BB Senshi Sangokuden - Model Kits

Model Kits

The focal point of the series is a range of model kits, produced as part of Bandai's BB Senshi line. Although in official numbering these kits began with BB 300, Bandai was only up to BB 295 at time of release and so BB 296–299 were retroactively released. Since that time every subsequent BB Senshi release has been a Sangokuden release, with the exception of SD versions of Gundam Exia, 00 Gundam, 00 Raiser, Gundam Exia Repair II and 0 Gundam from Mobile Suit Gundam 00.

The kits utilise a gimmick used by many past BB Senshi lines – armour changing. The majority of the kits are built on the same basic figure design, allowing them to swap at least headwear, shoulder armour and backpacks/capes. Some characters can also swap further elements such as chest and skirt armour. However, so far this has been limited to the initial three kits. The figures utilise ball joints, to allow poeseability and to swap out limbs due to the popular Japanese hobby of SD customisation. As further part of this, many of the characters have individualised pre-posed hands. Starting with Ryofu Tallgeese, the kits were also issued with 'neutral' hands to use as an alternative to the specifically posed ones. A related feature was most kits eventually being issued with optional secondary eye stickers to represent features such as Char Aznable-style sunglasses or a character's aiming ability. This eventually led to a full sheet of such optional stickers being given away as a promotional item.

A number of recolours have been released. In December 2007, Bandai released a three kit set of Ryuubi (Liu Bei), Chouhi and Kan-u cast in transparent plastic. This was followed in April 2008 with a similar set of Sousou and Shibai, December 2008 with Koumei (Kong Ming) and Choun and March 2009 with Sonken and Shuuyu (in contrast to the other re-releases, Shuuyu is metallic gold plated instead of transparent plastic). These multi-kit boxsets also come with large diorama cards featuring CGI-generated backdrops from the Sengokuden universe. Of special note is that Chou-Un is missing his Hieisen steed from his initial release.

A limited metallic 'special coating' Ryuubi (Liu Bei) was a hobby show exclusive. The first collected manga volume also had a prize draw, with 100 pieces of silver-plated Ryuubi Gundam kits as prizes. A metallic red recolour of Sazabi released in March 2009 was the first such kit to be included in the storyline, explained as a new colour schemed adopted by the character in the epilogue of the second chapter.

A recoloured two kit set of Koumei (Kong Ming) and Shuuyu was released as a tie into a Romance of the Three Kingdoms feature film adaptation Red Cliff. The kits use gold, brown and white colours to copy the costumes seen in the film. The diorama card included features screenshots from Red Cliff (specifically of Cao Cao's navy at different stages) rather than the usual backdrops.

Additional model kits and add on accessories have also been made available, often as contest prizes. These include:

• A human scale replica of the Imperial Seal
• Energy effect parts for character's weapons
• 'Grunt' GM and Zaku troops (the GM versions have since received a Japanese retail release, containing one GM troop from each of the three main kingdoms in each set)
• A golden miniature dragon that can convert into weapons and armour.

A B-Club kit was also produced of the character Sonshoukou Gerbera. The model can be built in two possible poses, wielding either her bow or glaive. A BB Senshi version of the character was released in May 2009.

A new 'Sangokuden Sidestory' line will begin in late 2009, focussing on the children of the main cast. Controversially, the kits in this line will be remolds/recolours of much older existing kits, lacking the scale and art style of all previous Sangokuden kits. In partial response to this, the last two kits in the series were given two pairs of new leg parts- one pair for the included kit and the second to add to earlier kits in the line.

At the 'Gunpla Expo 2009', Bandai officially unveiled both HG 1/100 Scale versions of Kan-u Gundam and Chouhi Gundam. The release dates of the two were still unannounced.