MG Aile Strike Gundam vs 1/100 Gundam Astray Red Frame
Let's do a quick articulation comparison between the MG Aile Strike Gundam — currently reigning as the king of articulation — and the
Gundam Astray Red Frame, widely praised for its outstanding value for money.
Two kits with insane joint articulation — the MG Aile Strike and the 1/100 No Grade Astray Red Frame.
What a cute couple~ Both can fully bend their limbs, though the MG Aile seems to fold just a little bit more due to its leg structure.
The MG Aile's shoulder joints not only swing forward and back, but also raise up and down dramatically.
The Astray, which only moves front to back, can only look on with envy..
Astray says: "Hahaha, MG Aile — my wrists bend 90 degrees. Bet you can't do THAT??"
MG Aile Strike says: "Ugh.. fair point.. but hey, my fingers move, so there hehe"
The deep squat punishment pose.. (some people call it the "taking a dump" pose, but anyway..) Both of them can pull off this seriously tricky stance.
Hmm.. but the MG Aile is more flexible overall — it looks like it's fully sitting down, and even the sole of the foot has a double-split structure.
Either way, both of these guys are serious contenders when it comes to articulation in the Gunpla world~
The 1/100 No Grade Astray Red Frame has stepped up to challenge the MG Aile Strike — currently the undisputed king of articulation among all Gunpla — and it's doing so as a No Grade kit, no less.
Bottom line: the MG Aile still comes out on top with its seemingly limitless articulation. The leg bend, the double-split foot sole, the shoulder joint that shoots straight up... and especially that tight, solid feel to the joints — it really makes you go "yep, this is MG quality!" That said, the MG Aile does have its well-known chronic flaw: the ankle joints are a bit loose, and the ankle guards tend to fall off constantly, which is super annoying.
The 1/100 No Grade Astray Red Frame doesn't really have any noticeably loose parts, but the joints aren't as rock-solid tight as the MG Aile's either. They're just about flexible enough without being floppy.. (which is actually a common trait across the 1/100 Strike Gundam lineup) Still, the fact that this is a No Grade 1/100 kit at roughly half the price of the MG Aile, yet boasts a range of motion that beats most MG kits by a step or two — that's pretty undeniable.
The MG Aile Strike remains the king of articulation, and the 1/100 Astray is the best value-for-money kit out there — both are absolutely top-tier, highly recommended items. ^_^