Figure Name: Super Robot Chogokin Weißritter
Figure Maker: Bandai
Retail Price: US$58.00 or ¥4,800
Available at Big Bad Toy Store | Hobby Search | AmiAmi | Hobby Link Japan

Here are where the goods are stored. It's nice and bright, reminding you that there's a sweet robot inside the confines of the cardboard. No way you're going to miss this on a show floor. Hell, after you see the real deal, you'll be surprised you can't see it from inside the container. Off with the bloody box and out with the 'bot!

This is where my love with the Weißritter begins. Right off the bat, I love the combination of white and blue on a robot. Granted, it's a scheme used quite often, as any peek at any Gundam show will reveal, but the proper use of blue as a highlight on a white body looks terrific in my eyes. To make things even better, the additional yellow and red accents make the Weißritter pop out even more. I've got to hand it to Kazue Saito; he designed one hell of a robot.

Here's a tighter show of the shoulders. I'm loving those flared out shoulders there. Also take note of the use of the colors all along white armor. It's all well painted and there's no use of any decals, so any Katoki-haters will be pleased. You can also see the diecast joints from this angle, but later photos will show them off better, so I'll save my comments for later. For now, let's turn this lady around to get a look at the caboose.

That's pretty barren, but worry not! This photo was done just so you can see some of the detail on the Weißritter's back as well as the screws on its back keeping it sturdy. I mean, what's a mech from Super Robot Wars without its flight pack? Nothing, that's what!

Here's the Tesla Drive that keeps the Weißritter afloat and ready to fight. Much like the Alteisen, the individual exhaust pipes can be moved around to point wherever you'd want this sexy thing to fly. Also note that the wings and fin at the top center can be moved to many different positions and angles. If you want to keep them tucked up and pulled toward each other, that's a viable option. If you want to extend the wings as far out and flat as possible, you can do that, too! The only thing you may have to look out for are the Weißritter's flared shoulders, as they can be impeded if the wings are moved to far up.

So now that you have an idea for the base bot, let's get some accessories on this mother!

This shot here shows off quite a few things. First, it shows off the tri-beam cannon that can be attached to the Weißritter's wrist. It doesn't do much, but it definitely looks cool. Next, you can see the beam saber, which is much like any other beam saber you'd get with any mech. The hands that come with the Weißritter fit the accessories well and little fuss, so you don't have to worry about rage-cracking a hand while working on your poses. Finally, and most importantly, you see the magic of diecast at work. The Weißritter is standing with most of its weight on its left foot, with the right leg lightly touching the ground. The weight of the diecast in the legs keeps the mech from toppling over and the addition of diecast in the joints keeps it from flopping over when too much weight is placed on a limb. This is what truly makes the Super Robot Chogokins stand apart from their competition and what makes them so utterly poseable. That and the quality of the materials used. Perfect use of metal and plastic here folks.

Like this shot? It's done while the Weißritter is on only one foot. I dare you to try that with any other mech and see how long it can stay standing. During the entirety of the shoot, it stayed rock solid and didn't fall even when I bumped into the table it was on.  Also, you can see the joint in the right elbow better from here.

The last major accessory is the Oxtongue Rifle, which is as long as the Weißritter is tall. It's a hefty gun, let me tell you! Without the diecast in its elbow and legs, the Weißritter would probably fall over. Thankfully, it can easily hold the gun in its hand without falling over, though you may have to twist the wrist to just the right angle for certain poses. I love how this wouldn't really work with any other figure, yet fits just right for this bad girl.

So that's it for the Weißritter. Along with the Alteisen, she's cemented my love for Super Robot Chogokins. Anytime a mech I'm even mildly interested in gets an entry into the line, I'll definitely be paying attention and if I can spare the scratch, own it. With it's supreme poseability, great accessories and sublime build, the Weißritter NEEDS to be in your collection if you fashion yourself a fan of giant honkin' robots. Do yourself a favor and invest in this line, as it is much cheaper than anything comparable. 

[A millions thank yous go out to Bluefin Distribution for providing the Weißritter for review.]