GFFN Aile Strike Gundam



Finally our beloved Aile Stike Gundam get the GFFN treatment and also finally now this magnificent GFFN Aile Strike Gundam landed in Shewsbury Land...

I guess many of the regular visitors knew that I love Strike Gundam so much so I rather not waste time and praise it over and over again... let's get straight to our review of GFFN Aile Strike Gundam.

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From Wikipedia;
The Gundam FIX Figuration (aka G.F.F.) series of collectible figures was started based on the Gundam mechanical designs of Hajime Katoki and his 'Gundam FIX' illustration artbook and are released by Tamashii, a Bandai's characters based toys line.

These figures share similar features as those found in the MSiA series, but are considerably more detailed and often include more accessories. Changeable parts and variant models are often utilized throughout the line, offering the collector a wide variety of display abilities.

The collectible figures use PVC (with some ABS plastic) for construction materials, and a recently introduced expansion to the line use metal in the skeleton of the figure.

Gundam FIX figures are designed to be true to Hajime Katoki's vision, and as such often adopt design elements and styling found throughout his artwork. The Fix series caters to Gundam fans who enjoy the scale, possibility and durability of the MSiA line, but seek the extensive details and variations that can often only be found in the Master Grade Gundam model-kits.

Bandai also created similar toy lines:

* G.F.F. Metal Composite - a spin-off of the G.F.F series utilizing injection-molded ABS plastic and die-cast metal.

* Zeonography - a spin-off of the G.F.F series that showcases mobile suits from the Zeon forces.

* Cosmic Region - high-quality line of mobile suits, similar to G.F.F., that appear in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Destiny.

* 00 (Double Zero) Region - high-quality line of mobile suits, similar to G.F.F., that appear in Mobile Suit Gundam 00.

* G.F.F.N - Gundam Fix Figuration Next, '004X' Series utilizing metallic parts, slightly larger scale, better quality paint job and markings. The first figure is a re-release of the #0030 MSZ-008 Zeta II, released March 2009.

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And this is #0042 GAT-X105 + AQM/E-X01 Aile Strike Gundam - and that means this is the Strike Gundam based on Hajime Katoki's take and concept design (originally created by Akutsu Junichi and Okawara Kunio)

For 6,800 yen (or about SGD 105.00) before shipment charges this is not cheap at all but for someone who likes GFF and now GFFN (and as a bonus a Strike Gundam fan), this item is a must get for me.

The box...





Out of the box




The box is basically almost the same size like any other GFF box though it has a little bit of differences but nothing spectacular really....




More importantly now... no more annoying wires... I remember last time I have to spent about 30 minutes to unbox the GFF Perfect Gundam and GFF Full Armor Gundam (Blue version) but now within 10 to 15 minutes maximum everything is done and it's easier than before. Bandai still retains the usage of many cellotapes though but I have no complain about that.




All the stuff that you will get...




The Strike Gundam




Aile Strike Pack and that tiny thing is extra athena/horn and also and adapter to the action base/display stand.




Optional hands...




The shield with nice detailed markings...




The standard beam rifle...




A foldable but quite simple (and maybe a little disappointing) armor Schneider or combat knife and of coz 2 beam saber...




Last but not least, the beautiful action base/display stand with the name of the MS and the pilot written on it...




All this details can help to explain about the hefty price....





And as always... let's look around...



















Never mind all the detailed decals and markings all over the Gundam but can you now spot the differences between Katoki's design and the original design?

Now let's highlight about the most important aspect of GFFN.... what make it a little different than the regular GFF...




That is none other but the revamp skeleton design and the joint parts (as you can see here I only show the elbow and the knee) are now using the more solid die cast metal... Now they can lift any heavy stuff without any problem at all and they can perform many dynamic poses even better now as they are more sturdy and stable.... no more weak or lousy shoulder parts and elbow parts now... this is the improvment that also influenced me to get this expensive GFFN Aile Strike.

It makes me wonder though... why it took so long for Bandai (and maybe also Hajime Katoki) to figure out such ideas since they have als0 produce the more expensive GFF Metyal Composite series for quite some time now. I believe many buyers of GFF aorund the world did complained a lot about the weak joint system or the skeleton frame and some other lousiness issue in the previous GFF models.




Articulation test... as you can see below, this kneeling pose is easy....




However, despite the stability and durability improvement, this GFFN still inherits the old habits of GFF... that is limited overall articulation.... they're quite OK but don't be surprised to see that some modern 1/144 HGUC kits and also those 1/144 HG kits from Gundam 00 series can do much better than GFF/GFFN...

This is the maximum stretch of the limbs... I would personally want if they make the hand a little bit longer... just by a few milimeters would do... it's good that this Strike Gundam have such a long and sexy legs now but I think the hand should also be a little longer... maybe I'm wrong but that is just a personal opinion... I guess Katoki knows better about the design and scaling.





Doing kicking action and standing on 1 leg is never a problem...





A simple standing post also looks cool...






Let's do a little bit more of posing...





Yeah... Armor Schneider...




Armor Schneider (Combat Knife) - a unique trademark of Strike Gundam (GAT-X105)...




The Armor Schneider supplied with this GFFN is foldable but not so much details on it like the one on the 1/100 Master Grade... it's plain simple in black color.




Some action pose with the knife...







And now the standard armaments and weapons of Strike Gundam, the beam rifle and the shield.










And now the Aile Strike Pack... this will make the Strike Gundam become Aile Strike Gundam and thus he can fly and be more agile and mobile, this Striker Pack were used many times by Kira Yamato in the Gundam Seed anime...







Just like many other MS from Gundam Seed/Seed Destiny that have backpack to make them fly... the best way to display this GFFN Aile Strike Gundam is on the action base/display stand.






With the Aile Strike Pack, this Strike can now also use beam saber...




And this Muramasa katana is a gift from Shewsbury Land to this GFFN Aile Strike Gundam.




Again, thanks to my friend Ryu for helping us with the painting job of that Muramasa.





Overall, this GFFN Aile Strike Gundam is indeed an improved items from the previous GFF series produced by the same team under Hajime Katoki.

The packaging have been improved as well, less cello tapes (good for environment) and there is no more annoying wires now...

We are quite please with the improved joints system quality and stability while the rest are basically the same thing that you would expect from the previous GFF series - great decals and marking all over the body, the typical Hajime Katoki's favorite..

With 6,800 yen (about SGD 105.00) and if you add a little bit more, you can already get 1/100 MG Sinanju (7,000 yen) and at around this particular price you also can get the 1/100 Akatsuki Gundam Full Set Pack (6,500 yen) and last but not least you can also consider 1/100 MG Shin Musha Gundam or 1/100 MG Unicorn (5,000 yen) - take your pick but what I'm trying to highlight here is that this GFFN is expensive.

For all the improvement imposed by Bandai/Hajime Katoki and his team on the GFFN series... it makes me feel that the previous GFF is quite a disappointment.

Unless if you are a real hardcore fan of Strike Gundam (and all of it's variation), I don't think this item will be your priority at all and it seems that the target for this item is really for a real big fan of Strike Gundam and also those who enjoys the great details and marking of GFF/GFFN series from Bandai (and willing to accept whatever weaknesses that comes with it as well).

With the 35% discount that I get for this item, I basically have no complain at all though I would hope that they can further improve the already improved articulation and the Armor Schneider looks a little too plain and it seems that is the only minor complain I had. At least now, no more lousiness where parts or armors easily fall down here and there.... everything is firm and tight and most of all enjoyable.

You can also read the following;

GFF Perfect Gundam
GFF Full Armor Gundam Blue Version

Comments

  1. eh, i tot the gift was the banpresto SCM RX78-2? but i can't complain, it's a xmas gift to me anyway haha. thx.

    Nice GFFN. I always wanted this but GFF = expensive and GFFN = even more expensive!

    I only have the GFF Mk-II and the GFF Deep striker. For me the articulation isn't an issue. As for Katoki's design, it is the "Katoki style stance" that counts, they already look good in standing! And i usually don't pose them around since that may wear out the joints rather easily.

    As of strike, I only have the PG Aile Strike and MG Strike IWSP, don't have a 1/144 scaled Strike yet. If I were to get one, GFFN would be my priority then...

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  2. Then comes the Real Grade Aile Strike Gundam.

    ReplyDelete

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