Last day of Kindergarten, and some Gunpla ranting (mild)

Today's last day for Lopy @ Mr. Keyani's class.  It was a great school year for him, and since everyone loves Mr. Keyani, it was Lopy's honor to have him as Lopy's teacher.  Hurray!

Everyone gotta sit @ Mr. Keyani's rocking chair; he said that it's the portal to 1st grade!  In case you miss it, Lopy did some Math today, as shown on the white board: 18 * 1 = 18!

Now, some ranting on the upcoming Hi Nu Gundam gunpla - Bandai, are your crazy?  What are you thinking?

Those of you who don't know anything about this upcoming gunpla, just do a web search.  In short, if you label it a Ver. Ka edition, then make it look like a Ver. Ka edition!  Not just a redesign of RX-93-2 from the 2010 (or so) release, so that this upcoming one will look more like the original version, but incorporate what you have added in the latest Ver. Ka release, i.e. Nu Gundam RX-93, with psycho-frame and color differentiating stickers - better yet, color differentiating parts and new internal frame like that of Gundam RX-78-2 "3.0."  The upcoming hi nu is really a version 1.5...or 2.0 at best, since RX-78-2 version 2.0 went retro, and so will this upcoming Hi Nu.  What's even worse is that, with what most gunpla magazines (e.g. Gundam ACE) have published on the latest images, all the gimmicks it has are typical of gunplas back in the late 90's and early 2000's, i.e. hidden storage areas that can be opened up, boosters that can move outward, or parts that reveal hidden weapons.

Now here's the worst part: HWS.  Oh come on, Bandai!  Are you serious?  For you to release a Hi Nu kit, you need to know - and I'm guessing that you do, so please don't disappoint me - that you are targeting the older gunpla fans here.  Why, because all this kit, Hi Nu, is based solely on a novel!  Rough sketches and that was it!  No manga, movie, OVA, TV series, what-so-ever.  Later on, in one of those Gundam fan publications, it started to take shape, followed by the so call B-Club or garage kits (i.e. just plastics part for the exterior that you can glue together, followed by some serious painting).  The HWS is ONLY for the Nu, as shown in this 1999.co.jp link (B-Club).  Why for the Nu?  Well, you need to get one of those out-of-print Gundam mechanical file publications (from your local library) or from the Gundam wiki.  I have the former, and here is a quote:

"The Nu Gundam can also be fitted with advanced full-body armor.  This version is also equipped with additional firearms such as the hyper mega beam rifle.  Since the weight increase significantly with the upgrades, the boost propulsion is also increased to compensate."

Here's a quote about the Hu Nu:

"The Hi-Nu Gundam is the improved version of the RX-93 Nu Gundam.  Because it was fully tested before being deployed, it has an immediate combat edge compared to its predecessor..."

Now, for those who have watched the CCA movie, and from the quote of the Hi Nu above, it's cleared that the RX-93 Nu Gundam was deployed BEFORE testing was done (it was still being assembled together shortly before Amuro picked it up).  Because of that, based on actual field testing results, i.e. Amuro piloting the Nu in battles, it was deemed necessary to add more fire power and armor to the Nu.  On the other hand, the Hi Nu has fully been tested, and was supposed to be the ultimate Gundam with the greatest fire power (of the UC era, prior to the just finished Unicorn Gundam OVA), it's reductant to have HWS on top of a "perfect" machine.  Think of it this way - if you are testing a rocket car for the land speed record, what difference will it make if you put a super car engine in addition to the rocket booster?  In fact, the super car engine will become the limiting factor, and will actually add more weight (hence slow down the performance) of the rocket car.

So, say, let's give Bandai the benefit of the doubt, that in the upcoming CCA based Beltorchika's Children manga, there will be Hi Nu HWS, at least make it new/different that the Nu HWS, so that it's more "practical" for the actual use on a Hi Nu (in our imagination, that is).  Oh, and the Hi Nu HWS kit looks identical to the B Club kit too, so DEFINITELY not a new HWS kit to the Hi Nu!

There, I said it.  Will I buy it with the HWS?  Yes!  But will I buy it with the HWS at full price?  No way.  I'm waiting for sales to get this one.  Bandai, I don't get you on this Hi Nu kit at all :(