Gunpla Review: HGBF Dom R35

Let's take a look at Mr. Ral's 2nd Mobile Suit that appeared briefly in the last episode of Build Fighters Try.

This is no Gouf boy!

The Dom R35 appeared in the last episode of Build Fighters Try, to combat Meijin Kawaguchi's Amazing Red Warrior, and showed everyone how superior they are compared to the rest of the crowed (kinda like he and Chinan did in the 1st season). Design-wise, it's safe to say that this would how the Dom would look like if Ramba Ral got his hands on it in the original Mobile Suit Gundam anime.

Aesthetics

The Dom R35's is basically a normal Dom, with additional thrusters all around. Think of it as Dom High Mobility Type. Most panels are new, save for the mid torso, arms and feet. The rest seems new.

He looks like a Dom, we get it

It is proper bulky, and the new armor gives him a more blocky appearance vs the original's more curvy nature. I prefer a more bottom-heavy look though Color-wise, its basically a Gouf. So it's royal blue and a darker blue. Gone is the yellow (more on that in a sec) and new is white. Overall, a very nice and cold color pallet. Stickers include the monoeye, the grey bits on the backpack, and 2 hideously large ones at the backpack that I ruined.

I like how the back is just a cascade of thrusters, one after the other.

2 tone backpack should be covered by  stickers

There's just enough surface details to keep the surfaces interesting.

Build-wise, despite looking solid, it's actually pretty flimsy. Could be caused by the fact that it's based on an old kit (older HGUC tend to feel fragile). It is mostly hollow and the polycaps give it just enough friction save for one area. Most nubs are small, but there are large ones in the kit, like the ones at the back of the leg armor.

Some modern touches are there, like the pull out shoulder polycaps and the t-bar on the crotch with an action base port. Otherwise, what you are building is basically a kit that came out of 2006, and that is just how the kit feels to hold.

Articulation

It's a Dom. It's bulky, and it's not meant to be dynamic (it does not walk, it hovers originally). So expecting it to be Build Burning posable is out of the window. Despite that, it still has decent range.

It has double ball jointed neck, which is limited due to the head design but it's there. A torso joint and a waist joint which is decent. The shoulder is connected a via a universal joint and it's connected the shoulder armor, which in turn is connected via ball joint. Double jointed elbow with just over 90, bicep swivel and a ball joint wrist.

The Skirts can move out of the way, and the legs are hips are a tbar, so it can tilt up and down. Thigh swivels, 90 degree knees that look awkward when bent, the upper ankles can move front and back, and the feet is on ball joints.

The front thrusters can wiggle ( it's construction will make you believe it has tons of range). Same goes for the back. The butt and leg thrusters though can move much free-er.

very mature

It's decent... but the polycaps can't hold poses due to the weight of the parts. Also it cannot spread it's legs too far since, despite the large feet, it can't stand properly due to limited ankle tilts. It fares better when in an action base. What it can do is squat and look menacing.

blue ball of menace

Mine also has a habit of falling apart.

Olive oil. Pan. Leg. Off. Knee armor. Floor

Weapons and Extras

Onboard the suit itself, it has the scattering beam gun, which you need to paint.

And 4 claws. The knee ones I get, but the elbows does not make sense for me. They are flush, so it takes quite some effort to flip out.

Blue tickle machine

The other accessory is the multi-purpose shield. Note that the lower part of the shield (the spike section) comes in just 1 color. There's a giant sticker used to color it in. So be careful when posing it as it'll rub itself on the Dom's shoulder armor a lot.

cross shield

As it is muti-purpose, it has joints to allow it to convert from one form to another.

With the shields mounted, it looks a lot better.

Imperious Knight

He can either block...

or crush you when you fold the spikes forward.

Dark Souls 2: Undead Crypt 

Flip the shield around, put the blue bars in the hands and you get the machine guns.

Posing it is fiddle, as the shields are rather large and unwieldly. Posing options are limited for the kit. Again, expected from the design.

this is no gouf... but i wish it was

Also, I mentioned the should polycaps. Mine cannot handle the weight of the shields. so most of the time, it droops. I wish they used PS plastic instead of polycaps, just so it can hold a pose.

It also should have a sword... which is used in the Anime, but not present in the kit. 2 pieces of plastic and it'll be completed... c'mon bandai.

Summary

It's basically a refreshed 2006 kit. So expecting it to be as good and solid as the newly engineered ones, should be thrown out the window. The kit is flimsy and loose, so unless you paint it, it'll flop around like a dead fish. If you want a Dom, in my opinion, just get the original Dom or the Dom Tropen. At least there is no pretensions of it being a close-quarters combat suit and it's cheaper. I personally like the look of the R35(as most monoeyes), so unless you're into it's aesthetics or is a completionist for BFT, I'd say skip it.

Reeve's and Orma's Greatshields

It looks great slightly posed, staring at you menacingly