Finally got a chance to own one of my favorite mobile suits that I never thought I’d have the opportunity to!
Producer: Bandai Tamashii
Price: Approx. $270
Release Date: May. 2019 (Overseas Release) and Oct. 2019 (U.S. Convention Release)
Item Height: Approx. 7.25″
Item Weight: N/A
Batteries: N/A
WHERE TO BUY: Bluefin Brands (Sold Out)
Gundam Seed is a series I’m admittedly not too fond of, but the mobile suite designs are possibly my outright favorites with the Destiny Gundam and Strike Freedom being towards the top of that list. Bandai covered both of these in their diecast “Metal Build” line but with the Strike Freedom being especially popular the prices had become a bit outrageous. The Strike Freedom was re released earlier this year with a “Soul Blue” repaint but it was a Premium Bandai overseas exclusive so securing one was impossible for me. Thankfully Bandai’s U.S. distributor Bluefin was able to secure some and solid them at this year’s New York Comic Con which I made sure to purchase one from. This piece is just phenomenal.
Presentation: The Bandai Metal Build boxes are extremely consistent in every aspect. Cardboard box with the figure in a styrofoam container and the rest of the contents in plastic trays. This doesn’t fall out of line in any facet.
Build: Like the line’s standard, the Metal Build Strike Freedom (Soul Blue Version) is a diecast frame with a plastic shell making up the aesthetic of the figure. The joints are good and firm and the paint, tampos, and finish on the plastic areas are flawless. What really pops on the figure are the gold accents on figure; particularly the joints. This piece has some neat gimmicks to it as well my favorite of which being the ability for the defauly hip skirts to rotate around to his backslide making room for rifle storage on each side (check it out in the video because it’s extremely cool.)
Accessories: Here’s a list of the accessories copied from the Bandai Tamashii item listing;
　・Exchangeable hand left/right x 5 types
　・Backpack
　・High-energy Beam Rifle (left/right)
　・Beam Saber x 2
　・Beam Shield
　・Pedestal
　・Fixing arms for Dragoon
I’m not a fan of the fact that most Metal Build items seem to come with so many accessories that it’s intimidating in terms of even thinking about trying to keep up with them all (and the fact that it normally feels like half of them are trinkets that you’d never even want to use instead of necessities,) but this one really keeps things more simplistic in this respect. Hands, swords, guns, a backpack, and a stand. Everything looks and holds beautifully and its flightpack in particular is plain gorgeous whether the wings on it are down or extended.
Articulation: The articulation points are pretty standard for the Hot Toys diecast armors with a nice amount of range for movement. The amount of forward and back swing that he can get in his abdominal area when extended is particularly impressive.
Overall Score: 10.0/10 – The Metal Build Strike Freedom Soul Blue really doesn’t have any faults in that it looks and plays great on top of being well engineered and built. You either like the design of this particular Gundam or you don’t but as a product it knocks it out of the park.
Check out the gallery below, and even though the Metal Build Strike Freedom Soul Blue Version is sold out keep a eye out for similar products at Bluefin Brands.
