This kit is the MG Unicorn Gundam (Luminous Crystal Body), released as a Gundam Base exclusive. Released in 2018, HGUC Unicorn Gundam (Luminous Crystal Body)followed by an MG release four years later. Based on the standard release MG Unicorn Gundam OVA Ver.with a number of newly sculpted parts added to the mix.
First off, four new runners and a glitter clear black Action Base have been added, along with newly included articulated hands. The rest of the basic structure is the same as the OVA Ver., though knee articulation has been improved at least a little. Thanks to the gloss injection and metallic molding, joint tolerances are tighter, making the joints significantly sturdier overall.
The MG Unicorn Gundam's joints always felt a bit flimsy for its size — the ankles in particular were weak enough to make it unstable standing upright. This kit, however, has gone in the complete opposite direction: the joints are so tight they're almost too tight. Stability and pose-holding are much better for it, but some joints are stiff enough that I was genuinely worried about breaking something. The hip joints especially are crammed in so tight that I didn't dare move them much for fear of snapping them. The articulated hands included with this kit also still have the same issue of fingers popping off. Looser is definitely worse, but overall it does feel like things have been cranked a bit too far in the other direction.
The standard MG Unicorn already had a somewhat rigid feel to its plastic, but the Luminous Crystal Body version is even harder. This makes assembly feel stiff and strenuous — you really have to force parts together. The harder plastic also makes cleaning up gate marks more of a pain. In a lot of ways, this isn't a kit you'd call easy or enjoyable to build.
The Luminous Crystal Body parts — the whole point of this kit — have a more three-dimensional and elaborate look compared to the HGUC, and seeing them in person really drives home that feeling of "yep, this is MG!!" That said, the Luminous Crystal Body version doesn't come with any weapons by default, so the poses you can pull off are pretty limited. Spreading the arms out and displaying it on the included Action Base looks pretty great, but it feels more like a statue than an action figure.
So as a more refined Luminous Crystal Body version compared to the HGUC, this kit is honestly a visual powerhouse in person — photos don't do it justice. The joints are stiff and assembly is a workout, but if you're after the most stable MG Unicorn out there, that might actually be a selling point for you. Compared to the original MG Destroy Mode, which always felt nerve-wracking to handle thanks to all its transformation gimmicks, having all the armor parts fixed in place makes this one much more relaxing to pick up and pose. Either way, this is one of the more worthwhile Gundam Base exclusives out there — if you're a Unicorn fan or the look appeals to you, it's absolutely worth going for. :-)
MG Unicorn Gundam (Luminous Crystal Body) | 2022.8 | ¥7,400
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
