HG / GWITCH #15 – Tickbalang

“_{A flatbed type flight system designed by}_{Peil Technologies}_{to allow mobile suits to cruise for long distances. Grips and footrests on top allow a mobile suit to latch on. A mobile suit can also hang from the handles stored in the underbelly. Outfitted with 6 vectored nozzles for maximum propulsion, it can transport two standard mobile suits at once, one above and one below. While in flight the wireless Beam Cannon located in its nose can be operated remotely from the mobile suits being transported.”}

Sub-Flight System Equipment

Upper Hand Rails

The top deck has a pair of hand rails that deploy in order for a mobile suit to grab on.

Foot Stirrups

The rear of the top deck has a pair of foot rests that extend outward and adjust to a variety of angles.

Lower Hand Rails

Adjacent to the landing gear bays underneath the aircraft are a set of hand rails that fold out for a mobile suit to grip on to.

Rear Thrusters

The rear section of the aircraft houses three large thrusters. The central one is fixed, however the exterior ones pivot up and down for extreme maneuverability.

Beam Cannon

A pair of beam cannons on the face of the aircraft provides basic combat abilities.

Side Vector Nozzles

The left and right sides are equipped with pairs of vector jets. Although their adjustability is limited, they provide

Cheers:

+ The fully deployable landing gear is an awesome feature. No need to remove or swap parts, everything works just like you’d expect it to.

+ Very stable when used with an action base connector.

+ I like the color scheme, it reminds me of real world naval ships & aircraft.

A Zowort mounted atop a Tickbalang.

Cons:

– Getting the model mobile suit to pose on top the Tickbalang is incredibly finicky. It isn’t a balancing act, more an issue of getting into the exact position for everything to line up. Once you have the angles of the knees/feet correct it’s secured.

Closing thoughts:

When I was first getting into gunpla and watching the Witch From Mercury, I wrote the Tickbalang off as a block of plastic and was completely disinterested.

Gee was I wrong; this thing is just packed with features! The front face is the only edge that doesn’t have something that adjusts or deploys.