Kit Review

Straight build + Partial paint + Panel lining + Decals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack.

This kit is a complete set that includes all the parts for Units 1, 2, and 3.

Units 1, 2, and 3 differ in their heads, pilots, and shoulder armor.

Contents for Unit 1

Contents for Unit 2. Unit 2 originally comes with an additional shotgun.

Contents for Unit 3

Built as Unit 1.

Built as Unit 2. The head and shoulders are different, as you can see.

Built as Unit 3.

The Special Set comes with a flash unit included as standard.

First, let's check out the flash unit in action via video!

Flash unit operating under bright lighting.

Flash unit operating under dim lighting.
In the dark,
it's absolutely dazzling.

Unit 1 Review

Upper body front shot with pilot Noa.

MG Ingram Special Set - The Special Set is a gloss injection kit with a shiny, lustrous finish all over. (1/5)

MG Ingram Special Set - The Special Set is a gloss injection kit with a shiny, lustrous finish all over. (2/5)

MG Ingram Special Set - The Special Set is a gloss injection kit with a shiny, lustrous finish all over. (3/5)

The Special Set is a gloss injection kit with a shiny, lustrous finish all over.

The license plate on the crotch area differs between Unit 1/Unit 2/Unit 3, but

Cockpit hatch open

MG Ingram Special Set - All the figures that came with the original Units 1, 2, and 3 are included as well. Pilot figures inc

All the figures that came with the original Units 1, 2, and 3 are included as well.
Pilot figures include Noa/Ohta/Shinobu,
and standing figures of Asuma/Kanuka/Kiichi are also included.

MG Ingram Special Set - Gun draw action (1/4)

MG Ingram Special Set - Gun draw action (2/4)

Gun draw action

MG Ingram Special Set - Revolver action (1/5)

MG Ingram Special Set - Revolver action (2/5)

MG Ingram Special Set - Revolver action (3/5)

Revolver action

Comparison with the normal version (right)

MG Ingram Special Set - The left is the Special Version, the right is the Normal Version. The Special Version is molded in gl

The left is the Special Version, the right is the Normal Version.
The Special Version is molded in gloss injection, giving it an overall smooth and vivid look.

MG Ingram Special Set - Part-by-part body comparison with the normal version. The Special Version doesn't just shine — it als

Part-by-part body comparison with the normal version.
The Special Version doesn't just shine — it also gives off a feeling closer to pure white.

MG Ingram Special Set - If you look closely, you can even see the normal version's foot reflected in the Special Version's bl

If you look closely, you can even see the normal version's foot reflected in the Special Version's black sole...

Unit 2

Pilot Ohta.

MG Ingram Special Set - Shotgun action, Unit 2's signature move (1/4)

MG Ingram Special Set - Shotgun action, Unit 2's signature move (2/4)

Shotgun action, Unit 2's signature move

Comparison with the normal version Unit 2 (right).

The Special Version shines just as brilliantly

Unit 3

Pilot Shinobu

MG Ingram Special Set - Riot baton action (1/4)

MG Ingram Special Set - Riot baton action (2/4)

Riot baton action

Comparison with the normal version Unit 3 (right)

The gleaming Special Set Unit 3

The complete MG Ingram lineup, all together!

Unit 1 straight build shot

Unit 2 straight build shot

Unit 3 straight build shot

Five years after the MG Ingram series lineup had essentially wrapped up,
a kit called the MG Ingram Special Set was released. Here's what makes this kit special and what's included:

- Contains all the parts from the original Units 1, 2, and 3, including heads, shoulders, pilots, and every other accessory
- All exterior armor parts treated with gloss injection
- The flash unit, which was previously sold separately and also bundled with Unit 2, is now included as standard

In a word, it's the ultimate MG Ingram gift set. Actually, back in 2001 when the MG Ingram was first released, there were already plenty of hints that a comprehensive set like this would come out eventually. If you look at how the runners for the MG Ingram series were structured and divided up, the head and shoulder parts were clearly designed from the start to all fit on a single runner. They just split those runners up when releasing Units 1, 2, and 3 as separate kits.

So I had expected a comprehensive set to come out sooner rather than later... but it ended up being released in 2007, a full six years after the original Ingram. Personally, I think it would've been fine to just release it as a single kit with three possible variations from the start — but for whatever reason, it seems Bandai wanted to pad out their lineup count.

In terms of the lore, Units 1, 2, and 3 only differ in head and shoulder design, with the pilot changing as a secondary difference. The shoulders can be swapped out since they're detachable, but because the gloss injection makes the plastic very rigid, the locking pins can snap easily during swaps, so be careful. (Which is my way of saying I broke a few myself. -.-;) It's not that the pins are weak — it's that once they're in, they really don't want to come out, so you need to be extra careful when swapping. The head just uses a polycap mount, so you can simply pull it off and pop another one on.

That said, while the head and shoulders can be swapped one way or another, some of the included decals — specifically the license plates on the left arm shield and crotch area — are different for each of Units 1, 2, and 3, which puts you in a bit of a tricky spot. You'll have to just pick one of the three units and commit to those decals. Also, the decals included with this kit are waterslide decals instead of the dry-transfer decals from the original releases, which is a bit of an odd choice — but the adhesion on these water-slides is really strong, so application is pretty smooth. Just note that you need to soak them in water for a good while before applying. Since the surfaces are large and flat, they go on easily and stick well once you do.

Maybe because it came out so late, or maybe because they felt a plain comprehensive set would be a bit underwhelming... they added gloss injection and threw in the flash unit as a bonus — but as a result, the price jumped sharply from ¥3,000 to ¥5,800. Since the flash unit was sold separately for ¥2,000, it seems like they calculated the cost of the additional parts at around ¥800.

The overall build quality is naturally identical to the original Ingram... and the articulation is still not great. The structural weaknesses in the waist joint and a few other areas remain unchanged, and if you go into this expecting MG Gunpla-level joint movement and feel, you're going to be disappointed. It's a below-average kit in terms of joints and articulation, but the overall proportions are still quite excellent — and combined with that glossy gloss injection finish, it just oozes style. Among all the gloss injection kits out there, this might be the one it suits best.

The included flash unit, as introduced previously, uses a mercury battery in the back and LED units in the shoulders to replicate a police emergency light — and it's pretty convincing. It's a little disappointing that there's no siren sound, but as a visual effect on its own, it's a perfect 100 out of 100.

It may have come out way too late to be a comprehensive set, but the appeal of the gloss injection is strong, and the fact that it includes the flash unit — which is now hard to find on its own — makes it a pretty solid treat for Patlabor fans. :-)

MG Ingram Special Set | 2007.9 | ¥5,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.