Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - For a more intuitive size comparison, here's a shot next to the MG First Gundam. It's noticeably bigger

For a more intuitive size comparison, here's a shot next to the MG First Gundam.
It's noticeably bigger than your average 1/100 Gunpla.

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Various angles (1/6)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Various angles (2/6)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Various angles (3/6)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Various angles (4/6)

Various angles

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Detail shots (1/4)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - The thick PET stickers applied across the body have a nice sheen to them. Two color options are included

The thick PET stickers applied across the body have a nice sheen to them.
Two color options are included — you can even go with the red stickers, which represent an output-exceeded state.

Outer armor removal shot

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Inner frame. (1/2)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Inner frame. (2/2)

Internal frame.

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Frame detail shots (1/4)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Frame detail shots (2/4)

Frame detail shots

There's even detail inside the cockpit, which you won't be able to see once it's assembled.

Clear armor parts included as a first-run bonus

With the clear armor applied

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - The clear armor is applied to the forearms, rear skirt, and legs. (1/4)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - The clear armor is applied to the forearms, rear skirt, and legs. (2/4)

The clear armor is applied to the forearms, rear skirt, and legs.

Leftover parts from the clear parts

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - The weapons included are the Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Chokutō, the 60mm portable machine cannon, and the

The weapons included are the Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Chokutō, the 60mm portable machine cannon, and the Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Tsume.
In the HG, the Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Tsume was a bonus part included with the HG ASC, but here it's included right out of the box.

Three interchangeable finger parts are included.

Additional parts for recreating the unfinished state.

You can disassemble the shoulder armor to create the unfinished look.

Separate parts are added to the disassembled shoulder frame.

Remove the forearm cover and attach the weapon.

The unfinished state

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - The Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Tsume attaches by swapping out the forearm, and the claw section can be depl

The Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Tsume attaches by swapping out the forearm, and the claw section can be deployed.

Cockpit hatch open on the back

The boarding lift, folded inside the rear skirt, can be deployed.

A pilot figure in a boarding pose is also included.

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - You can recreate a boarding scene like this. (1/3)

You can recreate a boarding scene like this.

To put it into parked mode, first rotate the waist 180 degrees.

The knee stands can be pulled forward.
This is a gimmick that wasn't on the HG.

Lower the head and fold the limbs as shown.

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - In parked mode (1/3)

In parked mode

Excellent limb articulation as expected

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - The flexible shoulder, waist, neck, and wrist articulation is the same as the HG. (1/6)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - The flexible shoulder, waist, neck, and wrist articulation is the same as the HG. (2/6)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - The flexible shoulder, waist, neck, and wrist articulation is the same as the HG. (3/6)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - The flexible shoulder, waist, neck, and wrist articulation is the same as the HG. (4/6)

The flexible shoulder, waist, neck, and wrist articulation is the same as the HG.

The gimmick where pulling the shoulder forward links with the chest cylinder is also the same as the HG.

Only the thumb moves on a ball joint.

Flexible ankle articulation

Weapon rack articulation

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Chokutō action pose (1/6)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Chokutō action pose (2/6)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Chokutō action pose (3/6)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Chokutō action pose (4/6)

Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Chokutō action pose

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - 60mm portable machine cannon pose (1/3)

60mm portable machine cannon pose

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Tsume pose (1/3)

Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Tsume pose

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Unfinished state pose (1/3)

Unfinished state pose

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu - Alongside the HG Mailes Kenbu. Just looking at the appearance, it feels like a straight-up enlarged copy

Alongside the HG Mailes Kenbu.
Just looking at the appearance, it feels like a straight-up enlarged copy — which goes to show how solid the HG's visuals were.

This kit is the Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu from the Kyoukai Senki series. It's a large-scale kit that's bigger than the 1/72 HG, and overall delivers MG-level build quality and construction. With the bigger scale comes a variety of options that weren't on the HG.

The overall look feels like an enlarged copy of the HG, but the shiny PET stickers added all over the body give it a bit of an upgrade. Since the HG's articulation gimmicks were already excellent, the Full Mechanics delivers pretty much the same level of flexible movement. The overall joint strength is also sturdier than expected, holding up well even in demanding poses — though given the extra weight, you do need to be a bit more mindful of the center of gravity compared to the HG.

The biggest upgrade in the 1/48 Full Mechanics is the inner frame. It's fully reproduced across the entire body, though it has more of a skeletal framework feel rather than detailed mechanical internals. In Gunpla, Full Mechanics has typically meant a no-grade 1/100, but this kit is labeled Full Mechanics while being built more like an MG.

The standard weapons include the Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Chokutō and the 60mm portable machine cannon, and the Chōnetsu Jinshiki Sentō Tsume — which was a bonus with the Armored Special Carrier in the HG — is included here right out of the box. You can also recreate the unfinished state just like the HG, though unlike the HG's parts-swap approach, the shoulders here are done by removing the armor to expose the frame. And befitting its large scale, the cockpit hatch opens and the rear skirt lift is also reproduced, so you can pull off a great boarding scene using the included pilot figure.

As a side note, clear armor parts are included as a first-run bonus. I swapped them in for the review, but the attachment and removal is a bit fiddly and there's a real risk of breaking parts. Unless you're planning to display it with the clear armor on permanently, it's probably safer to just leave them off.

All in all, this is an A-grade Bandai kit that delivers a smooth, premium build experience, outstanding articulation, and surprisingly solid joints for its size. It's a kit that's somewhat overshadowed by the poor reception of the source material, which is a shame — because judging the kit purely on its own merits, it can easily go toe-to-toe with most MGs. Either way, it's a strong recommendation for Kyoukai Senki fans, and even if you're not into the source material, it's the kind of kit that'll give you a genuinely satisfying build experience if you're after a high-quality mecha model. :-)

Full Mechanics 1/48 Mailes Kenbu | 2022. 1 | ¥4,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.