Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - The biggest highlight of this kit is the sheer amount of weapons it comes with. A whopping 9 diffe

The biggest highlight of this kit is the sheer amount of weapons it comes with.
A whopping 9 different weapon options..

Type-F standard armament.

Upper body front and back

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - The head, front skirt, and the round parts on the forearms/knees determine whether it's Type-F or

The head, front skirt, and the round parts on the forearms/knees determine whether it's Type-F or Type-F2 —
The style shown above is the standard Type-F.

Legs

The GN Beam Rifle, the standard weapon, is stored on the right side of the waist.

Proto GN Sword.
It features a 180-degree folding function and a handle gimmick.

GN Shield

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - The GN Launcher, which was also included in the 1/100, can be mounted by removing the right should

The GN Launcher, which was also included in the 1/100, can be mounted by removing the right shoulder fin.

The NGN Bazooka has an adjustable length in the middle section.

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - GN Hand Missile. It can normally be mounted on the right arm, but you can also have the figure hol

GN Hand Missile.
It can normally be mounted on the right arm, but you can also have the figure hold it by plugging in the handle.

The GN Hammer is mounted on the left side of the waist.

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - A wire connects in the middle so it can be used like a flail, and the use of green clear parts is

A wire connects in the middle so it can be used like a flail, and the use of green clear parts is a nice touch.

Two GN Beam Pistols used by Dynames are also included, and they mount on either side of the shins.

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - The shins on both sides are designed to accommodate other weapons besides the GN Beam Pistols as w

The shins on both sides are designed to accommodate other weapons besides the GN Beam Pistols as well.

A front skirt split DIY feature is also included.

Just like the 1/100, this kit also lets you choose to build either Type-F or Type-F2.

Type-F parts

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - Type-F2 parts. As you can see, the differences are in the head antenna, face, sides of the elbows/

Type-F2 parts.
As you can see, the differences are in the head antenna, face, sides of the elbows/knees, and the front skirt.

Built as Type-F2

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - As mentioned above, only the head, front skirt, and the side structures on the elbows/knees are di

As mentioned above, only the head, front skirt, and the side structures on the elbows/knees are different.
Overall, you could say this is an Astraea that makes use of Exia's parts.

Quite a few leftover parts for Exia remain.

Since the basic structure is similar, the articulation is the same as Exia's.

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - Full armament action pose. All 9 weapons can be loaded onto the body at once, hanging all over the

Full armament action pose.
All 9 weapons can be loaded onto the body at once, hanging all over the place.

Proto GN Sword action

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - NGN Bazooka action (1/3)

NGN Bazooka action

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - GN Launcher action (1/3)

GN Launcher action

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - GN Hammer and beam saber action (1/4)

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - GN Hammer and beam saber action (2/4)

GN Hammer and beam saber action

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - GN Hand Missile action (1/5)

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - GN Hand Missile action (2/5)

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - GN Hand Missile action (3/5)

GN Hand Missile action

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - GN Beam Pistol Hong Kong noir action. (1/4)

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - GN Beam Pistol Hong Kong noir action. (2/4)

GN Beam Pistol Hong Kong noir action.

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - GN Beam Rifle action based on the type-F2 (1/4)

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - GN Beam Rifle action based on the type-F2 (2/4)

GN Beam Rifle action based on the type-F2

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - Together with HG Exia Gundam. They're variations of each other, but the color difference makes the

Together with HG Exia Gundam.
They're variations of each other, but the color difference makes them feel quite distinct..

HG Gundam Astraea type-F - Comparison with the HG Astraea built using the Astraea add-on parts that came as a Dengeki Hobby F

Comparison with the HG Astraea built using the Astraea add-on parts that came as a Dengeki Hobby February 2008 supplement.

There are subtle differences in the details, but it's obviously the same basic design.

Together with the 1/100 Astraea type-F.
The HG wins by a mile when it comes to sheer weapon volume.

As the Double O lineup started running thin, side-story kits like the Astraea have been getting the HG treatment too. This red Astraea type-F previously came out in 1/100 scale, and was also offered as a white add-on parts set for the HG Exia as a Dengeki Hobby supplement. This new Astraea is a completely fresh kit designed from scratch — separate from those old supplement parts — and comes with two brand-new runners alongside the Exia runners.

The basic structure is identical to the HG Exia, so it delivers the same excellent articulation and reasonably solid joint strength. The red molded color has a premium feel to it — no cheap-looking gloss or swirl marks — and the color separation is handled pretty well through smart use of stickers.

The biggest selling point of this kit is its absolutely massive weapon loadout. It comes packed with a total of 9 different weapons, three of which are being kitted for the very first time. The rest are either weapons that were included with the 1/100 Astraea type-F or ones used by Dynames. Every weapon the Astraea can possibly field has been thrown in here, and the fact that you can mount all of them on the kit at the same time is a huge bonus. It also supports swapping to the type-F2 configuration just like the 1/100, though honestly since it's just reusing existing Exia parts, it's not really a major draw.

Even with all 9 weapons hanging off it, the overall weapon retention is pretty solid. The weapons that mount on the sides are a little iffy in terms of staying put, but even in full-armed mode with everything attached, there's nothing that'll really make you nervous — and that's a big plus for this kit.

Bottom line — great molded colors, solid base quality, and a generous weapon set on top of that. This kit more than lives up to its duties as a variation kit, and honestly surpasses the satisfaction you'd get from the original. The ¥1800 price tag is a bit on the high side for an HG, but it doesn't feel like a rip-off at all. If you're into flashy weapon loadouts, this one's a must-buy!

HG Gundam Astraea type-F | 2010. 4 | ¥1,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.