Spoiler Preface!!!

This post contains small spoilers for the Gundam F91 film. You have been warned

About the F91

For all intents and purposes, the F91 Gundam was the culmination of the entire Formula Project. While previous prototypes were meant to test specific concepts and technologies, the F91 combines everything SNRI learned in order to create a single, multi purpose attack unit.

In my oh so humble opinion, the F91 feels like one of the largest technological leaps ever seen in a Universal Century mobile suit. The amount of new technology packed into it is staggering. Let’s enumerate it all, just to give you a sense of what I mean:

Beam Shield: The tech behind beam shields is actually pretty simple. A beam shield is basically a beam saber emitted from the wrist in the shape of a physical shield. The idea wasn’t actually feasible until the UC 0100’s, as it requires not only a very powerful reactor, but also advanced computer systems that prevent the shield from coming into contact with the mobile suit itself (like a regular beam saber, a beam shield can cut into things).

The advantages over a regular, physical shield are obvious. A beam shield is basically weightless, can withstand many more hits, and can even be used as a weapon in a pinch.

The F91 is not the first or only mobile suit of its era to use a Beam Shield, but it was the only Earth Federation unit to have one during the events of the film.

Beam Launcher: In the same vein as the Beam Shield, the Beam Launcher replaces the traditional bazooka with a weapon that uses E-Pacs to launch slow, explosive payloads of Beam Energy.

While it’s still the same general size and shape of a bazooka, the lack of physical missiles almost certainly means that it is lighter in weight.

Variable Speed Beam Rifle (VSBR): By far the coolest feature of the F91. I’ll just let the Gundam Wiki explain them:

… a pair of high-output large beam rifles mounted on the suit’s backpack, and powered directly by its reactor… they can fire either low-speed beams with high destructive power, or high-speed beams with high penetrating power, sufficient to destroy two MS with one shot or pierce a beam shield. The two VSBR typically slide under the shoulder when deployed, but can also be used to attack an enemy at the back while in storage position. They can also be employed for AMBAC purposes when not in use.

I love the idea of a mobile suit with not one, but two guns strapped to its body at all times. Other’s have imitated it (such as the Strike Freedom), but the VSBR’s are in a class of their own.

Full Operating Mode: Under normal conditions, the F91 does not actually operate to its fullest potential. This is largely due to the fact that only a strong Newtype pilot could possibly handle it at 100%.

But if you do get a Newtype into the cockpit, watch out. Then the F91 can move and attack at incredible speed. So incredible, in fact, that it has to extend several sets of fins from both its shoulders and its legs to help dissipate heat¹. It doesn’t dramatically change the look of the mobile suit, but it’s noteworthy.

Metal Peel Off Effect: I’ll just let the wiki explain this:

In addition to its radiators and cooling ducts, the F91 can also dissipate excess heat by shedding the outer layers of its armor. This process creates afterimages of the mobile suit made up of metallic particles, which can deceive not only the eyes of enemy pilots, but also radar and other sensors.

This is used to great effect in the final battle, though the way it is animated is a bit trippy:

Bio Computer: This one is a big deal, though it’s hard to find reliable sources that really, truly explain what it is and how it works. I’ll quote the Wiki again, but keep in mind that all or none of this may be correct:

The Bio-Computer is similar in structure to a human brain, and its operating processes resemble human thoughts and feelings. Rather than merely displaying data collected by the MS’ sensors on a computer monitor, the Bio-Computer can relay it directly to the pilot in the form of sensory information, so what the machine “feels” can also be experienced by the human operator. Like the original psycommu system, the Bio-Computer also allows the pilot to control the MS using thoughts alone

There is also a lot of debate as to whether or not the F91 is equipped with a psychoframe in its cockpit, or whether th Bio Computer is an offshoot and/or advancement of Psycommu technology, or whether they actually have no relation. I guess this is important to fans, considering that Psychoframes went from being extremely prevalent in the UC 0090’s, to seemingly a lost art in the 0100’s. Personally, I like to think of it as having been Memory Hole’d after the events of Gundam Unicorn and Gundam Narrative, and that the Bio-Computer is its own, separate, safer concept that nevertheless boosts Newtype powers.

A Face: Under the F91’s face plate, it has … an actual face:

Some people love this. Some people find it creepy as hell. Whatever side you fall on, you have to admit that it’s certainly notable.

When you put all of these features together, the F91 is an absolute beast of a mobile suit. In the film, there is a sequence of three consecutive battles in which it takes on - and defeats - increasingly difficult enemy forces, and after all is said and done, all it’s lost is a couple of limbs:

After 90 minutes of watching the villains largely gain the upper hand, it is extremely refreshing to see this one mobile suit swoop in and deliver a chain of ass whoopings.

After the Film

After the events of the film, the F91 got a limited production run (though there debate as to whether only the prototype was equipped with the Bio Sensor). These units remained in service all the way until the events of Crossbone Gundam roughly a decade later, where they still manage to hold their own against much newer models.

While this is certainly a better fate than befalls most Gundam prototypes, it still feels rather underwhelming and tragic given its tremendous potential.

About the Visual Design

The F91 is one of my favorite Gundam designs of all time.

I feel like it launched so many design trends that future Gundams would latch on to, including:

• Being less square and boxy, in favor of having more rounded and curved limbs
• Being mostly white, with only a few bits of color to highlight its important body parts
• It has extra stuff strapped to its backback, in this case its VSBRs.

Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like you can see a lot of the F91 in later mobile suit designs for shows such as Gundam Wing and Gundam SEED. However, I don’t think any of those designs come close to the beauty of the F91.

For example, there are a lot of mobile suits with wings on their backs, but I don’t think any of them match the look of the VSBR’s (which flow cleanly from the body, and add depth without becoming ostentatious). Or consider how it uses very tiny hints of light yellow across its body. Or how it manages to pair its beautiful design with multiple practical heat vents in all its limbs, its chest, and even its head.

Then you also have some of the features that are unique to its design:

• Its face!
• Its chest, which makes it feel like a sports car
• It’s thrusters, which are configured in a very unique, semi-circular pattern
• The big, gorgeous, red F-91 lettering across its shoulders, in that amazing font

There’s really nothing like like this thing. It’s so clearly a Gundam, yet even in 2022 it feels more futuristic than anything that came before it (and even things that came after it).

About the Model Kit

First, it’s worth pointing out that this is a Version 2.0 Master Grade kit, which means of course that there is a previous, “1.0” iteration. As far as I can tell, there are substantial cosmetic differences between them, including a significant difference in the shade of blue they each use:

In terms of which model is better, gunpla fans can’t seem to come to a definitive conclusion. The 2.0 seems to be mostly better, but apparently there are some things about the 1.0 that are either good enough, as good, or even slightly better. Personally, I don’t care either way. This 2.0 looks better to my eyes, and I doubt there will be anything wrong with it.

Second, this model comes with its own (non adjustable) stand, upon which you can install a special LED light. When installed, it sits at the tip of the stand, causing the light to shine through the model’s chest and thrusters.

(I’ve also heard that the official LED is pretty bad, so I’m not going to worry about it).

Lastly, just by looking at the box I can tell you the number of ways in which this model is going to be better than the High Grade iteration. For instance:

• The little wings that pop out of the shoulder armor are built into the armor. You don’t have to do a parts swap like on the HG; you just pull them out.
• The shield emitter on the left arm is attached to a hinge which lets it pop out when active, and tuck back in when not in use. Again, you don’t have to do a parts swap.
• The VSBR’s are made of color accurate plastic, rather than the massive blue decals that the High Grade uses (which, to their credit, are still holding strong on mine).
• It comes with two heads, one of which can open up to reveal the face without having to do a parts swap.
• The thrusters in the backpack is made out of color separated plastic, so you won’t have paint in the yellow details.
  • Even better, rather than yellow, these pieces are made out of some fancy looking shiny gold plastic, rather than the dull, crappy looking gold finish you generally see in gunpla.
• You can store the beam saber (and a spare shield emitter) in the side skirts.

One More Thing

If you want an idea of just how “mini” a miniature mobile suit is, here is a shot that shows two characters standing next to the F91’s head:

So I guess it’s slightly taller than a man of average-to-slightly-less-than-average height. Now you know!!