MGCosmic Era

GAT-X105 Aile Strike Gundam Ver.RM (China Red Color) + Full Pack Set

The definitive Strike Gundam engineering wrapped in a limited red coat that will split the room the second it hits the shelf.

MechaGrade Score

3.8/5

Aile Strike Gundam Ver.RM (China Red Color) + Full Pack Set · 1/100 · 2021

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2021

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is the same excellent MG Strike Ver.RM chassis Bandai nailed back in 2013, recolored into a Tmall-exclusive China Red scheme and bundled with the works.

If you already love the Ver.RM engineering, this is a fun variant to own. If you are buying it for the color alone, sit with some photos first, because the red is genuinely divisive and a few builders feel it works against the kit rather than for it.

Best for: Ver.RM completionists and Strike fans who want a striking red variant, not first-time buyers hunting for a safe first MG

The full review

What it is

Underneath the paint job this is the same GAT-X105 Strike Gundam Ver.RM that reviewers have been recommending since 2013, and building it confirmed why. The frame moves the way you want a Gundam to move, the catapult deck sells the launch pose on its own, and the fit between the inner frame and the armor panels is close to smooth. The China Red colorway swaps the usual white and blue for a bold red body, and paired with the bundled Striker Packs it turns into a genuine display centerpiece once the decals go on. Popping the Aile Striker off and swapping in Sword or Launcher components without tools is still one of my favorite MG interactions.

The catch

The red is the whole conversation around this release, and it is a real fork in the road. Several builders felt the China Red scheme reads more like a bootleg color job than a premium exclusive, especially compared to the original white Ver.RM. The Aile Striker's wing mounts are not the sturdiest and will droop or pop loose if you handle the kit carelessly, and the side skirt armor can work its way out of its socket during posing. This kit also leans hard on foil stickers, dry transfer decals, and waterslide decals for the panel markings, which is a genuine time sink and a step up in difficulty from a basic MG.

Who it's for

Buy this if you already rate the MG Strike Ver.RM as an engineering standout and want it in a color nobody else on your shelf has, or if you specifically want the Full Pack Set striker compatibility without hunting down separate expansion boxes. Skip it if you want a clean white-and-blue Strike, since the standard Ver.RM release serves that better and for less money, and skip it if you are newer to MG and want to avoid a kit with this much decal work and this many small accessory parts to keep track of.

The build story

What the build is actually like, and the engineering worth knowing about.

Gate placement and part fit are clean across the roughly 15 runners, and nub cleanup is manageable for an MG at this part count. The build itself moves briskly through the frame and skeleton, then slows down considerably once the sticker and decal work starts, expect that stage to take real patience rather than an evening.

Where this kit earns its reputation is articulation and color separation on the base frame, molded color carries most of the suit so very little paint is needed to get a clean result. The Full Pack bundle adds serious accessory value, bazooka, grand slam sword, an anti-ship sword, and multiple Striker Pack configurations, giving this kit a part count and play value well above a typical single-loadout MG.

Lore & trivia

01The Ver.RM designation stands for Re-Master, tying the kit to Bandai's Gundam SEED HD Remaster Project rerelease line.
02This particular release was a Tmall exclusive limited to the China Red color scheme, distinct from the original white and blue Ver.RM.
03The Strike Gundam's Striker Pack system lets this kit's frame accept Aile, Sword, Launcher and other compatible expansion packs, including combining Sword and Launcher components to build Perfect Strike.