HG GPB-X80J

Beginning J Gundam

Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining

HG Beginning J Gundam - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HG Beginning J Gundam (1/7) HG Beginning J Gundam (2/7) HG Beginning J Gundam (3/7) HG Beginning J Gundam (4/7) HG Beginning J Gundam (5/7) HG Beginning J Gundam (6/7) HG Beginning J Gundam (7/7)

HG Beginning J Gundam - Upper body and head (1/2) HG Beginning J Gundam - Upper body and head (2/2)

Upper body and head

HG Beginning J Gundam - Back section (1/2) HG Beginning J Gundam - Back section (2/2)

Back section

HG Beginning J Gundam - Legs. (1/2) HG Beginning J Gundam - Legs. (2/2)

Legs

HG Beginning J Gundam - A large number of parts for the standard Beginning are left over as leftover parts.

A large number of parts for the standard Beginning are left over as leftover parts.

HG Beginning J Gundam - The articulation isn't much different from the original Beginning.

The articulation isn't much different from the original Beginning.

HG Beginning J Gundam - Double Burning J Sword action (1/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Double Burning J Sword action (2/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Double Burning J Sword action (3/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Double Burning J Sword action (4/4)

Double Burning J Sword action

HG Beginning J Gundam - Burning J Sword action 2 (1/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Burning J Sword action 2 (2/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Burning J Sword action 2 (3/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Burning J Sword action 2 (4/4)

Burning J Sword action 2

HG Beginning J Gundam - Action pose with 2 Burning J Swords joined together (1/3) HG Beginning J Gundam - Action pose with 2 Burning J Swords joined together (2/3) HG Beginning J Gundam - Action pose with 2 Burning J Swords joined together (3/3)

Action pose with 2 Burning J Swords joined together

HG Beginning J Gundam - Beam saber action (1/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Beam saber action (2/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Beam saber action (3/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Beam saber action (4/4)

Beam saber action

HG Beginning J Gundam - Triple beam saber action (1/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Triple beam saber action (2/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Triple beam saber action (3/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Triple beam saber action (4/4)

Triple beam saber action

HG Beginning J Gundam - Beam rifle action (1/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Beam rifle action (2/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Beam rifle action (3/4) HG Beginning J Gundam - Beam rifle action (4/4)

Beam rifle action

HG Beginning J Gundam - Together with the standard Beginning Gundam (1/2) HG Beginning J Gundam - Together with the standard Beginning Gundam (2/2)

Together with the standard Beginning Gundam

HG Beginning J Gundam - They look similar, but aside from part of the torso, the overall design has been changed.

They look similar, but aside from part of the torso, the overall design has been changed.

The Beginning J has arrived to revive the HG Beginning Gundam lineup, which many thought had gone quiet. At first glance it looks similar to the standard Beginning Gundam, but aside from parts of the torso and thighs, most of the exterior has been redesigned. The two large Burning Sword Js mounted on the back are especially reminiscent of the Sword Strike.

The look has changed, but since the inner frame and structure are reused as-is, the quality is pretty much on par with the standard HG Beginning Gundam. It uses the older-style polycaps, so joint strength is a step below the latest HGUC or Age HG kits that use the newer polycaps — not loose, but not tight either, just kind of average. Articulation is fairly decent, so striking a variety of poses isn't much of a problem. There are quite a few seals, which can be a bit of an eyesore, but the color separation is actually implemented pretty well overall.

That said, even though the design has changed... if you're not looking closely, it's hard to tell what's actually different from the standard Beginning. It's a kit where a lot has been changed for a variation, but the overall feel isn't really all that fresh.

Compared to Gundam Age, which gets heavily promoted and pushed, Gunpla Builders has more of a side-story feel, and you get the sense that Bandai hasn't invested quite as much into kit quality as a result. That's only relative, though — taken on its own, it's a solid kit that sits somewhere in the upper-mid range. ^^ It's a kit that doesn't quite get the spotlight it deserves given the anime's limited popularity, but if you like the design, it's a pretty enjoyable build all the same. :-)

HG Beginning J Gundam | 2011.12 | ¥2,200

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.