Bandai RG 1/144 GN-001 Gundam Exia

My Second RG since I'm not really a fan of the RG line. The GN-001 Gundam Exia (aka Gundam Exia, Exia, Gundam Seven Swords), is the close combat Gundam featured in both seasons of Mobile Suit Gundam 00. The unit is piloted by Setsuna F. Seiei.

Reference: Gundam Wikia

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RG Exia Innerframe - Number 15's innerframe is different with platinum like decals and gloss plates on both arm and legs - these Gloss plates are also applied on Exia's Head and arm. The Core however is made of green platinum like stickers which was awfully bad. Placing will never be smooth but utmost required to be used becuase it has it's own print which is surely be hard to replicate if paints are ought to be use.

RG Exia manual looks like any other RG Manual.

Upon completion, you should have RG Exia, Shield, 3 pairs of hand (open, hold and clenched by default I placed the articulated one on exia), 2 short beam for sabers, 2 long beam for sabers and GN Sword.

The hardest part was applying decals on the kit itself - well it was always one of the hardest parts for RG. Regardless, the reason why I really don't like RG's is because it's fragile joints even when applying too much top coats can barely make your joints brittle. The reason I bought this is I was never satisfied of the Exia kits on HG's in which had a really stiff articulation and not to mention the sideskirts on the chestwhoa re always hard to maintain - but what do you know! It may have a good articulation but that sides on the torso is still a pain. And a little advice, review the manual thouroughly - the pads on the side of the arms has a part that looks like a runner excess and Yes, I cut one of them and ended gluing it permanently.

The Shield was one of the best it had, with applied decal of the celestial being marked it does really look good.

The GN-Drive can be detached - what was missing was it's ability to put the DM Booster along with it which was possible on the HG Exia when Dark Matter was released. Well, obviously becuase DM and Exia uses the same mold. But anyhow, I might be forgetting something that's why I can't attached the DM Booster in the RG since the other booster like Build Booster has their way to be attached on certain RG kit [look for my Heine post for a little sample for HGBF Boosters].

GN Sword - one of my favorite weapons of all time in all Gundam Series. Well, the RG ruined it to me - the GN Sword and 2 of Exia's blade was designed in Platinum runners. What's my problem? It's too shiny, looks like a kid's toy and doesn't seem to fit - ok, I admit when Astray ARF and Sengoku was released I was so dissapointed that the swords of those kits was in grey and white and was hoping they would somehow make it platinum but to my dismay they did it on the RG Exia. Well, I don't know to you but for me - I really don't think it fits. And Articulation was a little bad when transforming it from gun to blade.

Well, Thankfully the decals made a trick - although harder to apply it didn't fitted well.

So, not much of a comment though, articulation was good enough but there is something missing. It doesn't have the RG feel.

Articulated it may be, Innerframe is good, decals but what was it that it lacks?

I was staring at some RG kits comparing them one by one - and this is what I had assume. Exia was never fit to be designed as an RG.

Exia was designed so simple that it may have been better if it was released before the Seed RG's was released. My point here is that it was so simple that when you had the feel of the Seed RG's you will realize that it lacks gimmicks.

Hmm, well atleast it had all it's sword. Note: Bandai would also be releasing HG GN-Arms - that actually is non-sense since they only changed the color of the previous GN Arms of the previous HG Kits, P-bandai Exia Repair (please someone out there create a 3rd party ocnversion kit I don't want to waste another dollar for it), and P-Bandai Exia Trans Am mode.

Well again, if you're asking me if these was a good buy - it was so-so. Not much of a kit, a lot get excitedbut I guess it was the excitement of knowing one of the most favored Gundam will be having an RG release.

But, will they be planning to release 00 and Quant too? Well, I wish they would.

For a last remark, some people are asking did this kit really outclassed the MG 1/100 Exia? To tell you the truth, I don't know and I had no idea. I never compared anyt kits not unless they are in the same grade or in the same scale.