Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining + Seals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue (1/7)

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue (2/7)

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue (3/7)

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue (4/7)

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue (5/7)

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue (6/7)

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue (7/7)

Upper body and head

Arms. There are claws on the backs of the hands.

Massive shoulder armor.

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue - Back section (1/3)

Back section

Legs

Flipper feet

An extra joint added at the shoulders and hips, making the arms and legs longer.

All the standard weapons are included just the same.

The Gerbera Straight is missing its plating too, so it doesn't look that great..

Fully armed.

Leftover parts from the Astray.

Articulation is the same as the original Astray.

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue - Shooting pose (1/3)

Shooting pose

Gerbera Straight action

Beam saber action

Transformation

First, bend the hands and feet backward

Rotate the arms 180 degrees, raise them up, then bring them forward.

Bend the added hip joint to raise the legs up

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue - Get it into a prone position, then flip the head section that was on the back up

Get it into a prone position, then flip the head section that was on the back upward
and the simple transformation is complete.

Transformed into what's called Brute Mode.
It just looks like a dog...;

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue - Woof woof.. (1/5)

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue - Woof woof.. (2/5)

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue - Woof woof.. (3/5)

Woof woof..

Head section.

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue - Some action poses. You can plug 2 beam saber blade parts into the head. (1/4)

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue - Some action poses. You can plug 2 beam saber blade parts into the head. (2/4)

Some action poses.
You can plug 2 beam saber blade parts into the head.

Comparison with the standard Astray Red Frame.
It's gotten quite a bit taller.

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue - Together with the Astray Mirage Frame. Same lineage, but the look and feel are c

Together with the Astray Mirage Frame.
Same lineage, but the look and feel are completely different.

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue - With the Mirage Frame's feet and arms attached. (1/3)

With the Mirage Frame's feet and arms attached.

You can also attach the Mirage Frame's feet and arms in Brute Mode.

The look of it just seems... really impractical for moving around.

Straight build

This kit is the Mirage Frame 2nd Issue — a modified version of the Astray Mirage Frame, which was one of the kits in the VS Astray series. It uses most of the original Astray's parts as a base, with new hands and feet, a new head, a new backpack, and additional arm/leg joints added on top. The extra content amounts to roughly one runner, but the color scheme is so different that it ends up looking like a completely different kit.

Beyond the bold color scheme, the added joints at the hips and shoulders make the arms and legs longer, giving it a pretty unique set of proportions. The massive shoulder armor in particular makes the overall design a lot more complex, and the end result is something that, while technically a variation, has a really distinctive feel all its own.

The joint and articulation issues are identical to the existing Astray, so there's not much to add there — but it's more than good enough for the price. The biggest feature of the 2nd Issue is the ability to transform into a beast form called Brute Mode, though honestly it's less of a transformation and more like it's just crouching down. ^^; It's hard to tell whether it's supposed to be a dog or a wolf, but I still think it's a pretty fresh approach.

In the end, this looks like it'll be a great example of how just a few extra parts, some changes to the molded color, and the addition of a transformation gimmick can produce a really distinctive variation. The slightly sinister look could actually be a charm point depending on the person. The price is reasonable too, so if the design catches your eye, it's a solid item worth picking up without hesitation. :-)

1/100 Gundam Astray Mirage Frame 2nd Issue | 2010. 1 | ¥2,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.