Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Various angles (1/7)

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Various angles (2/7)

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Various angles (3/7)

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Various angles (4/7)

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Various angles (5/7)

Various angles

There are quite a few leftover parts from the shared runners.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Leg articulation range. Probably due to the transformation gimmick, it feels more limited compar

Leg articulation range.
Probably due to the transformation gimmick, it feels more limited compared to similarly styled Zoids HMM kits.

Action pose

You can connect a stand to the underside using the joint parts.

Running pose displayed on a stand

Action poses using the beam parts

Together with Governor Armor Type: Pawn A1.

Governor Armor Type: Pawn A1 riding on

To transform into vehicle mode, you first need to detach the limbs.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Fold the legs as shown above, then reattach them to the body — transformation complete, nice and

Fold the legs as shown above, then reattach them to the body — transformation complete, nice and simple.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Vehicle mode from various angles (1/7)

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Vehicle mode from various angles (2/7)

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Vehicle mode from various angles (3/7)

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Vehicle mode from various angles (4/7)

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse - Vehicle mode from various angles (5/7)

Vehicle mode from various angles

Underside.

Governor Armor Type: Pawn A1 riding in vehicle mode

Together with the Voltrex released at the same time.

Vehicle mode comparison shot with riders mounted

This kit is the Rayblade Impulse, a mech kit from Kotobukiya's new Hexa Gear lineup. Like the Voltrex released alongside it, the concept is a weapon that soldiers ride like a motorcycle. It has a four-legged Zoids-style feel, and transformation into vehicle mode is included just the same.

Compared to the dinosaur-shaped Voltrex, the limb articulation range is much wider, allowing for more dynamic poses. Using the included hexagonal joint parts to mount it on a Kotobukiya stand, you can even pull off a running pose. That said, the transformation gimmick does seem to limit posing somewhat compared to similarly styled Zoids HMM kits — though overall joint stability is decent enough that it doesn't get in the way.

The transformation process into vehicle mode is similar to the Voltrex — just detach the limbs, fold them, and reattach, and you're done. The vehicle mode feels even more dynamic and sleek than the Voltrex's. Mounting a separately sold soldier figure on top makes it look even cooler, and the lineup as a whole has a charming, well-thought-out feel to it.

Anyway, alongside the Voltrex, this is a new release that shows off excellent build quality, and Hexa Gear feels like an upgrade over the Frame Arms lineup in a number of ways. It's still not as cost-effective as Bandai kits, but there's a freshness to Kotobukiya's original lineups that you just don't get from Bandai. I'd especially recommend this one to anyone who has fond memories of — or a soft spot for — mechs that transform into bikes. :-)

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse | 2017.8 | ¥4,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.