Took me a while, but an actual post this month! We're going to take a look at the 1/100 Gundam Barbatos.
My thoughts after the break.
This kit represents Barbatos in it's 4th form, which is supposed to be it's original form when it was used during the Calamity War. As such it comes with the the completed arm armor and shoulder armor. You have the option to spec it to older forms via the 1/100 Graze kits, which I don't plan on buying.
Color-wise, it's pretty much the standard Gundam colors of blue, red and a lot of white. In the show, the white laminate paint is the cheapest paint they have, which explains the color. Even the custom Graze had the new armor bits painted white.
Color separation is nice. As in the WIP, the red trim are stickers, the red heels are stickers, along with the yellow trim in the shoulders (annoyingly) and some grey in the backpack.
For a relatively cheap 1/100 kit, it boats pretty impressive amount of details and layering. The only functional hydraulics are the ones in the stomach, but that's fine by me. Joints have nice ridged details and the armor as decent surface details.
The most unique aspect for me is the head. The bean shaped head makes it difficult to actually look good in poses. The large shark-nosed V-fin obscures the eyes when looking head-on.
If you think you can replicate below screen cap, good luck. The v-fin will obscure the eyes.
Overall, pretty decent. All Gundams so far sports a medieval design (except for the Rebake). There's this youtube video that details what type of look they are going for and Barbatos is suppose to represent a young, inexperienced knight. And in certain poses, it certainly looks knight-like.
Let's start with the head. During the assembly, it looks like it'll have a double jointed head. But the lower joint is attached by a piece (the piping) to the body... which renders it immobile. Still, the pea-shape and narrow head helps it a little.
You can see below the normal "looking straight ahead" position.
The torso is a nice bit of kit. The 2 hydraulic arms are connected to the Ahab reactors in the chest via ball joints, then are connected the same at the torso base via ball-joints as well.
The armor-less design gives it a very nice ab crunch.
Main problem I think is more on the design. The front part where the pistons connect hits the cod piece and the hinges for the side skirts. This gives you a very limited waist swivels.
Moving on to the arms. The shoulder armor are on a double hinge, but the design hinders some arm movement.
One weird thing is, depending on how you move the elbow, it'll lock it at position shown below. You can straighten it by fiddling with the double jointed elbows.
The shoulder armor are connected to a separate joint so it can get out of the way.
The way the bicep armor are designed, coupled with the chest design (the white pec plates) and the shoulder armor connection heavily limits the arms from bending inward. So those sword poses will be limited and difficult to pull off.
The legs feature the same T-bar in high grades. So legs can move in and out. The main problem, is again by design, the front part of the thigh armor hits this T-bar, which limits thigh swivel.
The legs, same as the arms, have a armor pieces that blocks movement. See below image for what I mean. The knee hits the thigh armor, so be careful when straightening the legs.
Anyway, you can see that it has a double-jointed knee. I bet in the MG, it'll look better when something slides to cover the gaping knee gap.
The feet are also externally articulate, mainly due to the lack or armor. And for some reason, it reminds me of a cockroach. Can't explain, dunno why.
Ankle tilts are a bit limited though despite looking like it can do more. Image below show how far it can go.
Overall, decent articulation as it has all the articulation points you need. But the design hinders it a bit.
It can't kneel properly, due to how the thighs hit bits of the crotch joints. Below is the best I can do.
Notice also how there's a paper on the desk. It's because mine is prone to do the splits. The hip joints in mine are loose. The thin feet also results in loose front foot hinge so it tends to topple forward. Perhaps painting it will tighten up everything.
One feature of this (and the high grade) is the so called gundam frame. It's even featured in an episode on the show. It shows you the ahab reactor in the torso.
It's pretty detailed. Not sure how the MG will add more detail... perhaps in the lower legs and functioning pipes.
With the armor off, it of course poses so much better. It also looks like the terminator.
The most unique aspect so far, for a Gundam show, is the complete lack of beam weaponry. All weapons are solid weapons, which I like. No Seed Destiny/00 beam spam here. All solid weaponry that feels impact-ful.
This kit comes with weapon holding hands, which is also the fists. Also the sword, and the giant smoothbore cannon. I love the tank like cannon, and the sword is fine. But, for some reason, it lacks it's signature weapon... the giant mace. Vegeta8259 and Schizopheric(?) have all scratch built the mace. The high-resolution model, which costs a whopping 16k Yen, does not have the mace.
Anyway, both weapons have pegs and the hands have slot to securely hold it. Without the pegs, the sword just flops around.
The articulation limitations kinda makes it difficult to pull sword poses.
Even more difficult to have Barbatos stab something.
It has a clip to store it in the back.
The smoothbore gun is big and unwieldy. The way Barbatos holds it is it slings it underneath. Good thing the handle portion slides so you can pose it better. But, again, the limited movement makes it difficult to have Barbatos hold it while pointing forward.
The gun also can connect to the back. You will need extra pieces for that.
You can then connect the gun to it and have Barbatos hold it while connected to the backpack.
You can connect both weapons to the backpack. And it makes the kit super back heavy. Couple it with the loose hip and foot joints, makes it difficult to stand.
Overall decent. It has enough. I wish the open hands are more expressive, and fists are provided. And the mace. The Goddamned mace. I want the mace. But for the price, it's a pretty good deal.
And here it is compared to a transformer and a high grade.
For the meantime, I'm off to Velen, and will need to get my ass off to paint a 5 year old backlogged kit.
 |
| If you could stop playing Witcher 3, then maybe you'll actually end up more productive |
This kit represents Barbatos in it's 4th form, which is supposed to be it's original form when it was used during the Calamity War. As such it comes with the the completed arm armor and shoulder armor. You have the option to spec it to older forms via the 1/100 Graze kits, which I don't plan on buying.
Aesthetics
Barbatos is unique. For me it looks like a mix of steampunk (with all the exposed hydraulics and wires) and medieval knight-like details. |
Color-wise, it's pretty much the standard Gundam colors of blue, red and a lot of white. In the show, the white laminate paint is the cheapest paint they have, which explains the color. Even the custom Graze had the new armor bits painted white.
Color separation is nice. As in the WIP, the red trim are stickers, the red heels are stickers, along with the yellow trim in the shoulders (annoyingly) and some grey in the backpack.
For a relatively cheap 1/100 kit, it boats pretty impressive amount of details and layering. The only functional hydraulics are the ones in the stomach, but that's fine by me. Joints have nice ridged details and the armor as decent surface details.
The back-view is especially nice with all the exposed pistons. Unlike the HG, the black leg boosters are separate plastic.
The most unique aspect for me is the head. The bean shaped head makes it difficult to actually look good in poses. The large shark-nosed V-fin obscures the eyes when looking head-on.
 |
| You just suck at posing |
 |
| Image taken from the wiki |
Articulation
Articulation is... hit and miss. Quick summary, all are there, but not without a fight.Let's start with the head. During the assembly, it looks like it'll have a double jointed head. But the lower joint is attached by a piece (the piping) to the body... which renders it immobile. Still, the pea-shape and narrow head helps it a little.
 |
| That's looking up fully |
You can see below the normal "looking straight ahead" position.
The torso is a nice bit of kit. The 2 hydraulic arms are connected to the Ahab reactors in the chest via ball joints, then are connected the same at the torso base via ball-joints as well.
The armor-less design gives it a very nice ab crunch.
Main problem I think is more on the design. The front part where the pistons connect hits the cod piece and the hinges for the side skirts. This gives you a very limited waist swivels.
 |
| right piston hits red cod piece |
One weird thing is, depending on how you move the elbow, it'll lock it at position shown below. You can straighten it by fiddling with the double jointed elbows.
 |
| wow, referencing the image. good job |
The way the bicep armor are designed, coupled with the chest design (the white pec plates) and the shoulder armor connection heavily limits the arms from bending inward. So those sword poses will be limited and difficult to pull off.
The legs feature the same T-bar in high grades. So legs can move in and out. The main problem, is again by design, the front part of the thigh armor hits this T-bar, which limits thigh swivel.
The legs, same as the arms, have a armor pieces that blocks movement. See below image for what I mean. The knee hits the thigh armor, so be careful when straightening the legs.
Anyway, you can see that it has a double-jointed knee. I bet in the MG, it'll look better when something slides to cover the gaping knee gap.
The feet are also externally articulate, mainly due to the lack or armor. And for some reason, it reminds me of a cockroach. Can't explain, dunno why.
Ankle tilts are a bit limited though despite looking like it can do more. Image below show how far it can go.
 |
| I thought the feet are extremely articulate? |
It can't kneel properly, due to how the thighs hit bits of the crotch joints. Below is the best I can do.
Notice also how there's a paper on the desk. It's because mine is prone to do the splits. The hip joints in mine are loose. The thin feet also results in loose front foot hinge so it tends to topple forward. Perhaps painting it will tighten up everything.
Weapons and Extras
It's pretty detailed. Not sure how the MG will add more detail... perhaps in the lower legs and functioning pipes.
With the armor off, it of course poses so much better. It also looks like the terminator.
The most unique aspect so far, for a Gundam show, is the complete lack of beam weaponry. All weapons are solid weapons, which I like. No Seed Destiny/00 beam spam here. All solid weaponry that feels impact-ful.
This kit comes with weapon holding hands, which is also the fists. Also the sword, and the giant smoothbore cannon. I love the tank like cannon, and the sword is fine. But, for some reason, it lacks it's signature weapon... the giant mace. Vegeta8259 and Schizopheric(?) have all scratch built the mace. The high-resolution model, which costs a whopping 16k Yen, does not have the mace.
 |
The articulation limitations kinda makes it difficult to pull sword poses.
Even more difficult to have Barbatos stab something.
 |
| What did poor brainstorm do to you |
The smoothbore gun is big and unwieldy. The way Barbatos holds it is it slings it underneath. Good thing the handle portion slides so you can pose it better. But, again, the limited movement makes it difficult to have Barbatos hold it while pointing forward.
The gun also can connect to the back. You will need extra pieces for that.
You can then connect the gun to it and have Barbatos hold it while connected to the backpack.
You can connect both weapons to the backpack. And it makes the kit super back heavy. Couple it with the loose hip and foot joints, makes it difficult to stand.
Overall decent. It has enough. I wish the open hands are more expressive, and fists are provided. And the mace. The Goddamned mace. I want the mace. But for the price, it's a pretty good deal.
Size Comparison
Height-wise it's a little bit taller than a standard 18 meter suit. Showing it here with RX-78 shows the aesthetic difference between the block UC design, and the medieval influences of IBO.
And here it is compared to a transformer and a high grade.
Summary
It's a pretty good kit. It has quirks in it's articulation (armor banging armor) and build design (yellow stickers on the shoulder, grey in backpack), but overall, it's a pretty detailed kit. With a lick of paint, I'm having a hard time thinking how an actual MG will surpass this. So in that regards, and the price, this kit is very highly recommended.
 |
| really? You show the "knight-like" pose at the very end? |
 |
No comments:
Post a Comment