Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

SD Unicorn Gundam O2 Banshee Norn - Shield, backpack, and head antenna added for the Norn (1/3)

Shield, backpack, and head antenna added for the Norn

A revolving launcher has been added to the rifle as well.

SD Unicorn Gundam O2 Banshee Norn - Aerial firing pose (1/3)

Aerial firing pose

SD Unicorn Gundam O2 Banshee Norn - Beam saber action (1/3)

Beam saber action

Configured in Unicorn Mode

SD Unicorn Gundam O2 Banshee Norn - With the shield removed, the Norn parts can also be plugged in upright in a crest-like sh

With the shield removed, the Norn parts can also be plugged in upright in a crest-like shape, as shown above.

SD Unicorn Gundam O2 Banshee Norn - The shield can also be folded for Unicorn Mode, but the very top section doesn't fold, so

The shield can also be folded for Unicorn Mode,
but the very top section doesn't fold, so it stays exposed in Destroy Mode form.

SD Unicorn Gundam O2 Banshee Norn - Shooting pose (1/3)

SD Unicorn Gundam O2 Banshee Norn - Shooting pose (2/3)

SD Unicorn Gundam O2 Banshee Norn - Shooting pose (3/3)

Firing pose

SD Unicorn Gundam O2 Banshee Norn - Aerial attack pose (1/3)

Aerial attack pose

Together with the SD Banshee.

Together with the HGUC Banshee Norn in Destroy Mode.

The Unicorn rush continues across the entire lineup — this time it's the BB Senshi Banshee Norn. As expected, it's the existing BB Senshi Banshee with Norn-specific parts added, but it also includes the psycho-frame exposed arms that were first introduced in the Full Armor Unicorn version. Up until the Banshee, only the legs had exposed psycho-frame.

To sort out this rather messy lineage of psycho-frame exposure improvements: the original BB Senshi Unicorn Gundam didn't reproduce the psycho-frame exposure on the limbs at all, making the Destroy Mode look pretty half-baked. Whether it was due to that criticism or not, the BB Senshi Banshee added psycho-frame exposure to the legs, and then the BB Senshi Full Armor version went further and added newly tooled psycho-frame arms as well, finally achieving a complete Destroy Mode reproduction. So the fourth release, Banshee Norn, comes out as the definitive version — with even more complete Destroy Mode coverage than the original Banshee, arms and all.

The Norn-specific parts pull off a convincing look with a small number of parts combined with a hefty amount of stickers. The sheer number of stickers does make the color feel a bit off in places, but the functionality is well reproduced. The additional backpack parts in particular do a nice job of showing off the design's intended look by mixing movable and fixed sections together. The shield is also articulated to switch between Unicorn and Destroy Mode, though the very top of the shield doesn't move, so Unicorn Mode ends up looking a little rough around the edges.

Overall this is an SD kit with a really flashy visual presence — the already-cool Banshee gets even more accessories piled on, making for a kit that's very satisfying to look at. One minor gripe is that the Norn backpack parts have a slightly weak connection and tend to fall off during posing, though thankfully it's not an issue when just standing it on display. The ankle and forearm ball joints also pop out fairly easily during posing, but that's been the case with previous kits too, so it's not a problem unique to this one.

Either way, whether you're a Unicorn fan or just someone who loves SD kits, this is a great-looking kit that I'd highly recommend alongside the Full Armor Unicorn version. :-)

SD Unicorn Gundam O2 Banshee Norn | 2014.5 | ¥1,200

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.