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Post by vic01 on Apr 3, 2009 20:12:33 GMT -5
Hello! Here's another review of another latest GFF Gundam, Z Plus A1/C1 [Bst]!!! I got a Blue color scheme. Box   Contents  Lots of parts!    Same Manual as the Red Version + decals. Basic figure  Z Plus A1   A1 Wave Rider    Z Plus C1    C1 Wave Rider   Z Plus C1 [Bst]  He's more poseable than the GFF 1/144 Z Plus c1 [Bst]  With 1/144 GFFMC Psycho Gundam  With 1/100 GFFMC RX-78-2 Gundam  With 1/100 MG Deepstriker Perfect Custom by me, hehe!  Will post more pics including the Hummingbird and some limited action poses. Conclusion: A nice figure, sturdy and nice paintjob though most of it are just from the plastic color itself. But for me it's ok. Plastic parts used are great, to avoid paint chippings. Lots of parts, A1, C1, C1 [Bst] modes are all awesome, if only I could buy more like the 1/144 GFF Z plus', it'll be great for display, but the price!!!  Metal parts are limited, not much as expected but I thought the diecast parts are almost none on this figure w/c I saw from other forums' comments, and after having one, I am glad it has more. Articulation, same as the 1/144 GFF Z Plus, but when transformed and using the parts of C1 [Bst], it has double-jointed elbows, ball-jointed hips, and swivel knees for the [Bst] mode!!! Joints are tight, knee joints and shoulder joints are ratcheted except the [Bst] knees and shoulders. Too bad, like mechamasterj said, no waist articulation and limited ROM for the elbows of A1/C1 and hip joints of A1/C1. Metal parts (highlighted by red):        Except the white parts inside the red border.   All landing gears are made of diecast. Except the wheels. Too bad, the two wheel-landing gears for the wings of A1 do not rotate. The mid-wheels landing gears can rotate. A perfect display, not for playing actually. Transformations are almost perfect compared to the 1/144 Z Plus! The Wave rider modes holds very nice, lots of locking tabs, no floppiness or flimsiness. I suggest before transformation to Wave riders, take off some parts for easy transformation. Display stands are nice too, they hold the MS/WR modes nicely. So if you're a Z Plus fan, get one! Not bad, but was expecting more from Bandai. I just wished more diecast like the GFFN ZII, panel lines (I don't understand why they did not panel lined most of the parts), and more articulation... and a $150 price range, not $180-$200! I know Zeta Gundam will have its GFFMC treatment soon, they will just use most of the parts of Z Plus and also, please don't forbid, the Ex-S GFFMC! ;D More pics later! vic01 |
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Post by vifam7 on Apr 3, 2009 22:34:32 GMT -5
Thanks for the review!
Just a question - How come there are 4 landing gear parts? I can see 1 for the nose, and 1 for each leg. That's three. Where does the 4th one go?
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Post by zephyranthes on Apr 4, 2009 1:36:10 GMT -5
Thank you for the nice review vic01. Any nice gimmicks like opening hatches/compartments? Thanks.
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Post by vic01 on Apr 4, 2009 3:24:31 GMT -5
zephyranthes: Thank you! ;D Well for the gimmicks, there are landing gears, and perfect transformations (almost perfect). Thanks for the review! Just a question - How come there are 4 landing gear parts? I can see 1 for the nose, and 1 for each leg. That's three. Where does the 4th one go? Thanks vifam7! Yes, 4 landing gears each for the A1 and C1. Check out the pics! I noticed that the landing gears can't accommodate the weight, notably the rear weight. The C1 side landing gears tends to collapse. That is one thing that I don't like in WR modes, those landing gears do not really help to stand the WR. Here are some pics...  You can take off the panels inside the red borders.  This where the landing gears are. You see four landing gears for C1. The 4th one is connected at the cannon in front of the groin area, also diecast.  Rear weight is heavy, the front part will elevate a bit, even the side landing gears can't hold it, it will just move sidewards. Hate it!  I used the wings propellants for support, but not much help. After checking the manual, I saw it has a support included.  I don't like it but what can we do, hehe.  A1 landing gears  Again, can't support the rear weight. Well, most of the diecast parts are in the legs and feet. And you can see what are in the back/rear part.  We still need that support.  More pics of Z Plus C1 [Bst]  Forgot to put the radome in the cannon, hehe.  Now the legs move! Ball joint hips for [Bst].  Knees move too.  With 16" HT Alien. Found him lurking at the back, see the previous pics. ;D  I took out the propellants and it can stand on its own.  Kneeling For the transformations...   Sweet, you can't do these w/ the GFF 1/144 versions.  Upper part.  Then just connect the parts and the locking tabs.   Hummingbird looks so sweet! Love it!   Together w/ the smaller brethen...  Wanna see how stable it is? Check out my video where I fly it like a child playing, and i'm 26 yrs old already! Hehe!  For the WR C1 and A1  What they did is very effective, great designing of transformation, but still metal parts should be more.  Connect the groin to the upper body.  Locking tabs for the wings for more stability  C1 WR   A1 WR w/ RX-78-2's Core block.  W/ 1/100 Amuro Ray in the hangar. ;D  Thanks for viewing! Next will be the action poses. Just don't expect too much on its articulation department.  vic01
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Post by quinjester on Apr 4, 2009 7:57:45 GMT -5
Awesome pics, Vic!  That's disappointing about the landing gear. Seems like it was something that was planned out in the concept stages but never actually tested once it came time to engineer the toy. I love the splintered camouflage paint scheme though. It's pretty, but probably not something I'll end up getting due to the fiddly nature and price. We'll see what Bandai makes next, I guess. Hopefully they'll learn and improve upon the base design, because the concept of high quality Gundam figures with metal interiors has a lot of potential to make some really cool products. EDIT: Love the video. The first thing I do with any of my jet or jet-like figures when I get them is give them a good "swoosh" around my apartment  |
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Post by mechamasterj on Apr 5, 2009 18:13:46 GMT -5
Cool pics but how did you get the legs tabs to fit in the peg holes on the main body when converting to wave rider?? I cannot get thos in for the life of me.
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Post by vic01 on Apr 5, 2009 20:18:41 GMT -5
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Post by mechamasterj on Apr 6, 2009 7:56:16 GMT -5
lol yeah i guess i have been scared too didnt want to risk breaking it after spending so much. I will post more pics eventually but after seeing your pics it makes mine look like some child took them lol. I also realize how much more I like the blue version lol. Good job on the panel lines too I will have to do that for mine as well!
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Post by moleman on Apr 6, 2009 14:02:13 GMT -5
Yo Vic01 did you use a black gundam marker to panel line that beast?
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Post by vic01 on Apr 6, 2009 14:45:46 GMT -5
mechamasterj: Hehe, the red one is cool too, I just bought first the blue coz I like it more. Hope we can see pics of the red one! moleman: Hi, i used Gundam marker Sumiire grey. this one is the soft tip marker, not the fine tip. After you apply the sumiire grey to the panel lines, you can just rub it carefully w/ your fingers and also use a clean eraser and a cotton tip to remove the excess. I don't use Gundam marker fine tips anymore because it is hard to remove the excess, can't reach thin panels, and you'll need a thinner to remove it w/c will mess the paint (blue for me). You can do this panel lining to any gundam merchandises. I used them to my HCM Pros. Be careful w/ the decals, I have two removed probably by handling it much, the one at the rear skirt and one at the forearm. vic01
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Post by nikodiablo on Apr 6, 2009 21:28:21 GMT -5
No, thanks to you for the great pics and review, Vic! It's a big consolation for me who's still saving to purchase this guy.
Well, your review only strengthen my resolve to get it, since none of the negative issues that you mentioned (landing gears) bother me very much. Besides, the transformation is virtually perfect, and the only other option to get a Z-Plus at this size is by building the model kit, and even then it doesn't come with the booster parts (plus my model building skill is minuscule).
By the way, are the leg joints ratcheted? There were mentions of limited poseability, but from what I see from your photographs, it poses just fine!
Here's hoping that there will still be a blue one when my credit card is paid enough (plus hopefully the exchange rate will go down further), and BTW, your custom Deepstriker rocks!
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Post by todd77 on Apr 6, 2009 23:49:03 GMT -5
I keep hearing that the transformation is "near" perfect. What isn't perfect about it?
Also, I notice that the supplied stand isn't quite sure of the toy's number hence the 1*** designation ;D
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Post by zephyranthes on Apr 7, 2009 2:33:10 GMT -5
Thanks for all of your hard work vic01 in putting these wonderful pics up and reviewing this fine new GFF MC.
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Post by mechamasterj on Apr 7, 2009 7:39:52 GMT -5
Hey vic, I take it you didnt get the limited colored stand? Mine came with one for the red (though its more orange then anything).
It is a great toy just super over priced. I guess if they put more diecast on it would be too heavy in some areas and mabe not be so stable, but still 230!! for like only 10% diecast? And some of the parts that are diecast (like the arms) you couldnt even tell because I sure didnt.
Dont get me wrong it is a wonderful figure, it does have rachet joints but they could of added a few more improvements to the articulation, notably in the thighs. Still you can do some fine posing with this just nothing out of the ordinary.
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Post by vic01 on Apr 7, 2009 14:10:04 GMT -5
No, thanks to you for the great pics and review, Vic! It's a big consolation for me who's still saving to purchase this guy. Well, your review only strengthen my resolve to get it, since none of the negative issues that you mentioned (landing gears) bother me very much. Besides, the transformation is virtually perfect, and the only other option to get a Z-Plus at this size is by building the model kit, and even then it doesn't come with the booster parts (plus my model building skill is minuscule). By the way, are the leg joints ratcheted? There were mentions of limited poseability, but from what I see from your photographs, it poses just fine! Here's hoping that there will still be a blue one when my credit card is paid enough (plus hopefully the exchange rate will go down further), and BTW, your custom Deepstriker rocks! Thanks, no problem mate! The knees have double joints and one of each has ratcheted joint, well except the booster knees for [Bst]. The shoulders inside the armor are also ratcheted. Don't worry about the other joints, eventhough they're not ratcheted, they purely hold tight! No sagging and floppiness like I said before. Poseability is limited though you can do something about it. Just like the hips, you cannot spread the legs far enough and I did some modification. ;D See my pics where he's holding the beam sabers, you cannot do that w/ unmodified hips. You'll need to take the risk of breaking some plastic, take screw out and a piece of metal to do that. Get it if you find a cheaper one! I keep hearing that the transformation is "near" perfect. What isn't perfect about it? Also, I notice that the supplied stand isn't quite sure of the toy's number hence the 1*** designation ;D Actually, it has a perfect transformation. You'll just have to take out a connector from the C1's cannon to connect it to the body when in WR mode. Hehe, about the stand, this is a Limited version, so that's what happened. When you get the red one, you'll have the #1005 number. Thanks for all of your hard work vic01 in putting these wonderful pics up and reviewing this fine new GFF MC. Thanks for the appreciation! It's nice to share when you're into a figure. Hey vic, I take it you didnt get the limited colored stand? Mine came with one for the red (though its more orange then anything). It is a great toy just super over priced. I guess if they put more diecast on it would be too heavy in some areas and mabe not be so stable, but still 230!! for like only 10% diecast? And some of the parts that are diecast (like the arms) you couldnt even tell because I sure didnt. Dont get me wrong it is a wonderful figure, it does have rachet joints but they could of added a few more improvements to the articulation, notably in the thighs. Still you can do some fine posing with this just nothing out of the ordinary. Lucky you!  Actually, the blue version does not come w/ a colored stand, only the red version. The only difference w/ the regular stand is that the designated number for the blue one is #1*** while the red has #1005. I agree, overpriced! But very nice figure to have. For the painted diecast parts, I just touch the part and put it near my lips and if it feels cold, that's metal. Also you can figure out the metal contents in the manual. They used a prototype in the colored manual, and you'll see the metal parts because it is unpainted. vic01 |
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Post by mechamasterj on Apr 8, 2009 12:00:07 GMT -5
lol I didnt even notice that in the manual. lol so you give your GFF MC kisses huh lol! Here are some crappy photos I took last week. Before I could get the legs to stay in place I just took them out looked fine.   Then figured out a way to hold them but not 100% secure.   I honestly havent touched it since. I just got PG Astray though, you got that vic?  |
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Post by Qball99 on Apr 8, 2009 14:06:01 GMT -5
Nice Haul MechMasterJ! I also caved and bought the PG Astray... BBTS had it with the limited release additional parts for 199.99! they have jacked up the pricing to 219.99 since.....
-Q
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Post by mechamasterj on Apr 8, 2009 14:26:19 GMT -5
good one Q glad to see you getting some goods as well lol i knew you couldnt last long lol!! I had this on preorder so i got the parts too!
Do you plan on building this soon though?
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Post by vic01 on Apr 8, 2009 15:50:35 GMT -5
Hehe! I did kiss it all! Thanks for sharing some pics, but one thing, you're not that familiar w/ the transformations of WR huh? ;D The knees should be folded like a Z. Anyways out of topic, I also have the PG Astray, got it last week from a nice seller from HK, preordered too but out of ebay transaction. Nice deal including EMS for only $220! Now I saw his from ebay, costs $250 including shipping.  I will not touch it for a while since im in the process of building and modifying my Koto SRWOG kits now. By the way, he's my first PG. I only buy MG kits before. vic01 |
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Post by roboto on Apr 13, 2009 12:32:47 GMT -5
vic01, your pictures are splendid and your review is very thorough. Man, I wish I could buy that GFFMC Z Plus. It's also sold in my country, but I already collect too many different toy series to afford this Z Plus. I went for the Bandai DX Macross Frontier VF-25 (the green one with the radar dish). Either way, Bandai made money from both of us.  Well, maybe I'll wait when Bandai makes the GFFMC Zeta Gundam.
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