Series: High Grade Universal Century (HGUC) 1/144
Title: MS-14F Gelgoog Marine
Release Date: 10/2000
Suggested Price: ¥ 1200
No. of Parts: 100 + 23 polycaps
Plastic colors: dark gray, gray, green, transparent yellow
Gimmicks: ‘universal' upper leg, arm, and shoulder parts, transparent beam sabers

Introduction

Contributor: Clem-Master-Janitor
Date: August 14, 2007

So what happens when Bandai tries to follow a philosophy of  "Unified Complete Equipment Plan" in its model kits? Will it result in quicker, cheaper model kit production or just become a burden for us all? Let's find out together in this latest installment of model reviews, the Gelgoog Marine a.k.a., the ‘F-Type.'

Head

Standard HGUC style head with better mobility versus some of the other types released in 2000. Though it's just a sticker for the monoeye, it does give you a good template to paint over, thus removing the risk of making a goofy eye free handing it. Details are good.

Torso

Lots of nice details all around, but some rather bizarre additional parts in the ‘belly button' area. For the love of me, I can't figure out why they went to the trouble to add another little piece when it would have been just as easy to just make it a carved out bit like the rest of the panel details in the midsection. Midsection does rotate, giving a nice addition of movements and poses.

Backpack is given four boosters, two very tiny for the top and two larger for the lower with two movable fuel tanks hanging below. The tiny boosters are so small it's easy to launch them, never to be seen again. This is a pain in the ass. I ended up losing mine just in test fitting and replaced them with left over Gundam thrusters from my Prototype Gundam build.  Took a bit of modification to get them to work.  

Arms

Part one of the “Unified Complete Equipment Plan” is in the shoulders and upper arms. Both arms can be swapped with no consequences between each side. The shoulders don't connect to the upper arms like some kits or slide through peg holes like the HG Gundam's does. These instead slide down and over a slot in the shoulder pegs. Though functional, they can deform their peg slots in the shoulders and make them loose. Also, the sealed together plastic wants to split under the pressure of installation. This is a serious problem if you want this kit to play with. To avoid this, you may want to forgo the instruction installation suggestion and put the pieces together on the peg versus before. It's an added hassle, that's for damn sure.

Speaking of pains in the ass, the elbow joint cover pieces are kind of tricky. They look pretty simple, but there is a simple peg that sticks out the rear piece of the joint piece. It can easily be confused for flash and stripped if you're not careful. This piece is here to stop any backward arm movement. It doesn't really work as you can pop it over with little to no pressure.  

Lower arms are simple enough with plenty of added hands if you want to go with open left hand, shield knuckle, beam sabers, or machine gun.  You can play with a right hand shield and left hand beam saber if you want as the shield can be swap from arm to arm with a polycap to secure it to the Gelgoog. This is nice as it won't try to get away when posing.  Annoyingly, again, they decided to leave the rear bit of the wrist gun mounts open near the elbows. It shows on most angles of the kit so you will need to fill them in if you want it not to be an eye sore.  

Legs

Legs are pretty good and solid. Another “Unified Complete Equipment Plan” piece appears with the upper legs. Instead of making a dedicated left and right leg, they opted for a quick switch leg that has an opening to either the left or right. You decide which will be left and right and then insert a plastic stopper on the appropriate side of the leg, thus creating a left and right leg. Insert polycap hip socket and its complete. It's a pain in the ass to get the piece just right in there, so if you don't get a good fit, just force more pressure on it until the pop of the bastard sliding in resounds all around you.  

The lower legs have an option of the rear leg armor being popped off, exposing the inner workings. This mean you see a hollowed out thruster set and the piece that supports the foot and inner leg. No fancy techno-garbage etching, just a plane old piece of plastic is your answer here.  Why you would want to look at this is beyond me.

The feet are extremely stable and balance just about every pose you can imagine. Alas, they left more space empty on the feet, so you will need to fill them in if you're planning to ever make an aerial pose with this guy.  Really, why do any of this crap?

Weapons and Accessories

Lots of little weapons choose from. Two beam sabers, a machine gun, and a knuckle shield are included. You have to paint the hilt of the beam sabers otherwise you'll have a bright yellow saber clear through, talk about a goofy look. Not much else to say about that.

Conclusion

What's good: Solid kit with pretty good colors and bare minimal painting if you're into the quick mecha fix.  

What's bad: Lots of filling, some goofy experimental designs to save a buck, and panel lines that vanish because they weren't carved deep enough in vital spots.  

The reality: It would be easier to just find a real action figure of the Gelgoog Marine and just buy it. You'll save a lot of time and some piss pour design issues.

So, it depends on if you really like the Gelgoog. I like the design but I'm not sure if I'm in love with this kit. It's good practice, but you might not like the end result as much. Get it if you're a fan of Gelgoogs or Stardust Memory. Otherwise, it's up to you.

Overall Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

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