Originally, when I first considered building the Sazabi, I figured I'd build the normal kit. At the time the idea of a metallic coating model held no appeal, and didn't strike me as worth any consideration. Ben insisted that the coating version of this red behemoth was totally sweet, and that contrary to my objections ultimately there existed no two ways about it.

Even now I know not how it began, where was the place and when was the day my opinion began to turn. (Building the Hyaku Shiki, king of metallic Gunpla, might have something to do with it.) In any case, before long I began to be struck by the stunning depth the metallic coating lent the Sazabi, how the shining, ruby redness emphasized this tremendous mecha's grand stature. By now the normal version of the kit appears flat and unappealing, and I wonder why anyone would choose that iteration of this impressive model.

While the Hyaku Shiki's gold parts came specially molded so as to almost completely eliminate clip marks, the metallo-Sazabi is identical to the original kit, aside from the special coloration. As such, there is no saving grace from marring the red parts' special paint when clipping them. I hear that the major unsightly ones are supposed to be covered by decals, but as I don't go in for any but the most essential decals, I'll have to take the time to clean and touch up the clipping points with a suitably matched red. I am also going to begin using a more time-consuming painting/assembly method with this kit: clipping, cleaning, and painting each part before assembly and detailing. While the models I've built thus far have turned out decently enough, I hope that by putting in the time with this one, the Red Comet's last mobile suit will be a real beauty.


The Work begins...


The fruits of the first day's labors. Unfortunately the paints I got to touch up the metallic red don't do much to hide the clip marks. Fortunately, however, the clipping points so far have ended up in fairly unobtrusive places.


Funnel fun. The first completed of the six.


The finished funnels, happily nested in their bays. They're a bit (ha!) of a pain to assemble, but they are rather adorable, for some reason.


Backpack detail.


Celer manvs Dei.


Each separate finger is comprised of two parts which hinge at the knee joint. The hip joint connects to the palm via ball-and-socket. The fingers' sockets are offset in the palm such that, although all four fingers are identical parts, the hand ends up being correctly proportioned. The thumb is a single piece, similarly socketed. Note that the palm features a rectangular socket in the middle. This receives a peg on the handle of the Sazabi's considerably large beam shot rifle, no doubt doing a good deal to support the weapon's weight. This little trick, of course, is a forerunner of the tabbed-palm hands and socketed weapon grips used in recent MG kits.

This is how it's done.


Sazabi is preeminently birdie-capable. For my little sister.


Shoulder-mounted booster array. Took this photo later in the evening than usual, so the daylight wasn't around to counteract our yellowish "romance lighting."


Sazabi's massive arm-span, perfect for bear-hugging asteroids... Then hurling them at stupid Earthnoids. Hey, who said that?

That's one of the propellant tanks from the backpack he's holding.


The torso, head-on. Well, no, the head isn't done yet, but you know what I mean.


Leg internals. Nothing too complicated in there, but the joints still move nicely, especially the double-jointed knee. I'm hoping that doesn't end up being limited too much by the skirt armor.


Fancy array of boosters. Each one can pivot up and down, as well as rotate side to side.


The leg, armored. It's really big.

The armor doesn't change the range of the knee at all, but the ankle is somewhat limited, inevitably. You can just make out the working pistons at the front of the ankle, under the armor.


Those lovely boosters end up largely invisible. (Unless you're a low-angler.) I wonder how Sazabi manages not to burn his heels.


While there are a few clip points in somewhat obtrusive places (particularly on the foot), for the most part they're out of the way. Furthermore, the armor is constructed from big, beautiful plates which leave no unwanted seams. (In fact, such extra seams have only occurred so far on the shoulders and, to a lesser extent, the forearms.)

While not gymnastic nor extremely internally detailed like a certain other mobile suit piloted by Char, these legs are very well-constructed.


Mecha low-angler strikes again. Note the vents on the underside of the large rear skirt panel, and the pair of golden boosters in the nether regions, as well as the pair protruding forward.

I'm quite fond of the decal on the left skirt plate. Adds just the right flair.


More rocket boosters. Sazabi's big, but sure can move.

Some more nice detail on the underside of the rear skirt may be seen.


Looking up at the sizable rear skirt panel and the backpack above. From here one can also see the pistons in the upper arms.


Faceplate and forehead slide open to reveal the internals behind the main monoeye camera and the cockpit, which I realize should be painted red for accuracy. Oh well. Not like that escape pod did Char much good anyhow.


The front view. Majestic.


The rear view. Funnel bays, external auxiliary fuel tanks, that huge rear skirt panel; what's Sazabi gonna do with all that junk?


Big.

Both models are in the same scale.


This pose looked rather more badass in person, but the photo makes Sazabi look pretty jovial, if not downright jolly. Guess he's happy about getting his five-story-tall shield. Eat your heart out, Telamonian Ajax.


"My name is Casval Rem Deikun. You killed my father. Prepare to die."


En garde!

You might not think so, but Sazabi is quite a nimble fencer. (Needs to work on his grip, though.)


"To the pain!"


Sazabi's twin beam sabers are handily stored in the wrists for a quick draw.

I was almost too embarrassed to post this photo on account of those clip marks, but I figured it was worth showing off the saber storage gimmick.


Now that's a beam sword. Guess we know where Gundam Epyon got the idea.

I thought Sazabi's beams were pretty clearly yellow on-screen, but I suppose the green contrasts better with the red.


Yeah, I'm talking to you.


Does this pose look familiar?


Maybe about as action-packed a pose as this model is able to assume. I'm going to get him a base so he can fly a little more free of gravity's pull.


The beam tomahawk telescopes for convenient stowage in the shield.


Over there! A loudspeaker cart!


The hunt is on.


While the beam tomahawk has a big rectangular peg in the handle which fits snugly into the slot on Sazabi's palm, giving him a secure hold, the beam shot rifle only has a skinny peg which, while it helps seat the gun in the hand, doesn't do much to fix it in his grip. As such, this pose is a little tenuous, but worth the necessary finagling.


The Red Comet takes flight.

Thoughts