Man, this is a blast from the past. This was my FIRST HG back when I got into the hobby as a teenager. But man Mecha, why you gotta call out that it's from 16 years ago? I could literally feel the grey hairs sprouting on my head when I heard that lmao
HG Exia was one of the earliest gunpla i ever made and even though it was from 2007 i still love mine and appreciate it despite its age, now if only it gets the revive treatment that would be great.
They simply wont, you know why?? Most of them was UC and Seed fanboys, MG Exia 2.0 could be done in the same day MG Dynames arrive, but they chose not to do it. Meanwhile freedom 2.0, strike freedom ex, and all of their mother and sidestory grunt gundam got the MG treatment.
Regarding Gunpla, Bandai's "blue" logo simply indicates that those kits are of newer production especially for old kits like these. The "red" logo does not necessarily mean that they are rare, just printed older. They started using the blue logo not so long ago, just a few years back I think along with the "Bandai Namco" label that we now see on newer kits as well as reprints. When you get a chance to buy a kit having a red Bandai logo, chances are the seller had that item stuck in their inventory for more than 5 years or so. The ones that are unique are those RG boxes that have red Bandai logos. The blue ones do not look that premium anymore as the inner carton is no longer black that has info on it unlike before...its just simply plain
Regarding red or blue in Bandai's logo, the blue ones are usually found on the kits which was released or reissued since around Q3/Q4 2018. That's because around that period, Bandai's main company split into 2 companies, Bandai (red) and Bandai Spirits (blue). Bandai with red logo focused on younger demographics toys like tokusatsu's DX, confectionary, trading cards, and apparels. While Bandai Spirits with blue logo focused on more "mature" audiences' products like Gunpla, Ichiban Kuji figures/figurines, and Tamashii Nations' series. Regarding Bandai Namco logo, it started to appear on Gunpla kits released or reissued since around Q2/Q3 2022. CMIIW.
@@chuck-uh-doll1233also Bandai still uses the Red logo. The Blue logo indicates model kits and expensive metal builds or hobby items, like the parts separator or the sanding sticks they made a while ago. For candy toys or mini figures, they use the red logo to indicate “lower-level” toys and collectibles. Just wanted to add that, you are mostly correct but the red logo has not been forgotten.
Last year before I moved my hobby shop hosted a build night. It was my first time building and discussing gunpla with fellow hobbyers, I chose this kit to build. Even if I do feel like this has aged, I still love it and it holds a special place in my heart for helping me make some new connections. Here’s hoping double O high grades gets some revive/remakes
This kit was the start of my gunpla addiction, and despite how dated it is now, it was such an improvement over the HG SEED kits that it blew my mind when I got it. Sadly it also reminds me how generous Bandai used to be before P-Bandai was a thing. Most of the less popular variants of the same kit were retail release and easy to get for a fair price.
better have plastic cement on hand to secure the parts of the heads. attaching the gn ribbon cables are a bit tricky and may need forceps. Its a great kit though.
The thing I loved about 00 Kits back in the day was how smooth the stickers were and how easy they were to apply. HGUC had those stickers that peeled off easily same with the seed kits
I'm kinda glad that this was my first HG kit. It's semi old, ok color separation/articulation and Beam stick. But it became my standard as to what an average HG kit is.
I started on gunpla with the IBO kits, the deathscythe and the BDR planets system kits, when I got Exia after starting to watch 00 I was a little blown away by how much the engineering had changed over the years I do love the 00 kits I have, but the GN sword is why I purchased a silver Gundam marker (and have used it on a lot of swords and axes since). I'm tempted to look at even older gunpla one day, just to see how even older kits are put together
Building older kits is such and experience. I'm currently building the HG Gouf Crimson Custom, which is basically a 13 year old kit and it's incredibly solid. Meanwhile the HG Phenex Destroy mode is... the HG Phenex Destroy mode.
I wish Bandai would do revive versions of Celestial Being. The HGs are so dated and require way too many stickers for big parts. Sad they didn’t make RGs of them either excluding Exia. I just want a full team of them that are good models
It's almost certain that the next HG "revives" are gonna be the 00 ones since they are literally the only kits as far as AUs go that are that dated (seed and wing now have new versions and IBO is still pretty new)
I remember how mind-blowing the 'MG style' knee articulation on an HG was at the time Exia was released! In all seriousness though - considering this was only a few years after the very old school Seed Destiny kits, the HG Exia felt like a massive leap forward from what came before. 2007-2010 was a great period of innovation and development for HGs and you can really feel Bandai experimenting and improving on the 1/144 formula during that time, building the foundations for the HGs of the 2010s and the standard we have today.
This brings back memories. This was the first proper HG that I bought since the old 1/144 Wing and G kits (which back then aren't exactly considered as HG)
I builded the next version of the Exia, the Gundam 00, a few days ago, and I can say it holds up way more than the exia. Better articulation, better color separation, better build, etc. Only thing I didn't like were the horn stickers, which I just wasn't able to put properly, so now my horns are color innaccurate XD will have to paint them with a yellow marker someday. Anyways, great review
My first HG kit that i ever tried was 00 Raiser trans-am, im more of MG collector but i love the silhouette of HG version, try it and its so good, i might say it probably better than the MG, no back heavy, more stable, studier, better head sculp. The MG tho, it need a better justice.
As the HG Exia being the main base of later variations, the OG Exia can be made out of HG Exia Repair 2 HG Gundam Astraea (Minus the shoulder cable) HG Gundam Astraea Type-F (Red Variant, also minus the shoulder cable)
It's interesting to see just how different the torso and waist builds were compared to what we have today. The arms, legs and head are as basic as you can get, but the rest of the build is actually pretty neat even if it isn't particularly functional.
This was deadass my 1st HG Gundam. I remember asking my dad to buy it when we were in Little Tokyo. I didn't have tools, so I built it with my bare hands
Oldest kit I have are my 2001 PG Mk II and MG Guncannon, both of which are excellent kits, you can tell love went into making those. Oldest HG kit I have is the 2009 Kshatriya and there are some things on it that definitely feel cheap compared to later HG's. HG kits really differ a lot in quality and it's not always age related, it's like there are two different design studios, one that do the passionate stuff like a lot of UC and Origin kits and then there's the 'other' stuff like IBO, build kits and the like. It's not a perfect division, because you'll get a cheap seed kit like the Windam, but then the next year they do the sticker-less fantastic Dagger L. Bit of a mixed and weird grade.
I actually found the gn arms with the exia at a thrift store and I didn't like how exia looked so I ended up painting it and it looked better than it did untouched.
What I did with mine, instead of using the round stickers. I painted them with metallic green. So it looked cute. Again, gundam Aerial looks like a child of the Exia and Barbatos Lupus. Hehehe
Good morning gaikotsu sama, I’m happy that you are reviewing more older kits, i have a suggestion, the mg re gz has been one of the most disappointing mgs to date but the hg version of it really shines. I would really like to see your reaction to it but be prepared because that kit doesn’t skip leg day😂 thank you
Love this video style now! The build process and your quick and dirty improvements to the kit makes this video so practical and useful. Love it! Please keep it up!
Nah larger scale than hg revive Revive js limited to most uc kits and iconic protags, rest are pbandai For example we get *HGCE DAGGER L* and not even a *HGCE PROVIDENCE GUNDAM* or even *HGCE JUSTICE GUNDAM*
@@a.p.studios8713 well if I search for hg freedom on yt then the thumbnail or video title will usually say revive, and exia itself realy popular as ms from the oo series edit : isn't dagger l a mass production from strike gundam, so bandai can just remold from hg strike
Oh man, Oh man this takes me back. my "first" kit after going back to collecting gunpla after the late 90's was the First Grade Exia. went out of town and grabbed a very early bootleg HG Exia, and despite its very fragile and cheap plastic, really tried my best to strengthen the joints and painted everything from the ground up. 13 years later and its still on my shelf along with the new kits ive gotten over the years
Been really enjoying the addition of the build section to the videos. It's a small thing but it's super enjoyable seeing the kit go from pieces to finished in real time, plus it allows for in the moment heads ups on things that might give you some trouble or stuff to keep an eye on. Which is part of the reason I wanted a Re-view of the RG Unicorn since even to this day people are snapping its arms and having other issues that I think a review like this could help to resolve.
The 00 kits could definitely use revive versions. Although RG versions of them all would be even better! The beam saber is pretty surprising since the original Seed Destiny kits that came out before this all came with lots of beam effect parts like the Destiny and Infinite Justice.
I mean the RG Exia is pretty dope, n I'm not even a 00 fan, building the Quan[T] rn n it seems like it's gonna be even better, the stickers under the green clear parts look super cool.
The HG repair 2 comes with everything, saber blades and dagger blades. If I'm remembering right, it also comes with a few spare parts from the astrea also
Blast from the past, and I have this kit the first 00 aired. The only gripe thing is the beam saber skirt sometimes loose with oily plastic. Also the GN Blades each clip pocket hinders quite a bit and needs to rotate when moving the basic legs. The head unit detailing: paint the mask face-cheek with gray, and tiny vents with yellow according to the box art. Looking forward to other old HGs reviews! ^^
Exia's original GN sword is still my favorite Gundam weapon of all time. We really need a revive of this kit, I feel like the new HG techniques they have would do it justice.
US Resident here, just walked in Target and saw a RG Wing TV Version and an HG Aerial for retail price (months after original release date) but I am shocked to see modern kits in a store for retail prices.
I agree completely about wanting an updated HG EXIA kit! This was my first ever Gundam Build, and will always be special to me. However I would quickly pre-order a new updated HG EXIA
I’ve definitely been spoiled by the massive improvements in the recent Witch From Mercury Kits. It’s strange remembering that gunpla wasn’t always this great.
Mecha! Dude such a throwback you are single handedly responsible for my insane collection of gunpla. You should do a video about you and your history and a face reveal and stuff. It would be cool to know more about such an awesome human!
I just started playing gunpla again around mid 2022 and luckily have a chance to have all of the celestial mobile suit in season 1. Just a really fun building experience! Even though they are old kits that a lot of weakness does exist like gimmick, color separation and joint. But then I think their design is definitely sick and still popular these time. Just hope that bandai will “revive” those s1 00 kits soon
better would have been to make the Rest of Season 2 Suites and the Movie Suits as MG Imagine an MG 1/100 Cherudim or Kyrios Gundam or Zabyna FGundam and Harute Gundam
In context, this would've probably been ranked at Silver grade or higher back in 2007. Having double knees in HGs were just becoming a thing at that time, IIRC
Marida sees this vid: "Kh...GUNDAM...!" Jokes aside, here's hoping for Bandai to make an HGAD line for the 00 units! A new Exia with better joints would be so dope! Oh yeah, if you get the other Meisters please review them too!
My first Gunpla build :D And seeing as I had no idea what I was doing, I think I did pretty good. Only had trouble lining up the cables in the shoulders, but that was really about it.
bandai puts the date on the boxes. Granted if it's your first time buying, yeah it can be hard to know how good older kits are compared to newer ones, but it's not hard to assume that older kits aren't gonna be as nice as newer
im the fanatic fans of Exia..high grade exia is my first gunpla before i was started to fall in the world of gunpla and go get many high grade kit until now😂
you should try the HG Astraea white, with dual giant swords attached to the forearms, its sick!!!! the only downfall is that all HG exia based kits tend to have loose forearm connections overtime
Awesome touch-up for the Exia. My first HG00 kit was the Astraea Type-F/F2 and basically had enough parts to create a red exia. Was kinda surprised seeing the GN Long/Short Swords molded in a single color. Not sure if the Exia is affected but the plastic securing the head to the balljoint broke off due to stress and heard other had similar experience but not sure if the Exia head suffers from this but eventually ended up using the spare exia head as a replacement. Hope you also review the exia r2 and amazing exia comparison with the original kit.
I started with the hobby a bit over a year now, and this was my fourth kit (EG Strike, HG Lupus Rex, and HG Revive Char's Zaku II were the first 3). This Exia right here was my first dissapointment, and it's kinda hard for me not to feel contempt with the kit even tho it was unfair to compare it with the ones I've already built at that point. At the time I wasn't using paints or topcoat yet, but the shield and the sword's lack of color accuracy were a real downer. For the longest time I had it standing behind other kits until I scrounged up the open hand to use with my Lfrith. IMHO It really deserves the bronze medal, specially by today's standards, although the GN Sword and the single open hand are great for kitbashing.
It’s stupid how exia is the suit out of the team that uses 4 sabers but he didn’t come with even one effect part and 00 saber parts are square so you have to modify other sabers just to give him some. I’m about to get the Rg soon and it’s gona be so amazing to see exia in 1/144 with everything right. I wish they would do the rest of the 00 team in Rg and then they could do the 2 upgraded versions of the suits after, imagine a rg Zabanya!!!! That thing would have an extreme amount of opening missile flaps and sick gimmicks!!! Let’s hope one day they do but I don’t think it will ever happen unless 00 gets a movie or some other type of big hype.
This was the first kit I ever built when I was like 12 y/o, back when I didn't know what I was doing and trying to snap out the pieces by hand instead of using nippers, but even back then I knew that this kit was not great. I've seen it on the shelf in hobby shops before and I've thought about picking it up to try my hand at it again with the knowledge and experience I have now, but always decided against it cuz I knew it was not worth my time lmao
I recently built this kit and and the only thing I really dislike about it is that it has 4 beam saber hilts and only that one white saber like the one the cheap SD kits come with. I also ended up touching it up with some paint here and there, but otherwise, it was a fun build and looks great among my other models. I look forward to an updated one, though. Maybe I should buy the RG version after I've gone through more of my gunpla backlog.
Exia has always been my fav in 00 line up. Oh yea there's transcient that i like from 00 lineup. Exia is like one of my first favourites along with astray red frame. Sad to say though i dont have a single exia kit
1:17 I think it's about time Bandai goes back and does updated HG 00 kits. 2:07 Yep. This is something a lot of people are not aware of. 2:31 Yea... This pretty much is a huge indicator that Bandai needs to make an updated HG 00 line up. 23:27 Same here. I really like what you did with the GN Sword. That massive shield sticker... 🤦♂
I wanna see you review the 00 Gundam! It's a kit that was released around the same time the Exia was, but Bandai kept using it as a base for newer models - like the 00 Diver Ace/Sky.
There's a huge difference between the Exia and 00 kits. While Exia was more like older kits with ball jointed hips and molded beam sabers, the 00 kit had swiveling hip-thigh joints with hip abduction up to 90 degrees. The 00 kit also had double jointed elbows, an abdominal crunch somewhat - some features which are standard in more recent kits. Its polycap frame also became mostly a standard (see HG 1/144 RX 78 G30th) until it was replaced by the polycap set used in Revive HGs/Build series kits Really, does the 00 kit still stand up to modern kits. :p
what a coincidence that I was able to buy this kit for a cheap price 15€ and a store that was hidden 3 impressed that even more than 14 years the durability is still good the only problem is that the blade is very loose and it always goes even more and a good kit
