After the long-awaited HGUC Hazel Custom came out, Bandai quickly released this fine kit that can be integrated with the Hazel Custom. Its got basically the same review as the Hazel Custom, but it still deserves its own.
The RX-121-2A Advanced Hazel is from the Advance of Zeta series. This unit is based off of the GM Quel unit and is used by a Titans group known as the Titans Test Team. This unit is a modified version of the Hazel Custom.
The kit itself is just magnificient. If you own the 1/144th NG Hazel, this unit will surprise you. Its leg units, which have been thought to be oversized, just make the other Hazel models look wimpy. This kit is truly Katoki-influenced, and it definetly improves the kit overall.
The colors for this are right on. I suppose you could argue that the dark dark blue its molded in could be black, but its hard to tell on the original kit anyways. There are alot of details on the Hazel’s deisgn, but Bandai gets most of the big ones. A little bit of painting wouldn’t hurt. Normal things to paint like the face, sensors, and a few vents here and there is all. Seams are pretty well hidden (much like the HGUC Alex). The only main seams you can see are the upper leg parts (lowe leg is hidden very well), the forearms (groan!) and the shoulders. Articulation on this kit is on par with a good Ver 2.0 MSiA. Leg, ankle, elbow, shoulder, and even neck articulation is superb! Definetly a good kit to pose with.
Speaking of posing, the hands are extremely well done and give the MS that realistic look it demands. The down-side to these hands: they are molded in some quasi-polycap/plastic that keeps them from holding together. A simple glue job on these will fix that, but its still a downer when you can’t use your weapons straight out of the box. Also, it only comes with a pistol holding hand, saber holding hand and an open palm for the other hand. No closed fists here. Instead, this kit comes with two fist hand sets for the Hazel Custom. This allows for the Hazel Custom to perform its “Final Form” look, which has pictures at the bottom of that image. If you’re too lazy to glue the hand parts together, then you can easily swap out any other HGUC hands for it, as they fit in the sockets as well. Also, if you want those fists for your Advanced Hazel instead, the white plates over the hands can be swapped out for the blue plates for the Advanced Hazel.
Gimmicks: Sadly, this kit doesn’t come with 3 Sturm Sheilds so you can pull off the “Final Form” look and it doesn’t come with a stand BUT its accessories do try something new. The Shields, including the normal Combat Shield, Sturm Shield, and an updated Sturm Shield (the white one that houses anti-missle system) use a “universal” connection that allows the two sheilds to lock in to one mount on the arm. It makes them seem more like sheilds attaching rather than a peg going into the arm unit. Adds some more realism to this kit. The Beam Pistol can eject the double clip and the handle is moveable. Also, the Double clips on either side of the skirt armor can come off (but cannot also attach to the gun). The multi-launchers on either side of the neck are just parts that swap out for open and closed modes. Additionally, the saber can come out and it has a transparent beam that inserts into it. Additional gimmicks that the Hazel Custom did not have include a different head unit sensor (molded in white) a different backpack that can hold two Sturm Shields (you can use the shields from the Hazel Custom on this too) and “high-heel-additions”, as I like to call them. These additions to the legs basically make the Advanced Hazel the prototype Barzam in the Zeta Series. Also, these additonal parts can be removed from the Advanced Hazel to create a Hazel Custom with Titan Colors. With the additional pieces off, you can add them to the Hazel Custom kit to make it an Advanced Hazel in the Hazel Custom color scheme. This makes owning both kits that much more fun.
All in all, I’m very satisfied… especially for waiting for so long. This kit seems to act as a test unit for both the Titans and Bandai, as it tries out many new UC Gundam Designs as well as new designs Bandai has thought up for their future HGUC releases. The double joint in the arm, the quasi-polycap/plastic parts, the new shield attachments… all things you won’t find on any other HGUC kit. This kit definetly defines itself as a new breed of HGUC, and the fact that its already sold out or on Backorder on most websites proves it. Bandai is thinking with this kit, as it compliments the Hazel Custom kit quite nicely and basically lures you into purchasing both kits, if you don’t already have them.
Overall 5 Stars *
Additional Note: If you’re looking for more additions for your Hazel Custom or Advanced Hazel, Dengeki Hobby has come out with the “FF-X29A G-Parts” or “Hrududu” to make the “Hazel-Rah”. Its an extra with the Feb 2006 edition of Dengeki Hobby, but you can find it by itself on some websites or on eBay.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:18 am
After the long-awaited HGUC Hazel Custom came out, Bandai quickly released this fine kit that can be integrated with the Hazel Custom. Its got basically the same review as the Hazel Custom, but it still deserves its own.
The RX-121-2A Advanced Hazel is from the Advance of Zeta series. This unit is based off of the GM Quel unit and is used by a Titans group known as the Titans Test Team. This unit is a modified version of the Hazel Custom.
The kit itself is just magnificient. If you own the 1/144th NG Hazel, this unit will surprise you. Its leg units, which have been thought to be oversized, just make the other Hazel models look wimpy. This kit is truly Katoki-influenced, and it definetly improves the kit overall.
The colors for this are right on. I suppose you could argue that the dark dark blue its molded in could be black, but its hard to tell on the original kit anyways. There are alot of details on the Hazel’s deisgn, but Bandai gets most of the big ones. A little bit of painting wouldn’t hurt. Normal things to paint like the face, sensors, and a few vents here and there is all. Seams are pretty well hidden (much like the HGUC Alex). The only main seams you can see are the upper leg parts (lowe leg is hidden very well), the forearms (groan!) and the shoulders. Articulation on this kit is on par with a good Ver 2.0 MSiA. Leg, ankle, elbow, shoulder, and even neck articulation is superb! Definetly a good kit to pose with.
Speaking of posing, the hands are extremely well done and give the MS that realistic look it demands. The down-side to these hands: they are molded in some quasi-polycap/plastic that keeps them from holding together. A simple glue job on these will fix that, but its still a downer when you can’t use your weapons straight out of the box. Also, it only comes with a pistol holding hand, saber holding hand and an open palm for the other hand. No closed fists here. Instead, this kit comes with two fist hand sets for the Hazel Custom. This allows for the Hazel Custom to perform its “Final Form” look, which has pictures at the bottom of that image. If you’re too lazy to glue the hand parts together, then you can easily swap out any other HGUC hands for it, as they fit in the sockets as well. Also, if you want those fists for your Advanced Hazel instead, the white plates over the hands can be swapped out for the blue plates for the Advanced Hazel.
Gimmicks: Sadly, this kit doesn’t come with 3 Sturm Sheilds so you can pull off the “Final Form” look and it doesn’t come with a stand BUT its accessories do try something new. The Shields, including the normal Combat Shield, Sturm Shield, and an updated Sturm Shield (the white one that houses anti-missle system) use a “universal” connection that allows the two sheilds to lock in to one mount on the arm. It makes them seem more like sheilds attaching rather than a peg going into the arm unit. Adds some more realism to this kit. The Beam Pistol can eject the double clip and the handle is moveable. Also, the Double clips on either side of the skirt armor can come off (but cannot also attach to the gun). The multi-launchers on either side of the neck are just parts that swap out for open and closed modes. Additionally, the saber can come out and it has a transparent beam that inserts into it. Additional gimmicks that the Hazel Custom did not have include a different head unit sensor (molded in white) a different backpack that can hold two Sturm Shields (you can use the shields from the Hazel Custom on this too) and “high-heel-additions”, as I like to call them. These additions to the legs basically make the Advanced Hazel the prototype Barzam in the Zeta Series. Also, these additonal parts can be removed from the Advanced Hazel to create a Hazel Custom with Titan Colors. With the additional pieces off, you can add them to the Hazel Custom kit to make it an Advanced Hazel in the Hazel Custom color scheme. This makes owning both kits that much more fun.
All in all, I’m very satisfied… especially for waiting for so long. This kit seems to act as a test unit for both the Titans and Bandai, as it tries out many new UC Gundam Designs as well as new designs Bandai has thought up for their future HGUC releases. The double joint in the arm, the quasi-polycap/plastic parts, the new shield attachments… all things you won’t find on any other HGUC kit. This kit definetly defines itself as a new breed of HGUC, and the fact that its already sold out or on Backorder on most websites proves it. Bandai is thinking with this kit, as it compliments the Hazel Custom kit quite nicely and basically lures you into purchasing both kits, if you don’t already have them.
Overall 5 Stars *
Additional Note: If you’re looking for more additions for your Hazel Custom or Advanced Hazel, Dengeki Hobby has come out with the “FF-X29A G-Parts” or “Hrududu” to make the “Hazel-Rah”. Its an extra with the Feb 2006 edition of Dengeki Hobby, but you can find it by itself on some websites or on eBay.