Rayleonard 03-Aaliyah

This is another fine Kotobukiya model kit from their Armored Core series, but aside from the visual design, it’s more of the same.

The kit comes molded in color, using different colors for different sprues. There is no painted detail on any parts. Any highlight detail is molded in its own color, and is assembled separately.

No glue is required, but with some of the smaller parts, it helps. The toy is assembled in a similar way to the other kits.

The build goes like this: first the shoulders, then the arms, followed by the legs and then the feet. After that, it’s the waist, torso and then head. This is all topped off by the weaponry. If there’s one complaint about this series of kits, is that if you have done one there are no surprises with the next.

What sets these kits apart from each other is the styling. The Rayleonard 03-Aaliyah is a slick black fighting machine. This one has sharper points than the other kits I have reviewed in the series.

As dynamic as the design is, it limits the articulation. The model does not lack for joints, but the extreme joint sections protrude in such a way that it limits what you can do with it.

There are some neat features on the model, such as the opening panel on the back.

On my specimen one of my shoulder cups have a tendency to come out. Not a big deal, it was probably a build error on my part, but it’s something to keep an eye out for.

Weaponry includes two large hand held cannons, and a large foldable cannon.

It’s a fun enough kit, that is solid when built, and it’s a great entry into the line. As an added bonus, each part, including limbs and accessories, are interchangeable with other Armored Core kits. I just wish they would mix up the build a bit more.