Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining + Decals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Upper body and head

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Back section and weapons (1/3)

Back section and weapons

Legs

Outer armor removal shot

Internal frame

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Frame close-up shots. It's a full-body frame, but there's almost no mechanical detail to speak of. (

Frame detail shots.
It's a full-body frame, but there's almost no mechanical detail to speak of.

Frame articulation

The knee transformation gimmick is really unique — it can bend at multiple angles.

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - The hip joints also have a transformation gimmick that spreads them left/right, so unlike other MGs,

The hip joints also have a transformation gimmick that spreads them left/right,
so unlike other MGs, there's no forward/backward hip movement to improve articulation.

Kneeling pose

There's absolutely no detail on the inner side of the outer armor..

The Hyper Dodge Rifle faithfully reproduces the basic gimmick

The Hyper Dodge Rifle can also be mounted on the rear skirt.

Beam parts are included as a pair — one long and one short.

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - The cockpit hatch opening mechanism is a bit complicated.. You open the top and bottom covers, then

The cockpit hatch opening mechanism is a bit complicated..
You open the top and bottom covers, then push the cockpit inside downward and it slides out.
The slide gimmick isn't very smooth though.. and you often have to poke at it with a hobby knife (?) to get it to come down.

Articulation.
The limbs fold up completely.

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - The wings on the front and back of the shoulders move freely. The joint strength is pretty solid giv

The wings on the front and back of the shoulders move freely.
The joint strength is pretty solid given the size of the wings.

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Because of the knee transformation gimmick, the knee stability in MS mode is really bad..;; The blue

Because of the knee transformation gimmick, the knee stability in MS mode is really bad..;;
The blue cover on the back of the leg is supposed to be opened to activate the knee transformation gimmick,
but this locking blue cover isn't really doing its job.
Anyway, the knee gimmick is definitely the biggest weakness of this kit.

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Hyper Dodge Rifle firing pose (1/5)

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Hyper Dodge Rifle firing pose (2/5)

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Hyper Dodge Rifle firing pose (3/5)

Hyper Dodge Rifle firing pose

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Beam saber pose (1/4)

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Beam saber pose (2/4)

Beam saber pose

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Short beam saber action pose (1/3)

Short beam saber action pose

Transformation

First, lower the shoulders 90 degrees downward.

Push the upper body upward and fold it 90 degrees toward the back.

Rotate the side skirts 180 degrees to swing them forward.

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Lifting the crotch armor forward allows the hip joints to spread left/right — the pin on the upper l

Lifting the crotch armor forward allows the hip joints to spread left/right,
the pin on the upper leg then plugs into the hole on the back of the side skirt to lock it in place.
The locking pin is pretty small so the hold is a bit weak, but it's better than nothing ^^;

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Open the blue cover on the back of the leg to release the knee transformation gimmick, then bend it

Open the blue cover on the back of the leg to release the knee transformation gimmick, then bend it as shown.

At this point, rotate the special locking gimmick hidden behind the knee out to the front.

Next, slide the knee joint inward to shorten it.

This is a separate transformation finger parts piece.

Fit this part under the special connector gimmick you pulled out from behind the knee..

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Remove the finger parts from the hand and plug them into the connector gimmick behind the knee, whic

Remove the finger parts from the hand and plug them into the connector gimmick behind the knee,
which lets you lock in the angle after transformation.

Next, attach the shield to the side of the left arm..

Adjust the Hyper Dodge Rifle's grip and locking pins to attach it to the front of the body.

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - As a bonus, the Dodge Rifle's protective armor and knee armor can be lowered downward like landing g

As a bonus, the Dodge Rifle's protective armor and knee armor can be lowered downward like landing gear.

How it looks with the landing gear deployed and set down on the ground.

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Rotate the side skirt wings 90 degrees downward and the transformation into Strider Form — ready to

Rotate the side skirt wings 90 degrees downward and the transformation into Strider Form — ready to be placed on a stand — is complete.

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Strider Form from various angles. (1/8)

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Strider Form from various angles. (2/8)

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Strider Form from various angles. (3/8)

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Strider Form from various angles. (4/8)

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Strider Form from various angles. (5/8)

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal - Strider Form from various angles. (6/8)

Strider Form from various angles.

In this state, you can also slide the cockpit down.

Together with the MG Age-1 Normal.

Together with the HG Age-2 Normal.

Straight build

Strider Form straight build shots

Following the Gundam AGE-1 Normal, the AGE-2 Normal naturally got the MG treatment as well. Compared to the AGE-1, which made quite a bit of noise about its new armor structure and built up some hype, the AGE-2 just kind of quietly showed up like "yeah, here I am."

Unlike the AGE-1's unique armor construction, the AGE-2 comes out as a somewhat more straightforward (?) MG kit. The highlight of the MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal is really the transformation gimmick, and it's definitely a step up from the HG in terms of precision. As you can see in the transformation photos above, there are quite a few clever solutions to deal with the loose fit that tends to come with transformation — like the locking gimmick between the hip joints and side skirts, and the special gimmick behind the knee that connects to the hands. These special locking gimmicks aren't super solid, but they're at least better than nothing.

Setting the transformation gimmick aside, the kit itself is a fairly standard MG — good articulation, decent polycap joint strength, solid enough detail, and a full-body frame. That said.. the frame is pretty simple with almost no mechanical detail to be found, which is a bit of a letdown.

The biggest disappointment with this kit is the somewhat iffy joint strength.. The polycaps themselves are fine, but all the various transformation gimmicks give it a loose, wobbly feel rather than anything tight and solid. The knee joint in particular is a real problem — it has a reverse-joint bending gimmick for transformation, and there's an internal mechanism to lock it in MS mode, but it barely does its job T_T. In the end, it's hard to get the legs to straighten out properly, and the slightest movement of the knee causes the lock to pop and the whole thing looks a mess.. It's hard to explain in words or photos, but once you handle it yourself you'll immediately understand what I mean ㅡ.ㅡ

The overall look is sleek enough to feel like a proper new MG release.. but between the unstable body thanks to the transformation gimmick and the lack of any standout detail, it's hard to give it extra points. Still, it's an MG made for AGE fans, and even if it's not particularly innovative or original, the quality is good enough to call it a decent release :-)

MG AGE-2 Gundam AGE-2 Normal
Category	Rating	Analysis
Seam Lines	★★★★★	Perfect aside from some of the wings and weapons.
Molding Color / Color Separation	★★★★★	A bit more ordinary compared to the AGE-1, but still a solid color separation.
Proportions	★★★★★	Definitely feels like an MG, but a 1/100 No Grade probably would've looked similar.
Articulation	★★★★☆	Pretty impressive for a transforming kit.
Joint Strength	★★★★	Generally decent, but feels unstable due to the transformation gimmick. Especially the knees.
Internal Frame	★★★★☆	Full-body frame, but simple with no mechanical detail.
Detail	★★★★☆	Clean, but a bit plain for an MG..
Weapons / Accessories	★★★★★	Transformation gimmick that's a step up from the HG. Interesting cockpit.
Parts Count / Price	★★★★★	352 parts total. 83.8 parts per ¥1,000. Excellent value for the price.
Uniqueness	★★★★☆	A clean new release that shows some effort, but doesn't leave much of an impression.
Dalong's Point : 94 pts.

MG Gundam AGE-2 Normal | 2012. 8 | ¥4,600

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.