It's not until reading Ngee Khiong's blog have I become more aware of Bandai's continual extensive reuse of
old parts to release new model kits. The 1/35 Lancelot from popular anime series Code
Geass (and its sequel Code Geass R2, which is currently airing) is a good example to show this.
1/35 Lancelot, released in May 2007
Image via Bandai Hobby
1/35 Lancelot Royal Coating Version, released in Feburary 2008
Same as the previous release but with a prettier coating. The price is on par to Master Grade gundam models.
Image via Bandai Hobby
1/35 Lancelot Air Cavalry, released in March 2008
Out just one month after Royal Coating Version, it features the Float system as well as Blaze Luminous shield.
Image via Bandai Hobby
UPDATED: 1/35 Lancelot Conquista, to be released in August 2008
An upgrade to Air Cavalry. It features a Hadron Blaster cannon on top of the Float system.
Image via Bandai Hobby
1/35 Lancelot "Zero Image Colour" version, to be released on 8th August 2008
Aka "Black Knight" version. Literally the same as the first Lancelot but black instead of white. The person on the left is Jun Fukuyama (福山潤), who is the seiyuu for the main character Lelouch Lamperouge. This is also reported on Ngee Khiong's blog.
Image via Toysdaily
I am not a fan of Lancelot, but the design isn't bad at all for a non-Gundam mecha. However the prices are considerably higher than any of the High Grade 1/144 Gundam model lines, which stand about the same height as the 1/35 Code Geass models. One can see that Bandai is releasing the same thing again and again with just small variations. I am pretty sure that there will be at least one more Lancelot model release in the future, featuring new wing-like system on the back (as seen in the new opening of the second season from DarkMirage).
i'm pretty sick and tired of seeing so many variations of lancelot. they should at least include the other mechs. was hoping bandai would come up with gawain or cornelia's knightmare but was super disappointed when none of it came out. Bt as everyone knows, bandai just loves to suck the money out of ppl.
ReplyDelete@Ivan:
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that Bandai should release other Knightmares such as Cornelia's Gloucester. So far they are only available in the form of "In Action" posable figures. Such a shame.
yeah i agree. did you buy any of the model kit?
ReplyDeletebtw, the zero version of lancelot is only through newtype subcription thingy. and there will be other "In Action" figures for the burai, burai (zero), gawain and the gekka. not sure if there will be one model kit for gawain but im hoping for it.
anyway, keep this blog up. love to read bout all these stuff. :D
@ Ivan:
ReplyDeleteI haven't got any Geass related merchandise, mainly because of the high prices for both plamodels and action figures, as well as the fact that I'm running out of spaces for more items.
IMO Zero's Knightmares, Gawain, Shinkirou (from R2), and even his Burai, have potentials for plamodels release, which will be more interesting than seeing more of the Lancelots on the shelves.
Last but not least thank you for supporting my blog!
q, agreed. would love to see the others on model kits instead of the action figures. what do you have then? do u mostly collect figures or model kits?
ReplyDelete@ Ivan:
ReplyDeleteI collect 1/144 military miniatures (most of them are tanks), which are the ones that take up most of the space. Perhaps I'm lucky that they're not releasing much anymore or else I'll be in trouble. I also have a growing number of HG 1/144 Gundam models along with one figure (exlcuding posable ones). I don't usually collect 1/100 due to larger sizes, but I may consider buying Gundam Astraea.
Thanks for the link ^^
ReplyDeleteCouldn't agree more with you about Bandai's fierce money-making scheme with these Lancelot plamos. Makes me remember those repainted SEED MSV Gunplas they keep on producing while ignoring many other cooler MSs.
If I'm not mistaken, Lancelot and Guren Type-02 have new forms in the anime - the ones with beam-wing like equipments. ^^;
@ NK:
ReplyDeleteYep Bandai does very similar things to the SEED line indeed, which you've reported quite often. It's a pity that some like Xist's new customised CGUE isn't available as a model itself.
The new winged Lancelot and Guren are seen in the new opening, but we've yet to see them in action. If I recall right the upgrades are known as 紅蓮聖天八極式 (translating this will sound silly) and ランスロット・アルビオン (Lancelot Albion).