Bandai Gundam Sandrock Ver EW 1 100 Master Grade

Reader Reviews
When I was a kid, the Sandrock Gundam was my least favorite mobile suit from Gundam Wing. I thought the pilot was a wuss, the weapons were ridiculous, and the fact that he had his personal army only highlighted the fact that he couldn't hold his own in a fight. Looking back, I realize that this mobile suit, and the pilot, were very interesting characters. I hadn't realized that he had bee the most heavily armored for defense (I always believed the Heavy Arms to have the most armor as well as firepower). Because there is no personal experience with this kit, I don't really have any sentimental tale to add as I did with the Shenlong. This is my first Sandrock kit, and probably my last one, but it was worth it.Inner Frame: One thing to note about MGs (master grades) is that they are made by first making a 'skeleton' of the kit. This is called the inner frame and on this kit, it is amazing. The inner frame is very detailed and scientific in that you could actually imagine this walking around, every part looks like a mechanical piece. However, unlike the Shenlong Gundam, the shield for this kit does not have an inner frame. Instead, it is built from colored pieces only, which is rather upsetting to me because already none of the accessories can match the inner frame of the kit (aside from the beam sub-machine gun).Torso: The tosro is impressive with the armor on, there is even a door in the chest where you can see the cockpit with Quatra sitting in the mobile suit. With the armor off, you see the rounded cockpit of the Sandrock and can put the pilot in. There is a tab in his back that allows him not to fall out or wiggle. When compared to the 90s version, they are quite similar overall, but the armor details are quite different. The should armor and waist skirt armor is very different. The chest itself is very similar to the 90s version, but a bit more... stylized. The head is pretty much the same but the "helmet" part of the head is a bit larger. There is standard Gundam Wing EW articulation. The torso can rock back and forth at the waist as well as rocking forward and back. It has the ability to rotate 360, however, the back skirt in completion prevents too much rotation.Arms: The arms are impressive. The shoulder armor is about the same size as the 90s version but is more "tall" than long. The shoulder armor is also more feathered and wing-like instead of straight pointy wing shaped. The arms themselves are very much like the Shenlong, making me thin that it is the standard of these kits. Once again, the real winner here is the hand design. The hand is designed to have the four fingers interchangeable and the thumb on a ball joint. There is a hand set for two open hands, two closed fists, two open fists for holding something, and two open fists with a tab on the fingers to hold the weapons. However, switching out the hands frequently will wear the socket. The arms rotate a full 360 at the shoulder and also there is another shoulder joint so the arm can come all the way across the chest to the other arm. This joint allows for the famous poses of Sandrock with its Heat Shotels out in front. There is a rotation cut joint just below the shoulder and there is a double-hinge joint at the elbow. Note though that the elbow joint is extremely articulated on the inner frame, but the forearm armor is very thick and boxy, even though there are slits for the upper arm to slide in to, you will not get the same articulation in the elbow you would get without the armor. There is also rotation at the wrist with some hinge movement and then the aforementioned fingers. When compared to the original there are some pluses. On the original the elbow was double jointed but you did not get the same movement you get here. Also the wrists were on ball joints.Waist and Legs: The waist is nothing particularly special. There is articulation even on the back skirts, and also the fact that the waist skirts have an inner frame, but when compared to the 90s version, they are simply more articulated.The legs, however, are very different. The legs can move completely forward, backward and to the sides.The joints are stiffer than my Shenlong kit and the left leg is not as loosing a fit (awesome). The knees are double jointed with two unique sliding features. The first joint has a sliding piece that slides out from underneath the thigh armor and the second joint makes the knee armor slide up slightly. Really cool. There are two joints in the ankle; one above the ankle armor piece and one below. Both allow for rotation and for up and down motions. The foot has toe articulation that allows for it to go down a bit and a little bit up, but nothing fabulous. Although when compared to the 90s version, there is dramatic improvement.Head: The head is about the same as the 90s version,just more pronounced. The neck joint is actually two joints plus a cover. There is a ball joint in the head, of course, just like the 90s version, however, in the body where the neck attaches, there is a hinge joint that allows for a chicken bob head effect. And then around the neck is a cover that make the neck seem thicker. However, the head cannot look up if the backpack is attached (not surprising, but also unfortunate).Heat Shotels: Big. These weapons are big. The original heat shotels were reasonable size for the mobile suit, these are very long and more abstract. The original blades are also defined in shape as being 'C' shape. These are more serpentine and more curved overall than the original. They attach on the back of the mobile suit and take on the appearance of wings (further lending to the angelic look of the suit). The handles can also attach for a double-sided heat shotel. Finally, the handles can attach under the shield to make a pincer-like effect. Also, you get two blades for the shotel. The normal silver blades are actually silver right out of the package and are more of a soft plastic than the rest of the kit, perhaps to prevent breaking. You also get two trans-red blades. These are interchangeable with the silver blades and look really nice on the kit. They are also made out of the same soft plastic.Shield: This is amazing. This shield is actually one of the better reasons I got this kit. I love the design and think it is much better than the flat design of the original. This shield has two slots on the two sides for the gun to attach for storage. Also the two claws on the front are moveable. They can pull out and then are on a hinge to go up and down. This hinge is rather flimsy, not that it is weak, but it feels rather cheap (the only part of the kit that seems cheap) and hollow. However, the pincher effect more than makes up for this silly effect.Jetpack: This pack, unlike the Shenlong, does not have an inner frame necessarily. However, it is much more detailed. There are four jet nozzles, two of which are on the rotating shotel holders. These holders hold the two blades securely and firmly and do not droop. I have no knowledge on what the backpack looking like on the original, but I can guess that this looks much better.Beam Sub-Machine Gun: This gun is really nifty. I love this. It is simple and yet just complex enough to not look generic. The hand is on a hinge so it can swing down and up into the gun for storage. The gun has a tab on one side so it can be stored in three locations; two on either side the shield and one on the back skirt armor. There is a foldable stock that hugs the gun body very well, but has no use when deployed because it is rather long and stops the gun from pointing straight when the stock is against the body.Stickers: As far as the stickers run, I only used nine. One for the eyes, two for the front and back camera, one for the sight on the gun, and then a whopping five for the shield. These stick well. and are not as much a pain to place. I did not use the other stickers that require some backbreaking water process.PROSThe shield.Articulation. 30ish points on the body alone depending on how you count it.Design. I like this much better than the 90s version. It is more intimidating and has more personality.Colors. Once again, the EW 1/100 MG kits are very good color-wise. There is really no need for stickers at all except for the eyes, and maybe the cameras if you wish. For example, the yellow crest on the head is actually a piece, not a sticker nor does it need to be painted to make it look like the picture, there is no paining needed and panel lining is not even required. It looks professional right out of the box. There are pieces for everything. Try not to lose pieces because many parts that you thing are for stickers, are actually pieces.Heat Shotels: Very well done and very entertaining. The soft plastic meshes will with the hard plastic and does not look out of place. The interchangeable trans-red blades are very and and wonderful.Bean gun: The perfect balance between generic and specialized.CONS (If I had to nit pick)The joints are a little too tight and you may feel like they are about to break.The blue backplate is VERY thin. Be careful when building it because it has to slide over a thick built piece. It may not fit right and you may have to force it, but because it is thin, this stress may cause it to crack.Elbow joint is hindered by armor (again)Some may not like the interchanging fingers and prefer the articulated fingers.Hip joints hindered by waist skirts.Overall this is a great kit. Great design, inner frame and accessories. The Cons are few and only if you are looking for total perfection. I am surprised that I never paid attention to the Sandrock before now. Though this doesn't make me want to run out and buy the original 1/100 from the TV show, I am satisfied with my purchase encourage anyone to buy this well-made set. As for difficulty, it is about a high medium so don't start with it...