[Review] Premium Bandai 30MM Portanova [Special Squad]

Portanova [Special Squad] Review

Kit info

• Name : 30MM 1/144 bEXM-15C PORTANOVA (SPECIAL SQUAD)
• Brand : Bandai Spirits, Premium Bandai
• Original Price : 2300 JPY
  
• Release Date : 2021/07
• Link : scalemates

Story

This unit belongs to special forces that carry out covert investigative and sabotage mission on various planets. Since these mission are carried out by a small number of elite solders, there are hardly any members of the Bailon Forces who have actually seen them. They are standardly equipped with Long Rifles used by Cielnova units, and are capable of sharpshooting from outside the enemy's sensor range. The high-power Long Rifles were originally developed for long-range sniping, but the astounding mobility and attitude control of the units allowed them to carry out short and medium range combat with a single weapon.

What's in the box (sprues and other parts)

Parts exclusive to this kit in contained in Z3 and Z4 sprue. Other parts are combination of standard Portanova, some Cielnova parts, 30MM Option Armor for Special Squad (for Portanova), 30MM Option Backpack 2, 30mm Option Parts Set #2, 30MM Option weapon 1 for Cielnova, and Portanova [Space Type].

This kit features two variations of dark gray components. For instance, frames and weapons are in "Dark Gray," whereas some armor pieces are in what I call "Dark Gray with very minor purple tint." The distinction is nuanced, but it is noticeable as you can see in the picture above.

A : Standard Portanova sprue. [Multicolored]

B : Shared 30MM frame sprue. [Dark Gray]

C : Standard Portanova Sprue. [Dark Gray]

C1 : This sprue is originated from Cielnova. [Dark Gray]

OPA-B2 : This is sprue is from 30MM Option Armor for Special Squad (for Portanova). This kit includes some additional face and shoulder parts that go on top of these parts. [Dark Gray with very minor purple tint]

OPBP-B1 : Sprue from 30MM Option Backpack 2. They included this single sprue just to give you a set of open hands. So you only get one set of boosters and fuel tank as compared to full Option Backpack 2 kit which has backpack and two sets of boosters and fuel tanks. [Dark Gray]

OPS2 (x2) : Full two sprues from 30mm Option Parts Set #2. [Dark Gray with very minor purple tint.]

OPW-D1, OPW-D2 : This sprue is from 30MM Option weapon 1 for Cielnova kit. Story description says that the Cielnova long rifle is this units standard weapon. [Dark Gray] 

UT-E1 : This sprue is shared with Portanova [Space Type] kit. [Dark Gray with with very minor purple tint.]

UT-E2 : This sprue is shared with Portanova [Space Type] kit. [Dark Gray with with very minor purple tint.] 

Z3 : Exclusive face and shoulder parts. [Purple]

Z4 : Exclusive shoulder parts. [Purple]

PC-7 : Standard set of 30MM Polycaps

Exclusive Waterslide Decal

Fold-out style instruction manual. [Colored on one side, monochrome on the other]

Detailed Parts Review

This kit comes with 5 (one is not pictured here) face parts. (Top right) Standard Portanova face, (bottom right) Portanova [Space Type] face, (bottom left, gray) lower part of Option Armor for Special Squad (for Portanova) (upper part is also included but not pictured here), and (bottom left, purple) exclusive upper part for this kit.

Included torso armor piece are standard Portanova chest piece (bottom left), chest piece from Option Armor for Special Squad (for Portanova) (left), and backpack adapter for standard Portanova (right).

Torso assembled following the instrtuctions.

Spaulder pieces are from Option Armor for Special Squad (for Portanova). (You can see them attached/next to the arms.) Exclusive extension pieces for the spaulders come with the kit. (top, purple pieces) Standard spaulder pieces are also included (bottom right). Some additional armor pieces are also included. (Originally from Portanova [Space Type], top right) Those can be attached to the standard spaulders or forearms via 3mm holes. (Ofc you can try them anywhere with 3mm holes.)

Standard configuration for this unit uses side skirts from Option parts set 2. (pictured here attached to the waist part) Standard side skirt parts (purple parts) and Portanova [Space Type] parts (rightmost parts) are left over.

Special Squad configuration uses leg extension parts from Option parts set 2 and feet from Portanova [Space Type]. Portanova [Space Type] legs, knee armor, and standard feet are left over.

Standard configuration of Portanova [Special Squad] type. Of course you can do whatever you want, but you'll get this if you follow the instruction.

Weapons and equipment included in this kit.

Melee weapon and long rifle (and also the kite shidle) is from Option weapon 1 for Cielnova kit.

Short rifle is standard Portanova weapon.

Round shield is from Option Armor for Special Squad (for Portanova).

Various launchers and armor pieces are from 30MM Option Parts set 2.

Various armor and limb pieces included in this kit.

Image Gallery

Standard spaulder on right shoulder, and left spaulder and upper face plate is from Option Armor for Special Squad (for Portanova). Used armor piece from Portanova [Space Type] on right arm. Standard feet with leg extension from Option part set 2. Axe is from Option weapon 1 for Cielnova.

Swapped out long rifle's barrel with included Gatling beam barrel. (from Option weapon 1 for Cielnova). Standard Portanova rifle on right hip. Legs and knee pads are from Portanova [Space Type] with leg extension from Option part set 2. Round shield from Option Armor for Special Squad (for Portanova) is attached on the rifle.

Side skirts and large backpack is from Portanova [Space Type] and rocket pods from Option part set 2 are attached to the backpack.

Standard configuration. (What you get when you follow the instructions.)

Conclusion

Well this is my third P-Bandai 30MM kit review and I might sound like a broken record but I have to say this again. IF YOU CAN GET IT AT LIST PRICE, this kit's value is amazing considering how much stuff you get. Also the dark and purple color scheme is quite attractive. (Although not as attractive as the Revernova [Enhanced Ground Type]'s colors IMO, but as they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder eh?) 

But if you have to pay too much extra to the resellers then nope. Just get whatever kit that includes parts you're interested and combine them and you'll get much interesting results. This only includes exclusive upper face part and shoulder extension so unless you're someone like me who has to get every kit Bandai releases skip this. (Unless you can get near list price that is.)