XXXG-01D Gundam Deathscythe EW (Roussette Unit)
The same great EW-line Deathscythe frame, now with a folding pair of Wing Gundam style flight fins bolted on.
MechaGrade Score
Gundam Deathscythe EW (Roussette Unit) · 1/100 · 2020
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This is a proven MG body with a clever add-on gimmick, and both halves earn their keep.
The core Deathscythe Hell EW frame this kit is built on has always been one of the better mid-2000s MG engineering jobs, with strong pose range and a great translucent scythe, and the Roussette backpack adds a slide-and-swing wing mechanism that folds from stowed to full flight spread without feeling like an afterthought. It is not reinventing the suit, it is giving a beloved silhouette a second reason to be on your shelf.
Best for: Gundam Wing fans who already love Deathscythe and want the flight-capable variant without hunting down a separate mobile suit kit
What it is
This kit takes the established MG Deathscythe Hell EW body, Hajime Katoki's redesign for the Endless Waltz movie, and pairs it with the Roussette expansion, a backpack unit built around variable wings that echo Wing Gundam's flight fins. Building it feels like assembling a kit you already trust with a new toy clipped to the back. The scythe is molded in bright translucent green, the proportions are the lean, cloak-heavy Deathscythe Hell EW lines fans already know, and the wing unit's slide gimmick lets you go from a stowed, tucked-in silhouette to a full atmospheric-flight spread with a satisfying mechanical motion rather than just swapping parts.
The catch
This was a P-Bandai exclusive, so it shipped in limited runs and now carries secondary-market markup over a standard retail MG, and stock has been inconsistent depending on region. Because the core body is the same Deathscythe Hell EW frame from the mid-2000s, it does not have the ratcheted hip and shoulder engineering of a modern MG, so some builders find the waist and hip joints looser than newer kits after repeated posing. The Roussette wings also add bulk and weight to the back, which can make the suit want to tip backward in some flight poses unless the ankles are locked in firmly.
Who it's for
Buy this if you already like the Deathscythe Hell EW silhouette and want the novelty of a flight-capable variant, or if you collect Gundam Wing kits and want the Roussette gimmick specifically. It rewards people who enjoy fiddling with a slide mechanism and displaying a suit in more than one configuration. Skip it if you want the absolute newest MG engineering standard, a first Gundam Wing kit should probably be the plain Deathscythe Hell EW or Wing Gundam Zero EW instead, or if paying P-Bandai exclusive pricing for an older frame bothers you. For everyone else already sold on the character, it is a satisfying way to own the suit twice over in one box.
The build story
What the build is actually like, and the engineering worth knowing about.
The build follows the familiar Deathscythe Hell EW sequence, so if you have built that kit before there are no surprises in the main body runners. Gate placement on the cloak and limb panels is reasonable for the era, though a few nubs land on visible curved edges where cleanup takes a bit more care than on a newer kit. Color separation on the core body relies on the same molded plastic and small stickers the original EW release used, so the accent details on the head and chest still need attention if you want it sticker-free.
The standout part is the Roussette backpack. Its slide gimmick moves the wing sections from a compact stowed shape into a wide flight spread through an actual sliding rail action rather than a simple hinge, and it holds its position solidly once extended. Combined with the scythe and machine gun the suit already carries, the accessory loadout gives you a normal ground-combat display and a flight-ready display from the same parts, which is real added value over owning the base Deathscythe Hell EW alone.
Lore & trivia
- 01The Roussette Unit is a P-Bandai exclusive expansion built around the Deathscythe Hell EW body, adding backpack wings that give the suit atmospheric flight capability similar to Wing Gundam Zero.
- 02Deathscythe Hell EW's design, including its bat-like cloak silhouette, comes from Hajime Katoki's redesign work for the Mobile Suit Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz movie.
- 03The kit's beam scythe is molded in translucent green plastic, a detail carried over from the standard MG Deathscythe Hell EW release.
- 04In the Endless Waltz continuity the suit is piloted by Duo Maxwell and is built around stealth and close-quarters combat rather than long-range engagement.
What other builders say
This write-up is grounded in real reviews and builder discussion, not just one opinion. A few worth reading:
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