1/1700 Kikan Taizen White Base – Available From HobbyLink Japan
By Cacophanus from Mecha Damashii
Following the unboxing here is the review for the Kikan Taizen White Base toy from the original Mobile Suit Gundam and this is definitely a toy that fans of the anime will appreciate.
As you would expect from being a classic Kunio Okawara design, there have been many kits and toys of the SCV-70 White Base over the years. However, this new Kikan Taizen variant is a bit different and is probably one of the nicest toys of the design to date.
If you are unfamiliar with Kikan Taizen range, these are fully assembled display pieces of classic warships, often with all the trimmings.
By trimmings, I mean all the accessories you get, and in the case of the White Base you get a lot.
From the Mega Particle Cannons and other weaponry, you can also open the mobile suit decks for launch. You also get some tiny mobile suits that you can attach to slidable deck plates, which slot nicely into the mobile suit deck.
The real highlight though is all the lights scattered across the ship, that light up not only the bridge and engines, but also the mobile suit decks as well as other windows.
Thankfully, the toy comes pre-packaged with the three LR41 batteries you need to bring the White Base to life.
You also get a very nice stand included, with a mirrored bottom so you can see the underside of the White Base without needing to flip it over.
The important stuff here though is the sculpt and detailing. Despite the relatively compact size, this is a very finely produced rendition of the White Base.
Apart from the accessories and lighting, this is what makes the Kikan Taizen toys so special. They cram in a lot of high-end detailing despite the smaller size.
Overall, if you are a fan of the original Mobile Suit Gundam then you should definitely get this White Base toy, as it makes for a wonderful and surprisingly tactile display piece.
