A Gunpla Review of Sorts | SNAA Titan Greatsword Tristan

So, I got to the point where I felt comfortable taking a peek beyond what Bandai has to offer. I saw this ad or post on Reddit - liked the design, and since my mother had just dropped her annual benevolences I was able to buy it.

And the comparisons with Gunpla persist, as the build is - in very man regards - also very familiar. So, this isn't a re-invention of the wheel, but a re-invention of the plating. And that's I assume the main selling point. And I also don't think that this can be recommended to a beginner.

This kit ... it's built like it laughs at you because your accustomed to Bandai kits. It's like the kid who laughs at you because you're playing "kid's games" designed a kit just for the fux. There is no consideration but that the volume of plastic for each piece is technically there. No glue required. And whatever issue regarding build-quality you could have with a Bandai kit, this just spits out at you. Build quality? What's that supposed to mean?
It goes together, it works, the end.
Well - give or take.
To call these parts a tight fit is an understatement. Without any tools to push two parts together you'll have a sad time with this. And there's a lot of that. The joints are stiff to the point where I worry for the links to break. One of the hip plates sits on the ball-joint so tightly, that the joint has now scary white marks simply from trying to move the plate into position. So - if you want to know what "too much" on tightness looks like, this is the kit I assume.
But like so, the pieces are solid when put together - and the looks are ultimately the main point. I really like how the clear parts come out (except for the eyes. I should have picked gold) and the quality of the Gold parts is basically the same as those that came with the PGU RX-78-2. It's good stuff. The print is sharp - perhaps too sharp in some places - so that ultimately it's primary failures are on the "too much" side of things.

But yes. It can stand on its own no problem.

In terms of articulation and movement it is as unpleasant as it sounds. While designing this piece, range of motion wasn't the top priority it seems. At least those two pieces that cover the leg joints also come off relatively easily in a way that does prevent breakage.

And yea. It was definitely a challenge. All the skills I learned while building Gunpla came to bear here - and quite frankly, there's still room for improvement. It reminded me a lot of the Real Grade Hi-Nu , is also comparable in size - so, somewhere between a High Grade and a Master Grade. Or, it's a Real Grade - "the Good ones" - bumped up a notch I'd say.



Ultimately I'm happy about how well it turned out, but I am a bit disappointed by the design.
But it is certainly a fine piece and ultimately I'm more disappointed by myself than by it.