Robot Damashii [Side MS] Gouf Custom Part 1

Deceivingly ordinary
Back to something that is more normal (but still very exciting ^^) after the review on ARTFX+ 1/10 Catwoman New 52 in the previous posting.


Robot Damashii [Side MS] Gouf Custom
Production company: Tamashii Nations (Bandai)
Release date: Late November 2011
Price: 3,500 Yen (exclusive of tax).
Official link

As one of my favorite MSs, Gouf Custom from "MS Gundam: the 08th MS Team" is very much welcomed in the Robot Damashii [Side MS] action figure format for me. ^^ Its fearsome image, and crazy combat performance in the OVA series give it huge potentials to become a really fun action figure. ^^ For that matter, I was looking forward to pre-ordering it the moment it was announced, but for some matter, it received very limited release outside Japan. ^^; It's the same case with another mono-eye Robot Damashii [Side MS] figure, the original Zaku II. While I didn't manage to get Zaku II, I was fortunate enough to be able to get Gouf Custom. ^^

Besides the exaggerated masculine look redesigned to it, Gouf Custom is given the Hard Point System treatment, where various components of the figure have ports added to them, which can be use to mount weapon parts. Besides Gouf Custom, another two figures in the Robot Damashii [Side MS] line that feature this unique system are the aforementioned Zaku II. While I didn't manage to get Zaku II, and Gundam RX-78-2. The latter even received an "upgraded" second release, called the Hard Point Appended version. The upgrades mentioned are self-explanatory in the figure's name I believe. ^^

The Hard Point System is meant to increase the playability of the Robot Damashii [Side MS] figure involved. Its application is more direct on Zaku II, and Gundam RX-78-2 in my opinion, where the ports are used to mount weapons, more weapons, and even more weapons if you more than one sets of those figures. ^^ For Gouf Custom however, the number of weapons it used in the OVA is very limited, and their flexibility is quite limited as well. The machine cannon is to be mounted to the forearm all the time, and besides having the flexibility of ejecting the gun barrel for its shield to be exposed, the gatling shield works in almost the same limited way as the machine cannon. ^^; The Hard Point System won't be as fun for Gouf Custom as it is on Zaku II, and Gundam RX-78-2 if no modification was made to the weapons themselves, so that was exactly what the designed did for Gouf Custom. ^^ Not only can the weapons be taken apart, and reassembled into different forms, there are two sets of machine cannons, and gatling shields included for Gouf Custom for you to get creative with the Hard Point System as well. ^^

The figure itself looks amazing, and the Hard Point System's application on Gouf Custom seems very creative. This should be a really fun action figure to play with. ^^


Front view of the box.


Gouf Custom can be seen quite clearly through the front window.


A picture of the figure on the bottom right corner of the front cover, with the eye, and the machine cannon's targeting scope enhanced with Adobe Photoshop grow. ^^


Product name, emblem of the "MS Gundam: the 08th MS Team" OVA series, and merchandising seal of Gundam.


Printed labels showing the Hard Point System on the front cover.










Closeups on the content.



Simple design for the sides, top and bottom, with emphasis for the Hard Point System. ^^





Introduction of the figure on the back of the box.





Comparison with the box of Unicorn Gundam (Destroy Mode) Full Action Ver. from the same product line.
Unicorn Gundam (Destroy Mode) Full Action Ver. came out a month before Gouf Custom. ^^


Box open.


Content.


Top view of the box content.


Package content with the clear plastic cover taken off.












Closeups on the content.


Rear view of the box content.







Closeups on the details.




The gatling shield's assembly, some articulation features of Gouf Custom, and the Hard Point System's application are shown on the instruction sheet.


A promotional pamphlet for Robot Damashii [Side MS] figures from "MS Gundam AGE" is also included.
Gundam AGE-1 Normal came out half a month after Gouf Custom. ^^



A straight out of box display of Robot Damashii [Side MS] Gouf Custom.
A look at the accessories, and option parts included for Gouf Custom in the next posting. ^^