The Gelgoog is done and dusted and ready to be judged:
It’s funny. I came into this build largely feeling indifferent. Then during the build I started getting my hopes up. It seemed like there was some nice detail and interesting stuff going on, enough that it just might change my impression of the Gelgoog for the better.
But once it was all put together, I ended up feeling underwhelmed. Despite how nice the individual bits and pieces might have seemed, the overall model still looks so … plain.
Let me be clear that I understand that this is intentional. This model is trying to recreate the classic TV design as best it can, and that’s something I always respect. Hell, most of the time I like that look. I love the classic, TV show version of Gundam:
I also adore the classic, TV show Zaku II:
I just don’t think the classic look is a good thing for the Gelgoog. I don’t like the minimal surface detail, and I don’t like the overall silhouette. Some of its body parts feel too reminiscent of other Zeon designs, not in a “this is a nice way of reinforcing a sense of visual fidelity in the Zeon fleet” kind of way, but more of a “this seems so similar I’m not sure why it exists as its own thing” way.
I also don’t like that the beam rifle looks too small in its hands, or how the shield looks too big when strapped to its back. I don’t like the lack of a backpack, or the lack of regular skirt armor.
Comparison to the Gyan
The more I think about it, the more I realize how similar the Gelgoog is to the Gyan.
They both have rounded, spherical shoulders (even if the Gelgoog’s are hidden until spiky shoulder armor, they’re still there), and they both have really boxy, angular chests. Even their legs look kind of similar (with the Gelgoog's being a big wider).
I’ve already established that I’m not a big fan of the Gyan, so maybe these similarities help explain my feelings on the Gelgoog. Though looking at them side by side, I actually think I like the Gyan more. Its spindly, wiry look is at least doing something different compared to other Zeon suits.
Basically, I don’t like that it doesn’t look like this guy:
The Gelgoog Jäger really, truly fixes all of the problems I have with the original design. It’s got a backpack, and real skirt armor, and it makes some useful tweaks to the shape of the chest. It’s got completely redesigned feet that are different from the usual Zeonic fare, and it’s got a lot more surface detail without going overboard.
The only thing “wrong” with the Jäger is the head, but I can forgive that when the rest of it looks so good. If this were the default Gelgoog design, I wouldn’t blink.
Or consider the Gelgoog Marine.
This is a much closer comparison, since it looks much more like the original design. But I still it looks better in comparison:
The feet have the same rounded shape, but they’re just a little bit … nicer (sorry, I don’t know how else to describe it). Or look at the chest - there’s now a clearly delineated area for the cockpit hatch, and it has a layered look that makes it seem like it’s bulked up with extra armor.
And, of course, it also has lots more surface detail.
Basically, I think a mobile suit like the Gelgoog needs to look more advanced than the original design does, and since we have at least two variants that do exactly that, I can’t help but feel like the original feel obsolete.
Problems with Posing
This being an old kit, it’s limbs don’t have a lot of range. And when you combine that with how unenthused I am with how the finished model looks, you can imagine that I did the bare minimum when taking action shots.
And of course, I did a few action scenes against its nemesis:
Though of course it ends the way it always does:
Though in Gunplaland I guess they’re all friends in the end:
Conclusion
I know I got this kit in part because I was in a bad mood and wanted some retail therapy. That is unfortunate behavior which I can (and should) work on.
That being said, I also chose this specific model because I’m a sucker for classic designs, and because I was convinced that building it might improve my opinion on the mobile suit in question (mainly because that’s worked out well for me several times in the past). That’s an urge that is a bit harder for me to fight back against.
But I have to at least try. With shelf space becoming increasingly limited, I have to be more choosy, especially with High Grades. There’s no need to have this Gelgoog when I have other, better versions already.
The only saving grace here is that I’m only out twenty bucks. I’m not going to beat myself up over that in a world where people regularly spend multiples of that during Steam sales for video games they’ll never end up playing.