Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Detail shots

The weapons and accessories are the same as the HGUC Moon Gundam.

The beam tomahawk storage gimmick and leg vernier deployment gimmick are the same as the Moon Gundam too.

The backpack panels can be detached as well.

Leftover parts

Limb articulation and hip slide gimmick are identical to the Moon Gundam.

Action poses

HGUC Varguil - Alongside the HGUC Moon Gundam. The body is the same, but the color change makes it feel like a completely d

Alongside the HGUC Moon Gundam.
The body is the same, but the color change makes it feel like a completely different unit.

Alongside the HGUC Sazabi / Sinanju.
Design-wise, it sits somewhere between the Sazabi and the Sinanju.

This is the HGUC Varguil, released as a Club G (Premium Bandai) online exclusive. It appears in Mobile Suit Moon Gundam as the Prototype of the Moon Gundam within the story. In terms of lore, it's essentially a prototype of the Sazabi, and you can see a lot of overlap with the Sazabi's design concept.

True to its background as the original unit that the Moon Gundam was based on, the main body excluding the head is HGUC Moon Gundamcompletely identical. The only structural changes in this kit are the head and backpack, and even the weapons are the same as the Moon Gundam. That said, the different molded colors do a surprisingly good job of making it look like a whole different unit — personally, I think Varguil's color scheme looks way more like a proper military machine and just looks cooler overall.

So all the structural details and articulation features of the main body are identical to the HGUC Moon Gundam, and it still delivers that smooth, polycap-free build and movement feel. The newly redesigned backpack sports Sazabi-style panels that can be opened and detached, and the butterfly edge mounted on the forearm works the same way as on the Moon Gundam.

And while it's supposed to be the Sazabi's Prototype, it really only shares the design concept — the overall proportions are much slimmer and sleeker. It also has a sharper, more angular look with a modern feel, and the leg silhouette actually resembles the Sinanju more than the Sazabi. It's kind of a hybrid that mixes several design concepts, but it definitely comes across as a refined, polished unit.

Setting aside its origins, this is a highly recommended kit thanks to its refined design and clean build quality. Compared to the Moon Gundam, which always felt a bit ambiguous, this variation kit feels like it's found its own identity — like the student surpassing the master. If the style appeals to you, don't hesitate to grab it. :-)

HGUC Varguil | 2020.4 | ¥2,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.