My Love For Life Review

Finally getting to the in dept review of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. This model kit has a dark color scheme apart from its side shields and chest vents which are white. I must say I really enjoy assembling this model but that does not mean it is flawless. I'll get to that later.


TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version size comparison with clear soda can (HermanTurnip another +1 for me?^^)

Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Diagonal front view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Side view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Diagonal rear view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Rear view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Top down view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Frontal closeup on the head of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Side view closeup on the head of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Frontal ground angle view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Frontal diagonal ground angle view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Rear diagonal ground angle view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Upper body overview of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Overview of the booster backpack on the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the chest of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I have painted the chest vents yellow and black.

Closeup of the front skirt armor of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I have panel lined it and painted the 4 hand grenades mounted at the side skirt armor red on the tips.

Closeup on the side shield joint on the shoulder of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. This joint is one of the flaws of this model kit as it is very loose. The same can be said with the joints at both sides. As a quick fix, I wrapped some paper around the ball joint so it can maintain the side shield poses for this review.

Closeup on the legs of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the thrusters on the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. Did some painting here but since the parts come molded in dark gray it is hard to notice the red paint job which I did for the outlines.

Rear view closeup on the legs of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the spikes on the side shield of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the deformity found on the right side shield of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. This part was molded with this flaw even when it was still on the runner. It is no big deal for me as it can be attributed to damage sustained during battle.

Closeup on the ammunition discs for the beam assault rifle for the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the leg joints of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. It does look like the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version is flashing indecently in this shot.

Closeup view of the vents on the skirt armor of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I like how it comes molded in color so I only need to do some panel lining.

Closeup on the base of the feet of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I have panel lined all that I can here.

Side view of the booster backpack for the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I have painted a portion red and panel lined it. Somehow the stickers for the booster backpack do not align properly when applied, another minor flaw of this model kit.

Closeup of the thrusters on the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup of the tail fin of the booster backpack on the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I have painted and panel lined it (rather messily).

Articulation of the arm and leg of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. Basically they can move up to 90 degrees at the elbows and knees.

Articulation and gimmicks of the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version. I am amazed at the articulation points here.
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Rear view closeup of the left thruster of the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Frontal view of the guided missile pods on the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Closeup on the missile pod on the booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in a saluting pose.

TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in a battle prep pose.

Top down view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in firing position.

Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in firing position.

Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version ready for action.

Rear diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version with opened booster backpack.

Rear view of opened booster backpack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version wielding twin beam tomahawks.

Frontal diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version wielding twin beam tomahawks.

Closeup of the beam tomahawk. Too bad the beam part does not come in clear plastic beam effect part.

Closeup on the beam assault rifle.

You need to disassemble the hand in order to fit in the beam assault rifle.

Closeup of the rear skirt armor.

There is a hidden slit which can be revealed by pushing down the center piece of the rear skirt armor...

... which can be used to store the beam assault rifle.

Overview of the stored beam assault rifle at the back of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Front view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in tomahawk attacking pose.

Front right diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in tomahawk attacking pose.

Front left diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version in tomahawk attacking pose

Overview of booster backpack a.k.a. Blaze Wizard pack of the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version.

Over view of booster backpack when opened.

Frontal diagonal view of booster backpack when opened.
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Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Top down view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Frontal left diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Top down right diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Frontal right diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Right side view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Rear right diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Rear view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Top down right diagonal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Top down frontal view of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Frontal view of upper body of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

Frontal overview of TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version making the box art pose holing the beam assault rifle.

I am quite pleased with the TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version despite of its shortcomings. At nearly 1/3 of Bandai's retail price, this model kit has remarkable quality even though it is inferior to the original. Do look forward to my expanding line of TT Hongli gundam model kits.

My Love For Life Gundam review rating for TT Hongli HG Blaze Zaku Phantom Dearka Elsman version: 4/5

My Love For Life Review