Bring Yzak Joule’s heavily armoured Gundam to your collection with the Bandai MG 1/100 GAT-X102 Duel Gundam Assault Shroud from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED, featuring removable Assault Shroud armour, detailed X-100 series frame engineering and an extensive weapons loadout.
The Duel Gundam Assault Shroud MG 1/100 gives you two machines in one package. Build the original GAT-X102 Duel Gundam, then equip the additional armour and weapons to recreate the heavily reinforced Assault Shroud configuration.
Released on 18 February 2012, Bandai developed a new X-100 series internal frame for the MG Duel and designed the additional Assault Shroud armour so the model could retain a strong range of articulation even when fully equipped.
GAT-X102 Duel Gundam
The GAT-X102 Duel Gundam is one of the five prototype Gundams developed as part of the Earth Alliance’s G Project in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED.
Alongside the Strike, Buster, Blitz and Aegis Gundams, Duel represented a major technological leap through the use of Phase Shift Armor.
Following the attack on Heliopolis, Duel is captured by ZAFT and becomes the personal machine of Yzak Joule.
Its relatively straightforward combat design also makes Duel visually distinctive among the original five machines.
It’s a Gundam built to fight.
And Yzak certainly puts it to work.
Yzak Joule’s Gundam
The Duel Gundam becomes synonymous with Yzak Joule, one of ZAFT’s elite pilots and a member of the Le Creuset Team.
Yzak’s aggressive personality and rivalry with Kira Yamato help make Duel one of the most memorable machines from the early stages of Gundam SEED.
While several of the other captured G Project machines specialise in particular combat roles, Duel retains a more conventional all-round combat configuration.
That makes the later addition of the Assault Shroud particularly interesting.
Instead of replacing the Duel, ZAFT simply straps considerably more armour and firepower onto it.
Problem solved.
Assault Shroud Armour
The defining feature of this Master Grade is the Assault Shroud equipment.
The additional armour attaches over the standard Duel Gundam, adding substantial protection around the shoulders, chest and legs while also introducing additional weapon systems.
Bandai designed the MG so the Assault Shroud equipment can be attached and removed, allowing you to recreate either the standard Duel Gundam or the fully armoured Assault Shroud configuration.
That gives the kit two very different appearances from a single build.
Display Duel With or Without the Armour
Remove the Assault Shroud and the cleaner lines of the original GAT-X102 Duel Gundam are revealed underneath.
Add the equipment and the silhouette becomes considerably bulkier and more aggressive.
It’s one of the biggest attractions of this MG.
You aren’t simply adding another weapon to the backpack.
You’re changing the entire visual character of the Mobile Suit.
Clean and streamlined Duel?
Or heavily armoured Assault Shroud?
Fortunately, you don’t actually have to choose.
Newly Developed X-100 Series Frame
For the Master Grade release, Bandai developed a new X-100 series frame for the Duel Gundam.
This was particularly important because the Assault Shroud adds substantial armour around the body.
Bandai engineered the model so that even with the additional equipment attached, the Duel retains a strong range of articulation.
The internal structure also provides the sort of mechanical detail expected from a Master Grade, making the build interesting before the external armour is even fitted.
Newly Designed MG Mechanical Detail
Bandai didn’t simply enlarge the original Duel Gundam design.
For the MG release, new mechanical design details were specifically created for the Master Grade interpretation, adding extra information and complexity across the model.
This gives the 1/100 Duel a more mechanically convincing appearance while retaining the unmistakable proportions and colours of the original SEED design.
The result sits nicely between the clean anime styling and the more technical appearance expected from an MG.
Opening Cockpit
The Master Grade construction includes an opening chest cockpit hatch, with cockpit detail reproduced inside.
It’s a small feature once the model is standing on display, but it’s exactly the sort of engineering detail that makes building a Master Grade satisfying.
Open the hatch and you get another reminder of the scale of the Mobile Suit and the pilot sitting inside all that armour.
In Yzak’s case, probably shouting.
57mm High-Energy Beam Rifle
The Duel Gundam’s principal handheld ranged weapon is its 57mm High-Energy Beam Rifle.
The weapon maintains the relatively straightforward military styling of the Duel and gives the model a classic Gundam firing configuration.
It can be combined with the shield for a clean standard Duel Gundam appearance, particularly when the Assault Shroud armour has been removed.
Grenade Launcher
The Duel’s Beam Rifle incorporates an under-barrel Grenade Launcher, adding another ranged attack option without requiring an entirely separate handheld weapon.
This integrated arrangement suits Duel’s role as a versatile general-purpose combat machine.
It also gives the Beam Rifle considerably more visual interest than a straightforward rifle.
Beam Sabers
For close combat, Duel carries Beam Sabers.
These allow the MG to be posed in aggressive melee configurations and work particularly well when displaying the machine without the bulkier Assault Shroud equipment.
Combine a Beam Saber with the shield and the Duel takes on the classic close-combat Gundam appearance.
Simple.
Effective.
Very Yzak.
Anti-Beam Shield
The Duel also carries its distinctive Anti-Beam Shield.
The shield adds another strong visual element to the standard Duel Gundam configuration and can be combined with either the Beam Rifle or Beam Saber for different combat poses.
Together, the rifle, shield and sabers give the unarmoured Duel everything needed for a classic Gundam loadout before the Assault Shroud weapons are even considered.
Assault Shroud Missile Pod
Adding the Assault Shroud doesn’t just increase protection.
It also increases firepower.
The additional equipment incorporates a Missile Pod, giving Duel a built-in explosive ranged weapon when operating in Assault Shroud configuration.
This helps transform the machine from a relatively conventional Gundam into a much more heavily armed assault unit.
Because apparently extra armour wasn’t enough.
115mm Railgun
The Assault Shroud also adds a large 115mm Railgun, one of the most distinctive weapons fitted to the upgraded Duel.
Mounted as part of the additional equipment, the Railgun dramatically changes the appearance of the upper body and provides the Assault Shroud with heavier ranged firepower.
With the Railgun and Missile Pod fitted alongside the Duel’s original weapons, the fully equipped model looks considerably more formidable than the standard machine underneath.
Excellent Articulation Even Fully Armoured
Additional armour can sometimes turn an articulated model into something that mostly just stands there looking heavy.
Bandai specifically engineered the MG Duel to avoid that problem.
The X-100 series frame and Assault Shroud components were designed to maintain a high degree of movement even with the armour installed.
That means you can take advantage of the fully equipped appearance without sacrificing the action poses expected from a Master Grade.
Fantastic Armour-On / Armour-Off Display
One of the most satisfying ways to display the MG Duel Gundam Assault Shroud is to make use of the contrast between its two configurations.
Without the armour, the Duel is relatively lean and straightforward.
With the Assault Shroud installed, it becomes bulky, heavily armed and significantly more imposing.
The removable equipment also creates plenty of opportunities for dioramas or maintenance-style displays.
You could even show some of the Assault Shroud components removed beside the standard Duel.
That’s the sort of thing Master Grade is particularly good at.
Ideal for Painting & Detailing
The Duel Gundam’s combination of light armour, blue sections and dark Assault Shroud equipment makes it an excellent candidate for additional detailing.
Panel lining can emphasise the newly designed MG mechanical surfaces.
Metallic colours can bring the X-100 frame to life.
The Assault Shroud armour responds well to subtle shading and edge highlighting.
And the weapons provide plenty of opportunities for small mechanical colour accents.
You can keep everything clean and anime-inspired or weather the additional armour to make Duel look like it has survived another particularly unpleasant encounter with the Strike.
Product Features
Manufacturer: Bandai
Grade: MG / Master Grade
Scale: 1/100
Model Number: GAT-X102
Mobile Suit: Duel Gundam
Configuration: Assault Shroud
Series: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED
Pilot: Yzak Joule
Originally developed as part of the Earth Alliance G Project
Captured and operated by ZAFT
Includes complete Duel Gundam
Includes removable Assault Shroud armour
Can be displayed as standard Duel Gundam or Duel Gundam Assault Shroud
Newly developed X-100 series internal frame
Designed to retain articulation with Assault Shroud equipped
New mechanical detailing created specifically for the MG interpretation
Opening chest cockpit hatch with cockpit detail
Includes 57mm High-Energy Beam Rifle
Beam Rifle features integrated Grenade Launcher
Includes Beam Sabers
Includes Anti-Beam Shield
Assault Shroud includes additional Missile Pod
Assault Shroud includes 115mm Railgun
Weapons and equipment can be attached and removed
Colour-moulded snap-fit construction
Includes foil stickers and Gundam decals
Painting optional
Excellent for panel lining, painting and additional detailing
Bandai product number: 2156731
Original Japanese release: 18 February 2012
Build the Original Gundam SEED G Project Team
The MG Duel Gundam Assault Shroud is an excellent starting point for a Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Master Grade collection.
Display Duel alongside the Strike Gundam, Buster Gundam, Blitz Gundam and Aegis Gundam and you can bring together the five machines originally developed through the G Project.
It’s also particularly effective alongside Yzak’s later machines or opposing Kira Yamato’s Strike Gundam.
But the ability to remove the Assault Shroud gives Duel something particularly interesting within that collection.
One day it can be the clean GAT-X102 prototype.
The next it can be covered in extra armour, missiles and a Railgun.
We suspect Yzak would choose the second option.
Why Add the GAT-X102 Duel Gundam Assault Shroud MG 1/100 to Your Collection?
The Bandai MG 1/100 GAT-X102 Duel Gundam Assault Shroud delivers far more than a straightforward 1/100 recreation of Yzak Joule’s Gundam.
Its newly developed X-100 frame, removable Assault Shroud armour, opening cockpit and combination of Beam Rifle, Grenade Launcher, Beam Sabers, shield, Missile Pod and 115mm Railgun give the kit excellent build and display potential.
Most importantly, the ability to switch between the cleaner Duel Gundam and heavily equipped Duel Gundam Assault Shroud means you effectively get two distinct looks from the same Master Grade.
For anyone searching for a GAT-X102 Duel Gundam Assault Shroud MG 1/100, MG Duel Gundam, Yzak Joule Gunpla, Gundam SEED Master Grade or Duel Assault Shroud model kit, this is an essential addition to a SEED-era collection.
Add the GAT-X102 Duel Gundam Assault Shroud MG 1/100 to your collection and give Yzak Joule the armour, firepower and Master Grade shelf presence he deserves.
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