Kit Review

Straight build
+ Panel lining + Decals

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Front/rear shots. Since it's Trans-Am colors, I went with brown panel lining. (1/3)

Front/rear shots.
Since it's Trans-Am colors, I went with brown panel lining.

Head

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Various weapons. That pink plating looks gorgeous. (1/4)

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Various weapons. That pink plating looks gorgeous. (2/4)

Various weapons.
That pink plating looks gorgeous.

Rear detail shots.

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Leg section (1/3)

Leg section

The hologram sheet's rainbow reflectivity seems a bit weaker than the standard release.

The chest opened up.

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - This kit is basically configured like the Ignition Mode, so the LED unit is included right o

This kit is basically configured like the Ignition Mode,
so the LED unit is included right out of the box.
Unlike the normal version's green light, the LED unit glows red, just as you'd expect from a Trans-Am Mode kit.

LED lit up while installed.

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - If you brighten the light and look closely, you can see the light leaking through in the sha

If you brighten the light and look closely, you can see the light leaking through in the shape of the lettering.

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Action pose (1/4)

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Action pose (2/4)

Action pose

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Shooting pose (1/4)

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Shooting pose (2/4)

Shooting pose

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - GN Sword action (1/4)

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - GN Sword action (2/4)

GN Sword action

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Double beam saber action (1/4)

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Double beam saber action (2/4)

Double beam saber action

Comparison with the normal MG Exia (Ignition Mode).

Both have plated blades, so they look seriously cool.

Together with the 1/100 Exia that was released as the Extra Finish version.

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - The Extra Finish coating on the 1/100 is a bit flashier, but the MG's superior level of deta

The Extra Finish coating on the 1/100 is a bit flashier, but...
The MG's superior level of detail gives it a slightly more imposing presence overall.

Straight build

When the MG Exia came out, I was pretty sure they'd milk a Trans-Am color version out of it too — and it showed up sooner than I expected. ^^; The kit is basically configured as the Ignition Mode Exia rather than the standard Exia, so all the blade parts come plated and the GN Drive LED unit is included as well. The repair parts that came with the normal Ignition Mode, however, are not included here.

First off, the molded colors have the same look and feel as the existing HG Trans-Am series — it's a gloss injection material, so the surface is smooth, but the plastic is extremely hard, which makes cleaning up gate marks a real pain. On top of that, the harder material seems to have thrown off the snap-fit tolerances a bit. Assembly is fine overall, but the fit on certain parts — like the face mask and chest cover — feels a little off.

With the HG Trans-Am color kits, the simpler structure that comes with the grade meant you didn't really notice it, but on the MG with its more intricate parts layout, the change in material seems to have affected the mold tolerances, and the snap-fit play has taken a bit of a hit as well. Overall it's still very good, but there are some parts that fit a bit looser than the standard release, and others — like the shield cover — that are stiff and tricky to get on. So for the first time in a while, I ended up having to break out the glue on a few parts.

The base kit is solid to begin with, so the Trans-Am Mode Exia delivers a pretty impressive level of quality in its own right. Great articulation, solid joint strength, nice detail — and since the stickers and decals have all been swapped out for Trans-Am Mode versions, it has a uniqueness to it as well. The LED unit has also been changed to a red LED to match the Trans-Am version, unlike the green of the normal release.

Sure, it's the kind of variation anyone could've seen coming, but the colorway that makes it look three times more powerful gives it enough of a distinct identity from the standard release. If you're into Exia and the Trans-Am version in particular, this is a top-quality Trans-Am Mode kit that's a real pleasure to build. :-)

MG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode | 2010. 2 | ¥5,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.