Okay, so for starters, let me clarify that I love this kit for its aesthetic, but in all honesty, as much as I hate to say it, he did not age well.
As others have suggested, he’s easy to build, which means he’s not as intricately designed or as well thought out as newer models. And I understand that’s due to changes in technology and technique, but it unfortunately means the build isn’t as satisfying.
He’s not like any other kit I’ve built before. Among his knees, elbows, shoulders, and waist, he takes 9 screws to stay together. The boosters just above his ankles feel like they were designed as an afterthought, attached by a triangular piece that doesn’t fit all the way onto the peg it was designed for. The body panels on the torso creak and never look or feel secure when installed (though they won’t spontaneously fall off). Articulation is limited in the wrists due to the stationary angle of the cuff, which makes holding his accessories a pain at times.
But he’s beautiful. He was the first kit I ever devoted a lot of time to customizing, polishing his body panels until they were glossy, shimmering like a brand new car. And ten years after buying my first Kämpfer, I’ve bought a second one seeking to improve upon the first. And as it turns out, there’s a large number of metal part kits dedicated to upscaling the Kämpfer: spikes, mono eyes, rivets, and verniers, even one kit that comes with a metal cable chain to replace the fabric tube that runs across his waist.
Overall, he’s probably not worthy of being a Master Grade by today’s standards, but he’s a handsome figure when complete. The fact that there are options to upgrade the kit means that regardless the structural quality, you have the potential to make from him whatever you want.
