Robot Damashii Turn A Gundam Review

Price: 3000 Yen

This post has been delayed for quite some time (since the photos are already taken for a while) but I feel that I have some time to spare to post it up today. =)
There isn't a need of much explanations for this one since I already did a review on the MG not too long ago.

Read on for the full review~
Note: If you're wondering, I did panel line the Turn A a bit but some shots (since I took them from time to time) may not have any panel lines or less.

Part 1: Box

Your usual box design for figures with the transparent cover in front and the details of the figure at the back.

Part 2: Box Open!
The RD Turn A comes with quite a number of parts such as;

• Holding Hands (to hold the weapons)
• Open Palms
• A Solid Mustache/V-Fin (if you do not like the bendable one already used)
• Add-on for the Back to Hold the Beam Rifle & Shield When Not Used
  
• Beam Rifle & Shield
• Alternate Vents for the Legs (clogged ones*)
• 'Clips'/Holder for the Beam Sabers
• Beam Sabers
• Alternate Chest (firing missiles)
• Turn A Itself (duh)
  

Part 3: Comparisons

The Turn A's box is slightly smaller than the Unicorn Destroy. Of course, the difference of 800 Yen should make it fairly obvious.

RDs are roughly 12cm in height so Turn A is rather short in this line.

It can be considered to be accurate here since Unicorn Destroy is taller than Turn A by 1.7m.

Quite a lot of difference in height when compared with the MG, eh? XP

Part 4: Up, Left, Down, Right!

The great thing about this RD is how close it is to the MG design! However, after playing with it a bit, I realized that some of the weaknesses are kept as well. ^^;

Part 5: Articulation & Gimmicks

The RD Turn A has superb articulation all around. It can also, somewhat, do a high kick! The legs also does not come off from the waist unlike the MG which is the greatest pro for me as it made it possible for me to play with it... extensively (which I did).
However, I notice that the arms cannot really hold the shield properly and will 'drop' down immediately unless you orientate the arms 'properly'. Not really a huge problem but a disappointment nonetheless.

To be honest, I wanted to show the arms holding the shield spread out but... it'd fall. Anyways, the full gimmick of the shield is replicated here. You can move it up and down as well as clip it to the arm of the Turn A (besides connecting the peg to the hole at the side of the arm). Hope you can understand that. ^^;

Even the shoulder's opening gimmick is fully replicated. As I've said before, Turn A doesn't have traditional shoulders so they don't turn around. Instead, they can open up to allow more movement headroom for the arms. The shoulder armor 'flap' at the back and move a bit as well.

Adding a bigger note, the RD Turn A has a lot of ball joints unlike the MG which uses more direct joints. Areas such as the arm to torso joint, the elbow joint, the hand to arm joint and the legs to waist joint are ball joints. They do, in fact, have very similar connections to the MG but it seems that ball joints are used to increase articulation.

Due to its small size, the back doesn't have the opening gimmick that the MG has. The beam saber holders(at the shoulder armor) works as they should though. =)

You can alternate between the activated vents (out of box configuration) or the clogged vents. I'm not really sure why they gave the clogged vents since it seems to be rather useless and not so noticeable in difference (unless you look very closely) but its nice to have if you want to recreate certain scenes from the anime. Because of the small size, it doesn't have the linked movement the MG has.

If you want, you can store the beam rifle and shield at the back of the Turn A. I find the RD more logically placed than the MG though.

Part 6: Action!

*PEW**PEW**PEW*
Beam rifle action in two possible ways of holding it. Sadly, the full gimmicks of the beam rifle was not replicated here. Not so bad though since the more important gimmicks are mostly there. ^^;

Kneeling poses anyone?

If you didn't notice, Turn A looks awesome wielding a beam saber. o.o

BURESUTTO MISSILES~~~!!!

Part 7: RD VS MG

IMO, the RD is very much a miniaturized MG. ;)
However, the major flaw happens to be the side-skirt which is rectangular and too big for the RD Turn A. ^^;

A bit unfortunate that some of the beam rifle gimmicks are not capable of being reproduced in this smaller scale. The second handle is just there to be there and can't be held unlike the MG (though it isn't easy to grip the handle for the MG anyways). There is also no cover to hide the main handle also when it gets stored. Not a biggie to me though but they could have added a small option part to cover it. ^^;

The shield is 'perfect'! Every gimmick is reproduced. ^^

Part X: Arms Installation Complete!

Due to the lack of time, I forgot to take some more delicious action shots. Then again, I think it is enough as it is as this isn't a picture spam post. XD

Part 8: Conclusion
Pros

• Great articulation
• More articulated than the MG
• Legs DON'T fall off
• More logical placements of the beam rifle and shield in 'standby'
• The beam sabers look like they glow!

Cons

• Not every gimmick is reproduced
• Arms are not strong enough to hold the shield up properly
• Inaccurate side-skirts
• No core fighter gimmick although it can be removed
• No cow!
• No Gundam Hammer!*
  

*Robot Damashii released a 'missing' weapons set for the Turn A series recently however.

Overall, this figure is very decent. It is very good for me as I got it for a great price, lower than RM100 for one thing. Even though it doesn't reproduce all the gimmicks (mostly due to the size), it does well in reproducing the ones that do count. Oh wait, except Moonlight Butterfly sadly as you'll need to get a limited Turn A for that (or separately) - which will be hell expensive if you don't live in Japan or have connections.

If you like the Turn A and would love to play around with it without its legs falling off, this is the one for you!

Until the next review~ =)