My first non-Bandai model kit, the BTF ( some japan company) Gn sword IV add-on kit for the
Mg 00 Quanta. I pre-ordered this kit when it got announced and the main reason is that the first batch comes with that green ring to hold the Gn sword bits. Which means i actually bought this kit before i got the Mg Quanta, and i only reviewed this now after i got everything up and ready, including that ring with attached Gn sword bits.
I got the kit at my local hobby outside of japan, and it is probably around 2400yen, perhaps cheaper if u buy this at japan or some good online stores. Anyway, here is the box.
Plain looking boxart with some bad english. It says "Gn sword IV which was made before 00 Qan[T] Gn sword V. It was combined by a Gn light saber and three gun blade. With these blades, it's so called "Full Saber Mode" ." Seriously BTF? Gn light saber? And we thought Bandai has some English translation issues with stuff like peacock smasher and the age-1 spallow.
Cracking open the box, other than the 4 coloured runners, we get the awesome looking freebies.
The clear green ring, with 6 holders to hold the Gn sword bits.
And a glass medal that says Celestial being with its logo on one side and 00 Gundam Gn sword IV on the other side. Unfortunately, as you can see from the pictures, you cannot actually see the words clearly because the words on the other side of the medal show through. A clearly useless freebie...
Getting to the real stuff of the kit, here is the Gn sword IV and its new backpack attachment that can attach to the Gn sword IV and the Gn shield at the same time. The celestial being decal is from the master grade kit itself. There is waterslide decals available for this add-on but i did not buy them.
The 3 GN gunblades have these ugly looking grey peg sticking out for attachment to the Gn sword IV.
The Gn Sword IV. Looks pretty good and detailed. However, in the building process i noticed stretch marks forming on some of the blue pieces when i attach them together with the white and grey pieces. Obviously Bandai has much better engineering and plastic quality.
The attached Gn sword IV with the new backpack. On the right is the Gn shield. The bottom backpack attachment is the original one that comes with the Mg kit. The new one has less details and articulation but is no big issue since it will be hidden anyway.
Mounted on the kit itself, I must say that i do not quite like the look of the add-on. On the plus side, the Gn sword IV helps to counterbalance the weight of the Gn shield. On the negative side, The Gn sword IV is not attached all that securely , and the 3 Gn gunblades do not attach themselves to the Gn sword IV securely as well. BTF's dubious peg attachment works pretty horribly i must say. Another issue i have with this kit is that the clear green parts are extremely sharp and fragile. A single table drop will definitely break the sharp edge.
Going back to clear green ring's attachments, i realised that none of them work unless you trim down attachment point yourself. The one on the right is the untouched one, and i have to shave a lot of plastic off to get the Gn sword bits' grey handles to fit in securely like the one on the left.
And here is the ring of Gn sword bits, after much shaving of the attachment parts. The attachment parts can move along the ring freely, which is a nice plus. I used the clear green action base 2 to support the ring.
And this is the attachment that comes with the base that works with the ring. The ring has a thin slit that fits this attachment, not perfectly but still acceptable. There is no indication of any sorts found in the manual that states this, so i had to try all the attachments parts that comes with the action base 2.
Mg 00 Qan[t] Quantum Burst mode.
Or one second before the quantum burst mode, since i did not remove the armour pieces and pop the green parts out.
And this is the result, after i flat topcoated the 00 quanta and the sword bits. I did not bother topcoating the Gn sword IV, because in all honesty that thing does not work well at all. I wanted to remove the armour pieces and pop the clear green parts out, but i changed my mind after i realised that i did not topcoat the inner frame, and the all important chest piece is not included anyway.
Quantum Burst mode, in the Awakening of the Trailblazer movie.
As seen in the screenshot, the chest piece popping out really should have been a gimmick in the master grade.
Gn sword IV add-on 'sVerdict:
Positives:
1. The ring enables the Gn sword bits to be displayed nicely.
2. The kit comes coloured. Most add-on kits are not coloured at all.
Negatives:
1. Much shaving work needs to be done to get the Gn sword bits to attach on the ring.
2. Gn sword IV has horrible attachment points.
3. Clear green parts are dangerously sharp and fragile.
4. Overall poorer plastic quality than Bandai kits.
5. Price may be a little too steep if the clear green ring and the glass medal thing is not included.
6. The glass medal thing is actually useless.
All in all, i will say that i am rather disappointed with this add-on. Though it really makes me appreciate Bandai kits that much more.
I may be less disappointed if the ring can stand upright for this quantum teleportation pose.
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