HG 1/144 Tieren Taozi Part 1

The real Taozi
Starting on another Gunpla project this time, one from "Gundam Double O" but came out way earlier than HG 1/144 Ali al-Saachez's Customized AEU Enact Custom and Mr. Bushido's Customized Ahead I worked on in December last year and last month respectively.

In other words, this is a kit I managed to keep untouched in my collection much longer than Ali's AEU Enact Custom and Mr. Bushido's Customized Ahead. ^^;


This is HG 1/144 Tieren Taozi which came out in January 2008. It was the first variation release of Tieren in the High Grade series after the initial Ground Type. While the Ground Type has a very solid militaristic look, Tieren Taozi has a completely different feel to it. ^^ Its overall pinkish color scheme is absolutely "outstanding", which makes it difficult to treat the machine as a giant robot meant for war. ^^; It's even harder to imagine that this color scheme is on a bulky (fat ^^) and heavy Mobile Suit that has some real world tank feel to it. Then again, there was a pink Zaku Warrior with a Haro emblem on its shoulder shield in "MS Gundam SEED Destiny", so I suppose Tieren Taozi can be excused if one isn't too happy with its image. XD

And when Farsia was been introduced in "MS Gundam AGE", I think Tieren Taozi's color scheme should be accepted into mainstream MS design already. XD In the next whatever Gundam anime, there should be another Mobile Suit in pink, which should be arranged as the ace unit of the show. XD That's going to raise tons of eyebrows, but it sounds fun to me. XD

By the way, the name "Taozi" is Chinese for peach (桃子).


Image is from JWB Dotcom
A Mobile Suit that is named after a fruit. How cute. ^^ I wonder which came first for the MS - its color scheme, or name. ^^


Essentially, this Tieren Taozi is exactly the same as the later-released Sergei's version with two differences:
(1) Dark blue replaced pink on the entire unit for Sergei's version,
(2) An additional runner was included for Sergei's version to give it a new beam rifle.

The color change is tremendously simple, as other colors like yellow for the vents and light purple for the shin are the same between the two units. ^^ Twisting the interpretation of that color change, it would seem that the only color Sergei didn't want to have on his Tieren Taozi is pink XD

Much like the initial Ground Type, I really love the design of Tieren Taozi. ^^ Contrary to its cutesy color scheme, the two huge shoulder shields give the unit a more muscular look, but the lack of the Ground Type's knee armor gives it an agile look at the same time. It's a very unique design which I like very much to say the least. ^^


The light particles shown at the bottom right corner of the box art are GN Particles I believe, even though the Gundam which emit them isn't shown at all. ^^



Introduction of the kit on the sides of box.


Content.


Following the design "tradition" set in "Gundam Double O" High Grade series, you get a match between the completed kit's action pose shown on the manual with the box art illustration. ^^






The instruction manual.





Comparison with the box design of Sergei's version.


All runners.
A look at the runners' design.


Runner A


All the pinkness. ^^


Runner B


Radiator fins for the smooth-bore gun and Carbon Blade.


Runner D



All the parts that weren't molded in pink get their colors retained for Sergei's version. ^^


Runner E


Runner F and polycap set PC-123


Foil sticker sheet.


All the parts are separated from their runners.
A few repeated parts not just from Sergei's version but the Space Commander Type as well are selected to be painted right away. ^^


The smooth-bore gun's radiator fins and Carbon Blade have segments to be painted in light blue.


Painted the radiator fins' body using Gundam Marker Light Blue.


Side edges of the fins are painted as well.


Painted the carbon blade's handle with the same Gundam Marker as well.


Panel lined the border to clearly separate between the sections.
More detailing work coming up in the next posting. ^^