Kit Review

Straight build +
partial painting + panel lining + decals

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - Size comparison with the universal reference standard — a cigarette pack. In person, it looks e

Size comparison with the universal reference standard — a cigarette pack.
In person, it looks even bigger because of the IWSP pack;

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - The backpack is so massive that you really need to balance it carefully when setting it down on

The backpack is so massive that you really need to balance it carefully when setting it down on a surface.

View from above. The wings are absolutely huge~

Various angles..

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - Upper body front shot. You can really tell the molded colors have gotten noticeably darker. The

Upper body front shot. You can really tell the molded colors have gotten noticeably darker. The face is a bit hard to see since it's hidden behind the IWSP;

The backpack itself is enormous. Quite a load to carry.

The white verniers can also move slightly up and down.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - Going with the I.W.S.P. spec bumped the price up ¥400 over the Aile version, but the contents a

Going with the I.W.S.P. spec bumped the price up ¥400 over the Aile version, but the contents are that much more substantial.

I.W.S.P. Pack

The color separation is quite impressive.

Look closely and you'll see the details are packed in nice and tight — really finely crafted.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - The Combined Shield with the I.W.S.P.'s signature 6-barrel gatling. Both the color separation a

The Combined Shield with the I.W.S.P.'s signature 6-barrel gatling. Both the color separation and detail are great!

The pointy bits on top of the shield can be pulled out and used as beam boomerangs.

The interior detail of the Combined Shield. Makes you go "now THAT'S MG!"

The gatling — every man's dream~

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - That said, the handle on top of the Combined Shield and the beam boomerang section don't hold o

That said, the handle on top of the Combined Shield and the beam boomerang section don't hold on very well and tend to fall off easily.
These are parts you could easily lose without noticing, so be careful.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - The Grand Slam that came with the PG Strike is included in this kit as a bonus too. Though the

The Grand Slam that came with the PG Strike is included in this kit as a bonus too.
Though the blade isn't plated, unfortunately.. -_-;
The various articulation on the grip section is pretty much identical to the PG version.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - The 9.1M anti-ship sword that stores in the lower sections on both sides of the I.W.S.P. pack.

The 9.1M anti-ship sword that stores in the lower sections on both sides of the I.W.S.P. pack. Take note of the color separation — not something you'd normally expect from Bandai.

Normal state. The molded colors have gotten richer and deeper.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - Comparing it to the original MG Strike, you can clearly see how much darker the molded colors h

Comparing it to the original MG Strike, you can clearly see how much darker the molded colors have become.
The white areas have shifted to a slightly grayish tone, and the blue and yellow sections have gotten noticeably deeper as well.

Outer armor removed

Internal frame

Frame articulation shots. Once again, this is a kit with a really well-made frame.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - The included stand is the same structure as the one used in the MG Wing Zero Custom and the fir

The included stand is the same structure as the one used in the MG Wing Zero Custom and the first-run limited edition of the 1/100 SEED Destiny kit.

A new connector piece has been added in the middle to ensure compatibility with the Strike.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - The stand connects to the spot on the original MG Aile Strike's rear end where you'd plug in th

The stand connects to the spot on the original MG Aile Strike's rear end where you'd plug in the "power cord" (;;).

Stand on!

The wings have a pretty wide range of movement up and down.

Articulation of the railgun on the I.W.S.P.

A dynamic side view using the railgun and wing articulation.

Action po~se. Yep, a kit with a backpack this big really needs a stand..

The sheer presence of the gatling cannon

This one has an impressive rear view too..

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - But.. thanks to the 105mm cannon sitting right next to the head, you can barely see the face fr

But.. thanks to the 105mm cannon sitting right next to the head, you can barely see the face from the side. T_T

Beam boomerang action

Holding the gatling with both hands

9.1M anti-ship sword draw shot. The structure makes it a bit tricky to get a good angle.

Anti-ship sword action~

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - But here's the downside of the stand.. if the center of gravity shifts even slightly forward, i

But here's the downside of the stand.. if the center of gravity shifts even slightly forward, it topples right over ;;
(hence why I'm holding it down with my hand)
Since it's not originally designed for this kit and I'm just borrowing the Wing Zero Custom's stand as-is..
This stand normally has two adjustable angles, but because of the balance issue, the forward-leaning angle
simply can't be used;;

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - And when you actually put it on the stand, most people will probably be caught off guard by thi

And when you actually put it on the stand, most people will probably be caught off guard by this problem..
The part that connects to the stand holds fine, but the rear skirt keeps separating from the body;;
It seems to be because this kit is heavier than the Aile version. You're better off just gluing it — your sanity will thank you.

Among the action poses, the anti-ship sword shot is definitely the best.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - The Grand Slam seems to just be thrown in as a bonus separate from the I.W.S.P. itself. It's li

The Grand Slam seems to just be thrown in as a bonus separate from the I.W.S.P. itself.
It's lighter than the PG version so it's easier to pose holding it. The only lingering disappointment is that it's not plated..

Normal version action shots and normal Strike's Armor Schneider action shots

Action shots using the stand

Together with the HG Strike Rouge IWSP.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - The gap between them feels enormous. The weight, detail, and color separation of MG is just on

The gap between them feels enormous. The weight, detail, and color separation of MG is just on a completely different level from HG!

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - Together with the original MG Aile Strike and Strike Rouge. Makes you wonder why the Sword and

Together with the original MG Aile Strike and Strike Rouge.
Makes you wonder why the Sword and Launcher packs haven't come out yet and the I.W.S.P. got released first.. hmm hmm..

Three colors of Strike

Comparison with the MG Aile Strike.. The I.W.S.P. volume is on a whole other level.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - A direct wing comparison with the MG Aile Strike. I didn't expect the difference to be this dra

A direct wing comparison with the MG Aile Strike. I didn't expect the difference to be this dramatic;;

Even from the side, the difference in volume is striking.

Either way, they're both awesome looking..

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - As per the original setting, the I.W.S.P. combined with Cagalli's Strike Rouge. They go togethe

As per the original setting, the I.W.S.P. combined with Cagalli's Strike Rouge. They go together really well ^^

A photo using the MG Aile Strike's launch platform. Naturally (?) 100% compatible.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. - And the reverse — the Aile Strike placed on the I.W.S.P.'s stand.. Looking at it now, it looks

And the reverse — the Aile Strike placed on the I.W.S.P.'s stand..
Looking at it now, it looks incredibly small compared to the I.W.S.P. ^^;

I wasn't expecting much from the I.W.S.P., but this thing is a massive hit ^^;

Straight build front / rear

After the MG Aile Strike launched what felt like a revolution in articulation and inner frame design, everyone was hoping for a flashy and varied lineup of striker packs to follow... but all we got was the Strike Rouge as a color variant, and then nothing but silence. Then, exactly three years later, the first new striker pack for the Strike Gundam finally arrived in MG form — and that's the I.W.S.P.

I'm not entirely sure why they skipped the Sword and Launcher — the main striker packs that actually appear in the anime — (even though the shoulder attachment gimmicks for those were already built into the kit) and went with the I.W.S.P. instead, but either way, I wasn't expecting all that much before it came out.
What are these guys up to now, churning out variation kits one after another while holding back some big surprise? That was roughly my thinking.

But this thing — it's an unexpected hit. ^_^;

First of all, I.W.S.P. stands for Integrated Weapons Strike Pack — literally a striker pack that bundles together a whole arsenal of weapons. It's a massive striker pack that throws in pretty much everything: a railgun, a 105mm cannon, wing flight units, and a 9.1M anti-ship sword. It doesn't actually appear in the anime — it exists as a setting in the SEED MSV line.

It previously came out in HG scale alongside the Strike Rouge (1/144 HG Strike Rouge + IWSP Review for reference) and got a decent reception. But MG is MG. It's been reborn at an ultra-high quality level that simply can't be compared to the HG that came before it.

So I went in thinking it was just another variation kit, whatever — and then the first thing that caught me off guard was the box art, which has more impact than any kit that's come before it..! I knew Bandai had been putting more emphasis on box art lately, but this one genuinely grabs you at a glance. Thinking about why, I reckon it's partly because it's a large ¥4000-class box with a pretty wide top surface, and that entire wide surface is completely filled by a single MS. The fact that they put the gatling — every man's dream — front and center probably helps too. Unlike the typical box art that sets a battlefield scene in the background and mixes in a few other units to create a panoramic composition, this one goes all-in on the main subject and fills the frame completely, which is what makes it so eye-catching. Don't just look at the small photos online — see the actual full-size box in person and you'll know exactly what I mean.

Opening the box gave me another "well, well, well" moment — roughly 50% of the runners are new, so it really doesn't feel like a simple variation kit. And you can tell at a glance that the color separation is pretty well done. Something felt off about this kit from the start — and sure enough, the real impact of a kit is always how it feels once it's finished. The presence it has is way beyond what I imagined. @_@

First, you're blown away by the massive wings that instantly make the already-large MG Aile's wings look puny. Then you're blown away again by the main backpack — big and hefty, yet with excellent detail. And then a third time, by the fact that the color separation on the wing sections — which kits had always just covered with stickers — is perfectly matched piece by piece. It gives you exactly this feeling: "Oh ho... these guys actually put in some serious work..""

Once it's finished and up on the stand, you get a sense of weight, intricacy, and presence that the MG Aile simply can't match. It's not just the huge wings — the 9.1M anti-ship sword with its refined color separation, and the Combined Shield's gatling with its spot-on detail and color separation all come together to make one seriously hefty, imposing package. At first I was puzzled why it was ¥400 more than the MG Aile when the stand had even gotten smaller, but once you've built it, you start thinking — actually, they didn't charge that much extra at all.

The included stand is the same as the existing Wing Zero Custom version, with just an adapter piece added in the middle to plug into the MG Aile's rear end. As you can probably guess just by looking at that massive backpack, this kit is one where a stand is pretty much essential. The weak ankle joints were always cited as the MG Strike's biggest flaw from the start, and because of that, standing it on the ground with the large I.W.S.P. pack on its back is pretty nerve-wracking. Whether it tips forward or backward, if the balance goes off, there's a 90% chance it'll fall over. On the stand though, it holds up just fine ^_^;

That said, I do have a few minor complaints about the stand — since it's borrowed from another kit, there are some slightly awkward aspects. Even though the stand is normally adjustable to two angles, if you lock it in the forward-leaning position, the center of gravity is off and it will absolutely topple forward;; Even with the stand locked in the upright position, if the center of gravity shifts forward it's still at risk of falling. On top of that, the stand's mounting point doesn't articulate, so you basically have to give up on creating a variety of dynamic angles.. T_T

And since this kit is considerably heavier than the MG Aile to begin with, the rear skirt piece that holds the stand tends to pop off from the body pretty often. The stand and the rear skirt gimmick lock together just fine, but the problem is that the rear skirt itself has a weak connection to the main body — just gluing it on is way more stable.

Once you get it up on the stand and start throwing it into various action poses, the naturally great looks mean that even just bending it this way and that gives off a seriously dynamic vibe. And as you can see in the photos, all those various weapons let you pull off all kinds of poses. It's nice that they threw in the Grand Slam from the PG Strike as a bonus, but it's a little frustrating that they didn't plate it ^^;; This is where you can't help but mutter "Classic Bandai~;;"

The molded colors have gone noticeably darker and richer overall compared to the original version, and that alone might be enough to win some people over. The colors alone definitely make it look more imposing. And with the massive I.W.S.P. loaded up with all kinds of weapons hanging off it, the feeling you get looking at this kit is — "This thing looks absolutely insanely powerful!"

When all is said and done, the phrase that best fits this kit is "surprise hit." It's a variation kit that nobody had high hopes for, but it delivers an intensity and quality that blows the original version clean out of the water. It's a good thing there were three years between this and the MG Aile — if they'd come out around the same time, the MG Aile would've been dead on arrival. The presence and sheer weight of this thing feels like it could even overshadow the MG Freedom Gundam, which was already considered a looker,

There's just one thing that bugs me though — the wings can't fold, so it takes up an absolutely massive amount of display space... T_T That's the one area where it really falls short compared to the MG Aile. Still, it's not the worst feeling when Bandai occasionally pulls off a surprise like this. :-)

MG GAT-X105 Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P.
Category	Rating	Analysis
Seam Lines	★★★★★	A few seam lines added on the I.W.S.P. rail gun, but overall excellent
Molding Color / Color Separation	★★★★★	Richer, more substantial molded colors. Color separation on the I.W.S.P. is nearly perfect.
Proportions	★★★★★	The weight and the looks are no joke..
Articulation	★★★★★	Articulation was already solid to begin with.
Joint Strength	★★★★☆	The ankle armor and ankles are still not great -_- Thank goodness for the stand..
Internal Frame	★★★★☆	Aside from the body looking a bit bare, the overall inner frame is still excellent.
Detail	★★★★★	The main body is great, but the I.W.S.P. detail is beyond expectations!
Weapons / Accessories	★★★★★	The I.W.S.P., Combined Shield, stand, and even the Grand Slam — an absolute deluxe package~
Parts Count / Price	★★★★★	334 parts total. Parts per ¥1,000: 79.5. Plenty of reason for the price increase!!!
Uniqueness	★★★★★	To think swapping out the weapon pack could level up the whole feel this dramatically.. What a surprise hit!
Dalong's Point : 98 pts.

MG Strike Gundam + I.W.S.P. | 2006. 10 | ¥4,200

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.