Review: HGUC 1/144 RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 [Advanced Hazel]

Hello Builders, 

I've got an interesting kit for you today, and one that I especially know very little about! Today we're going to look at the Advanced Hazel released in 2005. 

It was a warm Saturday morning that had been long awaited by my friends and I, in our gunpla group. Finally, the day had come for us to embark on a trip to the fabled "Comic Store" located in New Hampshire. Upon arriving, it was down to business. Our group opened the door and made our way to the fateful aisle of Gunpla, and there it was.: a wall, lined with kits from a multitude of series. We were like kids in a candy shop, no, we were as close to Gunpla heaven as we could get. 

The day was filled with the seven of us perusing the aisle, enjoying the process of physically shopping for kits. Each of us would pick up a stack of kits, and then exchange them for others as the internal conflict in our hearts and minds (and wallets) shook us to our very core. Which kit do I want, which can I afford, how many can I get, is it worth it? 

At the end of the day, I escaped the store with 3 new kits, and some option parts. The HG Age-1 which I had the Razor parts for, the HG Cherudim, and the HG Advanced Hazel which we will be talking about today.

This High Grade kit comes from Advance of Zeta which takes place before the events of the anime series Mobile Suit Gundam Zeta. Again, I know very little about this series and its suits, however the interesting design of the suit really drew me in. 

In terms of a little background, what I gathered from reading a little bit about this suit, was that it was a Titans prototype mobile suit, based upon the GM Quel. Basically, it was a Quel with a Gundam style head, and various armaments. 

Parts

This kit comes with a polycap runner which is interestingly in a letter system, instead of a numerical system which I hadn't seen in awhile. It also comes with a foil sticker sheet, and a set of decal stickers, for Titans markings and logos

The A runner comes with yellow, red, and black plastic. It also includes the pink transparent beam saber. 

The B runner contains blue plastic pieces, including the two shields. 

The C runner includes blue plastic, and features a lot of the leg parts. 

The D runner includes the light grey plastic that makes up the joints and inner parts. 

The E runner is split into E1 and E2. E1 actually comes molded in 3 colors of plastic as well, which I hadn't seen before. 

Size Comparison

I decided to compare the suit with the Jesta Cannon and GM Sniper K9. The Advanced Hazel has a taller head height than both, but with the cannons extended, the Jesta has a height advantage. As you can see, however, I stripped the Hazel of most of its armaments. With the shield boosters, it gains significant height, and weight. 

Weapons and Manipulators

This kit comes with 3 shields. One standard shield, and two shield boosters. It also comes with one beam saber handle, and a beam rifle with a detachable magazine. The two additional magazines are only for show, as they only clip to the side skirts. 

The kit only comes with three hands. For the right hand, you can either have the standard holding hand, for the beam saber, or the trigger finger for the rifle. The standard holding hand is actually fairly different from other kits I've built, as the fingers are at an angle, so the saber will actually tilt forward in the hand. The trigger finger is also different in that it does not have a slot for the rifle to plug into. 

With the shields, you can see an interesting gimmick they included. The kit only comes with one hard-point connector for the shields. Instead of the connector plugging into each shield, each shield has a small grey piece that you can slide into connection piece. 

The Hazel can realistically have either shield connected to its arm, but only one at a time

Articulation

I feel that I've been spoiled with articulation lately, so this kit actually has been very disappointing in that area. It's so bulky with its armor and additional armaments that it really doesn't articulate all that well. 

I'll give it a little bit of credit though. With those bulky legs, you'd figure you wouldn't get a good bend, but they designed it in a way that it's not a brick at least...

Color and Quality

This kit is baffling to me in this area. For a 2005 kit, you don't really anticipate the same plastic quality as more recent kits, and this is no different. You're going to get that lighter feeling plastic that almost feels brittle.

This is a Titans suit. If you've ever built an HG you'll know that color separation is hit or miss, and with a dark colored mobile suit, especially from the Titans, you almost fear the worst. However, as you can see, there are some bright spots where the yellow and red really shine through the black and blue (which at times can be almost indistinguishable). Along with this, you're given some very nice decals which brighten up the kit as a whole. Adding these decals breaks up the monotony, and add a dimension not usually found in HG kits. 

Even more baffling was the foil seals. As you can see, the kit decides to use seals on the lower shins, and the top of the head (of which, only the back part will actually show). Areas that don't use seals include the enhanced sensor (shown below) and the beam rifle. 

For both those areas, I decided to use a hobby knife, and measure out a section of the leftover green to create my own makeshift seals. I was very happy with the outcome. 

Pros and Cons

If you couldn't already guess, you can go kick yourself for not expecting this. I love this kit for how unique it is. If you didn't see it before, I didn't really mention it. The shields are asymmetrical for the booster, and damn does it look cool. That shield booster is such a cool gimmick. The enhanced sensor gives it that cool "recon" look, and you're not going to get just another Gundam looking figure. Its bulky legs, covered in thrusters are really interesting as well. 

A kit with this color scheme most likely will look pretty boring, but including seals in the right areas, and decals in addition to a good amount of different colored plastic really breaks that up and makes it look great. The kit also comes with some cool additional armaments which I will talk about towards the end of the review. 

This kit however, feels fragile at times. When putting it together, there are areas which call for snapping parts into each other, which locks them into place. However, these points are all plastic connections into plastic slots. I fear that if you put too much force into it, those connection points will snap. I also found the hardpoints for the shields to be fairly loose in the area where the shield connects to the backpack, and the arm. Both still stay fairly well, but don't give you a snug fit that makes it feel more secure. 

The kit is fairly back heavy, and it doesn't come with a lot of manipulators or weapons, which is kind of sad. It's also a very bulky kit. 

BONUS: CLAWS!

This kit comes with a front pack that has folding claws. This section slides into the suits already ginormous crotch, to give it a fanny pack of grabby goodness. 

These claws have folding "fingers" which can grip an assortment of weapons. Here you can see it with some knives from the Zee Zulu

Need more fire power? No problem. The claws can grab your favorite HG Customize Campaign parts, like the gatling gun and grenade launcher!

Verdict

I am so on the fence for this kit. There is so much that I was disappointed with, but also so much I was impressed and amused by. I would have to say that this kit was very fun to build (aside from the stresses of maybe breaking a piece while building it). It is a very unique kit, and don't be afraid of the Titans color scheme. You'll find that this kit isn't average at all. Almost every section has a surprise in addition to its standard build. If this kit fits your definition of cool looking, I would say grab it just for the experience. I can't say this kit is for everyone though. 

Until next time!

Review: HGUC 1/144 Gouf Custom

Hey Builders,

I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year's filled with the joys of Gunpla! I certainly did. For Christmas, I received two new kits to work on, one, the MG Aegis, I am very excited for because I just recently also got the MG Aile Strike RM so I am definitely excited to have the nemesis duo posed together on my shelf.

The other kit I received was the HGUC Gouf Custom, from Gundam: The 08th MS team. This kit brings me back to my childhood when I was really curious about the Gundam series. My cousins used to build model kits, and also were really into the series at the time. When I asked, they let me borrow their box set of DVDs for The 08th MS team. I went home and watched the series in its entirety.

One scene I will never forget was the epic battle between Shiro and Norris in the city. Seeing the Gouf Custom silhouetted by the sun, overlooking the city in its menacing pose always sends chills down my spine, not to mention the brutal destruction of the Guntanks as per his mission. 

Needless to say, I was excited to get this kit, especially with its giant shield gatling gun, and sword.

Parts

This kit comes with runners A-E. The A runner is molded in multiple colors, some light blue, dark blue, black, and transparent orange. The B plates are mostly identical light blue runners that contain the symmetrical armor pieces for the arms and legs. The C runner contains the manipulators and the pieces to make the gatling gun. The D runner contains identical inner joint pieces for the arms and legs. The E runner is the chain ammunition which connects the gatling gun to the drum mag. It also comes with a wire for its grappling hook. 

Size Comparison

I did not have a kit that I felt was appropriate for comparing size. The Gouf is about the same head height as a typical HG Zaku, however it has the commander horn, and also protruding spikes from its shoulders. The gatling gun is also very large. 

Weapons and Manipulators

This kit comes with 5 manipulators. 

1x Open palm

2x Close fists

2x Open hands for holding weapons 

(the left hand has a slot in which to insert the peg from the gatling gun handle for a more secure hold)

This kit comes with only a few weapons. However, they are very awesome.

Heat Wire with grappling hook

3-barrel 35mm Machine Gun that attaches to the left forearm

Gatling Shield

Heat Sword Type D III 

Combining the shield with the gatling gun creates the Gatling shield, which can be connected to the arm by pegging into the 3-barrel machine gun. It can also sheath the heat sword.

Here is another look from the other side. 

Articulation

As you can see, the bulkiness of this kit doesn't really allow for too much motion. The arms can bend at a 90 degree angle, and the legs slightly more. The skirts prevent any full splits, and the shoulder armor can get in the way of the arm reaching all the way to the left or right. 

The design of the chest and head make it so you can't even turn the head all the way around without it getting caught in the sections of the chest. 

The feet can maneuver a bit so you can get good flat footed poses even when you spread the legs out. Since the feet are so wide, you can also get some good balance. 

Color and Quality

Most of this kit comes in light blue, dark blue, and black. There are areas where the black really pops out, like the knees, and where it also gets lost, like the chest. There is a transparent orange piece that goes into the torso, but unless you look up close, you can't really see it inside the dark blue pieces. The light blue, however, is very refreshing. The contrasting blues with the black make for a stunning look for the kit. 

Unfortunately, this HG kit is missing some colors. The gatling gun can be very bland if you don't paint it. I decided to give it some gunmetal, with black detailing. The sword is also molded in black plastic. I decided to give that some silver, and paint the rest of it with black as well. 

This kit only uses 2 seals, which can be appealing if you don't like using stickers on your kits. One is used for the mono-eye, and the other is used for the scope on the 3-barrel machine gun. 

To talk about the quality of this kit, I would like to address one potential issue that you might be worried about. The fact that the gatling shield is so large, can the HG Gouf actually hold it up? If you're familiar with the world of Gunpla you definitely are aware of certain weapons being too large for kits to hold up without the arm sinking, and it's just not as cool to have kits pose with their weapons facing down. A few kits that come to mind are the Exia and 00 Gundams with their GN Swords, and the Astray Gundams with the Tactical arms.

This kit however, has a very interesting gimmick. There is a piece that you insert after putting together the torso, that snaps on top of the polycap where the shoulder joint connects. This piece has a slot in the front of it. The shoulder ball joint has a notch on the bottom of it. This is so when you pose the Gouf holding its gatling shield up, you can slot this notch in and the arm will not sink. It basically locks the arm into place so that the weight of the gatling shield will not be an issue. 

This is an ingenious design, and I wish Bandai would utilize it more often. This is one of the first times I've actually seen this used, and I was actually very surprised and overjoyed to see it. 

Some issues I did find were that the hands can be fairly difficult to separate, and this can cause an issue for when you want to swap out weapons. I had to use an x-acto knife to get in and pry it apart. 

Pros and Cons

This is my only light blue Gunpla kit, and even though it doesn't transform, you guys should know by now, how much I love unique kits that vary in color. It is a very sturdy kit, and can stand strong while holding its gatling shield. It's a menacing looking kit to boot. It holds its weapons fairly well, and offers some unique weapon choices that you won't find on many other kits. 

This is not an expensive kit, nor is it very difficult to build. However, it's really satisfying. This is a really great looking kit when you put it together. It also offers a good amount of panel lining opportunities. If you love mono-eye kits, add this guy to your collection. 

The only issues I had with this kit had to do with the color molding. It would look fairly bland if you didn't add some detail to the gatling gun, sword, and machine gun. You could get by, but honestly it looks better with some silver in there. The other issue I had was that the commander horn fell out a few times. It doesn't snap into place like other Zaku kits I built, but I guess this is no Zaku...

Finally, a minor issue with posing. It's a chunky kit. It has a skirt that wraps all the way around. It has shoulder armor that can get in the way. You won't get many acrobatic poses, but this guy is a tank, so you can find some menacing poses to put it into without having to make him look agile. 

Verdict

This kit is just way too cool not to have. This might be the nostalgia speaking, but I can't find enough wrong with this kit to say you shouldn't add it to your collection. It's one of the iconic villains from The 08th MS Team, and a variation on one of the most popular designs from the original Mobile Suit Gundam series. Don't be afraid of weight issues! This kit can handle it. Honestly, if you love mono-eye mobile suits, or are on the fence on getting this kit, I say go for it. It is definitely worth its price tag. 

Until next time!