Gundam fix figuration
Encyclopedia
The Gundam FIX Figuration (aka G.F.F.) series of collectible figures was started based on the Gundam mechanical designs of Hajime Katoki
and his 'Gundam FIX' illustration artbook and are released by Tamashii, a Bandai
's characters based toys line. These figures share similar features as those found in the MSiA series, but are considerably more detailed and often include more accessories. Changeable parts and variant models are often utilized throughout the line, offering the collector a wide variety of display abilities. The collectible figures use PVC (with some ABS plastic) for construction materials, and a recently introduced expansion to the line use metal in the skeleton of the figure. Gundam FIX figures are designed to be true to Hajime Katoki's vision, and as such often adopt design elements and styling found throughout his artwork. The Fix series caters to Gundam fans who enjoy the scale, possibility and durability of the MSiA line, but seek the extensive details and variations that can often only be found in the Master Grade Gundam model-kits.
Bandai also created similar toy lines:
Hajime Katoki
is a popular Japanese mecha designer. A member of the studio Sunrise, he is highly noted for his work on the Gundam series as well as his work on video games, such as the Virtual On series and Policenauts.-Biography:...
and his 'Gundam FIX' illustration artbook and are released by Tamashii, a Bandai
Bandai
is a Japanese toy making and video game company, as well as the producer of a large number of plastic model kits. It is the world's third-largest producer of toys . Some ex-Bandai group companies produce anime and tokusatsu programs...
's characters based toys line. These figures share similar features as those found in the MSiA series, but are considerably more detailed and often include more accessories. Changeable parts and variant models are often utilized throughout the line, offering the collector a wide variety of display abilities. The collectible figures use PVC (with some ABS plastic) for construction materials, and a recently introduced expansion to the line use metal in the skeleton of the figure. Gundam FIX figures are designed to be true to Hajime Katoki's vision, and as such often adopt design elements and styling found throughout his artwork. The Fix series caters to Gundam fans who enjoy the scale, possibility and durability of the MSiA line, but seek the extensive details and variations that can often only be found in the Master Grade Gundam model-kits.
G.F.F.
The views of the G.F.F. line up is varied, with many complaints about the durability of these figures at the sake of the paint job and Katoki's infamous proportioning. While the toy line up sports the afore mentioned, many lack professional casting, where the toys are plagued by uneven seam lines, recessed/dents in the armor where the material shrunk during the cure process, as well as parts that don't fit right, and a gray-ish plastic that is used for joints but has a lower durability than the plastic from the Gundam Model line-up (HG, HGUG, MG, PG) which often breaks. Other imperfections include parts that are not centered after glueing, often the "V-Antennae" on the forehead of the Gundams' are most notable. Another complaint is that several of these toys have extremely poor articulation to the point where they're nearly a Fixed-Posed statuette, or some articulation is fragile, too tight or too loose and therefore falls off, which makes one question why they paid so much for a toy that can barely move. Some argue that the toys are meant to be displayed, and not played with, but that is an unrealistic perspective since most Gundam toys are meant to be played with, and when used to "toying" with these models and figures, one expects to do so with the G.F.F. toys; and to have a professional painted toy that isn't meant to be played, loses much intrigue after paying a hefty price tag. Which brings us to another issue, Price. The G.F.F. toys are known to have large price tags that often turn the eye away, and towards something more affordable, and casted better, and much more durable, like the HG, HGUC, MG, and PG line-up. Despite it's brilliance in concept design and paint job, when coupled with the problems of price, durability, quality of casting, and mobility, the G.F.F. line-up is severely flawed, leaving us to chance when it comes to buying a decent-looking G.F.F.. Later G.F.F. toys have been improved, including sharper-more precise part casting, improved articulation, and assembly. To say that these toys are "catering to fans who enjoy the scale, possibility and durability of the MSiA line" is far from fact when talking about the durability.G.F.F.N.
The G.F.F.N. line up is a significantly better than the old G.F.F. series, though usually sporting a considerably higher price due to materials, production and shipping. The quality has Improved thanks to a new durable plastic that is distinctively reminiscent to the Gundam Model plastic (HG, HGUC, MG, PG) thus replacing the resin that shrank while curing. There is also little, or no casting lines, professionally casted heads, and considerably less of the brittle gray-ish plastic that plagued the G.F.F. series, Rubber is now being used sparsely, often to be used for the hands to allow ease of swapping weapons or spare hands without breaking or warping the joint socket. Aside from price, there are very few toys in the line-up, with some costing between $70–$150 or more (essentially the price of a PG [Perfect Grade], or large MG [Master Grade.])Bandai also created similar toy lines:
- G.F.F. Metal Composite - a spin-off of the G.F.F series utilizing injection-molded ABS plastic and die-castDie castingDie casting is a metal casting process that is characterized by forcing molten metal under high pressure into a mold cavity. The mold cavity is created using two hardened tool steel dies which have been machined into shape and work similarly to an injection mold during the process...
metal. - Zeonography - a spin-off of the G.F.F series that showcases mobile suits from the ZeonZeonIn the television anime Mobile Suit Gundam universe, Zeon can refer to the Republic of Zeon, the Principality of Zeon or Neo Zeon. It is also referred to as the Duchy of Zeon or the Zeon Dukedom...
forces. - Cosmic Region - high-quality line of mobile suits, similar to G.F.F., that appear in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED DestinyMobile Suit Gundam SEED Destinyis an anime television series, acting as a sequel of Mobile Suit Gundam SEED by Sunrise. It retains most of the staff from Gundam SEED, including Director Mitsuo Fukuda. Set two years after the original Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, the plot follows the new character Shinn Asuka, a soldier from ZAFT,...
. - 00 (Double O) Region - high-quality line of mobile suits, similar to G.F.F., that appear in Mobile Suit Gundam 00Mobile Suit Gundam 00is an anime TV series, the eleventh incarnation of Sunrise's long-running Gundam franchise consisting of two seasons. It is directed by Seiji Mizushima and written by Yōsuke Kuroda, and features character designs by Yun Kōga. The twenty-five episode season was officially announced by Sunrise...
. - G.F.F.N - Gundam Fix Figuration Next, '004X' Series utilizing metallic parts, slightly larger scale, better quality paint job and markings. The first figure is a re-release of the #0030 MSZ-008 Zeta II, released March 2009.
- K.F.F (Keroro Fix Figuration) - a spinoff lines features characters in Sgt. FrogSgt. FrogSgt. Frog, known in Japan as , is a manga series by Mine Yoshizaki. It was later serialized into a TV anime series directed by Junichi Sato. Both the anime and manga are comedies that follow the attempts of a platoon of frog-like alien invaders to conquer Earth...
(which the series itself plays lots of parody towards Gundam series) with original mechas designed by Hajime Katoki. As being a parody, the boxart sticks as much what as the original G.F.F. is.
Gundam FIX Figuration items
- #0001 FA-78-1 FULL-ARMOR GUNDAM
- #0002 PF-78-1 PERFECT GUNDAM
- #0003 RX-78GP01 ZEPHYRANTHES
- #0004 G-ARMOR [RX-78-2+G-FIGHTER]
- #0005 FA-010A FAZZ
- #0006 XXXG-01WE WING GUNDAM
- #0007 G3-G-ARMOR [RX-78-3+G-FIGHTER]
- #0008 RX-78GP02A PHYSALIS
- #0009 FA-93HWS GUNDAM HWS
- #0010 RX-78GP04G GERBERA/AGX-04A1 GERBERA-TETRA CUSTOM
- #0011 MSA-0011-2[Ext] Ex-S GUNDAM
- #0012 RX-178 GUNDAM Mk-II (Titans Color)/RMS-154 BARZAM(Refine type)
- #0013 MSA-0011-3[Bst] PLAN303E "DEEP STRIKER"
- #0014 MSA-0011-1[Ext] Ex-S GUNDAM "TASKFORCE ALPHA"
- #0015 FA-78-2 HEAVY GUNDAM
- #0016 XM-X1 CROSS BONE GUNDAM X1/XM-X2 CROSS BONE GUNDAM X2
- #0017 MSZ-006C1[Bst] Zplus C1
- #0018 RX-78-4 GUNDAM G04/RX-78NT-1 "ALEX"
- #0019 FXA-05D+RX-178 SUPER GUNDAM/FA-178 FULL-ARMOR GUNDAM Mk-II
- #0020 RX-78-5 GUNDAM G05/RX-78-6 "MUDROCK"
- #0021 GUNDAM F90/GUNDAM F91
- #0022 MSZ-010 ZZ GUNDAM
- #0023 MSN-00100 HYAKU-SHIKI
- #0024 MSZ-006 Z GUNDAM
- #0025 RX-105 GUNDAM/RX-104FF PENEROPE
- #0026 RX-78-2 GUNDAM (Ver.ka)/RGM-79 GM
- LIMITED Z GUNDAM MOVIE EX
- #0027 RX-79BD-1 GM BLUE DESTINY 01/RX-79BD-2 GM BLUE DESTINY 02
- #0028 RX-77-2 GUNCANNON/RX-77D GUNCANNON(MASS PRODUCTION TYPE)
- #0029 GF13-017NJII GOD GUNDAM/GF13-050NSW NOBELL GUNDAM
- #0030 MSZ-008 Z II
- #0031 XM-X3 CROSS BONE GUNDAM X3/XM-X1 CROSS BONE GUNDAM X1 "SKULL HEART"
- #0032 RGM-79SC GM SNIPER CUSTOM/RX-78-2 GUNDAM
- #0033 GX-9900 GUNDAM X/GX-9900-DV GUNDAM X DIVIDER/GX-9900-GB GX-Bit
- #0034 RX-78GP03S STAMEN & WEAPON SYSTEM
- #0035 SHIN MUSHA GUNDAM
- #0036 FA-78-1 FULL ARMOR GUNDAM [FRAME MODEL]
- #0037 PF-78-1 PERFECT GUNDAM [FRAME MODEL]
- LIMITED FA-78-1 FULL-ARMOR GUNDAM [BLUE VERSION]
- #0038 MSF-007 GUNDAM Mk-III/FA-007GIII FULL ARMOR GUNDAM Mk-III
- #0039 RX-78 NT-1 ALEX [FRAME MODEL]
- LIMITED RX-78-2 GUNDAM Ver.Ka San Diego 2008 Limited Edition
- #0040 RED WARRIOR
- #0041 G.F.F.N MSZ-008 Z II
- #0042 GAT-X105 AILE STRIKE GUNDAM
- 2009 Limited Version XXXG-01WE WING GUNDAM[EARLY TYPE] Crystal clear ver.
- Limited RX-78-2 GUNDAM [SEVEN-ELEVEN ver.]
- LIMTED MBF-02 STRIKE ROUGE & SWORD/LAUNCHER STRIKER
- #0043 RGZ-95 ReZEL
- #0044 RX-0 FULL ARMOR UNICORN GUNDAM
Zeonography items
- #3001 MS-06R ZAKU II (High Movility type)
- #3002 MS-09 DOM
- #3003 MS-05 ZAKU I
- #3004 MS-10 PEZUN DOWADGE/MS-09R RICK DOM
- #3005 MS-06F2 ZAKU/MS-06D DESERT ZAKU
- #3006 MS-14B GELGOOG (High Movility type)/MS-14C GELGOOG CANNON
- #3007 MS-11 ACT ZAKU/MS-06E-3 ZAKU FLIPPER
- #3008 MS-07B-3 GOUF CUSTOM/MS-08TX EFREET
- #3009 MSM-07 Z'GOK/MSM-08 ZOGOK/EMS-05 AGG'
- #3010 MS-17 GALBALDYα/MS-14 GELGOOG
- #3011 MS-18E KÄMPFER/YMS-18 KÄMPFER PROTOTYPE
- #3012 BLACK TRIPLE STAR EX
- #3013 AMX-004-2 QUBELEY Mk-II/AMX-004G QUBELEY MASS PRODUCTION TYPE
- #3014 R-2 GALLERY EX
- QUBELEY RED & WHITE EX
- #3015 MSN-02 ZEONG/PERFECT ZEONG
- #3001(CUSTOM) MS-06F ZAKU II
- #3005(CUSTOM) MS-06F ZAKU II
Metal Composite items
- #1001 GUNDAM Ver.Ka WITH G-FIGHTER
- LIMITED G-3GUNDAM Ver.Ka WITH G-3FIGHTER
- #1002 MRX-009 PSYCO GUNDAM
- LIMITED RX-78/C.A. GUNDAM [CASVAL'S CUSTOMIZED]
- #1003 MRX-010 PSYCO GUNDAM Mk-II
- #1004 GUNDAM Ver.Ka [GUNDAM CRISIS Ver.]
- TAMASHII NATION 2009 LIMITED MRX-009 PSYCO GUNDAM HONG KONG NIGHT Ver.
- #1005/LIMITED MSZ-006 Zplus
- #1006 RX-0 UNICORN GUNDAM
- LIMITED GN-000 O GUNDAM TYPE A.C.D
- LIMITED RX-78-2 GUNDAM Ver.ka ROLLOUT COLOR
- #1007 LIMITED GN-000 O GUNDAM
- #1008 RX-0 UNICORN GUNDAM PRISM COATING
External links
- Tamashii Web - Official Gundam fix figuration series website.
- Hobby Link Japan - Huge Japanese online hobby store.
- GFF Maniax - Updated site with lot of information and photos about GFF.
- Gundam Fix Figuration list at Gundam Wiki (Wikia)