Kimi The Builder

Oh, get a LOAD of this guy right here. 

HELLO! We are back! 

In today’s 356th edition of our Let’s Talk Gunpla segment, we will be taking a look at P-Bandai’s latest release announcement. Finally, after so long, P-Bandai decided to release the Astray variant that most fans of the Astray series have been looking forward to seeing and getting. 

So, lets us now get into it, shall we? 

HG 1/144 MHF-01Ω Load Astray Ω (HGSEED)

Release Date: April 2022

Estimated price: JPY 2,640 (MYR RM 96.88* / USD $ 23.11* / EUR € 20.38*)

*The price is subject to change, depending on the situation

We are sure that by now, most of you here long-time readers of the blog have known our disdain for seeing and hearing about every new Astray variant. 

But despite that, we do admit that every now and then, there is some variant of the Astray series that looks different enough to make us reconsider our stance. 

And this is one of those Astray variants that is making us reconsider our stance on that. 

But the thing is, this version really didn’t do anything THAT different to set itself apart from the other variants. In fact, for the most part, this is basically just the same HG Astray kit, with just a different color scheme.

Although, we admit even that isn’t a proper assessment of this newest HGSEED release. 

Because from what we can see here, we notice that there are quite a few changes that Bandai made here to set it apart from the other Astray variants, and it is not just because of its new IBO-inspired color scheme. 

Because you do get quite significant upgrades over the standard Astray Red Frame here, for example, you get new shoulder armor, a new weapon set, a new arm, and leg unit, and a pretty dope backpack unit. 

But admittedly, some of the ‘new’ bits that the HGSEED Load Astray Ω gets here are inherited from the HGBD: R Load Astray Double Rebake, like the arm unit and the thigh section of the HGSEED Load Astray Ω’s leg unit. 

But the rest, like the backpack unit, the weapons, its shoulder armor, and much of the leg unit, are new parts. Yes, it looks like you do get a lot of Gunpla fun-ness to look forward to here. Plus, you as well get a good-looking kit too.

Speaking of looks, despite its war-winning looks, however, we can’t help to feel like the Load Astray Ω looked like what happens if you combine the design of the Gundam Barbatos and the Astray into one machine. 

I wonder if the color scheme and the placement of the decals and the decal’s designs themselves contributed to that feeling. 

But even with that said, this is still a badass-looking kit, and yes, we are aware that this design predates the IBO MS’s. But still, it could make them IBO fanboys assume that is the case with this Astray variant.  

Admittedly, we are quite taken by this, and honestly, we are looking forward to getting this one for ourselves. However, sadly, at the time of writing this post, the PO for this HGSEED kit is closed already, we assume due, to the sudden and overwhelming preorders from scalpers. 

If we knew it would be this bad, we would be on shopee 24/7, hands ready at the preorder button. Hopefully, P-Bandai reconsiders to reopen the PO for this one again for our end. Because honestly, we are not willing to pay RM 130++ for a goddamn HGSEED kit from scalpers. 

With that concludes our 356th edition of the Let’s Talk Gunpla segment for today. Admittedly, despite all the discussion surrounding the HGSEED Load Astray Ω’s name controversy, we all here aren’t that bothered if the name is supposed to be Load or Lord. 

It’s not to say that we here didn’t think that the Load Astray Ω is a pretty stupid name, but then again, we here do find the silly MS naming to be quite charming in itself. 

Plus, it does make for a good laugh too. So, yeah, keep on doing you, Bandai. We look forward to seeing what names you’ll come up with for your new MS designs. 

Anyways, we will be back again this coming Saturday (hopefully) with a new blog post. So, please do look forward to that! 

Oh, one more thing before we go, it would be a tremendous help to us all here in the blog if you guys were to leave a like on our posts and subscribe to the blog if you find yourselves enjoying our gunpla/plamo related posts. We would appreciate it if you guys would take the time to show your support by leaving an upvote on our R/Gunpla posts and by leaving a like on our Facebook and Instagram posts or pages! 

We are also open to any good and bad feedback, so feel free to write away.

Hopefully, by sharing our love and passion for building and writing about gunplas or other plamos here, we hope that it’ll help to inspire all of here to pick up on the hobby. Or better yet, reignite your love and passion for the hobby.

Anyways, we shall see all of you again soon, and we as well hope that you all here have a splendid day and week ahead! Oh as well, do have an excellent time building your awesome gunplas there and until next time.

Ciao!