Hey guys! Today, we're diving deep into the High Grade (HG) rendition of the Perfect Strike Freedom Gundam. This kit is an absolute beast, combining the iconic Strike Freedom with the versatile weapon loadout of the Perfect Strike. If you're a fan of Gundam SEED Destiny or just love a mobile suit packed with firepower, this is one you definitely need to check out. Let's break down what makes this kit so awesome, from its design and features to the overall building experience.

What's in the Box?

First off, let’s talk about what you get when you pick up this kit. Inside the box, you'll find a plethora of plastic runners, each containing the various parts needed to assemble the Perfect Strike Freedom. The plastic is molded in multiple colors, which is great because it reduces the need for painting. You'll also find a sticker sheet for adding extra details, like panel lines and markings. But honestly, the color separation is so good that you might not even need to use all of them! The instruction manual is clear and easy to follow, even if you're relatively new to building Gunpla. It walks you through each step of the assembly process, so you shouldn't have any trouble putting it together.

Design and Aesthetics

Now, let's get to the good stuff – the design and aesthetics of the HG Perfect Strike Freedom. This mobile suit is a real head-turner. It takes the already striking design of the Strike Freedom and cranks it up to eleven. The Perfect Strike weapon set includes the Aile Striker pack for enhanced mobility, the Sword Striker pack for close-combat devastation, and the Launcher Striker pack for long-range bombardment. Each of these packs adds its own unique flair to the overall design, making the Perfect Strike Freedom look incredibly imposing. The color scheme is classic Strike Freedom, with its distinctive blue, red, and gold accents. The proportions are well-balanced, and the kit captures the dynamic look of the mobile suit from the anime perfectly.

Articulation and Posing

One of the most important aspects of any Gunpla kit is its articulation, and the HG Perfect Strike Freedom doesn't disappoint. Despite its bulky design, this kit is surprisingly posable. The joints are sturdy and allow for a wide range of motion, so you can recreate all your favorite action poses from the show. The head can swivel and tilt, allowing you to give the Perfect Strike Freedom a menacing glare. The arms can raise and rotate, and the legs have a good range of motion as well. The Aile Striker pack also features articulated wings, which can be positioned to create dynamic flight poses. The Sword Striker pack includes a beam sword that can be wielded in either hand, and the Launcher Striker pack features a powerful beam cannon that can be aimed at enemy targets. With all these features, you'll have no trouble posing the Perfect Strike Freedom in a variety of awesome ways.

Building Experience

Alright, let's talk about the building experience. Overall, the HG Perfect Strike Freedom is a fun and engaging kit to build. The parts fit together snugly, and the construction is relatively straightforward. The instruction manual is clear and easy to follow, so even if you're a beginner, you shouldn't have too much trouble. That being said, there are a few things to keep in mind. Some of the smaller parts can be a bit fiddly, so you'll want to take your time and be careful not to lose them. Also, the sticker sheet can be a bit challenging to apply, especially the smaller decals. But with a little patience and a steady hand, you should be able to get them looking good. On average, this kit takes around 3-5 hours to complete, depending on your experience level. Once you're finished, you'll have a fantastic-looking mobile suit that you can proudly display in your collection.

Weapons and Accessories

Let's dive into the arsenal of the HG Perfect Strike Freedom. As mentioned earlier, this kit combines the weapon loadouts of the Aile, Sword, and Launcher Striker packs.

• Aile Striker: This pack enhances the mobility of the Strike Freedom with its large wings. The wings are articulated and can be posed to create dynamic flight scenes. It also includes beam sabers for close combat.
• Sword Striker: This pack focuses on melee combat. It includes a large beam sword, a beam blade, and a rocket anchor. The beam sword is the primary weapon and can be used to slice through enemy mobile suits with ease. The beam blade is a smaller, more versatile weapon that can be used for quick attacks.
• Launcher Striker: This pack is all about long-range firepower. It includes an Agni energy cannon and a combo weapon pod. The Agni energy cannon is a powerful beam weapon that can obliterate enemy targets from a distance. The combo weapon pod includes a missile launcher and a Gatling gun, providing additional firepower.

With all these weapons and accessories, the HG Perfect Strike Freedom is ready for any battle scenario.

Pros and Cons

To give you a balanced perspective, let's break down the pros and cons of the HG Perfect Strike Freedom.

Pros:

• Excellent Design: The Perfect Strike Freedom is a visually stunning mobile suit with a unique combination of weapon loadouts.
• Good Articulation: Despite its bulky design, this kit is surprisingly posable.
• Impressive Weapons: The Aile, Sword, and Launcher Striker packs provide a wide range of weapons and accessories.
• Easy to Build: The kit is relatively easy to assemble, even for beginners.
• Great Value: The HG Perfect Strike Freedom offers a lot of bang for your buck, with its impressive design, articulation, and weapons.

Cons:

• Stickers: The sticker sheet can be a bit challenging to apply, especially the smaller decals.
• Some Fiddly Parts: Some of the smaller parts can be a bit fiddly to handle.
• Bulky Design: The Perfect Strike Freedom's bulky design can make it a bit difficult to pose in certain situations.

Final Verdict

So, what's the final verdict on the HG Perfect Strike Freedom? Overall, this is an excellent kit that I highly recommend to any Gundam fan. It combines the iconic design of the Strike Freedom with the versatile weapon loadout of the Perfect Strike, resulting in a mobile suit that is both visually stunning and fun to build. The articulation is good, the weapons are impressive, and the building experience is enjoyable. While there are a few minor issues, such as the challenging sticker sheet and some fiddly parts, these are easily outweighed by the kit's many positive qualities. If you're looking for a unique and eye-catching addition to your Gunpla collection, the HG Perfect Strike Freedom is definitely worth checking out. Whether you're a seasoned builder or a newcomer to the hobby, you're sure to have a blast building and posing this awesome mobile suit. Go ahead and pick one up – you won't regret it!