Build Fighters Model Kits

Gunpla Build - Real Grade Build Strike Gundam Full Package 2024-08-27

So the Real Grade Crossbone Gundam ended up being a bust, in part due to the fact that I chose to use the included stickers instead of waterslide decals.

What’s ironic about this is that I have three other Real Grades in the backlog - two of which I acquired last year - and I have a sheet of replacement, aftermarket waterslides for each of them.

In other words, I already decided a while ago that I wanted to switch to using waterslides with Real Grade kits. And yet I went ahead and used the stickers on the Crossbone anyway.

Now I want a shot at redemption. It’s time to build one of those Real Grades from the backlog, and this time I’m going to do the job right:

It’s the Build Strike Gundam, the star of one of my favorite shows in the series.

Gunpla Build - High Grade Wing Gundam Fenice (Final) 2023-02-26

This post took a lot longer to get around to than I expected.

Two things happened that got in the way. The first is I got a new gaming console. Since then I’ve spent my evening “me time” exclusively playing games, rather than working on Gunpla.

The second is that I broke both of the Fenice’s wings while trying to test their range of articulation. I was able to fix up one of them, but I ended up using too much super glue on the other. It can move some, but most of its joints are now frozen in place.

This really got me down in the dumps, and with a bunch of shiny new games calling to me, I lost all motivation to do a photo shoot for this kit. But I pushed through and got at least a handful of photos together. Let’s take a look.

Gunpla Build - High Grade Wing Gundam Fenice (Part 1) 2023-02-13

I have, of course, built the Real Grade version of Wing Gundam, but never the High Grade. That means that I won’t have anything to compare this build process to, but will have something to compare the final build to.

Anyway, here’s what’s in the box:

We’ve got twelve runners, which is an impressive number for a High Grade. Keep in mind, however, that this kit includes most of the runners from the HG Wing Gundam, plus new ones for all the Fenice’s custom parts. I have a feeling that a lot of these pieces are going to be left unused.