Kotobukiya Hexa Gear

Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead]

Kit Review

Straight build

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Size comparison with a cigarette pack.

Size comparison with a cigarette pack.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Various angles (1/7) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Various angles (2/7) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Various angles (3/7) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Various angles (4/7) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Various angles (5/7) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Various angles (6/7) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Various angles (7/7)

Various angles

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Underside

Underside

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Detail shots (1/4) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Detail shots (2/4) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Detail shots (3/4) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Detail shots (4/4)

Detail shots

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - The saddle comes in two sizes.

The saddle comes in two sizes.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Deploying the blade attached to the side of the front leg

Deploying the blade attached to the side of the front leg

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - You can choose between two joints for the blade's moving section. Going with the thi

You can choose between two joints for the blade's moving section.
Going with the thicker peg type gives you a stronger hold.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - You can attach two large effect parts to the blades — and with the reinforced joint Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - You can attach two large effect parts to the blades — and with the reinforced joint

You can attach two large effect parts to the blades —
and with the reinforced joint installed, even the heavy effect parts lock in nice and solid.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - A look at the Governor mounted up

A look at the Governor mounted up

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - It pairs really well with the Governor. Getting them on and off is nice and easy. (1 Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - It pairs really well with the Governor. Getting them on and off is nice and easy. (2

It pairs really well with the Governor. Getting them on and off is nice and easy.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Leftover parts

Leftover parts

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - With so many leg joints, the range of motion is incredibly wide. (1/2) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - With so many leg joints, the range of motion is incredibly wide. (2/2)

With so many leg joints, the range of motion is incredibly wide.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - The body bends at multiple joints too.

The body bends at multiple joints too.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Snarling pose (1/3) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Snarling pose (2/3) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Snarling pose (3/3)

Snarling pose

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Jump pose with blades deployed (1/4) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Jump pose with blades deployed (2/4) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Jump pose with blades deployed (3/4) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Jump pose with blades deployed (4/4)

Jump pose with blades deployed

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Poses with effect parts attached. Only two are included, so you can't fully load bot Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Poses with effect parts attached. Only two are included, so you can't fully load bot Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Poses with effect parts attached. Only two are included, so you can't fully load bot Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Poses with effect parts attached. Only two are included, so you can't fully load bot Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Poses with effect parts attached. Only two are included, so you can't fully load bot

Poses with effect parts attached.
Only two are included, so you can't fully load both sides at once.

VEHICLE MODE

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - To get into vehicle mode, start by disassembling the body as shown above.

To get into vehicle mode, start by disassembling the body as shown above.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Fold the front and rear legs as shown, then pull out the front leg pegs and connect Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Fold the front and rear legs as shown, then pull out the front leg pegs and connect

Fold the front and rear legs as shown, then pull out the front leg pegs and connect them.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Reattach to the body and the transformation is done — simple as that.

Reattach to the body and the transformation is done — simple as that.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Vehicle mode (1/4) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Vehicle mode (2/4) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Vehicle mode (3/4) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Vehicle mode (4/4)

Vehicle mode

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Underside

Underside

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Vehicle mode with Governor mounted (1/2) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Vehicle mode with Governor mounted (2/2)

Vehicle mode with Governor mounted

BIKE MODE

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - To get into bike mode, you'll need the dedicated parts that come separately.

To get into bike mode, you'll need the dedicated parts that come separately.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Disassemble the body as shown, then combine it with the bike mode-specific parts as Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Disassemble the body as shown, then combine it with the bike mode-specific parts as

Disassemble the body as shown, then combine it with the bike mode-specific parts as shown on the right.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Bike mode (1/2) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Bike mode (2/2)

Bike mode

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Bike mode with Governor mounted (1/2) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Bike mode with Governor mounted (2/2)

Bike mode with Governor mounted

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Swapped out to the larger saddle

Swapped out to the larger saddle

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - A collab shot with the Megalomaria Principal. The bike looks a little small, but the Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - A collab shot with the Megalomaria Principal. The bike looks a little small, but the

A collab shot with the Megalomaria Principal.
The bike looks a little small, but they go together well enough.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Alongside the Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse released in 2017. The design concept is pre Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Alongside the Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse released in 2017. The design concept is pre Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Alongside the Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse released in 2017. The design concept is pre Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - Alongside the Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse released in 2017. The design concept is pre

Alongside the Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse released in 2017.
The design concept is pretty much the same, but the details have changed and it's gotten bigger and chunkier.

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - A comparison in vehicle mode. Yep, it's definitely bigger. (1/2) Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] - A comparison in vehicle mode. Yep, it's definitely bigger. (2/2)

A comparison in vehicle mode.
Yep, it's definitely bigger.

This kit is the Rayblade Impulse [Reloaded] from the Hexa Gear series. It can be thought of as a renewal of the Rayblade Impulsereleased in 2017. The basic silhouette and transformation are carried over, but it's been completely redesigned with 100% all-new tooling.

Overall, the design has gotten more complex, there are more articulated joints, and the size has grown noticeably. With more moving parts comes greater posing freedom, and the joint strength has improved too, so poses hold much better. The transformation process into vehicle mode has changed slightly, though the end result looks pretty similar. The Reloaded version also adds a new transformation gimmick into bike mode.

Two large blade effect parts are also included, which can be attached by deploying the blades on the sides of the front legs. Despite their considerable weight, a set of reinforced joint parts is provided as well, so they hold on nice and securely. The transformation into vehicle and bike mode is relatively straightforward, and stability in vehicle mode has improved too.

So after seven years, it's come back as a completely upgraded kit. That said, the plastic overall is on the stiffer side and assembly can feel pretty strenuous — my hands were actually a bit sore by the time I was done. On the flip side, the joint strength and holding power are much better, so in terms of the finished product, the quality has definitely gone up.

One thing worth noting though — the price was ¥4,800 back in 2017, and with the Reloaded version it's jumped all the way to ¥9,800, literally double. The contents are more substantial, sure, but that's still a pretty steep price hike. It probably reflects the general rise in costs these days, but either way — if you can get past the price, this is a pretty fascinating mecha model kit. :-)

Hexa Gear Rayblade Impulse [Reloadead] | 2024.5 | ¥9,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.