Writer's note: As I run several weeks ahead on these blog entries, you won't likely see many references to current events. But, before anyone wonders: No, I don't intend to discuss the pandemic here. Moving on.
Like a significant number of English nerd people, my first interaction with the Gundam franchise was the Cartoon Network cut of Gundam Wing, AKA New Mobile Suit Report Gundam W. Fuck me. That was 20 odd years ago. Wing, as I shall call it, was Bandai's opening move to get the Gundam franchise sold to the West. Did it work? Well, we're both here, at least. Although Argos doesn't have any Gundam action figures any more. Today's subject, the Leo played the part of mecha mook in that series, one it fulfilled with memetic abandon. Obsolete even before the series started, the Leo was utterly outclassed by the protagonists, and had the life expectancy of an ice cube in an oven. If not piloted by anyone named, it would be more disposable than toilet paper. Inflatable dartboards last longer. An unguarded strip of bacon in the presence of a dog looks like Doctor Who when next to a Leo. You felt sorry for it after a while, TBH, and perhaps this is where my love of "grunt mecha" starts. In fact, I love the Leo so much I have a toy of it in a glass case. OK: bias noted, context given. Moving on...
Like a significant number of English nerd people, my first interaction with the Gundam franchise was the Cartoon Network cut of Gundam Wing, AKA New Mobile Suit Report Gundam W. Fuck me. That was 20 odd years ago. Wing, as I shall call it, was Bandai's opening move to get the Gundam franchise sold to the West. Did it work? Well, we're both here, at least. Although Argos doesn't have any Gundam action figures any more. Today's subject, the Leo played the part of mecha mook in that series, one it fulfilled with memetic abandon. Obsolete even before the series started, the Leo was utterly outclassed by the protagonists, and had the life expectancy of an ice cube in an oven. If not piloted by anyone named, it would be more disposable than toilet paper. Inflatable dartboards last longer. An unguarded strip of bacon in the presence of a dog looks like Doctor Who when next to a Leo. You felt sorry for it after a while, TBH, and perhaps this is where my love of "grunt mecha" starts. In fact, I love the Leo so much I have a toy of it in a glass case. OK: bias noted, context given. Moving on...
So aside from being more pitiable than the last puppy in the petshop, what does the Leo have going for it? Well, it's pretty much where all the "real robot" tropes went in Wing, and this kit nails the look. The Leo screams anonymous military utilitarianism, even more so than its OZ sister machines. It has no flash. It technically has no face either, and you'd be forgiven for thinking it had no neck. It's green and brown, not white or bright. It's got a no nonsense gun. It can have a shield and beam sabers, plus other weapons sadly not in this kit. The Leo actually looks like a humanoid robot a military would build, but it is not without personality. While clearly a grunt, the long legs and ball shoulders add character.
Having built basically the same thing last year, this kit was a straight forward matter for me. As a model, the Leo bares many similarities to the 30 Minute Missions line of kits, and I'd like to know which project came first. This, to be clear, is a very good thing. The plastic runners are arranged in a similar fashion, with limb components being close together, colours being all but perfect and there being a general air of elegant simplicity. The kit is also designed so that cut marks and seams usually end up where they are less obvious, the forearms being a notable exception. You probably can get this together in 30 minutes also; clearly, you are intended to build several. So you can have a team of plebs to die in a needlessly one-sided manner.
It's less refined than say an Alto, however. Joint tolerances aren't as tight as they could be, with the ankle guards being famously prone to popping off. I ended up using Ardcoat in a fair few places to compensate. On the upside, there is an unexpected bonus in that the drum magazine is removable, and the Leo moves better than it should, being able to pull off a running pose without support. The head does actually move, its just very subtle about it. Beyond that, it's a matter of Gundam Marker and some black paint for the tip of the gun. Its so close to the animation as to not actually need much work, but still benefit should you wish to. One thing I did decide to do was place a bit of foil sticker behind the transparent bit to make it shine. Possibly too well.
When you get right down it, the Leo is a simplistic kit of a simplistic Mobile Suit. Within those parameters however, it's pretty damn good.
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