REVIEW MG 1/100 DABAN 8830 P204QX Lightning Striker, Daban Model

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This is review of Bootleg Knock-out Gunpla Daban Model MG 1/100 DABAN Daban 8830: MG Lightning Striker P204QX Lightning Striker from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED MSV.

Bootleg Knock-out Gunpla Daban Model MG 1/100 DABAN Daban 8830: MG Lightning Striker P204QX Lightning Striker Review

Daban Model has quickly followed up the release of the Daban 8829: MG Perfect Strike Gundam with their next installment, the Daban 8830: MG Lightning Striker P204QX Lightning Striker. With various teasers already revealing much about this kit, let's dive straight into the details.

Runners and Pre-Painted Parts

The MG 1/100 DABAN Daban 8830: MG Lightning Striker follows the trend of full pre-painted production, similar to recent 88-series kits. Apart from the base stand and yellow transparent parts, everything is pre-painted. The paint finish looks decent, comparable to the Daban 8829: MG Perfect Strike Gundam, with no major flaws.

Since there is minimal electroplating, the part details are well-preserved. However, some parts lack hidden gate marks, meaning a few visible nubs might appear. The kit includes the same main body as the Daban 8829: MG Perfect Strike Gundam, with the addition of a newly designed backpack. Weapons such as the rifle and shield are also retained.

Assembly and Build Quality

Assembly-wise, the Daban 8830: MG Lightning Striker performs on par with the Daban 8829: MG Perfect Strike Gundam, maintaining the recent 88-series quality. There are no significant issues requiring excessive force during assembly. However, certain areas may need reinforcement due to looseness (specific problem areas and fixes are detailed further in the review).

The core unit shares the same structural issues as the Daban 8829: MG Perfect Strike Gundam, which can be referenced in previous reviews. As for the backpack, it fits securely, and while Daban includes two transparent support rods for the wings (similar to the original version), the review process found them unnecessary, as the joints provided adequate support and stability.

Backpack Design and Structure

The new backpack faithfully replicates the original without any unnecessary modifications. The only notable difference is the absence of metal shafts used in the official version, though the original itself had no additional metal components beyond these.

Structurally, the Daban 8830: MG Lightning Striker’s backpack maintains the same appearance, details, and articulation as the original, including transformation features and playability. Additionally, even the water decals are well-reproduced. Combined with the pre-painted parts, the final assembled appearance is quite impressive.

Part Separation and Engineering

Since the original version relied on paint separation for color accuracy, it did not use extensive part segmentation. However, since Daban's Daban 8830: MG Lightning Striker is a fully assembled model kit, extensive part separation was necessary to recreate the same color accuracy.

As a result, the backpack alone consists of 12 parts (14 including the stand and transparent rods), making it one of the most complex backpacks in the 88-series. The part count is nearly equal to the main body’s runner count, which is quite unexpected for a backpack.

Issues and Drawbacks

The issues are fairly standard: plastic shrinkage and visible gate marks. Plastic shrinkage mainly affects the metallic black-gray parts, but these are generally hidden and not very noticeable. Visible nubs are most apparent on yellow parts, though other areas are relatively clean. Additionally, minor fitting issues—such as loose or tight connections—are covered in the review's problem-solving section.

Summary

Overall, the MG 1/100 DABAN Daban 8830: MG Lightning Striker maintains a quality level similar to the Daban 8829: MG Perfect Strike Gundam, making it one of the better products in the 88-series. However, potential buyers should consider the inclusion of a duplicate main body. For those who already own the Daban 8829: MG Perfect Strike Gundam, purchasing the Daban 8830: MG Lightning Striker means acquiring an additional main body, which could be an inconvenience. Nonetheless, for those interested in the Lightning Striker backpack, this kit offers a solid alternative to the official release.