Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) (1/6)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) (2/6)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) (3/6)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) (4/6)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) (5/6)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) (6/6)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) (1/4)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) (2/4)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) (3/4)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) (4/4)

Cockpit hatch open

The weapons included are a sword and scabbard.

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - Just like the previous kits, you can remove the pin on

Just like the previous kits, you can remove the pin on the side skirt and mount the scabbard there.

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - The peg on the sword handle slots between the fingers,

The peg on the sword handle slots between the fingers, so it locks in nice and securely.

An Action Base joint part is also included.

The wings can spread open too.

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - Just like the previous kits, you can extend the elbows

Just like the previous kits, you can extend the elbows and knees to increase the range of articulation.

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - When you pull to extend the knee joint, the thigh conn

When you pull to extend the knee joint, the thigh connection can unexpectedly pop out as well, so you'll need to be careful with how much force you apply.

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - Even with the extension gimmick in play, you're only g

Even with the extension gimmick in play, you're only getting about 90 degrees of articulation in the limbs.

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - The duct in front of the hip joint bends upward, which

The duct in front of the hip joint bends upward, which gives you a bit more room to raise the thigh.

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - Action pose (1/7)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - Action pose (2/7)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - Action pose (3/7)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - Action pose (4/7)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - Action pose (5/7)

Action pose

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) - Koubu → Mugen → Obu — the pink Sakuragi evolution. The

Koubu → Mugen → Obu — the pink Sakuragi evolution.
They just keep getting bigger, don't they.

The Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) from the new Sakura Wars has been released as an HG kit. It's the third Sakura Wars mech following the Koubu and Mugen, and it feels like it's gone up another size compared to its predecessors. The kit's overall construction stays true to the series concept — solid color separation combined with a generous amount of sticker work delivers a really impressive straight-build look.

It's basically the same building experience as the Koubu or Mugen, just bigger with a different design. The elbow and knee extension gimmick from the previous kits carries over here, but the articulation is still below average. The joints themselves aren't particularly sturdy, and the balance of tension is off, which makes posing a bit of a hassle — some joints are a little loose while others are stiff, so parts and armor pieces tend to pop off during posing. In particular, if you misjudge the force when extending the knee joint, the knee and thigh can actually separate entirely. So yeah, the action potential is lacking in a number of ways, but the design is so flashy that it still looks great even with just a simple pose.

The included weapons are a sword and scabbard, which can be mounted on the side skirt. Since the handle pegs between the fingers, there's no issue with grip strength. On top of the cockpit hatch opening gimmick that's a staple of the Sakura Wars series, there's also a great-looking wing deployment gimmick. The multi-stage wing spread is the kind of thing that would be a problem if the hold were weak, but thankfully it locks in solidly, so you can open and close it to your heart's content.

Either way, the high straight-build quality is probably this kit's biggest selling point — just keep in mind that there's quite a hefty amount of sticker work involved. Even if you're not a Sakura Wars fan, this is a pretty, pink-all-over kit that's worth building at least once just for fun. :-)

1/24 Spiricle Striker Prototype Obu (Sakura Amamiya Type) | 2021. 2 | ¥5,300

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.