Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Mechanic Collection The Big-O - Detail shots (1/4)

Mechanic Collection The Big-O - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

The main character Roger Smith figure is included.

The forearm features a spring gimmick to recreate the Strike File action.

Pull it back and let go, and it snaps back in with a "twang~" sound.

Mechanic Collection The Big-O - You can lift the cockpit cover (written as "cockpit cover," read as "scarf") to open up the c

You can lift the cockpit cover (written as "cockpit cover," read as "scarf") to open up the cockpit.

Mechanic Collection The Big-O - The four fingers articulate up to the middle knuckle, but the hold is weak so they tend to fa

The four fingers articulate up to the middle knuckle, but the hold is weak so they tend to fall off easily..

The limb articulation is just plain depressing....

It's got such a great silhouette that it looks cool just standing there.

Mechanic Collection The Big-O - Some action poses (1/4)

Mechanic Collection The Big-O - Some action poses (2/4)

Some action poses

Comparison with an MG Gundam.
They're pretty much the same size.

This kit is the Mechanic Collection Vol. 1 - The Big-O, released in April 2000. It's a lineup that turns robots from various non-Gundam anime into plastic model kits, and it comes in at MG-scale size for a relatively affordable price of ¥1500.

As the first release, The Big-O leaves something to be desired in terms of color separation. As you can see, it came out in a molded color that's basically a flat, solid blue. It seems like they weren't concerned with color separation from the start and just wanted to emphasize the sculpt — but even so, I can't help thinking they could've at least split up the chest and forearm areas where the lack of separation really shows.

Second, the articulation is really frustrating. Given the design, the joint structure just isn't built for dynamic poses. The hips and elbows in particular are practically fixed in place. That said, the sculpt and sense of volume are excellent, so it still has a strong presence just standing still. Joint strength is decent enough, but with such a limited range of motion, it doesn't really matter much.

As a special gimmick, there's a spring inside the forearm to recreate the Strike File action. Pull the cylinder on the back of the forearm back and let go, and it snaps forward with a "twang~" sound. In the show, this gimmick is used to add a shockwave to its punches and smash enemies to pieces. There's also a feature where you can lift the neck section to open up the cockpit.

So while it does fall short in terms of color separation and articulation, it's a great value kit when it comes to sculpt and detail. If you're a fan who enjoyed The Big-O or has fond memories of it, this would make a great gift in any sense of the word. :-)

Mechanic Collection The Big-O | 2000. 4 | ¥1,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.