Ki's Toy Report: https://www.facebook.com/ki0079.robot.workshops
After some time, the METAL BUILD GN ARMS TYPE D accessory has finally arrived, and I can now review it along with the Gundam Dynames. I will first look at the Gundam Dynames, and then move on to the MB GN ARMS parts.
Related Reading: 【Ki's Toy Report】Seven Guns, Multiple Swords — METAL BUILD Gundam Dynames SAGA Review
METAL BUILD GUNDAM DYNAMES
It's been years since the METAL BUILD Gundam Exia was released... and now its teammate, Dynames, has finally arrived. It's an absolute must-buy. While Dynames isn't the main protagonist's suit, it is widely popular among fans. It already looks cool holding its sniper rifle, the pilot is cool, and its demise was incredibly tragic, with the cries of "Lockon, Lockon" echoing endlessly...
Now, back to the review. Since the main body is quite similar to Exia's, I won't go into excessive detail.
Pros:
1. A Rich Selection of Armaments
Dynames itself is heavily armed, with four pistols, one sniper rifle, and missiles in its waist and knee armor. The sniper rifle is well-designed, and holding it with one hand is no problem. The pistols are also excellent and easy to hold. This time, you don't need to swap hands too often to wield the various weapons, which is great and saves a lot of time. The only minor drawback is that the stability of holding the weapons is inevitably slightly reduced.
2. Abundant Shoulder Armor Options
In the series, Dynames initially had only one shoulder armor piece as a shield, later using a full-body cloak, which looked incredibly cool. In terms of play experience, using just the two small shoulder armor pieces provides the best handling feel.
As for the cloak, its design is magnificent. It can be deployed in multiple stages, offering diverse play options.
3. Versatile Hardpoint System
Both the shoulder armor and the cloak have multiple hardpoints, allowing collectors to attach the pistols or the sniper rifle. The pistols can also be stored in the holsters on the calves.
4. Excellent Paint Application!
The paint job on this Dynames is quite impressive, and I haven't found any major issues so far. However, because the rear skirt armor is a bit large, rotating the waist might cause paint chipping, so handle it with care.
Cons:
Having listed many pros, there are of course some cons. Compared to EXIA, I feel Dynames has improved in many areas. Look at EXIA—from the very first release to the present, the problems from the original version still haven't been corrected. In comparison, Dynames is truly excellent.
1. Shoulder Joint and Weight-Bearing Issues (A must-fix, points deducted)
This is a persistent problem with recent Gundam toys. As the toys become more complex, they need to carry more and more equipment, making the main body heavier. Lately, many accessories are mounted on the shoulders (like the MB X-0). Dynames' shoulders also bear a significant load, and it's getting quite heavy. As a result, the shoulder armor tends to droop easily. Although you can hang items on the cloak, the shoulder armor itself can barely support the weight. This issue needs to be resolved soon. Otherwise, as suits continue to be loaded with more gear, they will only become harder to handle.
2. Too Many Fiddly Attachment Parts
To be honest, current mobile suit designs overemphasize compatibility with armaments from previous releases.
This results in a whole bunch of included connector pieces that all look frustratingly similar... I wish they would focus on perfecting the main figure first. Once the figure itself is fun to handle, then consider interactivity! Otherwise, just constantly releasing add-ons and filling the manual with instructions on how to attach weapons from other suits is just annoying. It's especially irritating for collectors who just want to enjoy this one figure and don't own all the other accessories.
Due to time constraints, I didn't have the patience to slowly test out all the back-mounted accessories. I imagine they're probably fine? While using the armored cloak might look cooler, I genuinely feel the figure is most enjoyable to handle without it. I hope the manufacturer stops thinking about how to incorporate past items. I don't need a Christmas tree; I just want an excellent toy. Being able to share weapons is already great; it doesn't need to have everything hanging off it to be considered good.
METAL BUILD GN ARMS TYPE D Report
METAL BUILD GN ARMS TYPE D. When the TYPE E version was released, everyone thought, "They're definitely going to release a TYPE D next, right?" The question was whether it would be an accessory pack or a full set. It turned out to be an accessory pack, which is great! No need to buy another entire GN ARMS... This thing is a behemoth, and while it's fun and beautifully made, I wouldn't want to own more than one box!
For this TYPE D version, the manufacturer was very considerate, providing several different play modes for a varied handling experience.
1. The Classic Ground-to-Space Beam Cannon
One of the most unforgettable scenes from back in the day was Dynames performing a long-range snipe, firing a beam from the ground. Although the equipment here isn't exactly the same as in the source material, they've done their best to replicate this play feature, with some thoughtful touches.
First, we need to detach the cannon barrel from the mount. Since the GN ARMS TYPE D uses a twin-barrel cannon, for creating the "sniper rifle" configuration, a single barrel is sufficient. Then, you can attach the scope to the cannon body, extend the handle, and connect the cannon to the turret base. This turret base itself has multiple configurations, and transforming it into this firing platform is one of them.
As for Dynames, to achieve the upward-tilted firing pose, you need to remove the rear skirt armor thruster and attach the missile magazine. This makes the setup very stable.
By adjusting the angles of the mobile suit and the turret, you can set Dynames' firing angle.
I am very satisfied with this entire pose. The accessory parts also contain a good amount of die-cast metal, giving them a substantial feel.
Take a look at the cannon barrel; it's crafted with incredible detail.
The scope features multi-colored lenses and is packed with fine details to appreciate.
As for the missile magazine, its time to shine hasn't come yet. I'll introduce it later.
This pose alone is enough to make the purchase worthwhile.
However, the sniper rifle in the original anime was even more imposing. It would be great if they could release a standalone, screen-accurate version of that sniper rifle in the future.
2. GN ARMS TYPE D
The play style is quite similar to the TYPE E. You just swap out Gundam Exia for Gundam Dynames, and the armaments on the left and right sides are changed from swords to a large cannon and a missile magazine.
The accessory that was previously used as the turret base is actually the large cannon for the right arm. The twin barrels connect to it, and the attachment is very secure.
Next up is the missile pod. The front has over a dozen missile hatches that can be opened individually to reveal the small warheads inside. The execution is excellent and highly detailed. The rear of the magazine can be opened to reveal small missiles. The pod can also be pulled open vertically, revealing several more neatly arranged rows of missiles. If they could produce a "full burst" effect part for this, it would be absolutely awesome.
Overall, the "wow" factor is about the same as the TYPE E. If the release dates for TYPE E and TYPE D had been closer, I believe it would have been more appealing. This is because setting up the GN ARMS takes a significant amount of time. If you could play with TYPE D right after TYPE E, you could save a lot of setup time. Of course, if a collector has enough space at home to display the GN ARMS long-term, that's a different story.
Second Impressions of Handling the GN ARMS:
The first time I handled it, the feel was great. However, during this second time, after setting up the TYPE D configuration, I was surprised to find that some joints have already loosened slightly, even though they are still generally tight.
If you want your toy to last longer, you should definitely use the display stand while handling it. For long-term display, using the stand for support is an absolute must.
If you are buying this product "second-hand," you must accept a few things before purchasing. 1: If the previous owner has already docked either Exia or Dynames with the unit, there will definitely be paint scuffs—that's almost a given. The back connector piece alone makes it nearly impossible to avoid. 2: You need to accept that the joints may not be as tight as they were originally and could be loose.
For now, the issue of METAL BUILD joints loosening from long-term display isn't too severe (I have a 00 Raiser that has been on display for a long time and can still stand on its own, though of course, the condition of each figure can vary). If you're buying a brand new, unopened unit, it should be perfectly fine.
Ki's Toy Report: https://www.facebook.com/ki0079.robot.workshops