When the design of Gundam Barbatos was first revealed, I was not interested. The mobile suit looks like a starving robot wearing bulky armour, the dead eye pilot is averse to wearing a shirt, and the title ‘Iron-Blooded Orphans’ is both uninteresting and tells me everything I need to know to guess the premise of the series. I was not a fan.

However, when I was looking to build an MG kit, a good friend of mine suggests giving the Barbatos a chance. He said that the Review: MG Gundam Barbatos

When the design of Gundam Barbatos was first revealed, I was not interested. The mobile suit looks like a starving robot wearing bulky armour, the dead eye pilot is averse to wearing a shirt, and the title ‘Iron-Blooded Orphans’ is both uninteresting and tells me everything I need to know to guess the premise of the series. I was not a fan.

However, when I was looking to build an MG kit, a good friend of mine suggests giving the Barbatos a chance. He said that the engineering is one of the best. And he knows I like weird Gundam designs, especially simple ones.

While the RX-78-2 and the RX-79 occupy my list of favourite Gundam designs, the Turn A Gundam also occupies that list. It looks nothing like any Gundam that came before or since and the whole building process was unique as well. It uses wedge fittings rather than pegs for most of its construction.

That uniqueness in look and building process was the same feeling I got when I built and completed the MG Gundam Barbatos.

The model looks like an Oni, with its large mace, pointy fingers, and proportions that is both bulky and lanky. The name, after all, is derived from an earl and duke of hell that ruled the thirty legions of demons. According to demonology.

18 runners and two sticker sheets make up the MG Gundam Barbatos kit. Although the numbers of runners are small, the number of components is numerous. The bulk of the parts are the small parts that make up the core of the mobile suit. From the hydraulics that move the body and limbs to the spinning power source that enables the mobile suit, it is all built with tiny pieces.

The accessories are few and concise. There are three finger configurations (open, fist, and holding), a sword, a mace, and a long foldable gun. I say finger configuration because while the thumb is posable and affixed, you change the fingers, instead of the whole hand, to get different configurations.

There are also models of the pilot, a shirtless one for the pilot seat, and a fully clothed standing one.

It feels weird not to have a shield or a beam sabre on a mainline Gundam. But, the lack of those items is in character with the Barbatos.

There is a lot of symmetry in the build as well, which made the process monotonous, but the intricacies of each piece made sure that paying close attention to each step of the build is critical.

I feel that the build manual could be better. It gets points for all the background and story. However sometimes, the image of a part in the manual, because of the angle, looks nothing like the actual part. Some assembly instructions can be tricky too.

The completed Gundam Barbatos is a marvel. The simple design means excellent possibility. Hydraulics and armour shift when the libs, torso, and neck of the model is moved. To me, it is a combination of an Astray (because of its frame and armour assembly), a Turn A (because of its unique assembly and look), and an RX-79 (because of its down to earth capabilities).

To complete the experience, I also tried to watch Iron-Blooded Orphans on Netflix and it was exactly as I expected, complete with cliches that are unique to characters in Gundam anime.

I am glad I listen to my friend and gave Barbatos a chance. I would recommend this MG kit to builders who have some experience only because of its tricky building techniques and instructions.  It’s not flashy and it doesn’t have too many bits.

A special recommendation if you are someone who wants to learn how to paint. The armour plates in this kit are the perfect place to start. Leave the core frame alone, and spray paint the armour plates. engineering is one of the best. And he knows I like weird Gundam designs, especially simple ones.

While the RX-78-2 and the RX-79 occupy my list of favourite Gundam designs, the Turn A Gundam also occupies that list. It looks nothing like any Gundam that came before or since and the whole building process was unique as well. It uses wedge fittings rather than pegs for most of its construction.

That uniqueness in look and building process was the same feeling I got when I built and completed the MG Gundam Barbatos.

The model looks like an Oni, with its large mace, pointy fingers, and proportions that is both bulky and lanky. The name, after all, is derived from an earl and duke of hell that ruled the thirty legions of demons. According to demonology.

18 runners and two sticker sheets make up the MG Gundam Barbatos kit. Although the numbers of runners are small, the number of components is numerous. The bulk of the parts are the small parts that make up the core of the mobile suit. From the hydraulics that move the body and limbs to the spinning power source that enables the mobile suit, it is all built with tiny pieces.

The accessories are few and concise. There are three finger configurations (open, fist, and holding), a sword, a mace, and a long foldable gun. I say finger configuration because while the thumb is posable and affixed, you change the fingers, instead of the whole hand, to get different configurations.

There are also models of the pilot, a shirtless one for the pilot seat, and a fully clothed standing one.

It feels weird not to have a shield or a beam sabre on a main line Gundam. But, the lack of those items is in character with the Barbatos.

There is a lot of symmetry in the build as well, which made the process monotonous, but the intricacies of each piece made sure that paying close attention to each step of the build is critical.

I feel that the build manual could be better. It gets points for all the background and story. However sometimes, the image of a part in the manual, because of the angle, looks nothing like the actual part. Some assembly instructions can be tricky too.

The completed Gundam Barbatos is a marvel. The simple design, means excellent possibility. Hydraulics and armour shift when the libs, torso, and neck of the model is moved. To me it is a combination of an Astray (because of its frame and armour assembly), a Turn A (because of its unique assembly and look), and an RX-79 (because of its down to earth capabilities).

To complete the experience, I also tried to watch Iron-Blooded Orphans on Netflix and it was exactly as I expected, complete with cliches that are unique to characters in Gundam anime.

I am glad I listen to my friend and gave Barbatos a chance. I would recommend this MG kit to builders who has some experience only because of it’s tricky building techniques and instructions.  It’s not flashy and it doesn’t have too many bits.

A special recommendation if you are someone who wants to learn how to paint. The armour plates in this kit is the perfect place to start. Leave the core frame alone, and spray paint the armour plates.