<SD Gundam Force Series — General Notes> --------------------------------------------
SD Gundam Force was an anime that aired in 2004, and since it was aimed at younger kids, the model kit lineup was also released as simple ¥300-class kits.
Overall, the part count is kept to a minimum, and the color separation is basically three molded colors with a few seals thrown in. It's quick and easy to build, but the straight build visuals are relatively lacking. The hollow spots are limited to the soles of the feet and inner thighs, which is fewer than you might expect — but most kits have a fixed neck, with articulation limited to just shoulder and foot rotation, so it's pretty one-dimensional. Weapons are also kept minimal at just one or two, and there are no extra accessories to speak of.
As a bonus, if you cut the right corner of the manual into 12 strips and stack them, you can flip through them with your finger for a flipbook animation effect. (Kind of like those little thumb comics that used to come in old packs of gum..)
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This kit is SD Yami no Knight Deathscythe, released as No. 9 in the SD Gundam Force series. Compared to previous entries, it has a slightly higher part count of 16 pieces, and even includes large wings and chrome parts — which is why it comes in at ¥500, a full ¥200 more expensive.
True to the name "Knight of Darkness," the design features chrome head antenna covering the eyes, which is a pretty unique look. (Can't see where you're going, hence the darkness, maybe..?) Thanks to the large wings and chrome antenna, it has a relatively big and flashy presence. Also, compared to previous kits, the difference before and after applying the seals is quite noticeable — since the body (aside from the weapons and head antenna) is a solid dark blue, the seals really do a lot of the heavy lifting visually.
Anyway, the price does feel a bit steep, but it does a solid job of capturing the distinctive Deathscythe look with a simple build, so it's got its own charm as a kit. :-)
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
