P-Bandai Online Hobby Shop Exclusive: RG 1/144 GN-001 Gundam Exia (Trans Am Mode) Gloss Injection Ver.

Before anything else, It's been a while since I have updated my blog so for starters here is a P-Bandai Exclusive for you! Basically it's not mine it's a friend kit, so thanks to him for allowing me to play with his toys - Well, mostly it's the same figure as the the first RG Exia which I already posted here with a different colour that can be identified as it's Trans-am mode in the series.

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And mostly that's the only difference you'll get - don't even expect something special inside. No, there is no free toy inside or anything.

And If you're thinking that there was already a Trans-am version of these kits, instead from being an RG - How they are different? Well, basically aside from the details - it's colour is much sttronger and was more accurate than the HG Trans Am kits. Well they are the same Pinkish variant but the gloss effect did a much more realistic effect.

Well it did fit the prefectly good details and yeah, I think this was much better than the normal mode.

And of course, you'll met the same issue as the first one - hard to pose, brittle parts, etc ... And an additional "You cannot top coat me because I am glossy!"

Left - RG Exia, Right - RG Trans Am Exia

Well, If you ask me having both kit is not bad at all since any of the two aint look bad at all.

Bandai - HGBF 1/144 - PPGN-001 Gundam Amazing Exia

Let's get back to Gunplas - this here my friend is Amazing Exia the predecessor of Dark Matter. Took me a while before I finally took the kit and build it since I was too lazy to do so. The PPGN-001 Gundam Amazing Exia is a custom gunpla from the anime series, Gundam Build Fighters, and is based on the incomplete A5 model developed by the Plavsky Particle System Engineering. It is piloted by Meijin Kawaguchi.

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So basically the obvious difference between the two is the color. From the original blue colour of the Exia - mixed with a lighter green chest, pointed shoulders and doubled padded knee caps.

The head was also changed, the GN sword was changed and the addition of the booster was added. This is with the comparison with the original Exia - but in terms of the difference with the Dark Matter - the change was more in the color + the difference within the weapons. Amazing Exia has GN Sword + a sword on the left while Dark Matter has GN Sword with no blade but instead it will act as a gun and thermal blade and 2 Additional swords; Fire and Ice.

Movements was still the same. Articulation are the same - from Exia. Could have been better if the articulation was the same as the Double 00 Kit.

But in terms of the design and colour combination - this one is probably better than the original Exia and Dark Matter.

One thing the Dark Matter didn't have is this Shield.

The generic sword it has - as I said Dark Matter has 2 Swords: Fire and Ice.

GN-Sword - unlike Dark Matter this one has a blade.

Amazing Exia's Shield.

Amazing Booster same as the Dark Matter Booster - looks like Latios and Latias from Pokemon.

Well, so there you go my Amazing Exia done within 5 hours coated in Matte.

Note: this was a quick post so any errors in my post is due to laziness to check and compare both kits.

Bandai RG 1/144 GN-001 Gundam Exia

My Second RG since I'm not really a fan of the RG line. The GN-001 Gundam Exia (aka Gundam Exia, Exia, Gundam Seven Swords), is the close combat Gundam featured in both seasons of Mobile Suit Gundam 00. The unit is piloted by Setsuna F. Seiei.

Reference: Gundam Wikia

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RG Exia Innerframe - Number 15's innerframe is different with platinum like decals and gloss plates on both arm and legs - these Gloss plates are also applied on Exia's Head and arm. The Core however is made of green platinum like stickers which was awfully bad. Placing will never be smooth but utmost required to be used becuase it has it's own print which is surely be hard to replicate if paints are ought to be use.

RG Exia manual looks like any other RG Manual.

Upon completion, you should have RG Exia, Shield, 3 pairs of hand (open, hold and clenched by default I placed the articulated one on exia), 2 short beam for sabers, 2 long beam for sabers and GN Sword.

The hardest part was applying decals on the kit itself - well it was always one of the hardest parts for RG. Regardless, the reason why I really don't like RG's is because it's fragile joints even when applying too much top coats can barely make your joints brittle. The reason I bought this is I was never satisfied of the Exia kits on HG's in which had a really stiff articulation and not to mention the sideskirts on the chestwhoa re always hard to maintain - but what do you know! It may have a good articulation but that sides on the torso is still a pain. And a little advice, review the manual thouroughly - the pads on the side of the arms has a part that looks like a runner excess and Yes, I cut one of them and ended gluing it permanently.

The Shield was one of the best it had, with applied decal of the celestial being marked it does really look good.

The GN-Drive can be detached - what was missing was it's ability to put the DM Booster along with it which was possible on the HG Exia when Dark Matter was released. Well, obviously becuase DM and Exia uses the same mold. But anyhow, I might be forgetting something that's why I can't attached the DM Booster in the RG since the other booster like Build Booster has their way to be attached on certain RG kit [look for my Heine post for a little sample for HGBF Boosters].

GN Sword - one of my favorite weapons of all time in all Gundam Series. Well, the RG ruined it to me - the GN Sword and 2 of Exia's blade was designed in Platinum runners. What's my problem? It's too shiny, looks like a kid's toy and doesn't seem to fit - ok, I admit when Astray ARF and Sengoku was released I was so dissapointed that the swords of those kits was in grey and white and was hoping they would somehow make it platinum but to my dismay they did it on the RG Exia. Well, I don't know to you but for me - I really don't think it fits. And Articulation was a little bad when transforming it from gun to blade.

Well, Thankfully the decals made a trick - although harder to apply it didn't fitted well.

So, not much of a comment though, articulation was good enough but there is something missing. It doesn't have the RG feel.

Articulated it may be, Innerframe is good, decals but what was it that it lacks?

I was staring at some RG kits comparing them one by one - and this is what I had assume. Exia was never fit to be designed as an RG.

Exia was designed so simple that it may have been better if it was released before the Seed RG's was released. My point here is that it was so simple that when you had the feel of the Seed RG's you will realize that it lacks gimmicks.

Hmm, well atleast it had all it's sword. Note: Bandai would also be releasing HG GN-Arms - that actually is non-sense since they only changed the color of the previous GN Arms of the previous HG Kits, P-bandai Exia Repair (please someone out there create a 3rd party ocnversion kit I don't want to waste another dollar for it), and P-Bandai Exia Trans Am mode.

Well again, if you're asking me if these was a good buy - it was so-so. Not much of a kit, a lot get excitedbut I guess it was the excitement of knowing one of the most favored Gundam will be having an RG release.

But, will they be planning to release 00 and Quant too? Well, I wish they would.

For a last remark, some people are asking did this kit really outclassed the MG 1/100 Exia? To tell you the truth, I don't know and I had no idea. I never compared anyt kits not unless they are in the same grade or in the same scale.

{Bandai] - HGBF 1/144 PPGN-001 Gundam Exia Dark Matter

Destroy!

The PPGN-001 Gundam Exia Dark Matter is a custom gunpla and a modified variant of the PPGN-001 Gundam Amazing Exia from episodes 23 & 24 of the anime series, Gundam Build Fighters. The unit is controlled by Meijin Kawaguchi.

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Box

Manual

Front

Left

Back

Right

His Shield that looks like Exia GN Blade but instead of a physical blade, a beam saber appears instead.

What is he holding?

Brinicle Blade [Ice] and Prominence Blade [Fire] - for me the most awesome thing about this kit.

too bad... it's not that flexible...

too bad...

Dark Matter Blades

So, as much as I wanted to have this kit - I was very disappointed. why? - first, using th old exia mold was a bad idea. The kit was not as flexible as it can be at the first place why use the same one? they could have atleast modified a newer one. What happened to Amazing Exia? will they release it in P-Bandai? well, i hope if they do - they would release it in normal bandai so everyone can have it. :)

[Bandai] - HGBC 1/144 Dark Matter Booster

It's a dragon...

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Box

Left - Astraea Dark Matter Type-F, Right - Exia Dark Matter

...and Exia Planking.

Runners + Manual + Stickers

Astraea Dark Matter Type-F

Well the only problem here is you won't fit it the same way as you fit it in the Exia Dark Matter. :)