Continued from last post on HG 1/144 00 QAN[T], we shall head on to the GN Sword IV, which is a kit that comes with February 2011 Issue of Hobby Japan magazine. Combining the GN Sword IV with 00 QAN[T] gives the Full Saber configuration.
The kit comes with 2 runners: One blue one and one of clear green. The clear green is slightly lighter in colour than those on the blades of the 00 QAN[T].
I'm no serious modeller, so I just use my usual Gundam Markers to do the colouring. Grey is easy to do, but white is a pain which requires layers after layers of painting. Luckily a number of the parts where colouring is required are well separated, which makes things not too dreadful for someone casual like me.
The end product, with GN Sword IV on the left and the extra backpack add-on on the right.
The backpack add-on simply goes over the back of the 00 QAN[T]. The GN Shield had to be disconnected along with its arm and reconnected on the new hole on the backpack. As the polycap is now used up on the backpack, the GN Shield will lose one point of articulation.
Backpack add-on and GN Shield attached. The signiture cone-shape back that are prominent for the 3rd generation Gundams (those that appeared in 1st season of Gundam 00) makes a return here.
Comparison of 00 Gundam Seven Sword's GN Buster Sword II (top) with the GN Sword IV (bottom)
Front view of 00 QAN[T] Full Saber configuration.
Back view. The GN Sword IV now takes the highlight and kind of balances the original asymmetric look, or even takes it away to the other side as it's bigger than the GN Shield on the left.
GN Sword IV consists of the "main blade unit", "main grip unit" (the two are currently attached together as seen above), and 3 GN Gunblades. There are many different ways to combine them (hence different modes), so I will just show the majority for examples.
The GN Gunblades can switch modes between gun mode and blade mode. Just a swivel the green blade and there you go.
With the GN Gunblades 00 QAN[T] can dual wield just like Gundam Dynames, Cherudim Gundam, and Gundam Zabanya from the same series with their respective pistols, or even Strike Noir from Gundam SEED C.E. 73: Stargazer
2 GN Gunblades can combine together to become "Twin Edge".
The GN Sword IV has 2 rifle modes. One way is to have the main blade unit facing forward and have the GN Gunblade in gun mode attached underneath.
Another form of rifle mode is to simply have the main blade unit to go the other way round.
GN Sword IV without the GN Gunblades
GN Sword IV in Full Saber mode.
N.B. There are 3 parts that are to be used in junction with other Gunpla kits, but I have decided to leave them out as the post is focused on the 00 QAN[T], and that I do not have the Gunplas that go with them (e.g. Gundam Zanbanya, Gundam Harute).
The GN Sword IV fills the "empty" space on the right shoulder of 00 QAN[T], and it has made the Full Saber configuration look more 'balanced' in a way, with a slight resemblance to the 00 Raiser.
According to the settings, the GN Sword IV itself only existed in data as the technology on the Gundam itself is so well refined that GN Sword IV is not needed for synchronising the Twin Drives that are running on the 00 QAN[T]. As the current weapon 00 QAN[T] uses is the GN Sword V it could imply that the GN Sword V (and the GN Sword Bits) inherits features from GN Sword IV to achieve the end result, making the GN Sword IV obselete in a way.
In terms of the model itself, there is a good amount of playability for the GN Sword IV, with different modes and combinations one can do here and there. I kind of felt that this is the true form of 00 QAN[T], with the huge sword acting as the other binder for the Gundam to look like 00 Raiser, and the cone-shape back that resembles Setsuna's first Gundam, Gundam Exia, with more implications showing how 00 QAN[T] is derived from both Gundam Exia and 00 Raiser.
Overall, GN Sword IV is a nice add-on kit to make the 00 QAN[T] Full Saber. It may be a bit hard to find the kit as it only comes with the February 2011 Issue of Hobby Japan magazine (which was released in January). It's not hard to build, and it's not as hard to paint compared to, say, the XN Raiser kit that was released back in 2009.
Do check out chubbybot's reviews on the GN Sword IV too on The Toy Room!
Really cool add-ons, especially the combined twin edge. Full Saber mode looks pretty cool compared to normal ^^
ReplyDeleteWhy not put some clear green over the green blade parts?
ReplyDelete@ Persocom:
ReplyDeleteThanks! It's interesting to hear it from you since you're not into Gundam. GN Sword IV is a nice add-on, and it makes the Gundam look more complete to me!
@ Tom:
I know you find the clear green parts too light for you, but I find them alright in my opinion, even if there is a slight difference of colour between that on GN Sword IV and the 00 QAN[T] itself.
Twin drive.. how? i thought it only come with single GN Drive.. any source of the info for me? hehe..
ReplyDeleteLooking good buddy, nice work! Do the display stands come with the model?
ReplyDelete@ seven6398:
ReplyDeleteThe [T] on 00 QAN[T] denotes "Twin", which means 00Q does use twin drive system. One of the GN Drives at the back, while the other is inside the GN Shield. You can look it up on Gundam Wiki for more info.
@ korewagundam:
The display stand comes with HG 1/144 00 QAN[T], like some of the HG 1/144 SEED models such as Destiny and Strike Noir.
oh.. i never know that.. no wonder.. wow.. if the right shoulder have the same design as left shoulder.. then it can have triple drive.. awesome..
ReplyDelete@ seveb6398:
ReplyDeleteTriple drive system will be interesting~ That reminds me of the HG 1/144 1.5 Gundam kit as the redundant parts of GN Tau Drives from the Reborns Gundam are still available on the runners, so you can have 3 drives on the 1.5 Gundam with a bit of modification :o
Thanks for the link man! I think you did a great job with the white portions! Indeed white is the hardest color to paint....doesn't cover the underlying layer that well!!
ReplyDelete@ chubbybots:
ReplyDeleteNo problem! Sharing out hobby is always great!
Colouring with white Gundam Marker surely isn't easy, and as you said it doesn't cover up the underlaying layer very well compared to other colours. Can't remember how layers I have to do at the end, but it paid off at the end!
Can you tell me what color gundam marker you used to color them as in GMXX.
ReplyDelete