Talking about some HGBD: R expansion kit releases
HELLO! We are back!
In today’s 148th edition of Let’s Talk Gunpla segment, we will be taking a look at some of the retail’s ‘expansion’ releases. Since it is a pretty slow news week for both the retail and the P-Bandai side, we thought to ourselves why not we take the time to talk about some of the expansion sets from HGBD: R series that is slotted for release next year?
Since they do have some pretty interesting things lined up for release next year.
So without further ado, let us get into it, shall we?
HG 1/144 Mercone Unit (HGBD: R)
Release Date: 2020/02
Estimated price: JPY 722* (MYR RM 27.51* / USD $ 6.60* / EUR € 5.99*)
*The price is subject to change, depending on the situation
This is a first.
Why do we here collectively here decided to start this with that sentence? Well, that is because usually, we would see the retail side announcing the full HGBD: R Core Variant first before announcing its conversion parts. However this time we instead seeing them officially announcing the conversion part first before the actual kit.
Well if they actually have plans to do so that is…
Looking at this does make us all wonder if they finally decided to just release conversion kits for the Core Gundam after this or if they still have plans to release the full version, just that we have to wait for its official announcement of it sometime next year?
Whatever it is that they have in mind planned for the Mercone variant of the Core Gundam, we do admit that we are quite impressed by the retail sides move on the annoucement of just the conversion part. Because we here do believe, it is better for Bandai to just have conversion parts for the Core Gundam be a separate release and as well release just core gundam alone without all the conversion parts so people could just mix and match their own conversions of their favorite Core Gundam Variant.
It would be nice if they do actually do that. Although we do have a feeling that Bandai would eventually release the completed version as soon they are done making variants of the Core Gundam and we as well wouldn’t be surprised if that comes as a P-Bandai release.
Anyways, as we take a closer look at the HGBD: R Mercone unit, the very first thing that we noticed here is that, just like all the other previous iteration of the Core Gundam conversions, the Mercone unit as well can be converted into the ‘Flight’ mode like the rest. However, it is the look and the color scheme of the Mercone that really separates this from the other variants that we’ve seen.
We all here are a fan of the aggressive design of this attachment, even though it was noted that this might be an attachment that would probably enable the Core Gundam to fight underwater. However, at first glance, you will struggle to make the connection at first, because there is nothing that would indicate that if you were to take a quick glance.
But after taking a closer look there are things that you can see on the Mercone unit that would be a clear indication of its abilities. We here commend the designers that made this because that they really managed to make it look like it is made for fighting underwater without making it look horrendous. Like most underwater MS’s that we’ve seen.
The more that we spend our time looking at this the more that we do admit that we are getting quite interested in seeing more of it.. however that changed after we take a look at the following announcement.
HG 1/144 Mercone weapons (HGBD: R)
Release Date: 2020/03
Estimated price: JPY 510* (MYR RM 19.43* / USD $ 4.66* / EUR € 4.23*)
*The price is subject to change, depending on the situation
This, unlike when we all saw the Mercone Unit for the first time, actually made us all here quite mad. The first thought that ran to our heads is that, why isn’t this included together with the Mercone Unit set? Wait, scratch that…why aren’t all the weapons for the separate versions of the expansion sets included together with the release of the expansion?
We can understand their reasoning for some of the releases. But looking at how much you are getting here and the Mercone Unit…we can’t understand why couldn’t they just include this together with the Mercone Unit? Wouldn’t it make more sense to sell both together as one?
Regardless, as we take a closer look it does help to confirm our suspicions of the Mercone upgrade is used to turn the Core into an aquatic MS. That this really thanks to the design of the weapons. The way its main weapon was designed to work and as well the look of the ‘backpack’ unit really does look like they are meant to be used underwater.
Although, we do wonder why use a harpoon for underwater combat in between big massive MS’s? Why didn’t the Mercone Designers thought of using an oversized torpedo as the projectile launched from its handheld weapon instead?
Regardless of our feelings of the matter, we do think that they really managed as well to hit the right notes with the design of the Mercone’s weapons. As well regardless of our feelings of the weapons being a separate release, we do think that it is something that we are a fan of.
One that we might find ourselves be getting for sure.
HG 1/144 Avalanche Rex Buster (SDBD: R)
Release Date: 2020/02
Estimated price: JPY 510* (MYR RM 19.43* / USD $ 4.66* / EUR € 4.23*)
*The price is subject to change, depending on the situation
The very first announcement that we talked about in today’s segment to managed to raise feelings of excitement and the following one feelings of anger, this, however, managed to raise feelings of….confusion.
Because even though we know that its an expansion set for the SDBD: R Valkylander but even though we have seen how it all looked when attached to the HGBF GM/GM we still c
an’t really tell what does this upgrade actually do for the SDBD: R Valkylander?
Does it help the SDBD: R Valkylander fly higher or something? For now, are not that sure what it does, but there is one thing that we all can agree on here…is its war-winning looks
Because out of all the expansion sets that we see here, this might be the one that we think has the best look out of all. It looked so good, that it does make us want to get both the SDBD: R Valkylander and this together and see how it would look combined.
The fact that they really mix both the gold and the red so well here and not to mention the fact that on how they still managed to make this retain many of the same aesthetics seen on the SDBD: R Valkylander on both the weapon and the expansion, does really managed to impress us. They really hit it well here with the designs for this.
It looked so good that it managed to make an already badass looking HGBF GM/GM looking more like a badass. We as well-liked the fact that even though this expansion is made for an SD kit, that you can still use it for your existing HG kits. Looking at all of this it is quite a clear indication enough that we would be turning the SDBD: R Valkylander into more of a badass when we have this expansion installed on it.
Which we do admit, does make us quite excited to see more on how all of these would work when it comes out next year.
With that concludes today’s 148th edition of our Let’s Talk Gunpla segment! What do you think of these retail release announcement? Are you looking forward to these retail release? It’s actually really nice to cover these supporting releases for the Gundam Build Diver: Re-Rise kits. It does give us a pretty interesting look at how things are going forward for that series.
Although, we do admit that are not fans of the series, at the very least we do admit that most of the things that they showcased here do look quite promising. We are really looking forward to seeing more awesome gunplas to come from this series still and from the screenshots that we’ve seen coming from the anime this week…it does look like we are going to be seeing more awesomeness coming.
Anyways, we will be back again with more gunpla news on the next coming Wednesday and as well on the next coming Friday! Kimi will be back again this Monday with an Unboxing or a review of a kit. So do look forward to that!
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We hope by sharing our love and passion for gunplas here, it’ll inspire you to pick up the hobby or reignite your love for gunpla!
Anyways, we shall see all of you again on Friday, and we hope that you all have an awesome day and week ahead! Oh as well please do have an awesome Gunpla building time there as well and until next time!
Ciao!
Kimi The Builder 