PG Strike Freedom WIP 02: Perfect Grade - Quality Not Included

This WIP post is more so a mini review of the PG Strike Freedom. People have complained about the price tag not being worth the level of detail/design/proportions/lack of gimmicks but I believe they've missed one of this kit's biggest faults. But first a few shots of progress thus far...
Click to Enlarge | On Flickr


Click to Enlarge | On Flickr


Click to Enlarge | On Flickr

The skirt armor hasn't been assembled yet. I figured that it would be difficult to separate the outer and inner pieces and that I might as well leave them off as it's all get a fancy paint job anyhow. Pose-ability is pretty good although the locking mechanism for the sliding hip joints sucks a fat one. Now, for the crux of the issue. As some of you may have noticed the golden frame actually comes in three different colors: a gold relatively close to the Tamiya I plan on using; a deep gold that's closer to bronze; and a puke yellow color. The bronzeish color is actually a spray coating from the factory. The problem is that it's so terribly done. The coating is incredibly inconsistent...
Click to Enlarge | On Flickr


Click to Enlarge | On Flickr

Note how the paint is blotchy, doesn't consistently cover pieces from the same runner (second photo), let alone individual pieces. This is a $300 kit built around a gold frame... and they couldn't get most of the gold pieces painted correctly! Where's the quality control on this? I can't imagine all of those extra finish Master Grade kits are this sloppy. I'm just incredibly disappointed in Bandai. I'd be upset if I hadn't planned from the start on painting the internal frame. Luckily for me the few test pieces look fantastic.
Click to Enlarge | On Flickr


Click to Enlarge | On Flickr

I don't know why Bandai continues with this sudo metalic plastic they keep using. I think all of the swirls look terrible.