MG GN-001 Exia Ignition + Repair Mode (Gao Gao)

This is actually my 2nd build for Gao Gao MG 024 Exia Ignition, where the 1st build only got a bunch of pictures in my Facebook :P My main intention for this build is the Exia Repair mode, so I did not apply any decals.

Manufacturer: Gao Gao
Scale: 1/100
Grade: MG
Origin: Gundam 00 Season 1
Price: RM90 (Contact me at duelmasterng@yahoo.com for latest pricing and availability)

Let's get started ;)

Section 1: Runners

The detailing are pretty nicely done, which I would say this is close to 95% of the original ;)

The plastic quality is the usual of Gao Gao quality which is proven quite good! I actually like the Gao Gao flat finishing for this kit :) 

The chrome silver parts for the GN Sword and GN Blades are pretty decent too ;)

This kit also comes with 2x LED unit for the GN drive which I forgot to take picture :P

The holographic stripe, however, is a bit disappointed but I'm still happy with what I've got :P

Section 2: Decals

This kit comes with a dry-sticker decals, dry-transfer decals and foil sticker. 

The quality of dry-transfer and dry-stickers are excellent and closely rival the original from Bandai. The foil stickers are actually pretty decent too so I am using them actually ;)

Section 3: The Legs

The inner frame is pretty solid with good articulations same as the original :) Parts separations are nicely done and articulations are pretty decent but with design flaws that inherited from the original.

Here are 2 of the flaws and workarounds: -

• The feet polycap is to be embedded into the leg with and hold into place with the C6 piece that pops out so very often during posing. I highly recommend gluing the C6 to F12 with a tad bit of superglue after fixing up the polycap and necessary painting.
• Shin armor C11 and C12 are also pretty loose... just glue them to F12 after necessary painting ;)

Other than the above, the legs are pretty awesome without snap-fitting issue.

Section 4: The Waist Unit

The waist unit is neat and practical. The groin joint could be shifted up and down to provide better articulations. All 4 pieces of front and back skirt armors are individually moveable ;)

Section 5: The Chest and Abdomen Unit

The parts separations are pretty awesome, and this is a different chest design comparing to the rest of the older Gundam ;)

The abdomen is with a joint that allows certain degree of front/back bending.

This section is also very nicely done with no snap-fitting issue. Just need to choose the right chest sticker to match your preference to light up the GN drive or not ;)

As you might have noticed, you could assemble this kit with 3 GN drive options... Normal mode, Ignition (Burst) mode, and GN Condenser mode.

Section 6: The Arms and Shoulder Unit

Great arm and shoulder unit with good articulations and no snap-fitting issue :)

Section 7: The Head Unit

Pretty awesome parts separations. You can choose between building the normal head unit or the damaged head unit for Exia Repair ;) 

Section 8: Exia, Base Mecha

An unconventional Gundam ;)

Section 9: Weaponry

Well, Exia is also known as 7 Swords, so you can expect 7 of them :P This kit is actually comes with 7 and a half swords, where the half would be used for the Repair mode.

GN Shield

GN Beam Sabers and Beam Daggers

GN Blades

GN Sword, and Broken GN Sword

Cape Effect Parts

This is not part of weaponry... is the cape parts that replaces the damaged left arm in Repair mode ;)

Section 10: Exia, with GN Sword

Section 11: Exia, with GN Blades

Section 12: Exia Repair

Exia Repair could be assembled by doing the following: -

• Replace the head parts with the damaged parts, 
• Remove the GN belt from the right arm,
• Replace the left arm entirely with the cape parts,
• Replace the cockpit armor,
• Remove the left front skirt armor,
• Remove the right knee armor,
• Remove the foot guard from both legs,
• Remove ankle guard from right leg,
• Replace the GN Sword with the damaged parts.

Section 13: Exia Repair, In Action

Quick Review

Plastic Quality and Detailing

Detailing for this kit is very nice done and my evaluation is as close as 95% of the original ;)

As for the plastic, the quality is the usual of Gao Gao which has been proven quite good :)


Articulations

Articulations are pretty good, credit to Bandai.

• Head/Neck: Normal.
• Shoulder: Good.
• Arm/Elbow: Good.
• Wrist: Bad... due to the extended arm armor...
• Hand: Good.
• Waist: Normal... Some hindrance with the skirt unit...
• Skirt Armour: Good. All 4 skirt armors are individually moveable.
• Hip/Tight: Excellent when the GN Blades are not mounted. Bad when the GN Blades are mounted.
• Knee: Excellent!
• Ankle: Good.
• Feet: Good.

Looks and Feels

The detailing is very good and come close to 95% of the original! The plastic quality is the usual of Gao Gao so no issue at all but I do love the flat finishing of Gao Gao ;)

The decals are superb... especially the dry stickers and dry transfers that could rival the original production. The snap-fit is very nicely done as I do not have any issue at all snap-fitting the whole kit. The articulations are pretty awesome too.

Nevertheless, this kit does inherit some design flaws from the original and here are 2 of the flaws and workarounds: -

• The feet polycap is to be embedded into the leg with and hold into place with the C6 piece that pops out so very often during posing. I highly recommend gluing the C6 to F12 with a tad bit of superglue after fixing up the polycap and necessary painting.
• Shin armor C11 and C12 are also pretty loose... just glue them to F12 after necessary painting ;)

However, there is one flaw that I do not have workaround, that is the hip mechanism that hold the GN Blades... when not holding the GN Blades, the hip articulation is fantastic and the legs can spread very wide. Once the mechanism is deployed and holding the GN Blades, hip articulations are greatly hinders! Please take note that this is not a Gao Gao flaw... this is inherited from the original.

Overall, this kit is VERY nice and a very viable replacement of the original, especially for those who would like to have both Ignition mode and Repair mode side-by-side ;)

Nevertheless, for those of you who can afford, do buy and support original ;)

Fin ;)