Gundam AGE: HG Genoace II 1/144 Scale

To start, this was my first gundam model, although I do have prior experience with Zoid models and other snap fit/plastic sprue models. I chose this gundam to be my first specifically because of the non-flashy color sheme design and because it was the cheapest high grade gundam model I could find ($8.94 when I bought it).Construction took me somewhere between an hour and an hour and a half, but I imagine it would take less time for an experienced gundam builder. After I completed the model, I noticed several parts still on the sprues, which, when put together, yielded a beam spray gun and a paint pistol. The inclusion of the paint pistol was especially nice, as the pictures made no mention of it. The beam spray gun is not the one shown in the picture (from the genoace I), but rather the beam spray gun from the genoace custom sans the bayonet. There were not instructions for either the beam spray gun or the paint pisol, but they were only a few parts each, so it was easy to assemble them. The visor came on its own sprue, and is of a very nice transparent teal/turqoise color. Unfortunately, it does not fully cover the face, and up close, exposes some of the gray behind it.There were only a few stickers to place: three for cameras on the gun, top of head, and back of head; two for the eyes; and one obnoxious white one for the chin. This last sticker was the worst part of the model, with the foil edges diminishing the look of the model up close. The eye stickers are never actually visible due to the visor in front of them, but are still a nice touch.The pose-ability of the model is nice, with a nice knee design allowing for a near 180 degree bend and the ability of the shoulder joint polycaps to rotate a little forwards in addition to the normal ball joint movement. The legs can easily do a full splits and full kick backwards while the arms can pinwheel and become horizontal. However, leg movement forwards is somewhat limited due to the size of the thigh and the immobile skirt, and a full forwards kick is therefore around 30 degrees shy of the horizontal. Additionally, the elbows are only single jointed, and therefore can only bend just over 90 degrees, and the feet have somewhat limited front and back rotation.After several days of posing it, I decided to try panel lining with a thin ball point pen (not the recommended tool at all), and it didn't go too badly. The gundam has several nice places for panel lining that really add to the affect and take away some of the monotony that is the leg and shoulder colors.Unfortunately, around the same time, I accidentally broke the shield peg that connected it to the arm as well as one of the pegs connecting the backpack to the torso. These were a little annoying, but nothing a drop of super glue couldn't fix. I read a review of the genoace custom (made up of the same parts with a different color scheme) where both breakages happened to someone else, so it may be a recurring problem among both the Genoace II and Genoace Custom models.In general, this gundam was definitely worth the price I paid for it, and I'm hoping to purchase another when the price goes down so I can have a duo to provide support for an Age-2 Double Bullet. The looks are great, the extra weapons are great, and the poseability is great, but the chin sticker and the rather easily broken parts mean that this model isn't perfect. This would definitely make a good starter model for anyone getting into Gundams.EDIT: I purchased another one from Toystop and was mistakenly sent a High Grade Raider Gundam. Amazon was very accommodating about it, letting me keep the Raider Gundam, giving me a full refund, and offering free one day shipping if I chose to buy the Genoace II again. Honestly, I didn't feel like they needed to be so nice about it, but it definitely goes to show how stellar Amazon customer service is.I did end up ordering another Genoace II, and the extra shield and beam saber hilt are a boon for posing, with dual-wielding enabling some very nice poses that I don't know how to post pictures of because Amazon won't allow the addition of images during the editing of a review. Something worth pointing out is that, flipping the shield around and sliding the beam saber into the slot in the shield (with hilt of course) yields a very nice beam saber gauntlet-esque form.

It's an excellent kit and very biginner friendly, it has great articulation and plenty of accessories to pose it with, only thing that's concerning is the shield mount and the pegs on the backpack are slightly brittle.

Quick build, I originally didn't like it because of the lack of crazy weapons but assembled it has a nice understated dignity. Earlier in the day I had built Kampfer Amazing which probably skewed my expectations.

This model is so simple but i love it.Great model to practice painting.

awesome little kit and cheap