area from the parts that connect or clip together with other parts are in pink colors which make us understand it easier especially for true amateur. As for the assemble process. it isn't that complicated but might harder for those who have big hand. There are lot of tiny little parts and I can't use much force on those part to assemble it because those parts are too tiny and I'm afraid that it's too fragile too.

Palm and fingers. Those fingers are great which come 1 joint within the fingers and another connect to the palm. There is also slot at the palm for weapons' clip to make it hold the weapons sturdier.

As show in the pictures, most of the inner frame are come in single part where certain area such as joint need additional parts from runner F. Skipping of assemble the inner frame really save a lot of time and seems more easier.

Complete Strike without back pack. The proportion look exactly same with the MG version right.

I think the parts for the RG Aile Strikers even more than the MG Aile Striker especially upper wings and adjustable thrusters. The joint for the upper wings seems more sturdier than the MG version (which i always have problem that the upper wing keep on falling down for the MG version).

Beam rifle is another interesting part. Color and parts separation is significant which if I want to make special color scheme on it, it shouldn't be hard and very less masking need.

The beam saber come with 2 types of holders which with clip and without clip (it means it got 4 holders for the beam saber). But the head that hold the beam only come with 2 unit.

Nothing much about the shield but my opinion, since this is a Real Grade there should be more separate part and color for the back of the shield.

The complete unit. One thing that I think most of you will notice is the shoulders flexibility was reduce after putting on the Aile Striker pack. It can't tilt higher and inner which make it look more dynamic or sexy like what we see in revoltech or robot damashi. (That is why Sword Strike and Launch Strike look sexier)

These are the additional parts, 2 x manipulators (fist type), joint or connector for the display stand and 1/144 Kira Yamato figure with his helmet off in his arm.  

Last thing that I want to share in the first part of the review is the joint of the inner frame. There are some hidden joint within the inner frame, study the inner frame carefully will help but don't simply bend thing in it when you think that is one of the joint because.... it can be easily break if too much force apply. And most of the parts are really tiny, make sure your working environment is not messy during the assemble process so you can easily find your part if you lost it (just in case).

As I mentioned above, part 2 of the review will cover these area:

-posability/ articulation

-proportion

-inner frame and armors detail

-potential customization

Alright, Part 2 is here. As what I mentioned from the previous post, I will try to cover articulation, proportion, detail and other about this kit.

First, check out the photo, the description will come later.

As what i know, there are two tone for some colors such as white and beige, red and dark red and even the inner frame come with two tone which semi gloss and mat.

The first ting I'm going to cover is the articulation,

Starting from the neck joint, ball head to connect the head unit to the neck and the neck is tilt-able.

Arm unit, approximate 120 degree?

Shoulder joint.

Two movable point for the elbow joint which make able to bend more than 90 degree.

One of the most important joint that allow it to do dynamic pose is the waist joint. Similar to MG format, the chest unit can tilt backward and forward, it can also turn roughly about (something in the pictures)

All waist armors are come with individual ball joint which allow it to move independently. Not using ball joint on the crotch or the peg joint and the slot for display stand is using clip type. 

Side waist armors or armor schneider slot is one of the problem for the legs but if it remove, the legs can open up to 180 degree wide. (just like in the pictures)

And this is how it look like beneath the waist unit. The ball joint for the peg joint, a bit complicated here but don't worry because it all come in pre-assemble stage.

Another good thing for the feet unit is it can tilt upward and downward with additional joint break in the middle.

Half kneeling pose, checked.

Side kick, checked.( it can kick higher if not because of the side waist armors)

Overall, the articulation for this kit is not only good, but it might beyond what we think before we purchase this kit. The frame has been special design to bring out all the excitement for the articulation but there are something that we need to take note about the joint. Although this kit is well articulated, the joint are not sturdier enough to hold the kit for long time. I suggest that some of the tighten joint process must be done either by adding glue to the joint for making it thicker (you have to separate the joint into two part before apply the glue and let the glue dry before snapping back the joint together) and sturdier or direct paint the joint which will also help.

The next topic I want to discuss about is the detail of the kit from inner frame to armors. most of the plain area which have the potential for adding pla-plate, panel line or armor cutting was almost gone, why? Because most of this area had been line scribed, all part are molded separately and there are not much place for adding pin hole.

The cockpit are design same as the MG format but the pilot figure in sitting mode are not provided.

From this photo, I think Sword Striker pack and Launch Striker pack will be here soon.

Unlike other format (except PG), every part of the thruster that come in different color are molded separately.

In terms of the inner frame, some of us might think that the inner frame was only focus on better articulation  but as what i show in the photo above, it is an hydraulic pump.

The inner frame was also design with some mechanical detail.

As the arm bend, we can see the sliding inner frame mechanism.

The leg inner mechanism is not bad too. The photo above should be able to show the different tone of the inner frame as the inner frame are made from two types of runners which is the B runner and F runner.

Even with the armor attach on it, there are some detail of the sliding mechanism expose.

As what I mentioned, most of the armor already line scribed as shown in the pictures (above). So it really save a lot of time where we just clean the nub marks, prime and paint it.

If you feel headache on how to paint the thruster for the Aile Striker for other format (except PG), you won't get it from the RG. Inner thrusters part had been molded separately too.

Attach with Aile Striker pack.

Regarding on the weight issues especially the flight pack Aile Striker, yes it does have some problem with it. Although I can make it a normal standing pose but this pose will not last long in our display shelf if there are no support. The reason is from the inner frame of the MS kit itself. There are too many joint and the flexibility of the joints are slightly too wide. Unless those joints fix or getting a display stand for it, it can't stand alone for long term.

Lets check out some shot with pose and I will discuss about the proportion here after all these action shots.

In terms of the proportion for this kit, all I can say is well done. (I don't mind the articulation is as accurate as TV version, I will like it as long as it suit my taste). Even though this kit was well proportionate but I do some some modeler try to improve it such as wider chest and bigger shoulder, sharper toe and higher legs, and most of them did very well. As for me, I'm not good enough for that kind of mod and this is good enough for me. If you check the pose that i try to make, it was not as dynamic as Robot Damashi and it is something slightly closer to the Revoltech. I study the gunpla kit proportion from that, RD and Revoltech is my reference. I think most of us know, Robot Damashi go more on extreme high dynamic pose where Revoltech go for average dynamic post and both are extremely good in dynamic pose but revoltech win on normal standing pose because it is well proportionate for all kind of pose.

 

Last shot is to show how it connect to the display stand with it's own custom connectors. I'm not sure other RG are using the same connector as this is my first RG. Will try to post about this if I'm getting the RG Freedom soon.   

So, last few topics are about modification, color scheme or kit bashing. As from the articulation, proportion and detail topic, this kit score pretty high. Therefore I don't think much modification needed for this kit to make it look better but some minor modification will make it look more impress which like what I mention about increase the size of the chest, shoulders and some mod on the toe and legs. Pla plate, line scrib or pin hole, not that necessary if it go for minor mod. Color scheme, it depend on the personal taste but i think painting this kit will not hard since most of the parts are molded separately. As for kit bashing, there are some reference from Hobby Magazine June issue where it show some sample of using RG Aile Strike convert into Strike Noir, Blitz and Strike IWSP. (instead of remastering the HG seed line for four upgrades which mod the color to HD color, additional part of display stand, packaging and adding marking, I RATHER HAVE ALL MAKE INTO RG!!!)

Last thing that I want to talk about is the clip from weapon and the weapon slot on the palm. It is not easy to handle especially the beam rifle, sometimes the fingers works better than those clip. 

Part 3 of the review completed. It just a video. Hope you guys enjoy

 If you want to get this kit, refer to here: 

http://www.ishop2go.com/productUR_001_PR_0001192_Prt_en.html