Master Grade 1/100 Shining Gundam

This is the Master Grade 1/100 Shining Gundam. This kit holds a place of honor in my collection because it’s the 100th Gunpla that I’ve built. The Shining Gundam was the very first Gundam that I ever laid eyes on, so it’s only fitting that the mobile suit that began my love of Gundam got to be the 100th Gunpla I built. 😊
This is a very old Master Grade kit, having been released back in 1999 or 2000 I believe. This was when Bandai first began experimenting with the idea of an inner frame for Master Grade kits, so this kit’s inner frame may seem a bit primitive to veteran builders. This was also back when Master Grade kits made use of screws, so most of the points of articulation in the inner frame need to be screwed together. A bit of a pain in the but, but on the bright side, it gives you the freedom to loosen or tighten the joints of this kit as you see fit. One other thing to note is that this is a bit of a smaller Master Grade kit in terms of height, but don’t let that keep you from getting it.
Mobile Fighter G Gundam was the very first Gundam anime series I watched, and it still holds a very special place in my heart. As such, I had high expectations of a Master Grade version of the Shining Gundam. Were they met? Absolutely! My expectations were completely surpassed by this kit. It’s a beautiful and highly accurate representation of the Shining Gundam, and is able to do all of the cool gimmicks it can in the anime. This, of course, includes the transformation to Super Mode. The transformation is very easy, and looks fantastic! Combine with this kit’s Master Grade articulation, and it can achieve some really dynamic poses.
All in all, I absolutely love the kit, and while it’s a little shorter next to my other Master Grade kits, I still really like it. If you’re a fan of Mobile Fighter G Gundam, then I absolutely recommend picking up this kit! 😊