OLD Endless Waltz 1/100 Gundam Nataku

Release 1997.2

Price ¥1,800

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

OLD 1/100 Gundam Nataku - Box side view (1/3)

Box side view

Runners

OLD 1/100 Gundam Nataku - Parts layout (1/5)

OLD 1/100 Gundam Nataku - Parts layout (2/5)

OLD 1/100 Gundam Nataku - Parts layout (3/5)

OLD 1/100 Gundam Nataku - Parts layout (4/5)

OLD 1/100 Gundam Nataku - Parts layout (5/5)

Parts diagram

OLD 1/100 Gundam Nataku - Manual (10/12)

Manual

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

A pilot figure is included.

Chang Wufei figure

OLD 1/100 Gundam Nataku - Dragon Hang deployed. The joint strength is solid enough to hold a mid-air pose, but balancing the

Dragon Hang deployed. The joint strength is solid enough to hold a mid-air pose, but balancing the center of gravity is a real struggle.

Articulated fingers

Leftover parts

Average limb articulation

OLD 1/100 Gundam Nataku - Dragon Hang action poses (1/4)

OLD 1/100 Gundam Nataku - Dragon Hang action poses (2/4)

Dragon Hang action poses

Dragon Hang gathered to the front

Twin Beam Trident action poses

Together with the 1/144 Gundam Nataku.

Together with the 1/100 Altron Gundam.

This kit is the 1/100 Gundam Nataku released as part of the old Gundam W Endless Waltz series. All the Endless Waltz 1/100 kits come with a soft-material pilot figure, and this one includes Chang Wufei.

Being 1/100 scale, the color separation is a slight step up from the 1/144, though the yellow stripe on the chest is still handled with a sticker. Everything else in terms of molded colors is identical to the 1/144, so it honestly feels like a blown-up copy. That said, the beam parts of the Twin Beam Trident are done in soft material, which does set it apart pretty clearly.

The Dragon Hang — the signature gimmick of Gundam Nataku — is implemented fairly solidly on its own. The problem is that the knee and elbow joints are weak, so once the Dragon Hang is deployed, keeping the center of gravity balanced is no easy task. The grip strength is also borderline, so holding the Twin Beam Trident is possible, but just barely.

So yeah, the articulation is pretty average and the joint strength balance is a bit iffy, but thanks to the flashy Dragon Hang and Twin Beam Trident, the poses still manage to look pretty dynamic. Either way, since this unit has never gotten an official MG release, if you're after a 1/100 scale Nataku, there's really no other option. :-)
[ Updated at 2018.6.7 ]

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.