MG 1/100 Providence Gundam Review - Devil Arts
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| (Photo taken from weibo.com/devilarts) |
Hi Guys! This is my first review for a Gundam model kit. This is actually my first build for this brand. I don't know if this is their first kit but this brand is new to me. This third party brand named Devil Arts. I don't have any idea if this brand is new or it is one of the old knock off brands that change its name that I've suspected but no one knows. But I'm glad they release this kit one of my favorite gundam in the Gundam Seed Series. I already saw one of its prototype I think it was 1 or 2 years ago from a GunPla group in facebook but it was just released last December 2016 and also Bandai release also their MG Providence in the same month. And only this month it already land in the market here in Philippines.
Manufacturer: Devil Arts
Scale: 1/100
Grade: Master Grade
Gundam Series: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Name: ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam
Pilot: Rau Le Creuset
Price Range: 900 Php to 1,400 Php (Depends on the area)
Kit Content: Unit, Water Slide Decals and Manual
Overview of the origin of Providence Gundam
The ZGMF-X13A Providence Gundam is a mobile suit from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED and piloted by Rau Le Creuset of ZAFT. In the mid of Cosmic Era (Timeline where the Gundam SEED took place) 71 the ZAFT produce a series of advance mobile suites based on the stolen Earth Alliance G-Project mobile suites. Like the GAT predecessors this is also equipped with Phase Shift Armor and they added a feature the Neutron Jammer Canceller to counters the effects of the EA's Neutron Jammer. This is Nuclear Powered suits that allows them to use limitless Phase Shift Armor activation and combant tolerance.
The Providence Gundam is equipped with DRAGOON System as its main weapon. It allows pilot with high spatial awareness to control multiple wireless guided weapon pods, which can be used to launch a devastating attack from multiple directions. The Providence's DRAGOON system is mounted on the large backpack and the hips, and includes 11 weapon pods that mount a total of 43 beam gun. Other armaments of the suit include four CIWS guns, a shield with two small beam guns and a beam saber, and a hand-carried large beam rifle.
This suit was first seen the the final day of war, September 6 CE 71, Rau used the Providence Gundam to battle against the GAT-X105 Strike Gundam piloted by Mu La Flaga his long time rival and his former subordinate Dearka Elsman piloting the GAT-X103 Buster Gundam to show its true power that heavily damage the two mobile suits. And he also dealt with Kira Yamato piloting the ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam equipped with METEOR unit that destroyed the METEOR unit during their battle. But even though the METEOR unit was destroyed, Kira manages to strike his beam saber tot he Providence Gundam on its cockpit that wounded Rau as a result and then hit by a misfire from Gamma Emission by Nuclear Explosion Stimulate Inducing System or GENESIS laser that destroyed the Providence Gundam and killed Rau in the process.
First Part: Box Art
First look on the box art of the Devil Arts Providence Gundam. It is labeled ZGFM-X13A Providence Ver. Sun it that because they can't use the original name of the Gundam because of the copyright. I don't know why it is labeled Version Sun but maybe its named after Sunkaka. In the box art they didn't indicate its grade but you can see the scale is 1/100 and then indicates Full Frame but for me its still a Master Grade because of its features. The box is simple the front cover only has the design but it does not affects the quality of the kit. The Providence Gundam is so bulky not only because of its DRAGOON system mounted on its back but its body is so big maybe to proportion the main suit to its DRAGOON.
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| (Devil Arts 1/100 Providence Box Art) |
Second Part: Runners
The kit is consist of 25 trees of runners. The detailing is nicely done the panel lines are pretty sharp. I couldn't tell the comparison to MG Providence Bandai but I can tell that its pretty decent and can't compare to a knock off quality.
In the inner frame runners at first glance you can see that is broad and has only minor detailing. Some are under-grated some are not. The quality of the plastic is quite good. Touching the inner frame runners I fell that its like close to the plastic most of TT Hongli. The Outer armors flat finished and I like it. Some of the plastic is a little bit soft so be careful when cutting and trimming.
The kit has few color separation mostly light grey for the outer armors and 1 runner for the red, blue and yellow parts. And it also has effects parts for the Dragoons and the beam effect on its MA-MV05A Composite Armed Shield System.
The quality of the poly caps are somewhat hard or crisp just like also to TT Hongli. But its not an issue for a modeller they are many solutions for that. But I don't recommend to paint the poly caps it will become crispier and could break easily.
Third Part: Decals
This kit comes with 1 sheet of water slide decal and 2 foil stickers for the eyes of the Kit. The quality of the foil stickers is somehow better than other bootleg brands.
As the water slide decals, the printing quality is excellent. The decal is already pre cut which means we will deal with the trimming of excess in the decal.
I am happy that the decal they include in the kit is water slide because its easy to apply not like the dry transfer decals are a little bit hard to perfect.
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| (Devil Arts Providence Gundam Water Slide Decal Sheet) |
Forth Part: Head
The head has excellent parts separation. Be careful of the v fin its a little fragile be cautious when cutting from the runner and trimming of excess plastic. For me I don't usually use foil sticker for the eyes and the sensors I actually prefer to paint it my self. But you can also use Gundam Markers if you prefer it depends on you on what to use.
Fifth Part: Body
The body is so broad and bulky. It does not have open hatch for the cockpit for this kit. The pull out mechanism on the joint in the shoulder can be pulled out for dynamic posing. There is also a feature like other MG that the body can bend a little left and right. And also the torso can be bend a little front and back.
Sixth Part: Arms and Shoulder
The shoulder is plain and simple. A pretty straight forward build. The arms is very articulated as seen below the comparison of the arms bend with outer armor and the inner frame. The inner frame of the arm is so broad but it not a problem because it will be covered by the outer armors. A little issue also is in the inner frame that the part cant be snap together but its not a problem when the outer armor is placed.
Seventh Part: Waist and Legs
The waist is a pretty straight forward build. Plain and simple. The legs are bulky as of the design of the providence. The Inner frame is broad but its not important. The important is that the details in the is sharp. It would be easy to panel line. The part that amazed me is that I expected that the kit is bulky and the legs will hinder the articulation because of its bulkiness. But I was shock see the the image below even with outer armors its still can be bend to its fullest.
