HG

Baqto

Kit Review

Straight build

HG Baqto - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HG Baqto (1/7) HG Baqto (2/7) HG Baqto (3/7) HG Baqto (4/7) HG Baqto (5/7) HG Baqto (6/7) HG Baqto (7/7)

HG Baqto - Upper body. (1/2) HG Baqto - Upper body. (2/2)

Upper body.

HG Baqto - Head

Head

HG Baqto - Back section (1/3) HG Baqto - Back section (2/3) HG Baqto - Back section (3/3)

Back section

HG Baqto - Legs (1/2) HG Baqto - Legs (2/2)

Legs

HG Baqto - Two sets of hands are included — one set is used when transformed into flight mode.

Two sets of hands are included,
one set is used when transformed into flight mode.

HG Baqto - Basic articulation is excellent.

Basic articulation is excellent.

HG Baqto - Posing with the beam rifle swung up from the back over the shoulder. (1/4) HG Baqto - Posing with the beam rifle swung up from the back over the shoulder. (2/4) HG Baqto - Posing with the beam rifle swung up from the back over the shoulder. (3/4) HG Baqto - Posing with the beam rifle swung up from the back over the shoulder. (4/4)

Posing with the beam rifle swung up from the back over the shoulder.

HG Baqto - Firing the beam rifle swung between the legs. It's kind of a weird pose..;; but apparently that's actually how it' HG Baqto - Firing the beam rifle swung between the legs. It's kind of a weird pose..;; but apparently that's actually how it' HG Baqto - Firing the beam rifle swung between the legs. It's kind of a weird pose..;; but apparently that's actually how it' HG Baqto - Firing the beam rifle swung between the legs. It's kind of a weird pose..;; but apparently that's actually how it'

Firing the beam rifle swung between the legs.
It's kind of a weird pose..;; but apparently that's actually how it's used.. ahem.

HG Baqto - Mid-air action pose using Action Base 2 (1/4) HG Baqto - Mid-air action pose using Action Base 2 (2/4) HG Baqto - Mid-air action pose using Action Base 2 (3/4) HG Baqto - Mid-air action pose using Action Base 2 (4/4)

Mid-air action pose using Action Base 2

Transformation

HG Baqto - Flip up the covers on both sides of the back of the head, lower the chin piece, and raise the neck upward. (1/2) HG Baqto - Flip up the covers on both sides of the back of the head, lower the chin piece, and raise the neck upward. (2/2)

Flip up the covers on both sides of the back of the head,
lower the chin piece and raise the neck upward.

HG Baqto - After swapping the hands..

After swapping the hands..

HG Baqto - Spread out the wings that were used as side skirts.

Spread out the wings that were used as side skirts.

HG Baqto - Pull the leg armor gimmick forward and backward to spread it open.

Pull the leg armor gimmick forward and backward to spread it open.

HG Baqto - Then lay it face down and the transformation is done. (Really simple..;)

Then lay it face down and the transformation is done. (Really simple..;)

HG Baqto - Views from various angles (1/5) HG Baqto - Views from various angles (2/5) HG Baqto - Views from various angles (3/5) HG Baqto - Views from various angles (4/5) HG Baqto - Views from various angles (5/5)

Various angles

HG Baqto - Together with the similarly-shaped Gafran and Zedas.

Together with the similarly-shaped Gafran and Zedas.

HG Baqto - The beam rifle structure and shape on the back is identical to the Gafran's.

The beam rifle structure and shape on the back is identical to the Gafran's.

The 8th AGE HG release is the Baqto (Bakto?), a transforming mech similar in form to the Gafran and Zedas. The body and legs have a much more bulky design compared to other units, giving it a real sense of weight and mass.

The color scheme is a bit unusual and could easily look cheap, but true to Bandai's standards, the molded colors came out clean and crisp, and the color separation is excellent. As you'd expect from a modern HG, it delivers great articulation and solid joint strength, and while the transformation process is very simple, it converts into flight mode quite neatly.

The kit quality is easily A-grade, but it'll probably come down to how much you like its role in the anime and whether the design appeals to you. If the style works for you, it's a kit with its own unique personality and definitely worth the price. :-)

HG Baqto | 2011.12 | ¥1,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.