SD Sangoku Soketsuden Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam

Release 2019.3

Price ¥800First release price: ¥600

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

Runners

Parts diagram

SD Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam - Manual (1/4)

SD Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam - Manual (2/4)

Manual

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Front view of straight build before stickers

SD Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam - After applying seals (1/2)

SD Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam - After applying seals (2/2)

After applying stickers

SD Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam - The shared SJP-1 frame runner and frame. Feels like they tried to imitate the Cross Silhouette an

The shared SJP-1 frame runner and frame.
Feels like they tried to imitate the Cross Silhouette and then deliberately simplified it.

Hollow insides on the arms and legs

SD Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam - The weapon called the Ryūtanfine can be configured from blade mode to gun mode by folding the bla

The weapon called the Ryūtanfine can be configured from blade mode to gun mode by folding the blade and handle.

The left arm houses the Dragon Memory.

Most parts feature small gates like the ones shown above.

SD Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam - Compared to standard SD articulation, the knees can bend and the shoulders move slightly forward

Compared to standard SD articulation, the knees can bend and the shoulders move slightly forward and back.

Due to the frame structure, the upper body can tilt slightly forward as well.

SD Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam - Action Pose (1/3)

Action pose

Together with BB Senshi Unicorn Gundam

Together with SD Shin Liu Bei Gundam.

* Since this series follows a standardized lineup format with most features being the same across kits, I'll cover the common points first and then the individual highlights. ^^

--- SD Sangoku Soketsuden plastic model common notes -----------------
In 2019, the SD Sangoku Soketsuden project kicked off to celebrate Gundam's 40th anniversary. The plastic models in this series are produced at Bandai's Chinese factory rather than the Shizuoka plant, so the molded colors are a touch duller and the plastic feels a bit harder compared to Shizuoka-made kits. That said, the color separation is excellent, keeping seal usage to a minimum while still delivering a really striking look. The detail is a little soft, but the sense of volume and overall sculpt are impressive, and small gates are used throughout, making assembly nice and easy. The head is also smaller than traditional SDs and the proportions are more slender — seems like SD proportions keep trending in this direction. The hollow areas typical of SD kits are mainly found on the inner sides of the arms and legs, but they're positioned in spots where they're relatively hard to notice, so it doesn't really stand out.

In terms of construction, a shared frame runner is included, though it only covers the torso and thighs. It feels like they were going for something like the SD Cross Silhouette frame but deliberately kept it simpler. Even so, this frame is a step up from traditional SDs in terms of articulation. Knee joints that didn't exist before have been added, the shoulders move slightly forward and back, and the waist can rotate on all of them as standard. The frame structure also allows the upper body to tilt slightly forward, which gives you more expressive poses than older SDs.

Accessories are kept to a minimum — most kits come with just one unique weapon. So while the contents are simple, the visuals are flashy, and being made in China, the value for money feels pretty good relative to what you get. It's also worth noting that when the character names are written in English, they use Chinese pronunciation rather than Japanese — which is a nice touch in its own way. Overall, I'd call it "better quality than expected" — if the theme is your thing, it's an addictive lineup you'll have a lot of fun with.
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This kit is the SD Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam, the first release in the series. The weapon, the Ryūtanfine, can transform between blade mode and gun mode, and the Dragon Memory is stored in the left arm. The Destroy Mode feel — with the psycho-frame exposed, which is one of Unicorn Gundam's defining traits — comes through really well, though the somewhat excessively slender proportions will probably be a love-it-or-hate-it thing.

Either way, it's a kit that's very much in tune with the latest trends, as you'd expect from a new lineup — it's fun to build and the finished result looks fantastic. If you're a fan of SD Gundam and love Romance of the Three Kingdoms, this one's a strong recommendation. :-)

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.