Devil Arts MG Providence - Review

Hey boys and girls, I just finished snapping together the DevilArts Providence and I must say I'm really really impressed! Not a single fitment issue throughout the build, which is saying a lot for a non-Bandai product. In fact this model hit the market ahead of Bandai's Providence, so the runners aren't straight recasts from the Bandai kit. I believe the design team behind this kit actually engineered it almost from the ground up, and they did one hell of a job! The devil - as the old adage goes - is in the details, and I'm inclined to think that's how they came up with the brand name. Jump in to see the full review, and you'll also find a YouTube video at the bottom.

Click on the Read More link for the rest of this post...


(Pic heavy. Click on the images to view in full size)

Behold, the Master Grade Providence Gundam from Devil Arts, in all it's high-detail glory!

 

Build

I really enjoyed assembling this kit. It is very well designed. Apart from the fact that it there's so much detail to enjoy on the surface, it's the build that really bumps this model from good to great. Many of the armor parts are undergated, which means smaller nub marks are left behind. Painters will appreciate this as it translates to less paint-prep, but snap-builders might not because it means you need to cut each gate twice.

Some of the parts are even designed for easy disassembly, which backs the idea that this kit is actually targeted at the advanced modeler who will eventually paint the model and make the most out of all those details. Case in point, the cod-piece assembly has what appear to be shallow cut outs right next to the pegs. You'll notice the pegs actually have slits on them so they resemble screw heads for more mechanical detail, but painting them a different color will be more difficult because they're slighlty recessed when assembled.

The way I see it, the tiny cutouts are there so you can slide something thin, like a knife blade in between, and pop off the outer piece so you can easily paint those pegs. I don't recall seeing this feature in any of the kit's I've built, but if this is DevilArts' idea, then they're on to something here and I think the other brands should take notes.

This trend continues throughout the kit. Parts slot together instead of snapping in place via semi-permanent pegs. Most of the vents and control surfaces are molded as separate pieces from the segments that attach them to the frame, so they're easy to pop off and paint. A few clear parts come in a separate runner with no letter on it, but it isn't hard to figure out.

Look and Feel

Did I mention the details? This thing looks like it got the resin dress-up kit treatment right out of the box! The V-fin comes sharp, and is very delicate so take extra care when handling it. There are relatively few seams that need fixing, and most are disguised as panel lines. I did not find any sink marks and there was hardly any flash at all, which means the molding process was done really well or quality control was seriously implemented.

Articulation

Articulation is comparable to your standard master grade, with only the long skirts and enormous backpack getting in the way. Balance is above average because it is able to stand on it's own despite the heavy back - thanks to the locking mechanism in the hip joints that allow the legs to lock in place. It will take some clever posing to get it to stand but it is possible. All the dragoons/funnels are detachable and can be deployed using the clear effect parts that come with the kit. It also comes with five pairs of fixed pose hands - another thing painters will appreciate, but are a thumbs-down for those who oppose non-opposable thumbs. 

Issues

The only problem I have with the kit is the plastic itself, which is a little on the soft side. Stress marks are almost inevitable even when using a sharp nipper, but thankfully most of the armor pieces are undergated so it isn't a deal breaker. Some mold lines can be seen running the length of the torso pipes, but nothing that a bit of sanding or a carefully applied knife can't fix. And again, if you plan to paint it anyway then that leaves 0 issues, which is really all you could ask for in a kit. I do wish it came with a flight stand so you could display it with the dragoons shooting off out of the box, but that's just me being greedy and not an actual issue.

Verdict

I give this kit a shiny 9.5/10, which is the highest score I've ever given a kit regardless of brand. Devil Arts really put some serious thought into the design, and did their best to produce quality molds. If a new brand wanted to make a name for itself in a single release, this is exactly how it's done! The included dragoon effects and waterslide decals are a nice touch. Whether you're into painting or simply enjoy snapping together a kit, the Devil Arts Providence is one model you don't want to ignore - even if you already own the Bandai version. I'd love to do a side by side comparison, but at this point I'm not going to buy another Providence just for the sake of comparing the two. If anyone is willing to lend me one though, I can update this post accordingly. Overall this looks and feels like a kit that costs twice as much. I've seen some notable custom-builders go straight to paint with minimal modifications on this kit, because it's simply that good. I'm probably going to do the same.

Here's a YouTube video of the same review:

If you'd like to own this top-notch model, head on over to Gundammodelcenter.com, they carry the DevilArts Providence, and almost every other 3rd party kit in existence. 

That's all I have for today! Until next time, keep building plamo!