[Review] HGUC 1/144 GUNDAM GROUND TYPE

Here’s a look at the HGUC Gundam Ground Type that came with the HG U.C. HardGraph Gundam the Ground War Set. It is completely identical to the original HGUC.

 

 

Feels right at home…

The head sculpt is nice, but why are the V fins look like they’ve been childproofed by an overly concerned mother.

ARTICULATION

Since the articulation photos usually eat up a ton of space in my posts, I’m gunna only show off the critical points of articulation in a single layout from now on. If you want to see the full blown images, just click on any photo and you’ll get to the flickr album that contains them.

In summary, fantastic mobility. Only wish it has a larger side kicking range and forward shoulder movement.

ARMAMENTS

The NF·GMG-Type.37/100mm machine gun. Comes with a trigger finger hand but you gotta rip off a cover from one of the open fist hands.

Can be held in the two-handed approach, but the trigger hand will probably have to split open about 20 times before you get there.

The RGM·S-Sh-WF/S-00109 shield.

It comes with two connectors, one which the manual specifies to not use because the protruding piece is longer. In practice, both work, but using the longer one wears out your poly cap easily. Maybe the peg was too thick?

To be honest, I was quite disappointed by this kit’s kneel. With the extra toe joint, I expected this thing to be able to pull off a kneel that can rival the 00’s, but the thigh couldn’t raise high enough for that.

^ the ugly truth of that first kneel

It kneels fine if you stick with the extend-the-leg-outward technique. But that’s nothing impressive now that we’re in the 21st century.

Storage Container with the NFHI·GMCa-type.09/180mm Artillery Cannon.

It takes some fiddling to get it to do its signature pose, mainly due to the cannon’s resting height and the trigger hand splitting open 9000 times. The shield proportions are actually too short for the cannon to rest on it properly, clearly the box art lied.

^you’d probably have to come up with a ridiculous solution like that on your own

You can detach the machine gun magazines from the side skirts and replace with the one on the gun, but you’ll probably never do it.

Beam Sabers are stored in the side panels on its lower legs. Not just for show either, you actually pull them out and use them. Impressive.

Its toe joints lends itself to many great dashing poses.

The cannon is actually a bit too heavy to carry with one hand, but it can stay momentarily with a bent elbow.

THOUGHTS

This is a beautifully engineered high grade kit. It’s basically a MG in 1/144 scale with a simplified construction. This is no RG, but I can see how this is one of those kits that first started to blur the line between HGs and MGs. For a kit released in 2007, this thing is on par with some of the best 1/144 kits we have today.  Hell, even the toe articulation on RGs are practically worthless yet this guy manages to do it with less parts. As you can see from the photos, this kit offers a ton of play-ability with its gimmicks which makes it well worth its 1500 yen price tag. If you’re looking to buy this kit, however, I’d suggest you either get it with the Ground War Set or hold off for its inevitable RG release.

 

tl;dr

 

GOOD

-great articulation

-toe joints!

-storage container gimmick

-beam saber gimmick

 

BAD

-the box art lies (shield to short)

-trigger finger hand doesn’t like to stay together

-doesn’t come with a left trigger finger hand

-limited side kick movement

-limited ankle side movement