The deadline for orders for the "Realistic Model Series Ark Angel Catapult Deck for 1/144 HG Series" that can realistically reproduce famous scenes from "Gundam SEED" is approaching! We asked MegaHouse about the story behind the development!

With the 20th anniversary of the TV broadcast of "Mobile Battleship Gundam SEED" coming up next year, with news of the continued production of a new movie version and the release of new Gunpla, "Mobile Battleship Gundam SEED" is becoming more and more exciting.

A powerful item that will further boost this excitement is now available for purchase!

The name of the item is the "Ark Angel Catapult Deck for Realistic Model Series Mobile Suit Gundam SEED 1/144 HG Series. This product is a realistic 1/144 scale reproduction of the catapult deck of the Ark Angel, the assault mobile special-assault ship in which the main character Kira Yamato and his crew board, and can be used in dioramas with other items in the same scale, such as the HG series of plastic models. The ability to recreate famous scenes from the anime from various angles makes this a big item that is sure to attract the attention of all Gundam fans.

Mr. Kazutami Yasuhiko of MegaHouse Corporation, the developer of the product, talked to us about the story behind the development of this product and its appeal points.

The deadline for orders is 23:59 on June 25, so there is only a little time left. If you read this article and think "I want one! I hope that those of you who read the article and think, "I want one!

─ ─ When I saw the actual product, I was overwhelmed by its size and detail. Will this be delivered to the user as a finished product?

Yasuhiko: It is a pre-painted semi-finished kit with weathering colors included from the beginning. It is easy to assemble and finish the kit after it arrives. All parts can be removed, including both sides of the MS deck, the ceiling, and the rear wall.

Each part is very large! The power supply cables are also present.

Yasuhiko: It can be connected to the joint under the waist of the Gundam model kit.

─ ─ The linear catapult at the time of sortie is also properly illuminated.

Yasuhiko: Only a limited number of people are able to do the electric decoration themselves, so this is also included as a pre-assembled unit. You can switch between all lights on and relay-type light emission with a switch.

──This gives an atmosphere just by placing your own kit, doesn't it?

Yasuhiko: Yes, it does. The only thing left is where to place the "Ark Angel" (laughs).

───Can you tell us how you came to commercialize the Ark Angel this time?

Yasuhiko In this series, we first released the "White Base" in 2016. But on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Gundam in 2019, we re-released the White Base as a renewal edition with modified molds, revised paint and markings, and it was very well received. It was very well received. Last year, we released the "Argama," which sold very well, and people inside and outside the company started asking for an "Ark Angel," so we began development.

We were just before the 20th anniversary of "Gundam SEED," and with the 18-meter Freedom Gundam standing in Lalaport in Shanghai and the opening of G-BASE, we thought it would be a good time to release the third volume, given that the noise related to "SEED" is expected to continue to rise in the future.

To be precise, it is the fourth volume. Back in the old days, when "Gundam 00" was broadcast, "Ptolemy" was released.

─ Ah, yes! It was on the air, wasn't it?

Yasuhiko: At that time, I wasn't in the company yet, and the series was interrupted for a while, but it was restarted on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Gundam.

───Did you refer to the set-up drawings from the time of the anime broadcast for this product?

Yasuhiko: Interpretation of anime mecha changes depending on the drawing, and it is difficult to decide which is correct. Also, the setting drawings do not include details in great detail. However, if we were to make a product this large as shown in the setting drawings, it would be too long and heavy, and it would look lonely, so we arranged the details in every aspect.

─ ─ In the movie, when the Strike launches, the Striker pack and weapons appear.

Yasuhiko: As an added bonus, a holder is included to display the Striker Pack system and accessories.

─ So you are saying that you can reproduce most of the situations in the play?

Yasuhiko Yes, we can reproduce the launch scene of the Strike that was shown in the OP every time. I think the most attractive part of the launch scene from the Ark Angel is that it is bathed in light as the Strike launches from a long tunnel-like linear catapult with a tube attached. Since this is the most important point, the catapult shuttles at the foot of the ship slide, and we were sure to include luminescence.

The previous Argama and White Base models were cut models, with one side of the outer wall removed and the roof removed, so that they could be played with as display models. In the case of the Ark Angel, we wanted to reproduce the effect of the anime, where the light floats on the dark deck, so we decided to build walls and roofs on both sides.

From the early stages of the project, we knew it was going to be huge, so at first we were thinking of making a cutaway model of the starboard side only, and omitting the lights on one side. However, we decided that this would halve the fun of the project, so we decided to give it a try after preparing for the fact that it would be larger than we had expected. Since we were going to do it, we wanted to make sure that people could enjoy it in a variety of play values.

For this reason, we initially set the price at around the 10,000 yen range, but finally settled on 21,780 yen (including tax).

─ ─ It seems that you made no compromises for the sake of adult play.

Yasuhiko: Thanks to you, we finally started taking orders during the Golden Week holidays, and we have received a good response.

Usually plastic models are built, displayed, and finished at ......, but for this product, we wanted to include the element of playing with boondoggles, which is the romance of Han Chinese, and also to allow for visual enjoyment, the exterior panels, walls, and roof can be removed depending on the purpose. The exterior panels, walls, and roof can also be removed for visual enjoyment. You can also change the models to be displayed accordingly.

We hope that customers will enjoy playing with the Gunpla inside the house as much as they enjoy playing with them outside.

─ ─ The exterior finish is also excellent, so it seems that you can recreate famous scenes from the anime involving the Ark Angel.

Yasuhiko: Actually, in the original configuration, the lower part of the deck is longer and the upper part is a little thicker. The "Godfleet" and "Lohengrin" can also come out of the deck, but this product is part of the Catapult Deck series, so we decided to make it this way so that you can play with the launch sequence. We have heard various comments from customers on social networking sites, such as "If you've come this far, why don't you build the whole thing?" or "Let's buy another one and recreate the port and starboard sides of the Ark Angel.

─ Will you continue the catapult series in the future?

Yasuhiko: Yes, we will. Thankfully, we have produced four series so far, so we would like to continue with them while listening to requests and other feedback.

─ ─ Personally, I would like to see the "V Gundam" battleship released.

Yasuhiko Is it the "Lean Horse jr.

─ ─ Yes, that's right! I would also like to have the beam ram reproduced! By the way, what kind of requests have you received from users?

Yasuhiko: We receive a variety of requests, but the works we are promoting differ depending on the generation. But Ark Angel has received support from a relatively wide range of generations. I think it had a big impact when it first appeared on the market.

─ ─ If that is the case, I guess Minerva will be next. I would like to see the separated forms of the Impulse in a row.

Yasuhiko That would be good too. There are many other things that have been said. For example, I often hear about Albion. It would be like an MS rising up from below. Also, since we did the Argama, we could use the "Nehru Argama. I think this is partly due to the influence of the "Gundam UC" series.

──It seems that there is still no end to the material.

Yasuhiko: That's right. Recently, due to the new coronavirus, we have not been able to exhibit at events, which is unfortunate. I think it would be great if we could exhibit them at events. I am sure that when people see the actual product, they will think, "Whoa" (laughs).

─ This is an aside, but is there any possibility for a battleship other than "Gundam"?

Yasuhiko: I think so, as long as it is commercially viable.

──Do you like battleships?

Yasuhiko: It's not that I like them, it's just a coincidence that I've been in the industry for more than 25 years, so I have many opportunities to create them. I believe that no matter how old a man gets, he always has a little boyish excitement in him.

Product Information

Realistic Model Series Gundam SEED 1/144 Ark Angel Catapult Deck for HG Series

・Selling price: 21,780 yen (tax included)

Delivery date: Scheduled to ship in October 2021

＜Product Size

Reference size when the linear catapult is retracted: 300 (H) x 690 (W) x 250 (D) (approx. / mm)

Reference size when the linear catapult is deployed: 300 (H) x 760 (W) x 250 (D) (mm/mm)

<Set contents

Ark Angel catapult deck

Various accessories (MS maintenance bed, auxiliary power cable, catapult shuttle, accessories for equipping striker pack, etc.)

Exclusive marking decals (water transfer), instruction manual

Uses 2 x AA batteries (sold separately)

＜Product Materials

PS, etc.

<Age Range

15 years old and up

<Order quantity

Up to 3 per person

1 unit can be purchased per order. 3 orders require 3 procedures.

<Product Distribution

Limited to Megatoray Shop, Premium Bandai, Volks, and Yellow Submarine (excluding some stores).

<Product name

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED

<Sold by

MegaHouse, Inc.

HGUC 1/144 GAT-X105+AQM/E-X01 Yale Strike Gundam and HG 1/144 ZGMF-X10A Freedom Gundam are not included in this product.

The photo is under development.

Please note that the design and specifications are subject to change.

This product cannot be purchased at the same time as other products.

We cannot accept any cancellations after an order has been placed.

Please note that the delivery date may change due to production reasons. Please understand this in advance.

Please note that there is a limit to the number of this product available. We may stop accepting orders early if we reach our reserve quantity.

If we receive a large number of requests, we may change the delivery date and place another order.

This product may be sold overseas.

Please check the product sales page for the latest information and details.

*Sales may be terminated when the number of products available has been reached.

*Sales may have ended by the time you access the page.

Product specifications are subject to change without notice.

The pictures shown are under development and may differ slightly from the actual product.

(C) Sotsu, Sunrise