Kit Review

Straight build
+ panel lining + (decals)

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - The Ignition Mode special edition can be built in 2 ways. One is the standard Exia with plated

The Ignition Mode special edition can be built in 2 ways.
One is the standard Exia with plated parts and LED added,
and the other is the Repair version with various parts swapped out and a cape attached.

Only one kit is included,
so please note that the photo above was taken with the plated parts applied to the normal version together — don't be confused. ^^;

1. Normal Ignition Mode

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Compared to the standard Exia kit, the GN Sword/Blade now come with plated coating, and an LED

Compared to the standard Exia kit, the GN Sword/Blade now come with plated coating,
and an LED has been added to the GN Drive.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Thanks to those shiny plated blades, it gives off a totally different vibe compared to the nor

Thanks to those shiny plated blades, it gives off a totally different vibe compared to the normal version..

The GN Sword and GN Blade with plated blades.

Ooh.. looks great.

The color separation is really well done, which makes it look even better.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Smaller details like the barrel section are also plated, and some parts inside the GN Drive ha

Smaller details like the barrel section are also plated,
and some parts inside the GN Drive have been swapped out for plated ones as well.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Two LED units are installed inside the GN Drive, one facing front and one facing back, and eac

Two LED units are installed inside the GN Drive, one facing front and one facing back,
and each LED unit takes 2 LR41 button cell batteries.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - So in total you'll need 4 LR41 batteries.. I can't help but feel like that's a lot of batterie

So in total you'll need 4 LR41 batteries..
I can't help but feel like that's a lot of batteries for the amount of light output you get.

Ignition!
Maybe it's because of the double batteries, but the light is incredibly bright.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - The LED units are mounted like this, each facing the front and back of the GN Drive respective

The LED units are mounted like this, each facing the front and back of the GN Drive respectively.

The LED shining toward the chest area.

The LED shining on the back side.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Whoa.. the LED units are so insanely bright that with the lights off, it's practically like a

Whoa..
The LED units are so insanely bright that with the lights off, it's practically like a laser flashlight..;

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Shot with the lighting dimmed a bit. As you can see, the LED is so bright it lights up the wal

Shot with the lighting dimmed a bit.
As you can see, the LED is so bright it lights up the wall behind it.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Depending on whether you use the LED or not, you choose between two chest stickers. The one on

Depending on whether you use the LED or not, you choose between two chest stickers.
The one on the left is the normal type, and the one on the right has a hole in the center so the LED glow shows through.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - The chest LED shines through the sticker hole and illuminates the laser-engraved text on the g

The chest LED shines through the sticker hole
and illuminates the laser-engraved text on the green clear part.

The brightness of the light looks different depending on the ambient lighting.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - The LED light is strong enough to reflect nicely off the plated parts too. Seems like a pretty

The LED light is strong enough to reflect nicely off the plated parts too.
Seems like a pretty good match..

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - GN Sword action. Blades just gotta shine.. (1/4)

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - GN Sword action. Blades just gotta shine.. (2/4)

GN Sword action.
Blades just gotta shine..

Dim the lights a little and the LED really starts to pop.

Hmm.. now that's got atmosphere.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - The brightness and feel of the chest LED looks different depending on the ambient lighting. (1

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - The brightness and feel of the chest LED looks different depending on the ambient lighting. (2

The brightness and feel of the chest LED looks different depending on the ambient lighting.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Another action pose. (1/4)

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Another action pose. (2/4)

Another action pose.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Dimmed the lights to bring out the LED effect. (1/3)

Dimmed the lights to bring out the LED effect.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - GN Blade action. Those shiny blades really stand out. (1/4)

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - GN Blade action. Those shiny blades really stand out. (2/4)

GN Blade action.
Those shiny blades really stand out.

LED-highlighted action..

2. Repair Version

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - This time it's built as the Repair version. Fitting for a battle-damaged version(?), I skipped

This time it's built as the Repair version.
Fitting for a battle-damaged version(?), I skipped the decals and just did some light panel lining.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - To build the Repair version, you need to swap out the head, cockpit cover, and GN Sword, and a

To build the Repair version, you need to swap out the head, cockpit cover, and GN Sword, and attach the cape.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - The cape isn't soft material.. it's rigid PVC. So it doesn't flutter, but the wrinkles are alw

The cape isn't soft material.. it's rigid PVC.
So it doesn't flutter, but the wrinkles are always nicely set.. ;

The cape is secured by plugging a dedicated part like this into the left shoulder.

GN Sword for the Repair version.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - The broken blade is recreated, but the blade part is just molded in plain white. If they were

The broken blade is recreated, but the blade part is just molded in plain white.
If they were going to do it, they should've plated this one too..

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - If you look closely, the white cover on the small shield attached to the GN Sword is also a sw

If you look closely, the white cover on the small shield attached to the GN Sword is also a swapped-out part.
You can see battle damage here and there.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Ooh.. it's like the Terminator~! The Repair version head is pulled off really convincingly wit

Ooh.. it's like the Terminator~!
The Repair version head is pulled off really convincingly with a bunch of dedicated parts.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Going to the Repair version, the right collar(?), left chest duct, and left front skirt armor

Going to the Repair version, the right collar(?), left chest duct, and left front skirt armor are all removed from the body.

The chest LED glow.

GN Sword for the Repair version.

The cape.

The beam sabers on the back of the shoulders and on the rear skirt are all removed.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - In the Repair version, the knee armor, ankle guards, and other parts are removed according to

In the Repair version, the knee armor, ankle guards, and other parts are removed according to the design specs.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - As if representing a darkened solar furnace, stickers like these are applied to the legs in th

As if representing a darkened solar furnace, the legs in the Repair version
have stickers like these applied to them.

Shot with the lighting dimmed to bring out the LED effect.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Action pose (1/4)

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - Action pose (2/4)

Action pose

Let's try different lighting to emphasize the LED..

LED glow action.

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - GN Sword action pose. The cape somehow makes it look even cooler.. (1/5)

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - GN Sword action pose. The cape somehow makes it look even cooler.. (2/5)

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode - GN Sword action pose. The cape somehow makes it look even cooler.. (3/5)

GN Sword action pose.
The cape somehow makes it look even cooler..

Shot emphasizing the LED effect.

Comparison between the normal version + plated parts and the Repair version.

Anyway, it's one kit, but you can configure it two different ways.

Normal + plated parts straight build photos.

Repair version straight build photos.

Alongside the release of the MG Exia, a special edition titled Ignition Mode was also released. Here's what's different from the standard MG Exia:

- The blade runners come with plated coating.
- Two LED units added to the GN Drive section.
- Two runners included to recreate the Repair version.
- Additional Repair version stickers added to the sticker sheet (seals and decals remain the same).

This kit is priced at ¥6,500, which is a whopping ¥2,700 more than the normal version's ¥3,800. When you factor in the plating and LED units, it honestly feels like a bit much. Interestingly though, it launched at a first-run limited price of ¥5,000 — basically a marketing strategy (written as "strategy," read as "sales tactic") where buying the first run gets you a ¥1,500 discount. Thanks to that, the first-run sales of Gundam Exia Ignition Mode appear to have been pretty strong, and it seems like we'll probably be seeing this kind of approach used again in the future. Either way, looking at what's included, ¥5,000 feels like a fair price for the premium contents — not a bad deal at all. (Assuming you bought the first-run edition, of course.)

When building this kit, you get to choose whether to assemble it in Normal Mode with the plated parts and LED, or go with the Repair version. For this review, the Normal Mode + plated parts version was put together by reusing an already-completed Normal Mode build, while the Repair version was finished using only light panel lining — no seals or decals. It just felt like it wouldn't suit a unit that's been barely patched up and is running on fumes to be all decked out with seals and decals... (Not saying it's because making two of the same thing is a pain.. lol)

The plated parts definitely make their presence known — the gleaming blade sections make Exia look so much more impressive. Add the LED unit on top of that and it really gives off the feel of a premium kit. The LED unit requires a total of 4 LR41 batteries, which means it puts out an insanely intense light unlike anything I've seen before. Turn the lights off and it practically lights up the room like a flashlight;

That said, despite how intense the light is, the area where it actually shines through isn't all that wide, so it doesn't quite deliver the effect you'd expect. Personally, no matter how I look at it, I can't help but scratch my head wondering why they needed to cram in 4 LEDs for such a tiny light-emitting area. It really doesn't seem like a spot that needs that kind of brightness.. Well, whatever — dim the lights and it definitely looks slick.

The Repair version faithfully recreates the look from the show, and you finish it by swapping out the head, cockpit hatch, GN Sword, and so on, then hanging the cloak over the left shoulder in place of the arm. You also strip off armor pieces here and there, though the specs for exactly which armor to remove seem a bit vague. Even within the manual there are some inconsistencies if you look closely — but hey, it's a battle-damaged repair version (-_-), so just pull off whatever feels right.

The most eye-catching part of the Repair version is the half-destroyed head that brings the Terminator to mind — it's got a pretty convincing look to it. The damaged blade sections feel great too, and it's thoughtfully put together with replacement parts for all the small bits of broken armor. The cloak is made of PVC so it is a bit stiff, but it seems to be lighter than soft material parts and holds its shape better. If it had been a flowing fabric cloak, it probably would've ended up looking like something a homeless person would wear..

Anyway, it's true that as a special version this is a fully loaded kit with plenty to offer, but I can't help thinking it would've been nice if at least the plated parts had been included in the standard release.. (even if it bumped the price up a bit). Sure, the idea of bundling premium options together into a special edition is a good one, but no matter how I think about it, ¥6,500 for the regular release after the first-run edition is just too steep.. It really feels like this was something you had to grab at the first-run limited price of ¥5,000 :-)

MG Gundam Exia Ignition Mode | 2009. 7 | ¥6,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.