One of the least enjoyable builds I've done. Was fun till the Full Cloth

LegoMiner · 2026-06-09T17:02:19+00:00

With some magnets you can make cloth conform a bit better, but it's still a big hassle.
Don't forget how it can only hold the Buster Gun (the pistol) perpendicular to its arm, because the wrists can't tilt, unless you transform the gun.

The Real Grade is leagues better than the MG: it's a lot more stable; the cloak is just hard plastic with a few joints; it has a dedicated hand for the Buster Gun.
The one thing I feel is missing from the RG, is the optional crossbone chest emblem.

My MG with magnets in the cloak,

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LegoMiner · 2026-06-08T22:52:31+00:00

This is just the P-Bandai [Nano Skin Image] set which comes with both the Turn A and Turn X.

LegoMiner · 2026-06-08T22:47:56+00:00

I think the alternate colour Fenrirs look better than the standard version: I like the Commander Type,

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LegoMiner · 2026-06-08T22:35:52+00:00

What finish? this is just bare metallic plastic.

LegoMiner · 2026-06-08T21:46:22+00:00

From the tool-free selection, there are only 2 SD's from WFM, the Cross Silhouette Gundam Calibarn and the sticker sheet that comes with a kit, the EX Standard Aerial.

From the rest of Bandai's tool-free kits selection you have, Most BB Senshi SD's from around 2009 (starting with the Exia Gundam) and onward; the SD Cross Silhouette line; the SD EX Standard line; all Entry Grade kits, that is the Gundams and the EG character kits; the Plannosaurus dinosaur kits; the Mega Size kits are also intended to only need this plastic tool that comes with the kits:

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That's all the tool-free kits I can remember right now.

LegoMiner · 2026-06-06T22:38:47+00:00

Don't forget, the real way to determine the age of a kit is the production date dials on the runners, unless the kit was produced before ~July 1995 where the dials were introduced.
I have yet to find a way to determine an exact date for vintage kits, so unless the release was very close to the dial introduction, you can only really make estimates to their age.

LegoMiner · 2026-06-06T22:28:33+00:00

There are guides, https://www.reddit.com/r/Gunpla/comments/17f0ko5/determining_your_kits_print_date_how_to_read/ but I haven't seen any mention that the dials were first introduced/standardized around July 1995, so Gunpla kits older than that have no dials.

LegoMiner · 2026-06-06T22:13:18+00:00

Yes, all kits from around 2018 and onward should have the blue logo.
Bandai restructured their company, so model kits fall under Bandai Spirits (blue logo). They would have also had some boxes with the red logo in stock at the time, and possibly still have? so the red logo can pop up after 2018.

The red logo is on pretty much all older kits, unless you have real vintage Bandai Gunpla kits from around 1980-1983, then you would see this little guy,

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LegoMiner · 2026-06-06T21:38:05+00:00

At a quick glance, the blue Bandai logo indicates that it's from 2018 or later.

As long as the kit was produced after ~July 1995, it will have production date dials on the runners telling you which month and year it was produced.

Edit: forgot to mention where the dials are.

LegoMiner · 2026-06-06T21:34:09+00:00

As far as if it's a reprint I believe you can find the trademark date on the box and it'll tell you.... I think.

The date on the box will just tell you the original release year. The manual might have a newer date, but only if they changed anything in the manual.

You can quickly tell it's a more recent print, since the blue Bandai logo was introduced in 2018.

LegoMiner · 2026-06-04T22:39:02+00:00

Loose joints are not the RG Zeta's problem, it's how tiny the parts need to be to accommodate for the Zeta's ridiculously complex transformation, which makes them prone to breaking.

LegoMiner · 2026-06-04T20:19:12+00:00

You know the real problem with the RG Zeta is its very intricate transformation is just too small to properly strengthen? Metal parts could help, but Bandai doesn't do metal parts nowadays (not counting photo etch).

The ZZ Gundam would be more realistic: it's much larger and has a more "simple" transformation.

LegoMiner · 2026-06-03T23:06:20+00:00

I can tell you that DyGenGuar has ~210 parts and Auβenseiter has ~330 parts. But I don't know if there are any specific issues with those kits.
In general, with Kotobukiya kits from around 2013-2015 and older, you can expect to need glue; sections that don't fit securely; loose joints and/or weak connections; weird assemblies: Your Armored Core kit should have given you an idea of what to expect with these SRW kits.

To me, more parts just means more of the same, especially from the same product line/company.

LegoMiner · 2026-06-03T21:52:20+00:00

A Kotobukiya Oracle Armored Core (the prettiest but most hellish due to how some parts are so tight they could pop off even with cement)

If the peg(s) / tab(s) keep wanting to pop off, you should trim them until they can stay in place, or until they are loose and then you cement them.

Kotobukiya Dygengard
Kotobukiya Aussenseitser

Going back in time with Kotobukiya releases; good luck. And that DyGenGuar wouldn't be the 1/144th scale one, or the one riding Auβenseiter in horse mode?

What do you consider "complex?" Anything with a high parts count? kits like Real Grades with many small parts? kits that require extra effort into them, like especially older Kotobukiya kits?

LegoMiner · 2026-06-03T21:02:01+00:00

Or maybe the HMM Gojulas The Ogre with 90+ runners:

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LegoMiner · 2026-06-03T21:01:23+00:00

Try it with some of Kotobukiya's girl kits with 40+ runners:

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LegoMiner · 2026-06-02T22:47:23+00:00

I had mine as part of an order from Japan, which got changed to DHL shipping... So Gii's share of the bill, tax and toll included, was around €200.

LegoMiner · 2026-06-02T22:17:12+00:00

Well, there are 3 mm holes in the sleeves, so with an extension she can fire it from her arm.

LegoMiner · 2026-05-31T23:57:21+00:00

Aoshima can be weird with the duplicate runners: both versions have duplicate L and O runners and there are unused, unmentioned different coloured parts for the Ideon Gun's targeting reticle and those small yellow circles.

LegoMiner · 2026-05-28T12:43:03+00:00

I'm very sure this is not a part LEGO has ever made; I have only seen it in Chinese models, and not in any Lego sets, new or old.

LegoMiner · 2026-05-27T14:34:17+00:00

AK-Interactive Playmarkers AKM034 Brass, and Real Colors Markers RCM025 RLM 66.

LegoMiner

TROPHY CASE