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(More customer reviews)If you have read my previous review, you know very well that the Shenong Gundam is by far y favorite Gundam. I have the 1/144 scale and the 1/100 scale from the 90s and gave both high praises for unique design and surprising pose-ability. So when i heard that the Shenlong would be getting a 1/100 Master Grade, I immediately pre-ordered it (though not from Amazon, from another site that donated some of the profits at that time to Japan). I have finally received the kit and built it. To review I will break it up by area and also compare it to the 1/100 NG Shenlong from the 90s.
Inner Frame: One thing to note about MGs (master grades) is that they are made by first making a 'skeleton' of the kit. This is called the inner frame and on this kit, it is amazing. The inner frame is very detailed and scientific in that you could actually imagine this walking around, every part looks like a mechanical piece. Even the shield and the Dragon Fang have inner frames and this is impressive because they are accessory items and normally (as far as I recall) accessory items do not have inner frames. So if you wish to have the entire Shenlong just be an inner frame robot, you can. The inner frame can support the inner frame Dragon Fang and shield, though it is not as impressive as the completed kit. Also the waist skirt armor has an inner frame (Cool, indeed). However, the head is not a complete in the inner frame, however this makes sense in that the head is basically a camera with a humanized face, so that can pass by.
Torso: The tosro is impressive with the armor on, there is even a door in the chest where you can see the cockpit with Wufei sitting in the mobile suit. With the armor off, you see the rounded cockpit of the Shenong and can put Wufei in. There is a tab in Wufe's back that allows him not to fall out or wiggle. When compared to the 90s version, they are quite similar and not just in color, the design as well. Though there are more changes in detailing, for example on the 90s kit, the yellow around the red chest piece and on the shoulder part was a sticker. In this kit, these are three separate pieces. Also the neck of the Shenlong is way more articulated but I will cover that in-depth in the head section. The chest has a hinge/ball joint that allows it to bend back and forth with some twist and there is also a cut waist joint for 360 swivel.
Arms: The arms are impressive. The shoulder armor is much smaller than the 90s version and I think it suits the kit more. also there is more white on the arm on the new kit. The real winner here is the hand design. The hand is designed to have the four fingers interchangeable and the thumb on a ball joint. There is a hand set for two open hands, two closed fists, two open fists for holding something, and two open fists with a tab on the fingers to hold the Beam Trident. So you can have the hands in any way you wish. Now while some prefer to have each finger on a ball-joint and articulated, I prefer to have each hand interchangeable. It is easier to make and the fingers are more solid in build. Now the articulation for the arms are excellent. The arms rotate a full 360 at the shoulder and also there is another shoulder joint so the arm can come all the way across the chest to the other arm. There is a rotation cut joint just below the shoulder and there is a double-hinge joint at the elbow. Note though that the elbow joint is extremely articulated on the inner frame, but the forearm armor is very thick and boxy, even though there are slits for the upper arm to slide in to, you will not get the same articulation in the elbow you would get without the armor. There is also rotation at the wrist with some hinge movement and then the aforementioned fingers. When compared to the original there are some pluses. On the original the elbow was double jointed but you did not get the same movement you get here. Also the wrists were on ball joints, but they were prone to falling out. the shoulder on the 90s' right hand was hindered greatly by the arm gimmick, however, since the arm gimmick is a separate piece on this kit, there is no hinderance. (This also applies to the 90s dragon fang tooth on the inside part of the for arm which is absent from this new kit). One thing that people may like more on the 90s is the finger articulation on the 90s kit is hinged with the index finger separate from the rest of the fingers. Though it couldn't hold its Beam Glaive properly or make a legitimate fist, some may like that articulation better. Also there is no green gem piece on the shoulders.
Waist and legs: The waist is nothing particularly special. There is articulation even on the back skirts, and also the fact that the waist skirts have an inner frame, but when compared to the 90s version, they are simply more articulated.
The legs, however, are very different. The legs can move completely forward, backward and to the sides. The 90s kit could move completely forward but couldn't move back much because the back skirt was one piece, nor could it move to the side because the leg armor covered the joint from the side. The knees are double jointed with two unique sliding features. The first joint has a sliding piece that slides out from underneath the thigh armor and the second joint makes the knee armor slide up slightly. Really cool. There are two joints in the ankle; one above the ankle armor piece and one below. Both allow for rotation and for up and down motions. The foot has toe articulation that allows for it to go down a bit and a little bit up, but nothing fabulous. Although when compared to the 90s version, there is dramatic improvement. The 90s version ad two joints for the knee but the armor hindered the movement making it act like one joint, the ankle had only one joint and the foot was just two mirror pieces that allowed for no two movement at all. I only have one problem with the leg and that is every so often the right leg falls out of the hinge. I don't know why and it isn't a constant thing, but it is something to watch for
Head: The head is amazing. If you have the 1/100 Altron EW version that is kinda how it looks. When compared to the 90s Shenlong, there is a great difference. It has lost the 'samurai' look with the neck armor and has gained a more 'dragon' like look. The vents on the side have what seem to be dragon teeth and the vulcan cannons are more prominent (they are their own piece). The chin pice (red) does not protrude as much and the V-fin has been redesigned. Also the 'ear; pieces have become more pronounced. The neck joint is actually two joints plus a cover. There is a ball joint in the head, of course, just like the 90s version, however, in the body where the neck attaches, there is a hinge joint that allows for a chicken bob head effect. And then around the neck is a cover that make the neck seem thicker. On the 90s model the back of the head was so long that it couldn't turn its head because it would bump against the two blue shoulder pieces on the chest. On the EW kit (this new one) the shoulder pieces are a little farther a part, the head gets narrower towards the bottom... and yet there is still difficulty getting the head to rotate 360. You can get it, but you have to be careful and kind of force it at the same time.
Beam Trident versus Beam Glaive: Personally I don't like the idea of the trident. In the TV show and the 90s set, the weapon was a glaive and I fell in love with it. Then when it was upgraded to Altron, the twin beam trident was given to him. Seeing as the EW Altron also had a twin beam trident, I don't see why this one should have a singe beam trident and not a glaive. I have given thought to trimming off the two ends of the trident to make a spear, however. The Beam trident comes with three pieces; the body, the other side of the emitter, and the beam. The body comes with one side of the emitter and the other side is attached to it. Then the Beam part is clicked in. Instead of it being like a peg on the 90s kit, it is a hook and works much better. My only gripe about this weapon is that the hand that tabs in holds the trident with the beam horizontal to the Shenlong. There is no way for the weapon to be held in an attacking position with the blade perpendicular to the Shenlong.
Shield: The shield is really cool. Aside from the fact that it has its own inner frame, it looks way more intricate than the 90s version. The 90s version, if I remember correctly was three or so pieces. The EW version is about 15-17 pieces. And it is much bigger than the 90s version. Though it is not as thick as the 90s version, it is slimmer. Not only does it look more intricate, but it can rotate on the hand and when removed, there is no glaring gape in the forearm.
Jetpack: I know that the jetpack was not really separate from the 90s body, but on the EW kit, it is. Not only can you take it off and it will still look complete, but it also has an inner frame! It slides easily in and out of the body, yet remains firm when in. There are two peg pieces for the jetpack. One allows you to attach the beam trident to the jetpack for recharge and storage while the other one is a simple cover piece. Neither one fits in tightly so they are easy to interchange. Note that the trident doesn't like staying on, though...
Dragon Fang: This is the final accessory that the Shenlong is most known for. On the 90s kit it was the only reason to buy the kit. The arm would extend to about twice the length, there would be multiple joints, two flamethrowers (even if the effect parts were trans-green), and a mean claw from the top and bottom. On the EW kit the arm does not extend. Let me tell you that. It in no way extends, the Altron in EW does but not the Shenlong. Now before you start ranting and hating on this kit, let me explain why this kit's Fang has more 'bite'...Read more›
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Gundam XXXG-01S Shenlong Gundam EW Ver MG 1/100 ScaleThe 3rd volume of the EW version is Shenlong Gundam!- The EW ver. Dragon-Hang has been reproduced. The new design of Dragon-Hang hasbeen reproduced, with 5 points of articulation allowing for the opening of the"Fang" gimmick to be reproduced.- Uses the XXX-G Frame that had been developed during the film. Able to sustain balanceeven when taking bold poses, by the double mobility of the ankle.- Large effect parts included for the Beam Trident.- Includes the new design shield with increased details.- Marking work designed by Hajime Katoki.- Accessories: Dragon-Hang, Beam Trident, Shield
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