Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard (1/6)

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard (2/6)

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard (3/6)

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard (4/6)

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard (5/6)

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard (6/6)

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard - Detail shots (1/4)

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

The weapons are a bit more plentiful compared to other 1/144 kits.

The articulation of the assault shield is reproduced quite convincingly.

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard - The shield handle can be attached at 3 different positions, though the ball-sh

The shield handle can be attached at 3 different positions,
though the ball-shaped polycap is so tight it's a real pain to plug in. -_-;

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard - Other 1/144 kits have only come with one weapon mount each, but this kit alone

Other 1/144 kits have only come with one weapon mount each,
but this kit alone includes 2 great sword mounts.

Leftover parts

Articulation that's just... decent enough

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard - Firing pose (1/3)

Firing pose

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard - Dual-wield action (1/3)

Dual-wield action

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard - Aerial great sword pose (1/3)

Aerial great sword pose

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard - Launch pose (1/3)

Launch pose

Together with the non-scale Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard.

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard - Together with the Shiranui Imperial Japanese Spec. The design is fundamentally

Together with the Shiranui Imperial Japanese Spec.
The design is fundamentally 100% identical — only the molded colors and weapon loadout differ.

The Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard, which had previously been released as a non-scale kit, has now gotten a 1/144 release. Since it's canonically 100% identical in design to the previously released 1/144 Shiranui Imperial Japanese Spec, you could call it a straight color variant kit — aside from the assault shield added for the Storm/Strike Vanguard configuration.

First off, the blue molded color came out really nicely, and the color separation is pretty solid for such a small kit, so the straight build looks like it's among the best in the 1/144 lineup. Add in that hefty-looking shield, and this seems like a solid, approachable kit worth recommending even to people who aren't familiar with the Muv-Luv series.

The overall characteristics are similar to the Imperial Japanese Spec kit of the same construction, as well as other Muv-Luv kits — decent articulation and light yet sturdy joints make it easier to build and handle compared to the non-scale versions. One thing I do wish were different, though: the various markings and text that were printed directly on the runners in previous releases are provided as waterslide decals in this kit. It's a nice option for those who paint their kits, but for straight-build folks, it's a bit of a letdown.

Aside from the lack of printed markings on the parts, this is a kit with no major complaints overall — it's something I'd happily recommend to both Muv-Luv fans and general mecha model enthusiasts alike. :-)

Muv-Luv 1/144 Shiranui Storm/Strike Vanguard | 2013.5 | ¥3,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.