This is the first time I've purchased a model kit with this kind of "cultivator mecha" theme. I was initially drawn in by the video showcasing the Taiyi Mechanized Gourd on its back. The idea that a gourd could transform into a sword case was fascinating, but what truly captivated me was the lotus flower display base.
This is an assembly model kit with a cultivation theme, produced by Artisan Legends and named "Xiao Yao Zi." The name itself is steeped in the style of cultivation lore. The main body's articulated joints use a large number of metal parts. The inner frame, combined with these metal parts, comes pre-assembled, so you don't need to build it from scratch. You simply follow the instructions to cut the parts from the runners and attach them to the metal skeleton.
Xiao Yao Zi features nearly 80% undergated parts. For builders who prefer a straight build without painting, this allows for a very high degree of completion. The joints are all tight and robust, so you don't have to worry about any joint issues when posing the model after assembly.
After a straight build, you can use the included water-slide decals to add even more detail. The only parts I felt compelled to paint were the four weapons inside the Taiyi Mechanized Gourd. The original silver was just too ugly, so I repainted them. I used GAIA's Pearl Silver, and after spraying, the texture looks fantastic under the light.
Below is a simple introduction and review to share with everyone.
▼[Artisan Legends] Xiao Yao Zi
▼The Taiyi Mechanized Gourd. This is one of Xiao Yao Zi's immortal artifacts. Besides being a sword case, the gourd can also be used for flight.
▼The gourd's color scheme uses black and white as the primary elements, complemented by gold parts to create a layered look. The black and white palette echoes the Taiji (Yin-Yang) symbol.
▼It's recommended to glue the top part of the gourd, as it cannot be extended because the base will separate from the gourd.
▼The blue on the side of the gourd is a transparent part, giving the overall gourd a slightly technological feel.
▼The Taiyi Mechanized Gourd comes with its own dedicated base, so you don't have to worry about it falling over during display.
▼The Taiyi Mechanized Gourd is also a sword case. When opened, it reveals Xiao Yao Zi's four immortal artifacts, which can combine to form his most powerful weapon, the "Sword of Dharma Form, Artifact of the Dao."
▼Each immortal artifact inside the gourd has a corresponding mounting position and peg.
▼The left and right sides of the gourd correspond to the black and white of the Taiji symbol. One side is black.
▼The other side is white.
▼After opening the sword case, the top rounded part of the gourd can be folded inward, giving the entire case a more impressive look.
▼One of the immortal artifacts needs to be held in place using an internal clamp.
▼The main body appears. This is the "Seeker of the Dao" form. It wears a Taiji-styled conical hat, its hands are in a mudra (ritual gesture), and hanging from its waist are four accessories representing its pre-enlightenment stage: Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning.
▼Two mudra hand parts are included, one for the left and one for the right, which can be swapped out for display according to your preference.
▼Side view of Xiao Yao Zi.
▼It is strongly recommended to glue the hilt directly to the sword blade. This prevents the blade from separating from the hilt when you try to draw it from the scabbard, as the fit is very tight.
▼The arm has high mobility, allowing for extensive rotation and bending.
▼It can hold a horizontal pose without any obstruction, and the upper arm can rotate, allowing the user to create more poses.
▼After rotating the upper arm, you can naturally place the hand on the head in a pose as if to remove the conical hat.
▼Close-up shot.
▼The finger-pinching mudra.
▼All the transparent parts have a glowing effect when hit by light. The image below is not a lighting effect but the actual glow from the parts under illumination.
▼The essential conical hat for a cultivator, featuring Taiji elements.
▼Each piece of the front, rear, left, and right skirt armor is independently articulated.
▼The front skirt armor can be pulled out individually to avoid interference when posing.
▼Close-up of the extended part.
▼All the blue patterns on Xiao Yao Zi's body are applied using the included water-slide decals. It's recommended to use a decal softener during application.
▼I'm not a huge fan of the leg design; I feel they would look better if they were a bit bulkier.
▼The waist has a decent range of motion.
▼It is highly recommended to apply the water-slide decals to the scabbards. They give the scabbards a much more premium look.
▼The scabbards connect to each other using a ball joint. The part is very small, so it's advisable to be careful during assembly to avoid losing it.
▼Immortal Sword of Wind, corresponding to the symbol on the blade.
▼Immortal Sword of Rain, corresponding to the symbol on the blade.
▼Immortal Sword of Lightning, corresponding to the symbol on the blade.
▼Immortal Sword of Thunder, corresponding to the symbol on the blade.
▼The left and right side skirt armors have different designs, one long and one short, to mimic the hem of a Daoist robe.
▼The rear skirt armor is divided into three pieces, each independently articulated.
▼The long hair is made of a soft plastic material and falls off easily. It's recommended to glue the connection point between the hair and the head peg.
▼This middle piece of the rear skirt armor can be swung upwards.
▼The left and right sides of the legs have a strong mecha aesthetic.
▼The feet have excellent surface contact, allowing it to stand very stably.
▼Removing the conical hat gives it a completely different feel.
▼The head sculpt resembles a cultivator's Daoist crown.
▼The hair on the left and right sides is very sharp. Be careful not to get pricked when handling it.
▼The arms have a greater range of backward motion.
▼The reason for this increased backward range is the pull-out joint in the arm.
▼Thanks to the pull-out joint design, extending the joint allows for a much wider backward swing of the arm, enabling more dynamic poses.
▼The backpack has two arms. This backpack represents an immortal technique unlocked after achieving enlightenment.
▼The center of the backpack is the main connection point.
▼The two arms on the left and right of the backpack are compatible with the main body's arms and can be interchanged.
▼The back of the backpack features a Taiji symbol in the center. The left and right sides are "Dharma Sleeves." These sleeves can be moved up and down independently, and their bottom edges can also be bent up and down.
▼Taiji.
▼Independently articulated Dharma Sleeve.
▼A total of two pairs of gripping hands are included, allowing you to display the four-sword-wielding Immortal form.
▼The display base depicts falling lotus petals. The center of the base is a Bagua (Eight Trigrams). The patterns on the lotus petals correspond to the eight primary trigrams of the Bagua: Qian, Kun, Li, Kan, Dui, Gen, Zhen, and Xun. Each petal has its own specific position.
▼In the Immortal form, the lotus petals on the display base are raised.
▼This base is truly massive. Displaying Xiao Yao Zi with it makes it quite a "space killer."
▼The center of the base is a Taiji symbol.
▼Formed by combining the four weapons from the Taiyi Mechanized Gourd, this is Xiao Yao Zi's most powerful immortal artifact: the Sword of Dharma Form, Artifact of the Dao.
That concludes this review. The assembly experience for Artisan Legends' Xiao Yao Zi is quite good, especially with its numerous undergated parts. The playability is also very diverse, featuring both the "Seeker of the Dao" form and the post-enlightenment "Immortal" form. Overall, it's a pretty good kit and a very unique themed model. The assembly is straightforward; just follow the instructions. However, that display base is a real space killer. If you have limited display space, you should think twice before buying Xiao Yao Zi, because it really takes up a lot of room. Below are some simple studio shots to share with everyone.
▼Simple Studio Shots
