Review- HGAW Double X

The Double X initially released in 1996 as a 1/144 Non-Grade kit and now… finally, redone properly in High Grade format with improvements all around.

In full business attire

Was it worth the wait? Is it a bomb?

The wait, yes. A bomb? Not in any way.

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Front 3/4 profile

The Double X is a long-range artillery that its main purpose is to destroy space colony or other large objects from afar.

Front profile

You’ll noticed that it’s proportions are more sleeker and gone are the overly large feet from the ’96 NG kit.

Rear 3/4 profile

The cannons can be rotated and extended into its’ firing position while the wings can be open up to reveal its large solar panels/energy collectors.

Rear profile.

The backpack contains the main propulsion thrusters and the thrusters themselves can wiggle slightly, in which they also prone to be dislodge…

Details

Head detail

The head has very small details like the head vulcans and its’ exhaust vents. The red jewel on the v-fin is done by a sticker/decal/seal, which doesn’t really covers it fully, so it has to be painted red.

Torso detail

The torso has many colours and details, such as the shoulder downward firing machine cannons and the breast launcher below the vents. Thankfully the greens are done by clear green parts with reflective stickers/decals/seals underneath them, providing some nice glow effect. The old ’96 kit was fully done by stickers/decals/seals.

Waist detail

The side-skirts thankfully are done in plastic, the colours; and the hyper beam sword can be detach from it. The only place that the stickers/decals/seals is used is on the rear of the waist. The forearms’ armour can be open up to deploy its’ heat releasing fins.

Leg detail

The lower legs features the same heat releasing fin system just like the forearms. Unlike its’ ’96 NG version, the ankle armours are movable which provides a wide degree of movement range for the foot. Here, I haven’t really colour the yellow for the fore thruster and black/dark gray for the foot’s hydraulics. lol.

Heat fins deployed

And yes, the fins HAS to be painted in gold to complete the effect.

Backpack detail

The backpack is where the twin cannons and it’s solar panels are at. The connect pegs for this shares the same layout for the HGAC Wing-01, good for kit-bashing. Also, I need to cut a small reflective green stickers/decals/seals for the circular part…

The swing arms

A big step-up from the old ’96 kit and more visually pronounced.

Articulations

Arms movement range

The arms are connected to the torso via a ball-joint and the elbows can bend up to 180º effortlessly. The mid torso are connected by ball-joints so the upper torso can bend slightly forward, back and sideways.

Knee and foot motion range

The knees can bend up to 170º and able to twist at the upper hip.

Splits

With the side skirts swung back, this best it could for leg splits. Yes, I cheated by using the cannons as support stands. lol

Weapons

Buster rifle

The buster rifle is a kin to a high-powered beam rifle, note that its’ overall design is a homage to v-Gundam’s beam rifle.
*off-screen*
Heero: pfft~ You called THAT a buster rifle?… 😛

Hyper beam swords

For melee combat, the hyper beam swords, which has a higher output than regular beam sabers. The torso-mounted machine cannons and launchers are best used as defensive weapons.

Twin satellite cannons

When the old Gundam X’s satellite cannon couldn’t cut it, they’ve doubled it in every angle. Now the Double X able to defend WHILE charging the cannons as both hands are free (you see, even mobile suits benefited from hands-free techniques).

The cannons’ business end

You do NOT want to be there, seriously…

Action Poses

Garrod: Garrod Ran, Double X Gundam, launching!

Finally I can decommission my old 1/144 NG kit with this.

Garrod: OVER THERE!

To be honest, previously I accidentally assembled the pelvic joint upside-down and totally obscured the socket for the stand. orz

Garrod: DASH~!

For an artillery MS, its pretty agile.

Defense palette

Its nothing more than a simple shield with beam resistive coating and heat-dispensing system.

Defensive shooting

The defense palette is connected directly to the forearm.

Garrod: Shoot and scoot~

When there’s plenty of hostiles, best be running and shooting, with some form of cover.

Garrod: MISSILES! Incoming!

I’m still puzzled on why the machine cannons are angled DOWNWARDS and not straight, besides, machine cannons are far too powerful for infantry suppression as they are of a larger caliber.

Garrod: Time for slice and dice~

The swords’s hilt are constructed by two halves, the top and bottom in achieving an enclosed hilt design.

Garrod: ‘ere we go~ ‘ere we go~ ‘ere we go~

Protip: if you see an incoming MS with two over-powering swords and with no way in countering it, abort your attack run and get some help.

Some CAEK-cutting action

Don’t think your average shield/beam shield can withstand this strike.

Sword dancing

One of the signature moves of Double X.

Finisher pose

Showing it’s kneeling ability.

Garrod: HERE! Take THIS!

Garrod is very generous in lending his swords to the enemy, RIGHT TO THE FACE.

Garrod: Energy, 80% and rising

Deployment of the twin cannons.

Garrod: I know there’s some rogue falling space colony somewhere here…

The cannons are powerful enough in destroying large space colonies and asteroids.

ACTION

Double slash

You don’t just simply attack one enemy, but two in one go.

EXPLOSIVE ENDING

Nothing better than to end this review with some EXPLOSIVE ENDING.

(thanks to ZD for reminding me about the double slash)

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