Series: 1/100
Title: LM314V25 V2 Assault-Buster Gundam
Release Date: 1993
Suggested Price: N/A
No. of Parts: N/A
Plastic colors: white, red, blue, gray, yellow, clear, clear pink
Gimmicks: beam rifles, beam saber, beam fan, beam shield, mega beam rifle, mega beam shield, add-on parts for transformation into Core Fighter, V2 Top, or V2 Bottom

Introduction

Contributor: Chris 'KokopelliChindi' Knudtson
Date: July 25, 2004

While not a real kit in itself, the V2 Assault-Buster can be made by combining the V2 Buster and V2 Assault kits. As a result you got all the parts from the kits lying around, allowing you to build another V2 or one of the Core Fighter modes.

Head

Same as V2.

Torso

The weapons pods are the same as the V2 Buster. The entire waist assembly is loaded with missile pods, weapons, and armor. The crotch has pretty restricted movement due to the T-shape of the armor overlapping the large missile pods on the skirt armor. Thus the armor and
only move side to side. I accidentally found that removing the lower connection point of the crotch armor improves the range of movement.
Other than that, it’s the same as the V2.

Arms

The biggest issue of the model is the restriction of the shoulder armors by the buster backpack. By positioning the backpack arm at about 45° and lining the pod connections up you get the best articulation. The shoulder armor can only be positioned normally or rotated 90°. This, combined with
the elbow restrictions give the model limited, but acceptable articulation. The back of the armor and the weapon pods tend to rub together, so paint there may get rubbed off or onto the other parts. Other than that, same as the V2.

Legs

The legs are also similar to the V2 with the only additions being the knee armor and the missile pods. The knee armor will get in the way of the front skirt missile pods and the legs have to be turned to the side slightly. The small feet have no problem supporting the increased weight of all the
additional parts and stability is not an issue.

Weapons and Accessories

Total accessories- 7: 2 beam rifles (grenade and normal version), beam saber, beam fan, beam shield, mega beam rifle, mega beam shield.

Transformation- For the Core Fighter, the upper part of the torso is
removed. The head and collar are taken out and covered by a hinged flap. The lower parts of the wings close and a cockpit has to be added. For the Top Fighter, the arms and skirt armors are removed from the torso. The outer part of the shoulder armor extends to allow the entire shoulder assembly to rotate up. The hands are removed and the block is rotated inside the arm. A piece can be put in place of the hand to carry a beam rifle. The skirt armors fold up. This all connects to a frame. The Core
Fighter can then connect to this framework. For the Bottom Fighter, the legs have to be removed. A flap in the feet folds inward and the feet collapse into each other. This plugs into a framework like the top section. It also has a section the Core Fighter can plug into.

Conclusion

If you’re going for a V2 kit I’d recommend either getting the simple V2 or getting the Buster and Assault and going for this one (you’ll end up with a V2 from the spare parts anyway). Loaded with all the equipment it looks very impressive even when placed next to the much larger 1/100’s. The waist and shoulders suffer restrictions but the kit still has good articulation, it just isn’t that dynamic. This has all the flaws of the other V2 kits combined so it takes some work to get it presentable, but with some work put into it, its more than worth the effort. Until an MG of the V2 Buster Assault comes out the 1/100 is satisfactory.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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