* This series is a lineup built around a standardized format, and since most of the features are shared across kits, I'll cover the common points first and then get into the individual characteristics. ^^
--- 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 made 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, which keeps 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 a breeze. The proportions have also shifted compared to older SD kits — the head is smaller and the overall silhouette is more slender, which seems to be the direction SD-grade kits are heading these days. The hollow backs that are a classic SD trait 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 almost 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 of them as standard. The frame structure also allows the upper body to lean forward slightly, 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 visuals are flashy, and being made in China probably helps, because 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," and if the theme appeals to you, it's an addictive lineup that's a lot of fun to collect.
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The 27th kit in the SD Sangoku Soketsuden lineup is Xu Huang Gundam Deathscythe. The design is based on the EW version of the Deathscythe, though the wings are considerably smaller than on the original mobile suit. The included weapon is the Lian She Shuang Qian — a Grim Reaper's scythe — and the blade section can be repositioned to use it in two different forms.
The inner sides of the arms and legs show the usual level of hollow backs seen in previous kits, and the right side of the backpack has a slot for storing the Bat Memory. The fit there is pretty loose though, so the Memory tends to pop out easily — definitely worth keeping an eye on so you don't lose it. As for the collab feature, you can combine this kit's weapons/wings with Xun Yu Strike Noir's weapons and Zhang Liao Sazabi's backpack to deck out Cao Cao Wing Gundam with a pretty spectacular set of wings. It's a bit of a hassle to set up, but the end result looks great. All in all, it's a solid average-quality kit, and if you're collecting Cao Cao's generals, this one's pretty much a must-have. :-)
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
