RG XXXG-01W

Wing Gundam EW

Kit Review

Snap-fit + Panel lining + Seals

RG Wing Gundam EW - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

RG Wing Gundam EW (1/6) RG Wing Gundam EW (2/6) RG Wing Gundam EW (3/6) RG Wing Gundam EW (4/6) RG Wing Gundam EW (5/6) RG Wing Gundam EW (6/6)

RG Wing Gundam EW - Detail shots (1/5) [N] RG Wing Gundam EW - Detail shots (2/5) [N] RG Wing Gundam EW - Detail shots (3/5) [N] RG Wing Gundam EW - Detail shots (4/5) [N] RG Wing Gundam EW - Detail shots (5/5) [N]

Detail shots

RG Wing Gundam EW - Outer armor removal shots (1/2) RG Wing Gundam EW - Outer armor removal shots (2/2)

Outer armor removal shot

RG Wing Gundam EW - Inner frame shots (1/2) RG Wing Gundam EW - Inner frame shots (2/2)

Internal frame

RG Wing Gundam EW - Frame detail shots (1/4) RG Wing Gundam EW - Frame detail shots (2/4) RG Wing Gundam EW - Frame detail shots (3/4) RG Wing Gundam EW - Frame detail shots (4/4)

Frame detail shots

RG Wing Gundam EW - All the standard weapons for Wing Gundam EW are included.

All the standard weapons for Wing Gundam EW are included.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Detail on the inside of the shield. The beam sabers are stored in there too.

Detail on the inside of the shield.
The beam sabers are stored in there too.

RG Wing Gundam EW - A total of 4 hand types are included.

A total of 4 hand types are included.

RG Wing Gundam EW - 1/100 pilot figure finely crafted with laser processing

1/100 pilot figure finely crafted with laser processing

RG Wing Gundam EW - Two joint parts for the Action Base 2 are included — one for MS mode and one for Bird mode.

Two joint parts for the Action Base 2 are included,
one for MS mode and one for Bird mode.

RG Wing Gundam EW - The cockpit hatch opening is reproduced, but the gimmick is pretty stiff so it's not easy to open and clo

The cockpit hatch opening is reproduced, but the gimmick is pretty stiff so it's not easy to open and close.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Vulcan pod opening gimmick on the shoulder.

Vulcan pod opening gimmick on the shoulder.

RG Wing Gundam EW - The shoulder pops off really easily during posing... The most annoying thing about this kit. -_-

The shoulder pops off really easily during posing... The most annoying thing about this kit. -_-

RG Wing Gundam EW - The yellow sections of the wings open up a bit further, and the small blue wings in the middle are also a RG Wing Gundam EW - The yellow sections of the wings open up a bit further, and the small blue wings in the middle are also a

The yellow sections of the wings open up a bit further, and the small blue wings in the middle are also articulated.
This is a gimmick that even the MG didn't have — very RG indeed. ^^

RG Wing Gundam EW - The shield, which wraps around and attaches to the inside of the arm, holds on pretty securely.

The shield, which wraps around and attaches to the inside of the arm, holds on pretty securely.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Leftover parts from the RG Wing Zero.

Leftover parts from the RG Wing Zero.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Articulation is great, as you'd expect from an RG!

Articulation is great, as you'd expect from an RG!

RG Wing Gundam EW - Just like the RG Wing Zero, using the hip joint slide gimmick gives the legs just a liiittle more range o

Just like the RG Wing Zero, using the hip joint slide gimmick gives the legs just a liiittle more range of motion.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Aerial firing pose (1/3) RG Wing Gundam EW - Aerial firing pose (2/3) RG Wing Gundam EW - Aerial firing pose (3/3)

Aerial firing pose

RG Wing Gundam EW - Beam saber pose (1/3) RG Wing Gundam EW - Beam saber pose (2/3) RG Wing Gundam EW - Beam saber pose (3/3)

Beam saber pose

RG Wing Gundam EW - Shoulder vulcan firing pose (1/3) RG Wing Gundam EW - Shoulder vulcan firing pose (2/3) RG Wing Gundam EW - Shoulder vulcan firing pose (3/3)

Shoulder vulcan firing pose

Transformation

RG Wing Gundam EW - Lower the shoulders and rotate the arms 90 degrees...

Lower the shoulders and rotate the arms 90 degrees...

RG Wing Gundam EW - Then fold the legs slightly like so.

Then fold the legs slightly like so.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Slide the backpack down toward the rear end.

Slide the backpack down toward the rear end.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Combine the shield and rifle. (1/2) RG Wing Gundam EW - Combine the shield and rifle. (2/2)

Combine the shield and rifle.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Connect the shield+rifle to the body and plug in the energy pack — transformation complete.

Connect the shield+rifle to the body and plug in the energy pack — transformation complete.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Transformed into Bird mode (1/2) RG Wing Gundam EW - Transformed into Bird mode (2/2)

Transformed into Bird mode

RG Wing Gundam EW - Underside

Underside

RG Wing Gundam EW - On a clear stand (1/6) RG Wing Gundam EW - On a clear stand (2/6) RG Wing Gundam EW - On a clear stand (3/6) RG Wing Gundam EW - On a clear stand (4/6) RG Wing Gundam EW - On a clear stand (5/6) RG Wing Gundam EW - On a clear stand (6/6)

On a clear stand

RG Wing Gundam EW - Together with the RG Wing Gundam Zero EW.

Together with the RG Wing Gundam Zero EW.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Together with the MG Wing Gundam EW.

Together with the MG Wing Gundam EW.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Together with the HGUC Wing Gundam / Wing Zero Gundam.

Together with the HGUC Wing Gundam / Wing Zero Gundam.

RG Wing Gundam EW - Snap-fit build shots (1/2) RG Wing Gundam EW - Snap-fit build shots (2/2)

Snap-fit build

The Wing Gundam Zero EW (Endless Waltz) version has been released as the 20th RG kit, and it feels like a variation of the RG Wing Gundam Zero EW (a.k.a. Wing Zero Custom). In fact, the solid frame runners are shared with Wing Zero Custom, and two of its system injection runners are also reused here with just the molded color changed.

While the base is similar to the RG Wing Zero Custom, a good portion of the exterior — especially the wings — is different enough that the two kits feel clearly distinct from each other. In particular, even at the small 1/144 scale, the cockpit hatch and shoulder vulcan pod opening gimmicks are both reproduced, which really makes you go "yep, this is an RG alright!" That said, the cockpit hatch gimmick is quite stiff, making it pretty inconvenient to open and close.

The wings feature a special new gimmick I hadn't seen before — the yellow cover panels on the outer edges of the wings open up to expand the wing surface, and the small blue wings in the middle are articulated as well. Neither of these were present on the MG, but then again, the MG Wing Gundam EW's skeleton was designed back in 2004, so you have to account for that 12-year gap.

True to the RG line, the meticulous color separation — even better than the MG — means the snap-fit build alone already looks great, and the articulation is top-notch as well. However, the shoulder armor popping off during posing is a significant downside. Sure, other RG kits have had shoulder armor that pops off occasionally, but this RG Wing Gundam EW seems to be the worst offender yet... You can't even glue it down, and it just keeps falling off — so frustrating!

The Bird mode transformation is well reproduced at the same level as the existing MG, and being smaller and lighter at 1/144 scale, the stability and lockup after transformation actually feels better than the MG. One thing though — unlike the MG, you can't prop it up using the large rear wings as a stand since the wings are a bit shorter here. On the bright side, because it's so light, it stands up fine on its own without much trouble despite those big wings, so that's a relief.

To sum it up, it's a solid, clean RG-quality kit, but compared to other RGs it feels like it's missing something unique or fresh. Part of that is probably because it's essentially a variation of the Wing Zero Custom which shares a similar base — but either way, the fact that the popular Wing Gundam EW has finally gotten the RG treatment is meaningful in itself. :-)

RG Wing Gundam EW | 2016. 1 | ¥2,800