Psycho Gundam
As a cynical, aging hobbyist, I am rarely “blown away” by a toy. The Psycho blew me away. This is really an astonishing toy.
I am not a Gundam guy. I’ve built a few models, watched a few episodes, but I’m generally underwhelmed by the designs and bored by the ubiquity of product. Further, while I am consistently impressed by the photographs of Fix Figuration figures, I can’t get on board with small, fiddly PVC toys. I was intrugued by the advent of the Metal Composite sub-set though, and finally took the plunge with the Psycho, the most ambitious of the MC releases to date. I’m glad I did.
The Psycho is a giant slab of modern toy goodness. It’s an adult collector’s toy of Bandai quality, but distinct from the SOC offerings.
The Psycho’s box is impressively large and heavy. The graphics are understated and sophisticated, more like those of high-end electronics than a toy.
Inside is a double-sided styrofoam coffin.
The first thing I noticed is the size. The Psycho stands at 11 inches. The second was the heft.
While there is no diecast immediately apparent, the piece is arm-taxingly heavy, almost uncomfortably so.
The Psycho’s skeletal frame is largely metal, and of a polished quality I’ve never seen before. All of the visible plastic is the same high-grade matte ABS that Takara used for the DMZ Zwei Votoms releases.
The fit and finish is breathtaking. The word that comes to mind is lavish. The tampo printing is lavish. The engineering is lavish.
The paint apps are lavish. The transformation is lavish.
The transformation sequence, ultimately in service of a lame pseudo-alt-mode, is as complex as any toy you can name. The Psycho turns into a blocky, awkward ship, but the way you get there is so beautifully done that it makes the mode worthwhile. Just depressing the head a half inch takes about eight steps.
Both modes are accommodated by a tasteful stand.
The Psycho is toy-making at it’s cutting edge. I can’t recommend it enough. It’s one of those toys you immediately “get” the moment you hold it.