Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining + Seals

1. UNICORN MODE

Size comparison with a cigarette pack.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Detail shots (1/5)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Detail shots (2/5)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Detail shots (3/5)

Detail shots

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Armor removal shots. The PG Unicorn has such a complex armor structure, and with the LED

Outer armor removed shot.
The PG Unicorn has such a complex armor structure, and with the LED unit all tangled up in there, taking the armor off is a real pain.. T_T

Unicorn Mode inner frame shots

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Frame detail shots. Since this was photographed with the separately-sold LED unit install

Frame detail shots.
Since this was photographed with the separately-sold LED unit installed in the frame, some wiring is visible.

Inner frame in Destroy Mode.
At a glance, it's hard to tell apart from Unicorn Mode. ^^;;

The Armed Armor DE is fitted over the existing Unicorn shield.

Unicorn Mode Armed Armor DE

The Banshee Norn features the fan-shaped Armed Armor XC mounted on the backpack.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - The center section of the Armed Armor XC is rendered in clear parts — though honestly, co

The center section of the Armed Armor XC is rendered in clear parts —
though honestly, plated parts might have looked even cooler..

The Beam Magnum now comes with a Revolving Launcher that wasn't included before.

Beam Magnum with the Revolving Launcher attached.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - You can also flip the inner parts of the Revolving Launcher 180 degrees and plug in beam

You can also flip the inner parts of the Revolving Launcher 180 degrees and plug in beam parts.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - The spare Revolving Launcher can be stored in the rear skirt by pulling out the locking p

The spare Revolving Launcher can be stored in the rear skirt by pulling out the locking pin.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Since the Armed Armor DE is much larger and heavier than the standard shield, it attaches

Since the Armed Armor DE is much larger and heavier than the standard shield,
it attaches to the forearm by clamping onto both sides.
Thanks to that, the big Armed Armor DE doesn't fall off easily.

There's also a separate part you can use to secure the shield to the back.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - As shown above, the Armed Armor DE can be fixed to the center of the backpack. (1/3)

As shown above, the Armed Armor DE can be fixed to the center of the backpack.

The beam sabers have moved inside the Armed Armor XC.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Joint parts for attaching the Armed Armor DE to the PG Unicorn Full Armor version are als

Joint parts for attaching the Armed Armor DE to the PG Unicorn Full Armor version are also included.

Pilot figure.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - The articulation is naturally identical to the PG Unicorn. The limbs fold up perfectly, j

The articulation is naturally identical to the PG Unicorn.
The limbs fold up perfectly, just as you'd expect from a PG.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Beam Magnum two-handed firing pose (1/4)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Beam Magnum two-handed firing pose (2/4)

Beam Magnum two-handed firing pose

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Standing pose (1/4)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Standing pose (2/4)

Standing pose

Together with the HGUC Banshee Norn in Unicorn Mode.

2. DESTROY MODE

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - This time, a size comparison with a cigarette pack in Destroy Mode. With the Armed Armor

This time, a size comparison with a cigarette pack in Destroy Mode.
With the Armed Armor XC added on top of everything, it's got an absolutely massive presence.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Detail shots (1/4)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Destroy Mode with the Armed Armor DE mounted on the existing shield. (1/3)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Destroy Mode with the Armed Armor DE mounted on the existing shield. (2/3)

Destroy Mode with the Armed Armor DE attached to the standard shield.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Beam Magnum pose with beam parts attached. (1/4)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Beam Magnum pose with beam parts attached. (2/4)

Beam Magnum pose with beam parts attached.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Beam saber action pose (1/4)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Beam saber action pose (2/4)

Beam saber action pose

Together with the HGUC Banshee Norn in Destroy Mode.

Together with the MG Banshee.
The Banshee Norn was released in MG as a G-Club exclusive.

Together with the PG Unicorn Destroy Mode.

3. UNCHAINED MODE

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Fully transformed into Unchained Mode. (1/6)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Fully transformed into Unchained Mode. (2/6)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Fully transformed into Unchained Mode. (3/6)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Fully transformed into Unchained Mode. (4/6)

Fully transformed into Unchained Mode.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Unchained Mode detail shots. (1/4)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Unchained Mode detail shots. (2/4)

Unchained Mode detail shots.

4. LED UNIT (sold separately)

LED ON with just the frame.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Just tried it for fun, but it doesn't look that great with just the frame.. ^^; (1/5)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Just tried it for fun, but it doesn't look that great with just the frame.. ^^; (2/5)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Just tried it for fun, but it doesn't look that great with just the frame.. ^^; (3/5)

Just tried it for fun, but it doesn't look that great with just the frame.. ^^;

LED ON in Unicorn Mode.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - The light seeping through the gaps in the armor looks cool, but the LED effect in Unicorn

The light seeping through the gaps in the armor looks cool,
but the LED effect in Unicorn Mode seems to suit the white Unicorn Gundam a bit better.

Action pose with the LED on.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - The LED is definitely at its best in Destroy Mode!!! It gives off a totally different vib

The LED is definitely at its best in Destroy Mode!!!
It gives off a totally different vibe depending on the external lighting and camera exposure.

The LED glow effect looks great even with the external lights on.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - The Banshee's orange inner frame looks even more intense than the Unicorn's pink. (1/4)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - The Banshee's orange inner frame looks even more intense than the Unicorn's pink. (2/4)

The Banshee's orange inner frame looks even more intense than the Unicorn's pink.

Still, turning off the external lights is the way to go!!!!

It's got this intense glowing look that almost reminds you of Diablo.

The LED lighting inside the cockpit hatch is great too~

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Beam Magnum action pose with external lights ON/OFF. (1/4)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Beam Magnum action pose with external lights ON/OFF. (2/4)

Beam Magnum action pose with external lights ON/OFF.

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Beam saber action pose with external lights ON/OFF as well. (1/4)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Beam saber action pose with external lights ON/OFF as well. (2/4)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Beam saber action pose with external lights ON/OFF as well. (3/4)

Beam saber action poses with external lighting ON/OFF

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Unchained Mode with external lighting ON/OFF (1/4)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - Unchained Mode with external lighting ON/OFF (2/4)

Unchained Mode with external lighting ON/OFF

Unicorn and Banshee both with LEDs ON!!

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn - LEDs always look best with the lights off.. These were tough shots to get (-_-;) so be a

LEDs always look best with the lights off..
These were tough shots to get (-_-;) so be a sport and click to view at full size~

Unicorn Mode straight build shots

Destroy Mode straight build shots

Just as everyone expected after the PG Unicorn was released, the PG Banshee followed about 9 months later. Though it wasn't just a plain Banshee — it came out as the Banshee Norn, complete with Armed Armor XC and DE. (The normal Banshee's Armed Armor VN and BS were subsequently released as Club G exclusives.)

First off, the base body is completely identical to the existing PG Unicorn Gundam except for the head antenna, with only the molded colors changed. On top of that, the fan-shaped Armed Armor XC for the backpack and the massive shield-type Armed Armor DE were added, along with a Revolving Launcher attached under the Beam Magnum. The head antenna has been changed, but just like the PG Unicorn Gundam, magnets are fitted inside the antenna so the two sides snap together in Unicorn Mode — that feature is kept intact.

The newly added Armed Armor XC and DE are faithfully reproduced with great visuals and functionality, and despite their large size they stay securely attached to the body. I was especially worried about the enormously large Armed Armor DE shield, but thankfully it holds on well thanks to a clamping mechanism that grips both sides of the elbow. That said, while the shield itself holds up fine, the weight of it can sometimes cause the upper arm joint to pop right out of the shoulder, so you do need to handle it carefully.

The Revolving Launcher added under the Beam Magnum can also have separate beam parts attached to it, but as a result the Beam Magnum itself has gotten noticeably heavier, making it even harder to hold the arm out straight. As you can see in the photos, the wrist joint just can't hold up against the weight of the weapons and tends to droop downward, which is a bit of a shame.

So there is some instability due to the added weight of the weapons, but the rest of the body joints hold up pretty solidly from head to toe, giving you plenty of pose stability. Just like the PG Unicorn, the overall quality of the kit itself is still absolutely fantastic. For a detailed review of the base body structure, check out the PG Unicorn partial review and full review— this is truly the crown jewel of the PG lineup, concentrating every bit of Bandai's engineering know-how. On top of that, the color scheme looks even more powerful compared to the white Unicorn, and with the Armed Armor DE and XC it's become even more massive and imposing, so visually it feels like a definite step up.

The LED lighting visuals with the separately sold LED unit are just absolutely breathtaking. The Unicorn with its pink inner frame was stunning, but the Banshee Norn's LED visuals — with that intense color like crimson blood flowing through it — are almost terrifying, like Diablo himself has appeared right in front of you...

Anyway, since the base body was already known to be top quality, the PG Banshee Norn turned out to be every bit as incredible as expected. Still, it's really hard to convey through photos and words alone just how impressive it is to actually hold and see in person. The PG Unicorn was amazing, but the PG Banshee Norn looks set to remain the ultimate showpiece of Bandai's Gunpla lineup for quite a long time to come. :-)

PG Unicorn Gundam 02 Banshee Norn | 2015.9 | ¥22,000

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.