OLD Turn A Gundam 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type

Release 1999.9

Price ¥2,500

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Box side view (1/3)

Box side view

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Runners (1/6)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Runners (2/6)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Runners (3/6)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Runners (4/6)

Runners

Gold-plated parts

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Parts layout (1/4)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Parts layout (2/4)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Parts layout (3/4)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Parts layout (4/4)

Parts diagram

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Manual (1/12)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Manual (2/12)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Manual (3/12)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Manual (4/12)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Manual (5/12)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Manual (6/12)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Manual (7/12)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Manual (8/12)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Manual (9/12)

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - Manual (10/12)

Manual

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Upgraded weapon loadout compared to the 1/144

The heat fan folded in half can be stored on the rear skirt.

The face parts can be swapped out for a scanning turret type.

OLD 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type - You can open the chest hatch to reveal the HPHGCP Generator, the power source of the Mobile

You can open the chest hatch to reveal the HPHGCP Generator, the power source of the Mobile Sumo.

The hatch on the back of the legs opens too.

Limb articulation

Articulated fingers with some serious hollow gaps (-_-)

Beam handgun action

Heat fan action

IF Generator action

Chest hatch open shot

Together with the 1/144 Mobile Sumo Gold Type

Together with the 1/100 Turn A Gundam.

This is the 1/100 Mobile Sumo Gold Type released as part of the old-release Turn A Gundam series. Unlike the 1/144 which came in a rather muddy molded color, the 1/100 goes all out with gold plating. The plating quality feels a little on the cheap side — it reads more like brass than true gold — but either way, it's a flashy kit with that characteristic sheen you get from plated parts.

Beyond the gold plating, there are several functional upgrades over the 1/144 as well. For starters, the IF Generator now comes with beam effect parts, and the heat fan is provided in two forms — fully open and folded up for storage. You can also open the chest hatch to reveal the HPHGCP Generator, the Mobile Sumo's power source, and a hatch-opening gimmick has been added to the back of the legs too. On top of that, a scanning turret-type face is included, so you get to choose between two different head configurations when building.

The limb articulation is pretty standard — about 90 degrees of bend — but the chunky, stocky build gives it a real sense of presence, so it actually poses pretty well. Joint strength is a bit of a mixed bag, though. Each individual joint doesn't feel loose on its own, but the overall bulk of the kit means it tends to wobble around rather than hold a crisp pose. It's not bad enough to collapse on you, and it'll hold together well enough, but given the size and style of this kit, I really wish the joints had been tightened up a bit more.

Also, the shoulder armor is double-layered, and the inner armor has a tendency to get pushed in easily, so you'll find yourself constantly pulling it back out — a bit of a hassle. The grip strength of the articulated fingers is also a little lacking, which makes it feel a bit unreliable when it comes to holding weapons securely.

So while this is definitely an upgrade over the 1/144 in a number of ways, it does feel a bit less structurally solid compared to the 1/100 Turn A. That said, considering you're getting a 1/100 kit with full gold plating for ¥2500, it's still a pretty worthwhile old-release kit in its own right. :-)
[ Updated at 2018.7.30 ]

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.