Special : Freedom Gundam - 1/100 No Grade vs. MG
Just like with the MG Aile, I'm going to compare it with the
1/100 No Grade Freedom Gundam that came out around the same time as the MG Freedom. ^^
First off, surprisingly, there's quite a height difference between the two. The MG is noticeably bigger.
The difference in wing size is massive-
I thought the old No Grade 1/100 Freedom's wings were big, but next to the MG they suddenly look tiny...
Let's compare the part layouts.
Head section. Barely any difference-
The body parts are on a completely different level.
The wing section difference is huge too~
Side weapons. Similar.
Arms. Inner frame added.
Legs also get an inner frame added.
As for the weapons, the No Grade actually has pretty decent color separation too.
Comparing just the bodies, the height difference is really obvious..
Looking closely, the No Grade kit came out a bit small for its scale,
and the MG came out a bit large for its scale, making the gap even bigger.
The MG's limbs are much more slender all around, and the torso is bigger too.
The articulation comparison is almost embarrassing.
The head styling changed only slightly — nothing drastically different..
Though the MG's eyes do look a bit sharper..
The difference in wing size is really something-
The impact when spread open is on a completely different level..!!
On the MG, the plasma beam cannons also swing out to the sides.
The difference with wings open..
The arms and shoulders got a bit more slender too.
The feet got smaller, and the legs got noticeably longer.
Haha.. The difference in leg articulation is like night and day!
The side weapon units got a lot more slender too~
When extended, the length is about the same.
The beam rifle got bigger and looks cooler.. but the blue parts are still handled with stickers, same as before.
The shield doesn't look that different, but it did get a little longer.
The detail on the inside is a big step up. That's MG for you.
Shot like this, they both look great~
In the MG Aile comparison with the 1/100 No Grade as well, and following that I've done the same comparison for the MG Freedom. They were all released within about a year of each other, but the gap between a No Grade and an MG is nothing to sneeze at.
With the MG Aile, the No Grade and MG each had their own stylistic pros and cons, and in terms of value for money I thought it was a pretty even match... but to cut to the chase, with the Freedom Gundam, the MG has a clear edge.
The MG Freedom itself is top-tier among Gunpla in terms of articulation, so comparing it to a No Grade is almost a bit unfair. ^^;
The Freedom growing nearly 1cm taller going to MG feels like a bit much.. but when you consider that the original No Grade Freedom was widely criticized for coming out a bit small for 1/100 scale, it's not that strange really. Tall and slender looks great anyway. ^^
It's not just the height that changed — the wing size difference is absolutely massive. The wings on the MG grew to an almost ridiculous size, to the point where you might wonder if it should be classified alongside Wing Gundam types.. Open the wings and the difference in sheer presence gets even more dramatic. Both have joints that are stiff enough to hold poses comfortably, but the MG joints are stiffer and lock in better.
As for proportions, personal taste will vary.. but it seems like most people agree the MG looks better than the old No Grade. With the Strike, there were plenty of people who preferred the solid, hefty proportions of the No Grade version — but the No Grade Freedom, honestly, always had something a bit off and awkward about it. Personally, I thought it was decent enough on its own, but now that the MG Freedom is out, I can't help feeling it looks a bit lacking by comparison.
For the Freedom Gundam.. aside from the higher price, the MG Freedom wins almost completely across the board. Of course, that doesn't mean the No Grade 1/100 Freedom is terrible — the problem is just that the MG turned out so fantastically good by comparison. >.<