1421 - Best & Worst Gunpla Kits of 2017!

[@jadanschmayden]

Real modelers freeze their own blood to model into parts

[@masterkent1]

real modelers paint their blood to use it for weathering washes

[@abraxis7292]

A true gunpla builder....doesn't shame others for not painting

[@ZakuAurelius]

Abraxis729 of course! Why would you? Gunpla, specifically compared to other kinds of models, are really made to look their best without having to paint. Of course painting looks better but there’s certainly no requirement.

[@azuzu9813]

Exactly what I was thinking!! Getting really tired of people who bashing people for not painting

[@Wobbey363]

I almost never paint. I started building this year, and just don't have the time to fully paint kits. Although my 1/100 Barbatos Lupus Rex might be one of my exceptions because I need them yellow fingers

[@hansongorham9494]

GUNPLA IS FREEDOM!!!

[@sorestarbing3978]

I love gunpla painting. All my gunpla are painted build and I will not stop doing the painting.

[@BTR180]

PlaPlate X Putty is the best kit! I can't believe that it's so hard to find completed and in one box. Sigh...

[@yungyamazaki9512]

Jorge Pantoja trolololol

[@RobotJeeg]

In my language "Tristan" sounds like "Triste". And "Triste" means sad! A perfect name for a sad and boring kit!

[@cementium]

muy triste

[@nekketsukai]

Haha you are tremendo

[@peter_samer]

Sad Gundam.........

[@TheAlison1456]

I've seen that so many times. "in my language x sounds like y and it's funny because z" and the guy is always from brazil

[@delmonciiidr]

Are you italian, spanish or what?

[@SiberianMusher]

I really liked the first 2 mins of the video, trying to chill people out before people post harsh stuff, good job man keep up your great work. Looking forward to more in 2018

[@ZakuAurelius]

haha, sometimes people need a context reminder before flying off the handle

[@TheTwelfthCollector]

Tristan as the worst kit of 2017 is as surprising as Superman being alive in Justice League

[@absolute_erwin]

Don't be so harsh on the Tristan it was just 16 years late.

[@pooly5280]

Erwin Azucena 16 years and didn't deliver.

[@crist3809]

Some kits from 16 years ago was better tho lmao

[@nurruslee1489]

the reason is so bad is because it uses the alex's joints and those are trash

[@Psyche1903]

2018: More Thunderbolt kits please! That Acguy, Dom, Guncannon, GM Cannon, and Gelgoog all deserve HG kits.

[@ORLY911]

Agreed, I really want the flight pack gouf myself!

[@TheMisplaymaker]

Guncannon Aqua and Hy-Gogg pls

[@neptune14films]

The gm type c ground type is pretty sick too

[@Psyche1903]

Yeah totally. Psycho Zaku and Fall Armor got MG's. Let's get a few more.

[@helsing5661]

Mybe more HGUC revive versions of kits from the original series, such as the Dom, Gelgoog, GM or Guntank

[@bunnyfreakz]

Worst should be HG Tristan. No doubt. All MG are really good this year, it's really hard decide which one the best. RE Hamma Hamma is great as well, I think I will put as #3 instead HG GM Ground. Don't get me wrong, HG Ground is amazing but Hamma Hamma is totally new kit Bandai built from the ground, great color separation, suprisingly balanced and great gimmicks.

[@mechalinkergaming7169]

I think RE Bawoo was better (was it released this year?).

[@Enlapanlima]

Is your PG Exia haunted, or it lighting up randomly is just its feature?

[@ZakuAurelius]

Enlapan Lima not haunted, close though! It’s actually possessed!

[@BLUEHOUNDZULU]

AFAIK theres a setting where it lights every few seconds. The editing combined with the camera's shutter speed is probably making it look more sporadic than it actually is. OR the ELS are just communicating with us.

[@combatseawolf]

It's already been possessed by Monika eversince the part 2 of the review

[@BNuts]

Better Monika than Purple Guy?

[@israelmartinez4097]

Yeah I'm just going over some of the videos and saw that and had to replay that section I thought my eyes where playing tricks on me. He should have random gunpla light up and turn off in videos just to mess with us. Lol

[@14howZz]

the SD barbatos lupus ex retail for 12,000 yen? o.o

[@ExcelsiorSG]

1200yen. He said wrongly lol.

[@ZakuAurelius]

ivan_ssh did I say that? Whoops! Well you know what I mean!

[@yeetthatmeat3235]

ivan_ssh 1200

[@NoName-sb9tp]

Actually that’s twelve hundred (1200), he mistakenly said “thousand” lol

[@14howZz]

haha yea just can't help pointing that out xD Anyway, agree with most of your points and your ranking there. Really wish the pricing of PG Exia lighting model is a little more accessible. A job well done as always! #ZakuAurelius

[@PORCELAINGRL]

Um actually (insert smart ass comment)

[@fazuthepazu6107]

bet you got your pic from google

[@aconfusedkitten3044]

@@fazuthepazu6107 you dont even have a pic

[@suchiru_no_ame2148]

For those who didn't know, if you hold down the button on the PG Exia's LED unit for 10 seconds, it goes into a power saver display mode where it comes on for a short time every 30 mins :)

[@joroar18681]

Great video!. I'm super excited, I just came back from the local Mall where I bought the Ground Type MS Gundam, just to see it ranked number 3 on your best gunpla of the year, I can't wait to build it. I also need to thank you, your tutorial videos help me a lot in my first 2 figures, the HG Zaku2 and the RG MKII.

[@krysskallins]

the gm sniper 2 has been what i recommend to folks wanting to try out gunpla. they are surprised when i suggest a MG out the gate, but this kit is just that good.

[@ZombryaTheDark]

krysskallins I'm the same exact way

[@tetsujin_144]

Bleff.

[@dol_mel7487]

krysskallins though honestly a gm sniper custom would be a little better due to the accessory count

[@jdmforlife795]

The GM is a nice and simple MG

[@azuzu9813]

I prefer sniper custom,the only differences are armor and weapons

[@dwightmiranda3192]

You and Mecha Gaikotsu are the only ttwo people I love to watch when it comes to Gunpla

[@combatseawolf]

5:48 Almost everybody knew it already that the Tristan is the worst kit this year

[@kevintee7445]

the kit itself is undeserving of being called a High Grade. That particular kit I'd just call Trashtan

[@TimberWolf429]

I still can't wait for my PG Exia Lighting model, they are back ordered, but I have mine bought and paid for, so, there is one kit out there that belongs to me, and I'm sure I will love building it.

[@guy_does_nothing_productive]

6:37wtf the exia got turned off by itself

[@ZakuAurelius]

Gierom guy_does_nothing_productive it does that when it’s on for a while

[@aznmarinex2]

random question, although some kits are "recycled" if they are sister mobile suits in the gundam series, doesnt that make sense as they were designed roughly the same anyways? just speaking in regards to justice vs freedom

[@JonBius]

Love what you said starting at 1:08. I wish more people would consider that in general. Good stuff, Zach.

[@ZakuAurelius]

thanks Jon!

[@ocelot_the_dragon]

Star Build Burning is my first kit I’ve built. I love it. Amazing solid possibility. Great accessories for a starter. It’s a good kit in my eyes.

[@drei7316]

Well i like High Grades simply because I'm getting the stuff that what i would want on a model kit that has an affordable price. MG's and so fort are just crazy in terms of price.

[@BlitzkriegOmega]

the reason the HGUC Tristan looks and feels like a kit from the early 2000s is because it's largely based on the HGUC Gundam Alex, which was released in *July of 2004.* Bandai dropped the ball. they could have made a great HG that would have lead to a HGUC Alex Revive, but...no. of course not.

[@ZakuAurelius]

I know it uses parts from the Alex, but I wouldn't say it's largely based on it. It really only uses a few of the joint parts really.

[@Spartan-Primer]

And that's what makes it so terrible. They used joint parts from a completely outdated kit, instead of making new joints, or using revive-type joints, because literally *everything else* on the Tristan is brand spanking new!

[@supergeno128ds]

I think if they had done the Tristan RIGHT they could have designed it so it could have been reverse engineered into an Alex revive. It kinda needs one.

[@baronzemo5301]

Great list and very helpful. As my like settles down now and I get back into gundam/gunpla you have become a great source for future purchases. Thanks

[@snowball4506]

You should do more live builds, I really love them :3 also great year Zack, keep up the good work!

[@nightdragonize]

Fantastic video! Thanks for all of your hard work this year I really appreciate it!

[@roninplays3008]

What tools should I use to build a gunpla? I'm a beginner here.. I've never own a gunpla before..

[@carlosalvador3926]

i was waiting for the gm sniper 2 and i was not disappointed. by the way zack that's some sick background music you got there, like the ones they use in a spa

[@Baimobile7]

I was waiting for you to say the GM Sniper II, but when you got to #2, I was like aww it didn't make it, but it came in at #1, and I was pleasantly surprised. Nice list my dude

[@RapRapKun]

Custom build using GM/GM contest is a nice idea.

[@aldrincosme6115]

what about a gm contest cuz I think that the mg gm sniper ii deserves a contest as well

[@Somebronysomewhere]

I honestly think I had more fun building the GM Sniper II that I did any other kit I've ever built. I might by acouple more. (And given that the Sniper Custom is the same frame, I might do the same thing for it too.)

[@Huildnotreal]

hopefully they continue giving love to GMs next year as well

[@engineer32]

18:42 - 18:45 when your Gunpla comes alive because you are going to talk about it.

[@Kirby0189]

Yea I wonder if he intended for that to happen.

[@skuffles]

What scale was that PlaPlate X Putty kit? Your modeling skill is so good it looked like a PG/RG ;)

[@calcinatoir]

I’m a reasonably experienced modeler, I enjoy building Model Factory Hiro metal and resin kits, Tamiya plastic auto kits, etc., and I’m very comfortable working with Mr. Color lacquer paints as they’re my faves, but the Gunpla world seems to be something really almost overwhelming to get into! I’m not into anime or anything but I loved Gundam Wing when I was a kid and I’d love a quality high-detail kit of the titular Gundam from what series in RG to begin. What do I even look for? There are a million different versions of this guy and I can’t tell them apart. Any advice from someone knowledgeable would be a huge help. I know RG are 1/144 scale and I like that size so something RG would be great. Cheers, and thanks for the informative video!

[@kevinalvarez4421]

New subscriber and love the channel! I’ve been wanting to get back into building Gunpla, your tutorial videos helped to get me started 👏🏽

[@ZakuAurelius]

Glad to hear it! Thanks!

[@Dragondude2525]

Haven't seen the whole video yet and don't remember when the HG IBO Vidar came out, but what's your opinion on it?

[@ZakuAurelius]

Dragon Dude Collecting I believe it came right at the end of 2016 and that’s why it wasn’t in this video. But it’s very good!

[@kaeede91]

So Zaku, did you give points off the MG Justice because it used the same frame as the Freedom 2.0? Well then what of the GM Sniper using the same frame of the RX-78-2 2.0 MG?

[@ZakuAurelius]

Quite a few MG kits use the 2.0 Gundam frame as it's kind of a universal 0079 humanoid EFF frame. Of course I see your point though and it's debatable.

[@kazuki199407]

good list and video Happy New Year to you guys !

[@spisee5445]

7:58 Did anyone see a ghost make the Exia light up?

[@kevintee7445]

Haven't built or picked up almost all of the kits mentioned. I do have the Efreet Schneid in my backlog, so looking forward to building it soon. And yeah when I first saw images of the GM Sniper 2, love at first sight (it's a sniper so this is technically a pun). All the rave reviews the GM Sniper 2 got just made me put that on my Gunpla must-haves list. probably the only thing I'd want to change is the tone of light blue that most of the kit is in, but that's just nitpicking personal preference. Will probably refer back to this video when I do some more Gunpla shopping.

[@lilruss15]

Question, Where did get the Gundam posters from?

[@brunodorabialski2498]

do you think the gm sniper master grade is a good first master grade for begginers?

[@WAMoralesIgnacio]

The origin hg Zaku 2. That had a whole lot of extras and an awesome kit.

[@ZakuAurelius]

but that essentially came out in 2015, so it wasn't really new this year.

[@WAMoralesIgnacio]

Hg Origin Zaku 2 C/C5 came out 2017. The only thing missing on that was the giant axe from the black star Zaku

[@orochirel]

I have sinned... I have a lot of boxes stored up :( hope this year I have more time to build, and some of them even paint.

[@kogmirage2355]

MG GN sniper 2 has one huge flaw for me. It only has one hand to hold the weapons. A MG that cant hold both its weapons at the same time in 2017 is a bit of a joke IMO. Should have had the 3.0 hands like the white dingo version.

[@EbullientSMP]

GM Sniper Custom isn't really a recolor, most of it's parts are actually new asides from frame parts, and it barely shares any external parts with the GM Sniper II. Custom also has 2.0 hands, and an huge loadout of accessories, so overall I'd say that's superior. Great list though.

[@ZachRensberger]

Good point! I was just thinking along the lines of "we wouldn't have got the GM Sniper Custom without getting the Sniper II first"

[@EbullientSMP]

Yeah, both are excellent kits in the end, but in my opinion the Custom wins because it just offers more, the accessories, storage and 2.0 hands are all massive positives in my book.

[@azuzu9813]

The color,design,and accesories are the reason why I picked custom over ii..

[@ceeme03]

Genuine question. Is there really a dislike to decals with gunpla? As a new builder I started (6 months ago) out with the RG line ad a reccomendation as I like high detail and the form factor. I just decided I liked some of the decals and started applying them and now I've grown to love the challenge of getting them perfect and right first time and with a good gloss ove found they look almost printed in production. Also could anyone recommend any good site to learn about new and upcoming kits?

[@nekodegozaru951]

Noticed the Exia's lights turned off somewhere 6mins in to the video. So how long does it realy last?

[@ZachRensberger]

if left on for a long time it will randomly light up now and then to simply conserve battery i guess

[@nekodegozaru951]

Zach Rensberger Well that's good to know. Especially when someone converted the LED power box into an AC powered one and it wont just start a fire for being left on.

[@GMCorchestra]

the only kit I have built in this year is the HG GM ground type

[@johnsouto14]

Do you think, that we will see any of thunderbolt version mobile suits,in. HG, MG,? And if they do what would you like to see?

[@Galavantworks]

As far as both IBO and BF are concerned I do want to give honorable mentions to the Dantalion for it's more creative use of the Gundam frame with its naked design and the Dantalion Half Cowl. As well as Build Fighters Ninpulse Gundam, albeit it's mostly the revive Impulse, the accessories and design made it a beautiful reimagining and leagues better than the HG Sengoku Astray.

[@combatseawolf]

Don't forget the Barbatos Lupus for the surface detail and price

[@Galavantworks]

G96KBarbatos But didn't HG and 1/100 Lupus came out in 2016?

[@combatseawolf]

joshua frazier ohh shoot sorry m8 I forgot that

[@MrCreepjo]

As much as I like the design of the Ninpulse the weapon are garbage it just looks dumb.

[@Galavantworks]

MrCreepjo I think that's a going too far. The Shurriken is pretty solid, and the build can applied to multiple uses. It's actually surprisingly one the most solid gimmick HGBF has made so far, but unfortunately it's the only weapon worth noticing. The butterfly blades felt like a 00 or AGE weapon attachment at most. Also the Ninpulse beam weapons were plenty helpful for some of my kits. Star Burning on the other hand, was complete garbage.

[@McGunpla]

The GM Sniper Custom uses the GM 2.0 frame, it doesn’t share an inner frame with the GM Sniper II

[@ZakuAurelius]

Steven Gerdes that’s the same frame

[@sos_legio_primus]

The first SD BB Sensei kit; did you mean Y1200? as I would not call $120 for a model cheap

[@ORLY911]

Surprised the RG Amatsu Mina didn't make the list, that's a hella of a good kit, super pretty OOB and lots of stuff! My kit of the year OOB would probably go to the Amatsu Mina RG, GM Sniper Custom or the ZZ Ver Ka. Best IBO HG would probably go to the Vual for me. (for 2017)

[@supergeno128ds]

Maybe its because its based on the Astray Red Frame? I haven't built the Mina, but I have heard a lot of good things.

[@anonymousli4204]

Hello again

[@ezrah8520]

I think its cuz its using an old frame (Astray Red Frame) and the gloss plastic is like the Sinanju's. As well as the gold plastic looking kind of cheap tbh especially in the frame since they don't want bad nubs since the old red frame wasn't undergated.

[@donloder1]

im interested with the Jim series now!

[@supergeno128ds]

Year of the GM. Hell yeah! I pretty much agree with everything stated. I loved the Barzam and Blue Destiny 01 but they did feel somewhat lacking. My only gripe is that the GM Sniper Custom was merely relegated to a footnote when you talked about the GM Sniper II. Wouldn't that make it a three-way tie with the Exia?

[@ZakuAurelius]

yes, I just figured people would be able to assume that

[@TakedaShiroe]

What is the one on the table to the left of #2 ?

[@Stormtrooper1787]

No mention of the 1/48 Unicorn?

[@johzho123]

Plaplate and putty only challenge, LETS GO

[@hound9496]

Where can I buy these kits at?

[@Dragondude2525]

Love the opinions on the ver ka zz, will definitely try to buy it. I've wanted it for some time but in Canada it's like 100$

[@oucquan2436]

"I can't imagine the PG exia will look like without LEDs" Maybe turn the LEDs on your Exia off?

[@ZakuAurelius]

Eric G lol, I meant permanently not having LEDs in it. You’ve gotta be able to switch that thang on to fully enjoy it

[@StarwindAmada1]

Can’t wait for the Seed redub

[@KugantharanV]

At last! Was waiting for this video!!

[@Emcron]

"unicorn fatigue"...i can totally relate XD

[@swervdriven]

All of bandai's Star Wars kits come with two identical sheets one stickers and one water slides. That makes the lack of slides in the exia burn a little worse.

[@ZakuAurelius]

swervdriven yes, but that’s comparing two different lines so I wouldn’t count that too much.

[@sethdubois318]

Both Macross kits that I have from Bandai are the same way.

[@blastvader]

The decals that come with the SW kits are fucking trash though. They look like they were printed on a dot-matrix printer from 1983. I'm not excusing Bandai for their weird aversion to decals but if they were regularly providing them in gunpla kits and they were as bad as the SW ones then I'd still not use them. At least you can use a fair chunk of the stickers as pre-cut masks.

[@thomastsuihn]

Lol in the very old MSV kits, the ones with 1 color and need glue, Bandai put water decals in them... sad that they don't do that now

[@pudding5602]

gm sniper which mobile suit come from?

[@xiangzeshi631]

love the MG justice real good but waited 15 years.... personally I m so disappointed to the HIRM wing, it looks fantastic but parts are too loose make it really hard to pose

[@HydrYT]

Love your vids👍😁 I also take a note for my gunpla wish list

[@7g6f5e4d3c2b1a]

GM Sniper 2💯💯💯💯💯💯💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥👏💥👏💥👏💥👏💥👏💥👏💥👏💥

[@vencelskyfall672]

i wish you write the summary of the list in the description like 1. model a. 2. model b

[@slavinben4484]

I wouldn’t use the stickers half the time because I would either paint it in and I would sometimes rip the sticker

[@user-lynKx]

Man. That pla putty has some of the greatest articulation of all time.

[@heatherkrupa9440]

What about the Dantalion

[@ZakuAurelius]

What about it?

[@Kaluvin]

Kind of surprising though. I waited 20 years for a decent GM Sniper Custom/GM Sniper II product, and both MGs came out at the beginning and at the end of the year. Though, I have been collecting Robot Damashii and have a squad of the GM Sniper Custom coming my way. I will still buy the two MGs though just because it is my favourite mobile suit of all time.

[@saucybiscuit8680]

Love your videos, keep up the good work!

[@blastvader]

I think the HGTO Zaku II C/C5 deserves an honourable mention for taking the spot of 'the' HG Zaku II kit dejour from the, IMO, previous title holder the F2 (though that's not a surprise as the two kits share A LOT in common).

[@ZakuAurelius]

great kit, and probably best version of the Origin Zaku II yet! but considering the kit basically came out in 2015 I couldn't rate that above new kits for 2017.

[@deathbats3231]

Where is the Hires Wing Zero? you forgot to review it.

[@jin-cg9vz]

Hopefully we can get rg's with led unit if thats possible...

[@klausledda2393]

i think chinagguy is not bad when it comes for display... i have one eventhough it lacks in articulation i love the solidness except the ribbon part that requires a lil bit of glue and be careful on swiveling its arms its kind of tight and the other good is thing is its cuteness that some girls will love and its not bad for some beginners to start of...

[@stonegroovejason]

I always wanted a PG Exia but the leg proportions look HORRIBLE. The feet are way too tiny and the thighs are way too big. The heads also seems a little too big.

[@kitetenjogalladeknighttosh8863]

I personally love the star burning i have it and it's a great kit through the claws does come off when touched and the rifle is modled in white but the articulation is great and all around a good kit

[@The0ryZer0]

I'm definitely hoping for that GM contest. I say go for it!! Thanks!

[@WaifuTrashWeeb]

Its been a great year for Master Grades. Last year I thought Bandai was going to get ready to retire the line as only 4 kits came out.

[@sicktag24]

What is pla plate?

[@ZakuAurelius]

osamas_goat polystyrene plastic sheets for constructing your own parts or modifying, etc

[@sicktag24]

ZakuAurelius oh i see thanks

[@BLUEHOUNDZULU]

Its plates of the same plastic the GunPLA kits are made out of.

[@HollowAKK]

Anyone know the name of the yellow gundam above his head??

[@ZakuAurelius]

MG The O

[@HollowAKK]

ZakuAurelius ok thanks!

[@hobbyrookiee]

i love this review 😁 especialy when my you put Gm sniper on top as the best kit. i just ordered it and probably on its way now... big love for Gm sniper 2 😁😇🙏 nice review zak😇

[@felinelover619]

love the background sound...can anyone name the sound....its so beautiful

[@ZakuAurelius]

It's a song from Incomputech

[@felinelover619]

ZakuAurelius thx very much

[@darthhiro7425]

I'm sorry how much was the SD Barbatos again? 12k yen??? that's more expensive than most MG kits out there...

[@dovenbullet0147]

I think he meant to say 1,200 yen

[@jonbarzamtv6688]

is that an hazel on your right? from advance of Z? love the mobile suits from that graphic novel, just got the TR-6 hazel II today at my local gundam store in Chiang Mai, Thailand (Baan Gundam), which means "house of gundam"

[@jasoncallair5171]

I agree with your list 100%.

[@roscoewiese2289]

Been waiting all year for this

[@GameAndMusicNerd]

where is the zeta gundam from the gunpla evolution project? that thing was great! and I can say so myself because that was my 2nd gunpla EVER!

[@ZachRensberger]

it was great! but it fell just below the other HGUC kits I mentioned, at least in my assessment

[@dol_mel7487]

SyupendousStufful101 the hguc barzam was honestly better

[@eins000]

Almost all of the kits i bought this year are pbandai. They release new molds or new parts that you can't obtain unless you buy pbandai or make it yourself. :(

[@DudeRetro]

The background music is the same music LA Beast uses in his videos lol. Just saying cuz it sounding really familiar

[@kaijianchin8782]

what is the kit beside your PG Exia?

[@21474756]

Looks like a master grade Hazel Gundam.

[@kaijianchin8782]

thanks

[@grindersongear3547]

While I wouldn't necessarily agree with the reused parts induction I definitely do agreed that most of your decisions are pretty spot-on

[@benadrylthundercrotch7144]

Anyone else catch the led spanning out in the kit on the desk?