Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Upper body close-up

Head section.

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Back and weapons. Those glossy red seals are seriously flashy.. (1/3)

Back and weapons.
Those glossy red seals are seriously flashy..

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Legs (1/2)

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Legs (2/2)

Leg section.

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - GN Blade action pose (1/3)

GN Blade action pose

Stand on

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Shooting action (1/4)

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Shooting action (2/4)

Shooting action

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - GN Sword action pose (1/4)

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - GN Sword action pose (2/4)

GN Sword action pose

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - Beam saber action (1/3)

Beam saber action

Together with the normal HG Exia.

The molded colors are completely changed..

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - The one on the left is the Exia Trans-Am mode that came bundled with the GN Arms. It was jus

The one on the left is the Exia Trans-Am mode that came bundled with the GN Arms.
It was just the seals swapped out for red ones, so it felt like a rather half-hearted Trans-Am mode.

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - True to its status as the main character's unit, it sure has come out in all kinds of versio

True to its status as the main character's unit, it sure has come out in all kinds of versions.

Together with the 1/100 Exia Trans-Am mode Extra Finish version.

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode - The colors look similar at first glance, but the HG goes for standard molded plastic while t

The colors look similar at first glance, but the HG goes for standard molded plastic
while the 1/100 relies on the Extra Finish coating.
The colors are close, but naturally the Extra Finish coating side comes out a bit smoother and more premium-looking.
This Trans-Am mode HG kit isn't quite on the Extra Finish version's level, but it's molded to a standard that comes pretty close.

Much like the Phase Shift mode back in the SEED days, Gundam 00 has a setting called Trans-Am mode. The two serve completely opposite functions in the story, but from a model kit standpoint it's an easy concept to milk — so it's been released as separate kits, often as limited editions. With Gundam 00, all four Season 1 Gundams have been put out as Trans-Am mode kits right in the regular lineup, and naturally the first one up is the Exia Trans-Am mode.

The HG Trans-Am series recreates Trans-Am mode purely through a change in molding material, which is why the kits are priced the same as the standard versions. The plastic is changed to the pink/red color seen in the show, with a bit of pearl mixed in to give it a shimmery effect as well. The downside is that the material becomes harder, making it a bit of a pain to clean up gate marks — but for something priced the same as the standard release, it's a pretty premium way to mold a kit. The basic structure and contents are 100% identical to the standard version, so for a more detailed review please refer to the H HG Gundam Exia review.

First off, since every part of the body and all the seals have been changed to the red Trans-Am mode versions, this kit looks strikingly different from the standard release. The HG GN Arms kit back in the day also came with an Exia Trans-Am mode included, but the body was left completely unchanged with only the seals swapped to red, which felt a bit lazy. The 1/100 Extra Finish version of the Exia Trans-Am mode definitely benefits from that coating and looks absolutely gorgeous — but considering how much the coating bumps up the price, I'd say this HG Trans-Am series offers pretty outstanding value for money.

The pearl plastic does have the downside of being harder, but on the flip side it naturally makes the joints stiffer and more solid. The joints are noticeably tighter than on the standard version, which actually makes it a lot easier to hold poses — so that's a plus in its own right.

Overall it's a completely straightforward color variant kit with nothing particularly special going on, but it has such a strong personality that I think it still has plenty of appeal. Either way, if you've been eyeing a nice-looking Exia Trans-Am mode without breaking the bank, this is the perfect item for you. :-)

HG Gundam Exia : Trans-Am mode | 2009. 1 | ¥1,200

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.