In Build Fighters Try, Mega Rider rides you.
I’d like to think that that was the idea the mechanical designer had at the time when they came up with the Mega Shiki, and somehow this crazy bash manages to work. Despite being being named off the Hyaku Shiki, the kit is actually based off the HGUC Delta Gundam Kai. You get plenty of spare parts leftover as a result, including an extra head, shield, shoulder parts and more and of course, all undergated, thanks to the original Delta Gundam runners.
I also love the overall design and silhouette. The Shiki itself is already sleek and tall, and the Mega Rider on the back makes the kit look alot larger and menacing than you’d credit it for. It’s almost like a supercar with guns. Despite being coloured majority in purple, there’s enough surface detail on the kit as well as mechanical lines in the design to keep it interesting to look at.
The Mega Ride Launcher (MRL) forms part of the namesake of the kit and is also the main gimmick of the kit. It’s detachable from the Mobile Suit and can be used in similar fashion the the Hyaku Shiki’s Mega Bazooka launcher with some simple parts swapping and transformation. It’s pretty cool, but I find that without the backpack attached, the kit does look rather lanky. If you have an action base you can also have the Mega Shiki use the MRL as a hang glider of sorts.
It’s also a fairly easy kit to build and paint, with only major seams on the head, wings, forearms, rifle and the internals of the legs. Some masking is needed on the arm guards and the vents on the legs to get it box colour accurate, but I opted just to leave them as is.
Overall, I’d say this is probably one of the must-have kits in the HGBF line, along with the Build/Try Burning Gundam. The Mega Shiki isn’t quite as posable as the Build Burning, as the limbs and don’t really bend past 90 degrees and the head movement is kinda blocked by the chin, it’s arguably the better looking kit, and represents good value with the extra spare parts which could potentially be used to create your own custom version.
One of the best kits to come out of the HGBF line.
- Menacing design feels familiar yet new
- Lots of Delta Gundam spare parts included
- Few seamlines
- Most of the armour parts are undergated
- Good surface details
- Doesn’t quite have the flexibility of other suits in the HGBF line
- Colour scheme may seem monotonous to some
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Action Pose
