Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Detail shots

Underside view

Metal Gear REX - The tip of the rail gun should be horizontal, but due to the molding condition of the parts, the ends end up

The tip of the rail gun should be horizontal, but...
Due to the molding condition of the parts, the ends end up curling inward. -_-

Metal Gear REX - A separate stand is included, and given the kit's basic structure, it's nearly impossible for it to stand on

A separate stand is included,
but given the kit's basic structure, it's nearly impossible for it to stand on its own without one. ^^;

The neck section is made up of a multi-stage slide articulation gimmick and multiple joints.

The neck can extend and retract by that much.

It rotates quite flexibly up/down and horizontally as well.

The weapons on the back can also be raised upward.

The legs can be fully extended and folded, and the rear support also moves in two stages.

When the legs are extended, you can see some of the internal gimmicks as well.

The gimmick on the back of the legs can be used as a support, almost like a high heel.

Metal Gear REX - At the section corresponding to the thigh area, an internal joint extends outward one more time to increase

At the section corresponding to the thigh area, an internal joint extends outward one more time,
which increases the range of motion — but it's so stiff that it's really hard to pull out. T_T

The sole of the foot can be repositioned forward and backward to some degree.

The two ground anchor pins at the front of the feet can move up and down,
and can also be extended in length.

Metal Gear REX - But... these pins come off way too easily. T_T In my case, I put a tiny drop of super glue on them to make t

But... these pins come off way too easily. T_T
In my case, I put a tiny drop of super glue on them to make them a bit stiffer and keep them in place.

The weapons located below the neck also move to some degree.

The cockpit on the head opens up quite impressively with a multi-stage sliding mechanism.

The 8 hatches on the back can be opened.

The 3 hatches on each knee also open up.

Metal Gear REX - Lying flat on the ground. (1/5)

Metal Gear REX - Lying flat on the ground. (2/5)

Metal Gear REX - Lying flat on the ground. (3/5)

Lying flat on the ground.

Four figures are included, and they have pretty nice sculpting.

Slowly rising pose...

Metal Gear REX - Full hatch open action (1/5)

Metal Gear REX - Full hatch open action (2/5)

Metal Gear REX - Full hatch open action (3/5)

Full hatch open action

Metal Gear REX - Attacking upward pose. (1/4)

Metal Gear REX - Attacking upward pose. (2/4)

Attacking upward pose.

Metal Gear REX - Rawr~ There's definitely a T-Rex-like presence to this pose. With surprisingly many points of articulation,

Rawr~
There's definitely a T-Rex-like presence to this pose.
With surprisingly many points of articulation, you can actually pull off poses like this.

Together with the similarly-vibed Gunhed.

REX, the powerful nuclear-armed weapon from the legendary game Metal Gear, has been made into a plastic model by Kotobukiya. With even the long-forgotten Gunhed getting the plastic model treatment these days, it's really great to see the iconic mech from the beloved Metal Gear series finally get its own kit.

As the name suggests, it's a machine inspired by the Tyrannosaurus Rex (T-Rex), featuring a large head, reverse-jointed legs, and a stylish design with massive weaponry mounted on its back. REX plays various roles throughout the game — sometimes as a boss, sometimes as the protagonist's ride — and it's a terrifying weapon capable of launching stealth nuclear warheads via the rail gun mounted on its upper right side.

Compared to the Gunhed, which could be considered a similar concept, the overall level of detail and parts construction feels a step or two higher. The sharp, edgy detailing looks great, and even areas you can't normally see are densely packed with molded detail — in terms of sculpting, this kit feels like it received considerably more care and attention than just about any other kit out there.

Beyond the fine detail, one of this kit's biggest strengths is how thoroughly and impressively it recreates all the various moving parts you'd expect to find on a machine like this, with a wider variety of joint gimmicks than you might anticipate. The total of 14 small missile hatch-opening gimmicks on the back and knees are cleanly executed, and the cockpit in particular — which opens via a uniquely multi-jointed mechanism — is genuinely impressive. On top of that, the legs feature a whole range of articulation points including length extension, rotation, bending, and a movable rear heel, allowing for a surprisingly wide variety of poses.

That said, as with most Kotobukiya kits, you do end up wondering where all those parts went — the parts breakdown is noticeably less efficient than Bandai's, so there's quite a bit of assembly work involved. On the flip side, while it might look plain at first glance, the color separation is actually pretty well done, giving the straight build a surprisingly refined look. The molded colors leave a little to be desired, but for a Kotobukiya kit, they're decent enough.

The main downside of this kit is that some parts don't hold together very well. In particular, the claw-shaped anchor pins at the tips of the feet barely stay in place and keep falling out. T_T Unless you thicken up the pins with super glue or similar, they'll keep popping off and drive you crazy — if you can't be bothered, you might as well just glue them in permanently. On top of that, the side skirt armor connects via a ball joint, and that also pops off way too easily with the slightest movement, so watch out for that too.

There's also a joint between the thigh and lower leg that's supposed to extend outward and allow the leg to bend backward — but the direction of force when moving it is awkward, and it's stiffer than it needs to be, making it barely functional and feeling almost pointless. -_- The fact that the kit can't stand on its own without a stand due to its structure is something you just have to accept... but the iffy joint stability on the legs does leave a bit of a sour taste. On the bright side, the neck section — which looks like it could be trouble — actually holds together without any major issues despite feeling a little wobbly, which is a relief.

All that said, this is a kit that would make a fantastic gift for any Metal Gear fan. It has the usual Kotobukiya shortcomings (especially compared to Bandai...), but considering the overall concept, the intricate detail, and the variety of articulation gimmicks, it's clear that Kotobukiya put a lot of effort into this one. So even with a few gripes, I think plenty of people will find it more than satisfying to have REX recreated this faithfully and this impressively. The ¥7,800 price tag isn't exactly kind to your wallet, but in many ways, this is a mecha plastic model that's well worth owning for any fan. :-)

Metal Gear REX | 2012.12 | ¥7,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.