* Since this is a standardized lineup, most of the kits share the same characteristics, so I'll split the review into common points and kit-specific features. ^^
--- SD Sangoku Soketsuden common notes -----------------
In 2019, the SD Sangoku Soketsuden project kicked off to celebrate Gundam's 40th anniversary. These kits 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 in places, but the sculpting and sense of volume are impressive, and small gates are used throughout, making assembly a breeze. The proportions have also shifted from traditional SD — the head is smaller and the overall silhouette is more slender, which seems to be the direction SD kits are heading these days. The hollow areas that are a hallmark of SD kits are mostly found on the inner sides of the arms and legs, but they're positioned in spots where they're not too noticeable, so it doesn't really bother you.
In terms of construction, a shared frame runner is included, though it only covers the torso and thighs. It feels a bit like they were trying to follow the SD Cross Frame concept but deliberately simplified it. Even so, this frame does push the articulation noticeably beyond what older SD kits offered. Knee joints have been added where there were none before, the shoulders can swing slightly forward and back, and the waist can rotate on all kits as standard. The frame structure also allows the upper body to lean forward a little, which gives you more expressive poses than previous SD kits.
Accessories are kept to a minimum — most kits come with just one unique weapon. So while the contents are simple, the visual impact is impressive, and perhaps because these are made in China, the value for money feels pretty good relative to what you get. It's also worth noting that the character names are written in Chinese pronunciation rather than Japanese romanization when spelled out in English, which is a nice touch. Overall, I'd call the quality "better than expected" — if the theme appeals to you, this is an addictive lineup that's a lot of fun to collect.
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The fourth kit in the SD Sangoku Soketsuden lineup is Cao Cao Wing Gundam. Its two Shuang Hu Jian swords can be combined into the Shuang Shuang Pai Jian — it feels like a sword-based take on Wing Gundam's Twin Buster Rifle, which is a cool concept. The Phoenix Memory stores in the backpack, and the large wings can move slightly forward and back, letting you pull off some more dynamic poses. The wings and shoulders do interfere with each other a bit though, which makes posing a little fiddly, and the overall color scheme is quite dark, so it ends up looking a bit less flashy compared to the others.
True to the Cao Cao character, this kit has a very different feel from the previous three brothers' kits — each character really does have its own distinct personality and style. Either way, the build quality is solid, making this a satisfying addition to the collection. :-)
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
