Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Straight build

SD Unicorn Gundam [Destroy Mode] - Photos after applying seals (1/4)

SD Unicorn Gundam [Destroy Mode] - Photos after applying seals (2/4)

SD Unicorn Gundam [Destroy Mode] - Photos after applying seals (3/4)

SD Unicorn Gundam [Destroy Mode] - Photos after applying seals (4/4)

After applying stickers

SD Unicorn Gundam [Destroy Mode] - Massive hollow gaps on the back of the legs. The holes on the hands and inner forearms loo

Massive hollow gaps on the back of the legs.
The holes on the hands and inner forearms look relatively small by comparison ;;

Rear view with the backpack removed

SD Unicorn Gundam [Destroy Mode] - They made an effort to add some molded detail to the inside of the shield, but it doesn't

They made an effort to add some molded detail to the inside of the shield, but it doesn't really have much depth to it..

Articulation is on par with the existing EX-Standard lineup.

SD Unicorn Gundam [Destroy Mode] - Shooting poses come out looking pretty cool. (1/3)

Shooting poses come out looking pretty cool.

Airborne pose

Aerial charge pose

Original gimmick A:
Beam rifle + head antenna

Original gimmick B:
Beam rifle + head antenna + backpack + shield

SD Unicorn Gundam [Destroy Mode] - Alongside the BB Senshi Unicorn Gundam. The sculpt feels pretty similar, but the EX-Standa

Alongside the BB Senshi Unicorn Gundam.
The sculpt feels pretty similar, but the EX-Standard has slightly more modern proportions.

Alongside the previous EX-Standard First Gundam.

The Unicorn Gundam in Destroy Mode has been released as the 5th entry in the SD EX-Standard lineup. As the name suggests, there's no transformation gimmick like the old BB Senshi — it comes fixed in Destroy Mode right out of the box.

The overall package stays true to the EX-Standard concept, delivering the best possible proportions with the fewest parts possible. Compared to the BB Senshi Unicorn, it feels like it has less than half the parts count, yet the finished sculpt gives off a surprisingly similar vibe. Sure, the color separation isn't great so you'll need to slap on a ton of seals, but the final visual quality is actually pretty decent regardless.

That said, the sheer number of seals is no joke — expect to spend about 3 to 5 times longer on the seals than on the actual build, and the result still won't look as natural as the BB Senshi. In particular, even though this is Destroy Mode, there are only 4 psycho-frame parts included, which means the rest has to be covered with seals — so that awkward mismatch between the frame sections is pretty much unavoidable. (And painting won't really fix it either...)

On the flip side, the charm of this series is that even with a simple build and basic seal work, the end result still looks pretty good — and that holds true here. The reduced parts count also means the price is significantly lower than the BB Senshi, and the action poses turn out better than you'd expect. It feels like a beginner-oriented lineup, but the finished look is hard to dismiss — it's a strangely compelling little kit. Honestly, it's perfect for when you just want something fun to put together on a lazy afternoon. :-)

SD Unicorn Gundam [Destroy Mode] | 2015.11 | ¥600

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.