Saturday, July 20, 2013

HG 1/144 Ali al-Saachez's Customized AEU Enact Custom Part 9

It actually works

Just when you think there would be no Transformers review for a while after "Transformers: Prime - Beast Hunters" Cyberverse Commander Class Optimus Prime late last month, HG 1/144 Ali al-Saachez's Customized AEU Enact Custom is here as the substitute. XD


For the transformation, the Blade Rifle and Sonic Blade (Plasma Sword) must be detached from the kit first.


The shoulder joints are extended outward slightly.


Next, the upper body is folded backward for 90 degrees.


The hinge joint in the middle of the waist which enabled the transformation point shown above.


Next, using the abdomen (cockpit module) as a joint, the upper body is folded back up again.


The flap behind the waist which was tilted downward when the upper body was bent to the back earlier on is flipped up flat against the cockpit.


Using the hips' hinges, the legs are bent backward for 90 degrees.


And just like that, the legs' transformation is done. ^^


The arms are adjusted to the back. The forearms are bent upward and positioned straight to the front beneath the rear hip wings (now the front wings).


The straight pegs beside the elbow are connected to their designated slots on both legs.
The tolerance between the pegs and slots is specifically low. At first attempt, they seem miles away from one another for the connection to be possible. ^^; However, after readjusting the hip joints and arms so that they move forward and backward a little more respectively, the elbow peg can be tabbed into the point beside the knee.


Top and bottom view of the arms and legs after the transformation step above.


The main wings are adjusted to give them the proper outward-stretching look.


The head is pulled upward for a slight degree, ...


... before it's folded down flat on the back.


The Blade Rifle's handle is connected to a slot in front of the waist hinge that is exposed after the upper body's transformation.


Done for AEU Enact Custom's transformation. ^^

More images of Ali al-Saachez's Customized AEU Enact Custom in MA mode:








Closeups on the details:












Bottom views:








Using the peg slot beneath the hips as shown in the previous posting, the MA can be mounted onto Action Base 2.











Honestly speaking, I didn't really like the MA mode of AEU Enact Custom. ^^; All the limbs, especially the long legs behind the MA are completely exposed, and having oversized hands tucked up right in front doesn't help with the look either. I guess with the "minimalist" design for its MS mode, there are just too few parts that can be used to hide some of those features. The "cover-up" would be too obvious in that sense. XD Overall, it looks like a compressed robot with a rifle stuck above its crotch. ^^;

After assembling the model kit and transforming it for the first time, the design has grew on me. ^^ Taking away the awkward compressed robot look mentioned above, it does resemble a pretty aerodynamic-looking fighter jet. ^^ On top of that, parts like the shoulder pads, the rifle with its elevated design, the fins above the calves, the thigh vents that can be seen clearly beneath the MA help to generate a more "logical" look for it to be seen as a fighter jet. I was initially a bit skeptical about how the face would look when it's completely exposed above the MA with its flat position, but as it turns out, the small face plate doesn't stand out very much, but the horns and headgear seem pretty coercive lining up alongside the shoulder pads, so it turns out alright in the end. ^^

Overall, it's not a bad-looking MA mode at all, I can honestly say. ^^

Part 10, the last posting to wrap up this review series will show AEU Enact Custom back in its MS mode with even more action poses after the previous posting. ^^ However, before that, this month's installment of Sunday Movie Theater will be up next. ^^

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