Grimm

RX-0, Unicorn, Yunikon Gandamū, My absolute favorite Gundam mobile suit (call me basic ToT) ever! This white hunk of metal has been on my mind since but I never really dug that deep into gunpla. Oh how I regret that decision a lot, If I ever got into it early on, I would be SWIMMING with model kits and displays right now. Lucky to snag a 1/144 Unicorn Destroy Mode variant and now I’m writing a short review of it! This model came out on 2009 and in comparison with my Gundam Witch from Mercury kits which came out on 2022, there’s some evident differences which I’d like to talk about. Nonetheless, I think it was still a lovely experience and an amazing model.

The transformation capability of RX-0 only came with the RG and MG variants of the kit. I’m not really complaining about NOT being able to transform the HG unicorn because it allows me to pick up multiples of the suit and in different variants! You do have to keep in mind that fact if you want a TRANSFORMABLE Unicorn. This one will be stuck in Destroy Mode forever hahaha!

After completing the build, you will notice how hard it is to do any dynamic pose with it. Poses which evokes momentum and movement is hard especially with the legs and feet. That’s due to how armored and bulky it is, this limits the legs poses a lot. In comparison with the Witch from Mercury kit, those ones are very dynamic and lovely to pose around! I could not get enough of posing the possibility when it comes to taking photos with them because of it.

What this kit does better than the WfM kits was how they designed the neck joint, which allows the Unicorn to look higher up than both the Aerial and Calibarn. Also, polycaps are kinda better for movement because it offers a smoother and easier movement of the limbs and body parts but also offers enough stiffness to hold a pose… how well it will be like that, that’s where I’m uncertain since the community has expressed how lose they could get. Models get floppy and limp after a while.

Head unit close up!

I still have plans on making the V-fin gold, I just don’t have the necessary color-correcting pen as of the moment. For now, the bright Yellow v-fin will remain. I really like this kit and it was a very fun and rewarding process. I also enjoyed the amount of trans-red pieces!!!

Here’s some cool photos!

Amazing glowing effect on the destroy mode psychoframe with a lamp at the back

RX-0 Gundam Unicorn

My first encounter with Gundam Aerial was not from an actual Gunpla kit but a Gashapon machine at Bandai. I was immediately drawn at the colors and it's very striking and seemingly aerodynamic silhouette despite being just the torso. Sazabi was also one of my choices but I was really gravitating towards getting Aerial... alas, I got the clear version. It sat on my desk for a long while before I decided to get a Gunpla kit, the HG 1/144 Aerial. It was my very first kit and I enjoyed the process of building and detailing Aerial.

I was able to finish building Aerial for 4 hours or so and from then on, I was hooked into building Gunplas (Although I really don't have much right now, I really wanted more! or at least try building other grades).

A few days passed and I just can't scratch the itch of getting another one, so I ordered Calibarn online. It must be my impulsivity after a stressful morning but I did not regret clicking 'buy'. That's why we're here now, for personal reasons, I'm going to share my review of these 2 HG models and also share my thoughts to my non-existent audience! YAY!!!

HG 1/144 Aerial

To start off, since Aerial is my first ever Gunpla, I will be BIASED (please forgive me). The building process was so smooth and it felt rewarding that, for an HG model, the parts would require 4-6 parts to be completed. You always end up feeling satisfied after cutting all those components from the runners and seeing all the odd pieces come together and make a... leg... an arm... etc. It wasn't hard at all (or maybe because I already have experience with the Gashapon one and years of making papercrafts and paper models) since plastic models and replicas always intimidated me. My only complaints are the right wrist ball joint is loose, the c-clips on the ankles feels flimsy, and the way the holographic chest panels are "placed" in the super structure of the chests makes it pop-out if you over extend the arm and shoulder joints.

HG 1/144 Calibarn

I took in building Calibarn feeling confident because building Aerial didn't feel like a challenge... oh how I was wrong... a little bit

Everything with Calibarn felt similar with Aerial, from the legs, to the torso and arms, and etc. I'm not complaining because the build process was very fun and entertaining. HOWEVER! the head! i don't know if it's this specific one I got but the head took me 15 minutes to assemble properly, some parts just didn't come fit or it pops out. It made putting on the front face plate a struggle to keep all parts intact. I've seen complaints about the abundance of stickers but I found that part the most fun with Calibarn but nobody seems to be complaining about the "bugger-burger" that is Calibarn's HEAD. there's also an abundance of C-clips and you have to be careful with them since those break off easily. the ankles are also flimsy with Calibarn and the waist and neck likes to pop off too.

Despite it all, I love them both unconditionally and I would recommend them for starters and those who wants to try Gunpla. Unfortunately...

"I broke some parts...."

surprise, surprise... I broke the left mount of Aerial's beam sword and Calibarn's left backpack thrusters. It is now superglued ( T_T)

(some beginner detailing using silver paint markers!!!)

“Stay by my side forever… And don’t lose any duels."

These two HG models are definitely really good and I think the hype around them are very valid with the amount of detailing, fun assembly gimmicks, and interesting building techniques; these Gundam: The Witch from Mercury kits above everything else! opinion might change once I've tried building the other Gundams. I might actually get a couple more from this Gundam line and also try out HG Unicorn battle mode!

Gundam Aerial & Gundam Calibarn