Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Completed photos.

First off, you can store it folded up like shown above.

To use it as a stand, pull out the base and push it into the main body like shown above.

The base propped up for use as a stand.

HGBF Build Custom GP Base - Slip the ID card paper cutout from the manual under the clear cover and the look is complete. The

Slip the ID card paper cutout from the manual under the clear cover and the look is complete.
The ID card itself is blank though.. so you have to fill it in by hand.

And there's a curious lens structure on the underside of the base..

HGBF Build Custom GP Base - You can plug in a separately sold LED unit to light it up, but.. unless you dim the room lights w

You can plug in a separately sold LED unit to light it up, but..
Unless you dim the room lights way down, it's barely visible, so the effect is pretty underwhelming..

HGBF Build Custom GP Base - Build Strike Gundam on display. (1/3)

Build Strike Gundam on display.

HGBF Build Custom GP Base - Zaku Amazing on display. (1/3)

Zaku Amazing on display.

HGBF Build Custom GP Base - Gundam X Maoh on display. (1/3)

Gundam X Maoh on display.

HGBF Build Custom GP Base - Build Gundam Mk-II on display. There's no stand hole in the crotch, so you have to plug it into t

Build Gundam Mk-II on display.
There's no stand hole in the crotch, so you have to plug it into the backpack.

This kit is the Build Custom GP Base, released exclusively for the HG Build Fighters series. As you can see, it's a pretty stylishly designed stand, and you can even fill out an ID card for each kit and slot it in.

The thing is, the ID card is printed on a thin little corner of the manual that you have to cut out with scissors — which feels a bit cheap when you think about how older AG-grade kits came with stiff, nicely printed cards. The paper is so thin it ends up looking all crinkled under the clear cover, and on top of that you have to handwrite all the info on the card yourself. Maybe future HG Build Fighters kits will include a proper stiff ID card with each release. (Otherwise it's a bit awkward..;;)

The stand can also be folded up slim by collapsing the base — probably a gimmick meant for carrying it around or storing it away. There's also a slot under the central clear lens for a separately sold LED unit, but when I actually tried it with the LED on.. the light was barely noticeable, so it doesn't seem like it'll get much use.

To sum it all up — the stand itself isn't bad in terms of functionality or style, but the gimmicks feel a bit pointless, the ID card looks pretty cheap, and at ¥600 it's on the pricey side for what you get, so it's not exactly great value. That said, it's a product made for Build Fighters fans, so as a dedicated stand it does have its own charm. :-)

HGBF Build Custom GP Base | 2013.11 | ¥600

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.