This is a review of my snap-built SD Strike Freedom Gundam, from the popular TV series Gundam Seed Destiny.  Got this kit from Toys ‘R Us for 450 PHP – not a bad price for a store owned by Robinsons :).  After building the SD Destiny Gundam a few weeks ago, I had to get my hands on its rival. And even though the SD Destiny is a newer release, this one has turned out to be a LOT better.

I don’t get all the hate for this kit, from what I gather from other blogs and comments. It’s easily one of the best SD’s I’ve ever built, so far. It’s cute, and bulky at the same time. It makes the SD Destiny look a bit on the scrawny side in comparison.  Bigger feet, bigger shoulder armor… the Strike Freedom simply lends itself well in SD form, I think.  Destiny looks like it agrees with me.

 

 

 

Some pictures of the box art:

The kit comes with four runners, a set of gold polycaps and a sheet of foil stickers.  For weapons, you get a mini beam saber, beam shield, beam cannons, rail guns, combo beam rifles, and of course, the iconic DRAGOON wing system.  No mini stand included, sadly :’-(

Articulation is good for an SD: arms can bend 90 degrees, the feet can wiggle around at the ankles, and I can even lift up the legs to chest level, without the clumsy side skirts/beam cannons/rail guns, of course.  The wings can also move 90 degrees.

On to the build!  (Yes, I use a pink cutting mat :))

Cleaning out the nub marks – hazardous to my fingers’ health 🙂

And I form… the HEAD!

Torso with the DRAGOON backpack attached.  The backpack can also bend forward.

The arms, stubby but sturdy

Fear the SD Strike Freedom Haro Custom!

Lots of polycaps in that waist unit

My favorite part, the big feet

The side skirts/beam cannons/rail guns.  Haro looks on in approval.

DRAGOON wings

The side skirts hang on to the lower body.  What were the side polycaps on the waist for, then?

Ya feelin’ lucky, punk?

The finished product

Overall, a really great kit, if you’re a fan of SD’s.  It’s got the badass weapons, the cute factor, and the cool factor.  It’s one of the rare SD kits that don’t need paint to look good; as you can see, the foil stickers can do the job.  Needs some painting, of course, to really bring out its features.  Especially the wings, which should be half cobalt blue, and the beam rifles that should be mostly white.  And of course, the panel lines.  I’ll get to that sometime, hopefully in the near future 😛

Until next time, fellow GPB’s (GunPla Builders)!  I’ll leave you with a face-off between Strike Freedom and Destiny.