Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Upper body

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Head

Printed patterns on the collar and shoulder areas

Arm section

The back section, which looks like a sword has been thrust into it

Legs

The weapons are large, but the hand grip is solid enough to hold them without glue.

The non-woven fabric parts on the inside of the shoulders look surprisingly convincing.

Non-woven fabric parts are also fitted on the upper thighs.

The detail on the sword and spear is extremely simple.

The articulation is... pretty impressive.

Break Blade Delphine - First off, the ankle range of motion is incredible. The side-to-side tilt angle in particular is somet

First off, the ankle range of motion is incredible.
The side-to-side tilt angle in particular is something else.

Break Blade Delphine - Foot ground contact when the legs are spread front/back and side to side. It's A-grade stability you r

Foot ground contact when the legs are spread front/back and side to side.
It's A-grade stability you rarely see even in most Gunpla.

Since the skirt is attached to the legs,
the hip joint range of motion is nearly 360 degrees.

The forward/backward range of motion on the shoulders is pretty good too.

The waist also bends forward quite a fair bit.

A deep squat pose? No problem~!

Even a yoga pose like that is possible..

Break Blade Delphine - There are only 2 leftover parts. That also means the Frame Arms frame has been utilized to the fullest

There are only 2 leftover parts.
That also means the Frame Arms frame has been utilized to the fullest with almost nothing wasted.

Break Blade Delphine - Striking a pose.. (1/4)

Break Blade Delphine - Striking a pose.. (2/4)

Striking a pose..

Break Blade Delphine - A very natural kneeling pose (1/4)

Break Blade Delphine - A very natural kneeling pose (2/4)

A very natural kneeling pose

Break Blade Delphine - Recreating the dynamic box art pose. I didn't think it'd actually be achievable, but it comes out abou

Recreating the dynamic box art pose.
I didn't think it'd actually be achievable, but it comes out about 95% accurate.

Break Blade Delphine - Even standing with the weapons in hand and limbs spread wide like that, it stays perfectly stable. (1/

Break Blade Delphine - Even standing with the weapons in hand and limbs spread wide like that, it stays perfectly stable. (2/

Even standing with the weapons in hand and limbs spread wide like that, it stays perfectly stable.

Break Blade Delphine - Poses on the Kotobukiya display base. (1/6)

Break Blade Delphine - Poses on the Kotobukiya display base. (2/6)

Break Blade Delphine - Poses on the Kotobukiya display base. (3/6)

Break Blade Delphine - Poses on the Kotobukiya display base. (4/6)

Poses on the Kotobukiya display base.

Break Blade Delphine - Together with the Frame Arms skeleton. Every single part has been used, except for the ankle connector

Together with the Frame Arms skeleton.
Every single part has been used, except for the ankle connector parts that end up as leftover parts.

Break Blade Delphine - Together with the Border Break Cougar Type I, which shares a similar frame base. Even though the skele

Together with the Border Break Cougar Type I, which shares a similar frame base.
Even though the skeleton is similar, the look of the outer armor is completely different.

Delphine from "Break Blade," which has been generating quite a buzz lately both as a manga and an anime, has been released by Kotobukiya. It basically makes use of 95% of the Frame Arms skeleton, with every Frame Arms part being used except for 2 ankle connector parts. In contrast to Border Break — the Frame Arms spinoff that only uses 50% of the existing frame — this one is essentially close enough to be considered part of the Frame Arms lineup. It seems like it was released under the title "Cross Frame" rather than the Frame Arms series simply because it's a kit based on an actual existing work.

The overall proportions and color separation aren't bad, but compared to other Kotobukiya kits, the color separation does feel a little lacking in places. The printed patterns on the collar and shoulders are a nice touch, but since no separate decals are included, it's a bit of an awkward kit for those who want to paint it. The non-woven fabric parts are unique, but they don't exactly jump out at you either.

The biggest selling point of this kit — which might not look all that special at first glance — is its articulation. On top of having ankle range of motion that's among the best you'll find even in Bandai kits, the hip joints that rotate nearly 360 degrees make it incredibly easy to pull off action poses. As you can see in the photos above, it's capable of surprisingly dynamic poses despite how it looks. The joint strength is decent too, which makes it all the better.

You might get drawn in by the dynamic box art, but once you actually build it, there's this nagging feeling that something's a bit plain... and yet when you actually start posing it, the poses come out more naturally than you'd expect... It's a kit that really keeps you going back and forth on how you feel about it. ^^;

In conclusion, this is a kit worth recommending to anyone who's been getting into Break Blade lately, or to those who prefer kits with excellent articulation as action figures. If the style appeals to you, it's definitely worth giving a shot — it's a solid kit. :-)

Break Blade Delphine | 2010. 5 | ¥3,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.