* This series follows a standardized lineup format where most kits share the same basic 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. 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 sculpting and sense of volume are impressive, and small gates are used throughout, making assembly nice and easy. The head is also smaller than traditional SD proportions, giving the overall silhouette a slimmer look — it seems like SD-grade proportions are steadily trending in this direction. The hollow areas typical of SD kits are mostly 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 trying to follow the SD Cross Frame concept but deliberately simplified it. Even so, this frame is a step up from older SD kits in terms of articulation. 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 slightly forward, which gives poses a better feel 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 visuals are flashy, and being made in China probably contributes to the generally good value for what you get. It's also worth noting that when the character names are written out in English, they use Chinese pronunciation rather than Japanese — which is a nice touch in its own way. Overall, I'd call the quality "better than expected," and if the theme appeals to you, this is an addictive lineup that's a lot of fun to build.
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The 20th kit in the SD Sangoku Soketsuden lineup is the Zhuge Liang Freedom Gundam. True to the Freedom name, the back wings can be deployed, and it comes with an opening/closing weapon called the Zhutian Luoxuan. The Moon Memory is stored in the backpack, and the hollow areas on the limbs are about average for the series.
The joints on Sangoku Soketsuden kits tend to feel a bit stiffer than your typical Bandai Gunpla, but this particular kit has some parts that pop off relatively easily — specifically the side skirts and the rotating section of the Zhutian Luoxuan, so keep that in mind. As for the crossover feature, the horn on the back can be attached to the SD Liu Bei Unicorn Gundam.
Anyway, the connection strength is a little on the weak side, but visually this is quite a striking kit. :-)
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
