Kimi The Builder

Gigantic Arm Gaplant

HELLO! We are back!

In today’s 510th edition of our Let’s Talk Gunpla, we’ll continue some of P-Bandai’s latest Gunpla release announcements discussions. More specifically, the latest AOZ REBOOT P-Bandai exclusive HGUC release announcements.

So, without further ado. Let us get into it, shall we?

HG 1/144 ORX-005 Gaplant TR-5 [Hrairoo] (Titans Ver.)(A.O.Z REBOOT Ver.)(HGUC)

Release Date: February 2024

Estimated price: JPY 3,630 (MYR RM 114.01* / USD $ 24.50* / EUR € 22.45*)

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

Unlike the P-Bandai HGUC release that we discussed in the previous blog post, seeing a new HGUC AOZ REBOOT release announcement is one we all expected to see announced. The reason why we’re so confident that we will see P-Bandai AOZ REBOOT release announcement is that P-Bandai has been good at ensuring we get a new HGUC AOZ kit at the start of the year, so we expected them to keep up with the trend. 

The best part of the upcoming 2024 HGUC AOZ release is that after a long wait, we finally get two Gaplant TR-5 variants in Gunpla form. 

First, let’s talk about the first variant, the TITANS version. 

At first glance, it doesn’t look that impressive. Why? Because we can see that P-Bandai reused many of the same parts that we get from the standard HGUC Gaplant. 

Admittedly, we’re a bit disappointed by that. We expected Bandai to put in a little effort in modifying it since the HGUC Gaplant base they’re using here is quite dated. But I guess since the retail side didn’t plan for a REVIVE version for the HGUC Gaplant, maybe that is why the P-Bandai side didn’t even bother putting in the effort.  

The main reason we find this a problem now is that we’re not sure if the dated joint system can sustain the weight of the kit long-term, especially if you’re thinking of posing the kit in a certain kind of position and leaving it as is. 

But it’s not all bad. Despite the bits being quite dated now, it still looks good regardless, and it still has a decent articulation.

What’s more, it’s not like P-Bandai only reuses old parts. P-Bandai did make some changes to it. For instance, P-Bandai added a new hardpoint system to the shoulder part (so it could mount the Hrududu attachment), it gets a new head unit, and it comes with a pretty badass TITANS color scheme. 

It is one kit that we can see why people would want to get it. But we are sure that most of them would be somewhat disappointed if they came in expecting it would come with all the improvements we get on the newer HGUC releases. 

HG 1/144 ORX-005 Gaplant TR-5 [Hrairoo] w/ Gigantic Arm Unit (A.O.Z REBOOT Ver.)(HGUC)

Release Date: February 2024

Estimated price: JPY 7,150 (MYR RM 224.56* / USD $ 48.26* / EUR € 44.22*)

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

Since we’re getting the standard Gaplant TR-6 [Hrairoo] release, we’re not surprised that P-Bandai also announced the Gigantic Arm Unit version. 

But unlike the standard version we discussed earlier, this gets a much more extensive upgrade.

From what we can see here, we’re getting a new mold for the shoulder mount for the Gigantic Arm unit equipment, new waist armor pieces, a head unit, and a new color scheme. The other bits are from other P-Bandai HGUC AOZ releases, like the HGUC Gundam TR-6 [Haze’n-Thley II Rah] and other HGUC Gundam TR-1. 

Despite taking bits from other kits, we can see from the promotional materials, looks like to us that everything works well together. But how well? That we don’t know yet. 

Looking at this, we can’t help but have the same worry we had with the standard version we discussed earlier, that it would not be able to sustain itself for a long time due to the kit still adopting a dated joint system. 

Because, unlike the Standard HGUC Gaplant TR-5, this does look like it would be mounting a heavier weight than its counterpart, and we worry that even the supplied stand wouldn’t be able to help mitigate the issue. 

And we do not doubt that this would be an expensive HGUC plastic brick. 

But despite all of that, we still find ourselves looking forward to getting this kit regardless. But it is one P-Bandai release that we advise newbies not to preorder this HGUC kit if you aren’t familiar with the HGUC Gaplant.

And that concludes our 510th edition of the Let’s Talk Gunpla segment. It’s nice to know that P-Bandai is still going strong with new AOZ REBOOT releases, though we hoped they would put more effort into the two AOZ Gaplant TR-5 variants. 

Honestly? We don’t expect them to revamp the whole kit, but at the very least, make minor improvements to it so we would have a slightly better Gaplant base. 

Hopefully, if the retail side ever decides to update the HGUC Gaplant, we hope P-Bandai reconsider giving us an updated version of these two badass HGUC AOZ REBOOT kits.  

Anyway, we’ll be back next Saturday (hopefully) with a new blog post. So do look forward to it! 

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We shall see all of you again soon, and we hope all of you here have a splendid day and week ahead! Oh, before we go, please have an excellent time building your awesome gunplas there and until next time.

Ciao!