Kotobukiya Border Break

Shrike type-V

Kit Review

Straight build

Border Break Shrike type-V - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Border Break Shrike type-V (1/7) Border Break Shrike type-V (2/7) Border Break Shrike type-V (3/7) Border Break Shrike type-V (4/7) Border Break Shrike type-V (5/7) Border Break Shrike type-V (6/7) Border Break Shrike type-V (7/7)

Border Break Shrike type-V - Upper body (1/2) Border Break Shrike type-V - Upper body (2/2)

Upper body

Border Break Shrike type-V - V-type head

V-type head

Border Break Shrike type-V - Back weapon storage (1/3) Border Break Shrike type-V - Back weapon storage (2/3) Border Break Shrike type-V - Back weapon storage (3/3)

Back weapon storage

Border Break Shrike type-V - Arms and shoulders (1/3) Border Break Shrike type-V - Arms and shoulders (2/3) Border Break Shrike type-V - Arms and shoulders (3/3)

Arms and shoulders

Border Break Shrike type-V - Side verniers newly redesigned for the V-type

Side verniers newly redesigned for the V-type

Border Break Shrike type-V - Legs (1/2) Border Break Shrike type-V - Legs (2/2)

Legs

Border Break Shrike type-V - Weapons

Weapons

Border Break Shrike type-V - The SW Teardownner sword weapon can have its length changed by separating/combining it. (1/2) Border Break Shrike type-V - The SW Teardownner sword weapon can have its length changed by separating/combining it. (2/2)

The SW Teardownner sword weapon can have its length changed by separating/combining it.

Border Break Shrike type-V - The side verniers come with an open gimmick and the typical vernier extension parts. (1/2) Border Break Shrike type-V - The side verniers come with an open gimmick and the typical vernier extension parts. (2/2)

The side verniers come with an open gimmick and the typical vernier extension parts.

Border Break Shrike type-V - Three hand types in total.

Three hand types in total.

Border Break Shrike type-V - There are a ton of leftover parts.

There are a ton of leftover parts.

Border Break Shrike type-V - Articulation is the same as the existing Shrike type-I.

Articulation is the same as the existing Shrike type-I.

Border Break Shrike type-V - SW Teardownner action (1/5) Border Break Shrike type-V - SW Teardownner action (2/5) Border Break Shrike type-V - SW Teardownner action (3/5) Border Break Shrike type-V - SW Teardownner action (4/5) Border Break Shrike type-V - SW Teardownner action (5/5)

SW Teardownner action

Border Break Shrike type-V - Bolt X and rapid-fire G Launcher double shock action (1/5) Border Break Shrike type-V - Bolt X and rapid-fire G Launcher double shock action (2/5) Border Break Shrike type-V - Bolt X and rapid-fire G Launcher double shock action (3/5) Border Break Shrike type-V - Bolt X and rapid-fire G Launcher double shock action (4/5) Border Break Shrike type-V - Bolt X and rapid-fire G Launcher double shock action (5/5)

Bolt X and rapid-fire G Launcher double shock action

Border Break Shrike type-V - Kneeling pose (1/4) Border Break Shrike type-V - Kneeling pose (2/4) Border Break Shrike type-V - Kneeling pose (3/4) Border Break Shrike type-V - Kneeling pose (4/4)

Kneeling pose

Border Break Shrike type-V - Together with the Shrike type-I. (1/2) Border Break Shrike type-V - Together with the Shrike type-I. (2/2)

Together with the Shrike type-I.

Border Break Shrike type-V - The head and front chest armor have been changed..

The head and front chest armor have been changed..

Border Break Shrike type-V - A structure has been added to the shoulders.

A structure has been added to the shoulders.

Border Break Shrike type-V - The side verniers are noticeably larger on the V-type.

The side verniers are noticeably larger on the V-type.

As the latest Border Break release, the Shrike type-V has arrived as a variation kit of the Shrike type-I. The basic frame is mostly identical to the Shrike type-I, with changes made to the head, chest armor, side verniers, and shoulders. The weapons have also been changed across the board, but rather than a design overhaul, it's the molded color shifting to a brighter white that really gives the kit a noticeably different feel.

The overall kit quality is on par with the Shrike type-I it's based on, delivering the kind of flexible articulation you'd expect from the Border Break series. There are a few iffy spots in terms of joint strength, but it's generally solid enough for posing. One thing that carries over is the slightly loose fit when attaching weapons to the back and shoulder weapon mounts — I'd love to see that improved a bit.

Since it's essentially a minor design tweak and molded color variation, there isn't a whole lot that's new here — but the newly added weapons and brighter color scheme do give it a certain freshness. Being a variation kit, the first-run limited edition includes an official Border Break graphic booklet, making it the second such booklet offered following the Saviour opening movie color version. The content is fairly brief, covering only the Shrike line of kits, but it still seems worth holding onto as a collector's item.

The Border Break lineup can tend to look a bit samey overall, but Sega's signature angular design comes through nicely and the quality is reasonably solid — so if the design appeals to you, this looks like a mech kit you can have a good time with. :-)

Border Break Shrike type-V | 2011. 3 | ¥3,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.