RG 1/144 Organisation of the Zodiac (OZ) Mobile Suit OZ-13MS "Gundam Epyon"
She's finally done!! Treize Kushrenada's answer to the Wing Zero has been sitting in my backlog since at least March so it's great to finally get this kit finished!
This was my first modern RG experience, and it feels like a completely different grade compared to early RGs such as the Wing Zero EW and Exia I've built in the past. Rather than relying on a pre-built inner frame, Epyon's build is closer to a MG or HG kit. The level of detail on the internal parts is really incredible, and I was almost disappointed to cover them up with the external plating - although the external detail is also quite extensive, much more so than other RG kits.
A neat detail on Epyon is the inclusion of UV reactive trans-green parts for the cameras and beam sword. This allows them to glow under UV light and makes the kit look a lot better than with the foil stickers that most other kits use.
This kit comes with a large beam sword, attached directly to the suit's reactor output with a conduit attached to the hip, as well as the iconic heat rod, which has been pre-assembly moulded like the old RG inner frames. The sword handle is long enough to be held with both hands, and the shoulders allow for more than enough articulation for the kit to hold it in both hands in a variety of poses.
Despite the size of the wings and sword, minimal effort is required to get the kit to stand upright (although it is a very back-heavy kit and if posed wrong will tip over backwards). Epyon comes with two special adapters for the Action Base 5 system for it to be displayed in airborne poses.
The main gimmick of the Epyon is its ability to transform into a dragon-shaped Mobile Armor called the "Wyvern". This transformation is really well implemented, and doesn't require the removal of any parts except the hands and shield. Unlike HG kits, which require you to take apart and re-assemble the kit, the RG Epyon has a specially designed pelvis that allows the legs to swing back and over, becoming the neck and head of the Mobile Armor mode.
The Mobile Armor mode works really well, and is just as posable as the Mobile Suit mode. In fact, I found this mode a lot more balanced, due to the repositioning of the wings.
This has been one of my favorite RG builds so far, and I encourage anyone who wants a fun but challenging build to pick one up.
