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G.F.F. METAL COMPOSITE WING GUNDAM [EW] EARLY COLOR VER.
To be honest, with so many Gundam releases, I'm starting to lose track. My philosophy now is if you see something you like, just grab it. Unfortunately, I failed to snag this during the mad dash on the Tamashii Web Shop and had to resort to the Japanese retail release. It cost more, but the in-hand feel is still fantastic. Here are some of my thoughts on the figure.
Let's start with the pros.
1. A Gorgeous, Impressive Paint Job
The main body of this Gundam is the same as the previously released G.F.F.M.C. Wing Gundam Zero (EW Ver.), the one with the iconic angel wings. The back-mounted wings and a few accessories are different, but with a whole new paint application, Bandai has managed to make it feel like a completely different mobile suit—a truly impressive feat. It's the same mold, but with a new coat of paint, they can keep releasing it. As long as it's profitable and fans are willing to buy, they'll keep doing it.
However, a simple repaint isn't enough; it still needs to feel fresh to the collector. The colors on this Early Color Ver. are incredibly vibrant and beautiful. If you can look past some minor QC issues, it looks like a precious work of art, almost like a professionally painted Master Grade model kit. It's absolutely stunning to hold and handle. Just having it in a static pose for photos is incredibly satisfying.
You can really appreciate the gorgeous color separation on various parts when you open up the armor panels. It's a different kind of aesthetic from the METAL BUILD line. With a METAL BUILD, you feel compelled to pose it and play with it. But with a G.F.F.M.C. release this beautiful, you're almost afraid to touch it too much for fear of scratching the paint.
2. Thoughtful Design and Great Execution
Beyond the main body, the accessories have also been given a meticulous paint job. It's clear that this product line emphasizes a magnificent appearance and a sense of realism that honors the original designs.
For example, the forearms can be equipped with energy pack (E-Pac) cartridges. These "cartridges" are fully painted and attach very securely to the forearm hardpoints in a set of three. Mounting them onto the arms is no problem at all.
The Buster Rifle can also be loaded with three E-Pacs. You just need to gently slide the rear section of the rifle back to create space to mount the cartridges onto the weapon's body. The rifle itself is just beautifully executed.
The shield attachment system is quite clever, especially since both arms can be fitted with the E-Pac mounts. The figure includes two different types of adapters for two mounting options. The first method allows you to attach the shield directly over the E-Pac mount. The second uses an adapter to position the mount on the back of the forearm, while the shield attaches to the side, leaving the cartridges uncovered. (Of course, you can also just remove the E-Pac mount entirely and attach the shield directly).
I personally prefer the second method. Both the E-Pac mount and the shield have some thickness to them, and the first method makes the arm look incredibly bulky and a bit awkward to handle.
However, with the mounts attached to the arms, you do need to be careful. Regardless of how you attach the shield, there's a good chance it will collide with the wings during posing, so handle with care.
As for beam sabers, it only includes one—one less than the angel-winged version.
Additionally, the chest features opening machine cannon hatches—just pull up the armor panels to reveal them!
3. Simple Transformation with No Paint Scraping
With any transforming figure, you always have to brace for the worst: paint chipping during the process. Thankfully, this figure's transformation into Bird Mode is very straightforward, and the ability to remove certain parts makes it even easier. I didn't experience any issues. The only minor drawback is that the included display stand is fixed and cannot be angled.
While the aesthetics are top-notch, the actual play and posing experience is just average. Here are the cons.
1. Decent Articulation, But Weak Joints
The articulation in the arms and legs of this Gundam is perfectly acceptable, but the waist is a bit limited. The bigger issue is that while the arms have a good range of motion, they can't support much weight. The joints, particularly in the shoulders, are too weak, leading to frequent drooping. For instance, when you have it hold the Buster Rifle, the arm quickly sags. The left arm holding the shield doesn't fare much better, especially if you have the E-Pacs attached.
2. The Wings Lack Articulation
The wings are the main event for any Wing Gundam, but these fall a bit short. While the paint job is great, transitioning from the multi-segmented angel wings to these more solid metal wings, the lack of articulation is a definite downgrade (though this is inherent to the design, making a direct comparison to the Wing Zero EW difficult). If they had included even a small opening or panel-splitting gimmick, these wings could have been a real standout feature.
Which style do you prefer? The gorgeous, flowing angel wings or the clean, mechanical steel wings?
Personally, I feel that compared to the angel-winged version, this Wing Gundam has a cleaner, more streamlined look, but it also offers less play value. I've set up a few poses for comparison. The Wing Zero (EW Ver.) looks more "ethereal," but getting it into a dynamic pose takes a lot of effort.
3. The Main Body is Too Lightweight
This figure is beautiful, no doubt, but when you pick it up, it feels surprisingly light. The die-cast metal content feels minimal. Compared to a figure like the METAL BUILD Strike Gundam, it's a night-and-day difference. The upside of being lightweight is that it's less tiring to handle, but the downside is that it's very difficult to get the figure to stand on its own. Fortunately, you'll likely be using the display stand most of the time, so this isn't a deal-breaker.
Overall, if you love vibrant, eye-catching mobile suits, you will definitely love this Wing Gundam. The color scheme is absolutely stunning. However, if you're looking for an engaging hands-on experience with lots of posing variety, this figure doesn't offer as much as its angel-winged predecessor. I'd recommend weighing your priorities before deciding to pick this one up.
Ki's Toy Journal: https://www.facebook.com/ki0079.robot.workshops