GFF Gundam F90/F91 Gundam F91
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General and Technical Data

Series:
Gundam Fix Figuration (GFF)
Title:
F90 Gundam F90/F91 Gundam F91
Release Date:
08/2004
Suggested Price:
¥ 3980
No. of Parts:
40+
Plastic colors: F90: white, blue, red, orange, gray; F91: navy blue, white, orange, gray, red
Gimmicks: armor conversion, quality weapons in abundance, stand

Introduction

Contributor: Chris Perez
Date: August 23, 2005

Well, while at Kunicon Miami 2004, I had cash, and this was one of the few FIX figures that they were selling an acceptable price.

The Gundam F90 was part of the SNRI's new line of mobile suits that were smaller, faster, cheaper and easier to build, yet of a quality higher than what was being produced at the time. While two models were built, one was stolen later on by the Oldsmobile Army and refitted into the OMS-90R Gundam F90. After a few spats, it came down to a duel inside the Mars Zeon base, where both F90's were trashed. The remains were picked up by the SNRI and remade into the F90II.

The F91 was the evolution of the F91, featuring many of it's technologies placed within it. Along with a bio-computer that emulated the effect of the A.I.'s of the F90, it also incorporated VSBR's and a new type of space maneuverability backpack. After being placed on the Space Ark, the Crossbone Vanguard attacked. Assembled and given to the young and inexperienced Seabook Arno, he managed to prove the suit's effectiveness by effectively being a one man army against the Vanguard. Years after, Seabook joins a new version of the Vanguard, and along their travels to defeat the corrupted Jupiter Empire, he uses his new suit, the Crossbone X-1, to fend off several F91's successfully, including Captain Harrison. At the last battle of this little hidden war, Captain Harrison proves to be one of the only effective pilots in the Federation and fights in his navy blue F91.

Head

F90:
Nothing much to this head, it's pretty much generic and follows the original Gundam's archetype design, down to the crown and all. Just different colored and with a slightly thicker neck. You pull it off and it's ready to be replaced.

F91:
The F91 gets two heads, the "closed" version, when the heat radiator in the head is closed, and "opened", when it's obviously pulled back. Both are in a stunning and refreshing navy blue, with a well-articulated crown in a silvery white. The heads both look streamlined and regal, although the opened version loses the effect somewhat with it's cascading face reminiscent to a super robot. However, it's still good in it's own right. The chin remains red and the vulcans are outlined in orange.

Torso

F90:
The F90's torso is one piece, and comes right off to reveal the frame underneath. With the right decals and everything, the torso's detailed nicely, but yet again, doesn't stray too much from a generic torso set-up. A more updated version of the Rx-78-2, it's a navy blue with gray vents outlined by orange, and of course, the red cockpit hatch. It's held in by one strut and is pulled forward. The skirt area isn't that radically different either.

F91:
In an almost solid block of navy blue, it's also a one piece, with gray covering the front, and orange outlining the machine cannons as well as the vents. Each individual segmented is an impression, however, giving it a serious level of detail. The back of the skirt armor is just about the same as the F90's, but the sides are large planes of blue. The front skirt armor is looks smoother, as it's curved instead of short and triangular shaped. The crotch armor is the same generic thing, except in blue instead of white.

Arms

F90:
The shoulders are interesting. They're rather short and blocky, with one large vernier jutting out at the side and a blue hardpoint top. The actual hardpoint can be uncovered, however, which serves as an interesting gimmick if you're an F90 nut. To replace them, you must remove the entire arm and place the new shoulder module on. The upper arms are generic, and the lowers arms are one piece modules as well. You remove the top section to put the new one on. With a white base, it also has a hardpoint cover which can come off.

F91:
The shoulders yet again in another navy blue setting, with an outlining of orange, The right one features a white F (cascading lines) and the left one features a 91 (cascading white as well). They're longer and more streamlined, and can mount the radiator fins that go on the shoulders. One can place them far in to give them the sense that they're docked, or far out, as if currently being used. The forearms are large blue pieces that slide on and feature a hardpoint to mount the beam shield.

Legs

F90:
Honestly, this is where the F90 shines to me. The legs are multiple pieces, but are rich in detail. The front is white and features a large red vent on the knee and the blue hardpoint tip at the top (this one is non-removable), with three verniers at the base of the knee. You pull off and you're set. The interiors are large plates of white, and the sides are larger forearm sections, with yet another hardpoint cover (this one is removable), and then the back of the leg, which is armorless. Under it, it shows the interior construction of the F90's legs, which showcases the machinery in the back. The upper part of the leg features one vernier at the base of a white vent.

F91:
The F91's front legs aren't that special, featuring two verniers and that's about it. You have to remove the F90's covering of the ankles, which can be a bit of a hassle to reattach (Chris was there to help me and managed to complete most of it by himself but got stumped by this; I didn't decipher how to do it until two days later after the convention ended and I got home and was able to make sense of the vague images). The sides are basically the same from the F90, but the back is more radiator fins. You get two sets: closed, which are downward and hidden into the armor, and opened, when they're extended back about 45 degrees outward and give it a sense that it has powerful legs.

Weapons and Accessories

F90:
Beam rifle- Nothing really too special, its somewhat short and stocky. It looks like the original Gundam's rifle with a bit more detailed areas, and without the large targeting sensor.

Beam saber- Three: one lit, two unlit. The two unlit slide in the backpack, and the one lit is green (weird, considering I have the F90 1/100 ADS and they're blue) with a white handle.

Shield- Thinner than most, it has the F90 name written on it in the same manner as the F91's shoulders have it. With twin eye ports, the shield's actual construction is thin and skinny at the center, which fits with the "only essentials" part of the F90 line.

Beam/shell sniper rifle: Both a plus considering you get a massive gun, but a minus because it really shows that Bandai is just trying to use the same frame and features as the other F9X kit, it's longer than the suit is fall, and extremely detailed. It can be folded, but can't really be docked anywhere on the F90 since it doesn't really belong to the suit. It has a handle that can extend out for extra gripping and spare ammo clips for the shell. The top of the back section can lift up (for what, I'm not sure, seems to be a radiator fin). Amazing gun in its own right, just so fearsome, and it transforms the normally bland F90 into a deadly figure.

F91:
Beam rifle- Longer than the F90's, it's not a solid gray, but features blue. It looks more like a CCA/Victory-era rifle, although in the end, it still follows the qualification for the generic type. Just the contrast coloring that makes it look nicer.

Beam saber - One lit, and with the saber handle in blue, the actual blade in green. They didn't give it the gimmick of storing sabers in the hip armor, too bad.

Beam shield - A large translucent plane of green, it can be mounted onto the forearm. The shield itself can be removed and leaving the emitter, which features the ports, which are actual indentations. A rather nice gimmick to make the suit like it's about to go into battle.

VSBR- Optionally mounted, they mount between the shoulders and arms and actually can "slide in" to the torso section to keep them balanced. They're large guns that can extend outwards and drop handles, and just look awesome. Painted in navy blue with a stripe of orange along the side, and with the back in a solid block of orange, it looks wonderfully deadly.

Beam launcher - Another large gun it looks like a bazooka with an e-pac. Said e-pac cannot be removed, but the general odd shape of the muzzle and exhaust port make up for that anyway. Painted in mostly navy blue, with the handles, muzzle, and e-pac in gray.

Conclusion

For something picked up on a bit of a splurge, it's quite impressive.
Although my review cannot give one the visual satisfaction of the actual suit (configured in F91 Harrison mode over my monitor as I write this), it is, nonetheless, a beautiful showpiece that looks smooth and streamlined as if ready to get into another high speed fight in F91 mode, or the nitty gritty and rigid look of the F90, which follows the real mecha features that appealed to fans years ago, only more up to date. The arms are pretty free form in movement to allow good poses, but the legs are somewhat restraining, and depending on the layout you put, it's weight is a bit off. Overlooking these few flaws, it's worth it's price in the end.

Overall Rating:
4 out of 5 stars

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