The M1 Astray is the mass-produced version of the Astray line of mobile suits for the Gundam Seed.
After a long wait…
With that wait, the kit employs some of the more modern engineering for it’s build.
Front 3/4 view.
For a grunt, they always gone for a more simplified look.
Another front 3/4 view, showing the shield.
Yes, the shield is exactly the same as it’s HG Astray Red/Gold/Blue/Green Frame 1/144 kits, but the similarities ends there.
Rear 3/4 view.
The backpack is totally integrated with the main torso, but, the lower thrusters are movable like the Strike’s Aile backpack system.
Details
Head detail.
The head shares very little from it’s predecessor, features like the head vulcans, side air-intakes and V-fin remains.
Lower thruster details.
The lower thrusters are attached by using a ball-joints so it can move freely, and the gray areas are done by seals/stickers (which may peel off).
Torso detail.
Unlike the old Astray (whichever colours) kits, the abdomen has a ball joint, also the side skirt armours are movable.
indeed it is, watching rrobbert’s review does shows on how the hip joint is weirdly constructed. maybe because they want to avoid having those ball-jointed hip, perhaps?
The hip joints are something like a OO but very restricted, this because the crotch is like the HG OO one.
Will show that in my next post.
The build definitely has improved over the older HG SEED series, but I can’t say it’s fully satisfactory yet (those stickers) ;^^ .
Improved, yes. Yeah, those sticker-covered parts are just… “whut?”
10 years of engineering indeed makes a whole lot of difference between this and the original HG Seed kits. The original ones are just… sad in comparison.
Oh, you will see a comparison between the two soon. And see what changes had taken place.
The backpack looks pretty nifty! Gives the suit much needed bulk. Pity about the terrible 1 plated swords though….
Yeah… the swords, while they looked good… but the sheer plainness is… Umm… okay.jpg
Pretty awesome looking there, I remember putting together the blue version of the Astray Frame years back,looking forward to picking this one up for sure.
Gotta love the Grunt Astrays!
The backpack thrusters look much better now compared to the original ones.
Yes, this kit has a lot of modern engineering built into it.
The backpack offers a vast improvement over the prototype’s one.
Might be worth getting at least 3 of these for sure to build a good squad of Astrays.
Or more, since it is the main grunt units for the Orb faction. =D
Now that would look impressive say about 15 of these Astray Units and a a dozen more Remastered GINN Units to recreate a nice battle scene.
Sanger has THREE things he’s weak against
1. Alcohol fume and Kusuha’s health drink
2. Tetsuya Tsurugi
3. Someone trying to tell him that he spelled his name wrong again.
What exactly happen with the other 2 M1 units?
My assumptions
1. Shot down by friendly fire
2. Hijacked by Ali
3. Trashed by Lowe and sold for scrap
4. Cleaved by Zankantou Ikkitousen
5. Dimension-jumped into the Shadow Mirror
6. Stuck inside GENESIS and blown to smithereens
7. Joins the Gundam Fight
8. Mistaken for one
9. Mistaken for the Red Frame and blown up by Ghina
Or simpler conclusion, just like the in the SD G Gen games, one must use the available funds properly. And no, I don’t buy one kit multiple times… >.>
As a man of honour, he does have some weakness (if no weakness, that’s just plain cheating).
Kusuha’s health drink alone can make him fall into a long comatose.
The sight of Great Mazinger made him orz.
People correcting his name made him speechless for a long time.
yet another Grunt unit… Personally, this is my favourite, since he have Katanas, kinda gave him a more intermediating look!
I’d say he’s not mush of a long range fighter! xD BTW, nice review, Simple, yet detailed! 
The pilot is a she, BTW…
yep, i knew that, just like to call a unit ‘he’, kinda my habit! xD
Very nice review, kinda makes me want one altho I didnt really like the series lol
Thanks. =D
I bought this because I skipped the original Red Frame. XD
Mass Production suits are the great, Mass Production suits with beam weaponry, that’s just the best. Appreciated how Bandai imaged one of my favorite suits – really loving the the anti-ship swords ^^
Mass production suits are the dark horses in the series…
Yes, the swords are pretty nice. =D
for a grunt unit, he looks great, although he kinda looks weird when you stare at him long enough XD
He?
I’m sorry but Mayura is displeased with that. lol.
oh sorry.. she!
)