Finally, GOGO 2nd kit, the long awaited HG 1/144 Sazabi EVO ;)
Manufacturer: GOGO
Scale: 1/144
Grade: HG
Origin: Char's Counter Attack
Price: RM90 (Contact me at duelmasterng@yahoo.com for latest price and availability)
Please take note that I did panel lining with Gold marker ;)
The Box
The box art, and comparison with Gao Gao Sazabi normal ;) The EVO box is a little taller.
Section 1: Runners
Detailing are very good! Since this is not a direct replication from Bandai, there's nothing to compare with :P The plastics is a bit softer than the usual Gao Gao quality ;)
Section 2: Decals & Accessories
This kit comes with 1 set of water decal, yes, water decal ;) There's no specific instruction where to apply the decals so it is up to your decision.
Section 3: The Legs
Parts separations are FANTASTIC, with very good detailing!
Not much to talk about in the knee articulations but Go Go uses the dual-joint for the hip instead of the ball-joint employed by Bandai, and its a good improvement ;)
Do take note that GOGO is providing exchangeable knee parts for those who don't like the emblem version.
Exchangeable Knee Parts
Compare to Bandai's Sabazi on the left, EVO's legs are a little bit longer but slimmer :P
Section 4: Waist
The waist and front skirt is pretty straight forward, but there's also some strange move for Go Go on the side skirts... The side skirts, instead of attaching to the waist unit, they are attached to the body...
As for the back skirt, Go Go did excellent parts separation thus meaning many parts to assemble :P
Front Skirt & Waist Unit
Bandai left, GOGO right ;)
Back Skirt
Bandai left, GOGO right ;)
Side Skirts
Bandai left, GOGO right ;)
Section 5: Chest
A sexy chest GOGO have made for this EVO ;)
I am showing the emblem version of the chest, but there are exchangeable parts to change it back to the red color plain chest ;)
Recommendation: The energy pipe for the Mega Particle Cannon tends to fall off... glue them instead ;)
One very strange design for this section... the side skirts are actually attached to the lower abdomen section instead of the waist unit below the energy pipe, and they does affect the waist movement...
Exchangeable Chest Parts
Bandai left, GOGO right. The EVO chest looks more like Sinanju :P
Section 6: Arms & Shoulders
Articulations are pretty standard for HG, but the parts separations and detailing are just amazing. Same to the chest and legs, GOGO provided exchangeable parts for the wrist if you don't loke the emblem version ;)
Exchangeable Wrist Parts
Bandai left, GOGO right. The EVO arms are smaller then the original :P
Section 7: The Head
Parts separations is still good, but I have got to give my point here to the Bandai version as the GOGO EVO version does not have the monoeye mechanism.
Recommendation: Glue the helmet with the top of the head, if you know what I mean :P
Bandai left, GOG right. I like the design of the EVO but not happy that it does not have the monoeye mechanism!
Section 8: Backpack
Pretty neat backpack... I just hope that the fuel tanks are larger ;)
As for the bits, Bandai does give 6 units of deployed bits but GOGO does not have them, and instead GOGO provided 2 sets of 6 undeployed bits for you to choose, with 1 set open top and the other set closed top...
I find that the original version is more solid, but the EVO version is better looking :P
Bandai right, GOGO left ;)
Section 9: Weaponry
EVO's Beam Rifle (right & bottom) is much better, period ;)
Bandai left, GOGO right. The EVO shield is a little smaller but with very nice detailing ;)
Bandai left, GOGO right. GOGO really dropped the ball here by doing a half pass six beam axe and not providing the beam effect :(
Section 10: EVO Vs. Normal
Lower Body
With Chest
Full Body Except Backpack
Section 11: Action Pose ;)
A bit lazy to apply the decal yet...
Quick Review
Plastic Quality and Detailing
The plastic quality is softer than the usual Gao Gao/TT Hongli quality. The detailing are FANTASTIC and I love this kit. Very nicely done by GOGO but sadly they dropped the ball on the Beam Axe section.
Nevertheless, I would still highly recommending this kit ;)
Articulations
Articulations are at most decent to HG level... Althought this is not the major determining factor for getting this kit, but I'm still putting down some comments ;)
- Head/Neck: Pretty standard for a HG. The "helmet" pretty much preventing large movement so head/neck articulation is pretty meaningless :P
- Shoulder: Excellent! With pull-out mechanism allowing more dynamic posing.
- Arm/Elbow: Normal elbow articulation bendable to 90 degrees.
- Wrist: Normal.
- Waist: Bad.
- Skirt Armour: Strange design... the side skirts are actually attached to the lower abdomen section instead of the waist unit below the energy pipe, and they does affect the waist movement...
- Hip/Tight: Excellent!.
- Knee: Normal-... same to the Bandai version, only up to 90 degrees.
- Ankle: Normal-.
Looks and Feels
The detailing is EXCELLENT! The snap-fit is also very nicely done although some parts in the instruction manual is wrong :P
The 2 disappointments are: -
- The strange design of the side skirts that are attached to the lower abdomen section instead of the waist unit, and they affect the waist movement, and
- The badly finished Beam Axe with no beam effect part.
Fin :)