Big thanks to Forbidden Planet for selling me this kit. This article isn't sponsored, but I'm sure they're glad to finally have this one off their hands, because...
...dear god, is this one huge.
No, no, I know exactly what I've gotten myself into. But we're talking about a box so large that it doesn't even fit into the space beside my desk where I usually put the box while building. I feel like I'll need a break from Master Grades after this one even if I'm too exhausted by the end to show off the transformation.
And on that note, the transformation to G-Cruiser mode is why I'm going with the Ex-S Gundam. I know that this kit provides the option to build the S Gundam, but I'm going with the one that transforms into one large overcompensator rather than two relatively smaller ones.
Display Base
Yeah, you know we're not messing around when the base is the part that's built first. And you know this kit isn't messing around when the bottom of the base is slightly larger than my A5 cutting mat.
The part that secures the central arm in place needs to be lined up perfectly for it to fit in properly, but I'm just astonished at the size of this thing more than anything else. I'm gonna be going on about the size a lot during this build, aren't I?
G-Core
The way the manual differentiates the S from the Ex-S is by having the assembly instructions common to both versions first, and then showing via a black box header which version to move to.
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| Instead of pilot figures, we have half-pilot figures of just the upper torso at a monitor. |
Ah, apparently the remaining core can be displayed on the smaller arm on the display base. Well, that saves me having to hold onto spare parts at least.
The manual's saying how to transform the first core, and looking ahead shows that it's for the waist unit, so let's do that. It's a fairly simple transformation.
I hope I won't need to transform the other core, since one of the little white wings on the side got jammed and snapped on the hinge in a manner that causes it to fall off when moving it from the closed position, so I had to plastic glue it in place.
Waist Unit
Ooohh, ok, this one introduces one of the other unique aspects about this kit - screws. Thankfully I have a screwdriver lying on my desk from putting a Raspberry Pi case together and I've also got a set of magnetic screwdrivers on my wall, but this is a common aspect of a lot of more complex Gunpla kits, certainly older Perfect Grade kits. But we'll worry about that when we get there.
This white part drove me nuts. You have to press it in until it clicks, and it doesn't fit in easily. It's one of those times where I feel like I'm about to break it.
I managed to easily line up the screw by inserting it from below through the gap using tweezers. The aforementioned screwdriver worked fine, though obviously you can pretty easily line it up from above with a magnetic screwdriver.
It was around attaching this screw (which is one of a large handful of worryingly-small screws) that I discovered that the screwdriver that came with my Pi case actually is magnetic as well. So, uh...that sure makes things easier.
Yes, you're seeing that photo right - you have to build this thing on the stand. That's how girthy of a kit this is.
Legs
Make sure you have the right screw for this one - 6 x 8 in this case. There's a lot of torque when screwing them in, but you'll know you have the wrong one when it simply drops in and doesn't tighten.
Also, two polycap runners. BLECH.
These sole parts are not well-designed. I've had occasions where I've put a part on one side together wrong and had to break it to separate it, but I've never come across a part so anal about alignment that I've ended up making that mistake on both sides.
Thank goodness my plastic glue needle wasn't clogged, but the fact that I had to resort to nonsense like this speaks volumes My normal phrase is that it's nothing the plastic glue can't fix, but these parts were dreadful enough to begin with.
Basically, either you have to be more careful than I was, or someone at Bandai is banging their own head into their desk in regret. Here's hoping I don't also chance upon this kit's predecessor if this is the kind of stuff that was carried over from it.
Had to take the waist off the stand to get the legs to click in correctly.
I may not have taken as many photos as I thought I'd be taking, but don't be fooled - there was a lot of work to be put into the legs alone, even if I had to skip over the part that was specific to the S Gundam. Believe me, I had to knuckle down to make this part. And given the upcoming parts, I have a feeling the same will stay true further down the line.
Chest Unit
This part with the antenna is, and I do not say this lightly, the worst component I've ever assembled in the entire time I've been building Gunpla. These hinges will not stay in no matter what I try, and even when I eventually do get them lined up right, there's still a black part that slots in behind it on the main head unit that doesn't seem like it's meant to go where the manual says it is. The Turn A's hands were bad, the God Gundam's thumbs were abysmal, but this takes the cake. It's been a while since I said this, but screw this part.
And it was upon properly finishing the torso that I realized the long white part on the back was upside down. Thank god I hadn't screwed in the back screw too tightly.
Booster Units
Yep, we've got a bit to go before attaching the body to the waist.
Now these parts, they're not without some frustrating moments (I mean, good lord, getting those final screws in to secure the boosters to the torso was annoying), but I still really enjoyed these parts once I got to the more chunky components. These things look nice, especially in context.
Arm Units
Ah, butts, the blue fins are upside down.
That's better. At least these parts are relatively easy to disassemble.
This just has "shelf presence" written all over it, you really don't need me to say that. But there's just one more thing to do before it all comes together.
Weapon
And now to stick it on the Gundam...
Not a big fan of the way the manual says to store the rifle. The S Gundam at least gives you the option to stick it opn the back, but here is apparently a very different story. I've decided to swap the right hand out for the trigger finger hand.
And that's the Ex-S Gundam finally finished. Phew, that was a tough one! Perhaps you'll have a better time than me if you're not aiming to finish it before all your stuff is being moved into another room or if you're able to organize runners better than me for a kit this large, but with all the tiny parts and time investment, I'd recommend this Master Grade for those feeling particularly ambitious. I've certainly built more stressful kits than this one, and it's certainly an impressive centrepiece. But if you have the slightest doubt as to your confidence in building Gunpla, tread lightly.
Oh and yes, I know about the transformation to G-Cruiser mode, but...well, this seems like so much more of a complex affair than the Zeromaru or the Age II Magnum, so...maybe another time. Maybe keep an eye on my Tiktok if I can make a timelapse of it that lasts less than a minute.
Stay safe and keep clipping, folks!
The Good
+ This thing is massive!
+ They somehow crammed a transformation into this thing too!
The Bad
- Hardly any articulation
- Some parts that are either really brittle or really fussy about alignment
- The head antennas are awkward to fit in
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