Busou Shinki – Arnval – Type Angel – Kotobukiya, Konami, & Megami Device.
I belatedly obtained my Arnval via Hobby Link Japan on December 7th, 2022, after a bit off a scare. She was held slightly later than intended thanks a slight December hold-up at a Canada Post facility. Christmas festivities, among others. She could have easily arrived on December 5th, a day of Sinterklass festivities. She was held hostage at both Mississauga, and then the overly notorious Stoney Creek, Ontario, a facility known to eat (lose) your packages. She was held there for roughly a week. I even had a slight panic attack. Thankfully, Arnval was her Angelic side allowing me to receive her safely.
I was originally reluctant in obtaining Arnval seeing as how she held no sentimental, nor “relatable” characteristics in having me purchase her. I still purchased her regardless thanks to Japan Twitter’s influences and temptations, now being happier than I originally was. Her model format (having to build her) being far superior to her pre-built characteristics as a figure.
(Note: This blog post is a year late thanks to me constantly forgetting. It’s long overdue with Shinki Strarf having been both announced and released in this time-frame. Arnval also had the opportunity to return to Japan with me for a few photoshoots.)
This character was first brought to life through Busou Shinki’s ‘Figure+game’ concept and is now being reborn as a Megami Device unit. Arnval has increased its aerial battle abilities to the limit with its large rear wings and boosters.
Featuring a laser rifle longer than the character model’s full height, Arnval main war tactic is sniping targets from long distance at high altitudes.
Arnval’s comeback brings nostalgia to long time fans while also becoming a new addition to the Megami Device series to new users.
Previous Busou Shinki figures were simply figures requiring slight model building for accessories. The Megami Device model kits are full on models, similar to gunpla, requiring building from scratch. Need to build the model kits piece-by-piece, yet is overly user-friendly to new comers.
Day 2 – Her Weapons and Accessories:
Days later (or weeks) having to build her other half on another day. Her main self built on the first day, her weaponry and others needing to build separately on another day. Everything of hers required extra time, even more than what time I had prior to building her own self.
I actually quite enjoyed building this Kotobukia x Megami Device affiliated Arnval (Busou Shinki), highly articulate. Far more articulate than the figure forms, even though they’re just as complex, more so than any Figma, or figure out there. Granted, there are 30 Minute Sisters, Kotobukiya branded model kit figures, among others. Thanks to Busou Shinki, the market is vast.
Arnval, in her basic form, is user-friendly through-and-through. Able to be brought around on trips, unlike any Frame Arm Girls with their overly loose parts. Great care and attention is required for these kits in general, less so for Arnval. Granted, her weaponry is cause for concern with parts needing to be glued, kept a close eye on, and even swapped around, if needed.
Arnval’s Megami Device is highly favoured by me, more so than her figure types, desiring a Renge, Benio, and Kohiru variant sooner than later. I don’t want to be an old fart in a death bed waiting for death to take me to another realm. Arnval is an overly lovely girl, and I do genuinely admire her model treatment. Her kits are highly accessible, even after her launch date of November 22nd, 2022. She was perfectly in stock in Japan, and most likely even in Canadian model kit & Anime stores, if they’re proper enough. Japan kept them stocked in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Sapporo, and elsewhere well past the release date, something which could be less seen with Konami JP’s original Busou Shinki figure forms.
Bonus Images:
Some extra images to be admired after her model-kit building phase.
Arnval has been a great model kit figure to have around. A few errors here and there (rifle ammo stock, and some hair pieces), yet otherwise a great figure. A great travel companion to my trip to Japan, and even a proper tribute to Konami Japan’s past projects, those they intentionally sabotaged themselves for far greedier goals. Arnval is a beautiful angel, one whom keeps a close watch on my parent’s remains (ashes), even hanging out with Renge, and others. Her articulation is great, as is her modernized appearance. Her quantity availability shouldn’t be an issue to those who desire her kit. She should be around one way or another, even if one needs to order from second-hand Japanese stores.
Her accessories are able to mix-and-match with other Busou Shinki, Megami Device, Kotobukiya-oriented figures, among others.