Club G HGUC

Black Rider

Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

HGUC Black Rider - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HGUC Black Rider (1/6) HGUC Black Rider (2/6) HGUC Black Rider (3/6) HGUC Black Rider (4/6) HGUC Black Rider (5/6) HGUC Black Rider (6/6)

HGUC Black Rider - Detail shots (1/4) HGUC Black Rider - Detail shots (2/4) HGUC Black Rider - Detail shots (3/4) HGUC Black Rider - Detail shots (4/4)

Detail shots

HGUC Black Rider - Swapping/adding seals to activate the THEMIS system (1/2) HGUC Black Rider - Swapping/adding seals to activate the THEMIS system (2/2)

Swapping/adding seals to activate the THEMIS system

HGUC Black Rider - To activate the THEMIS system, the seals on the head, shoulders, skirt, and Steelyard are swapped out fo HGUC Black Rider - To activate the THEMIS system, the seals on the head, shoulders, skirt, and Steelyard are swapped out fo HGUC Black Rider - To activate the THEMIS system, the seals on the head, shoulders, skirt, and Steelyard are swapped out fo HGUC Black Rider - To activate the THEMIS system, the seals on the head, shoulders, skirt, and Steelyard are swapped out fo HGUC Black Rider - To activate the THEMIS system, the seals on the head, shoulders, skirt, and Steelyard are swapped out fo HGUC Black Rider - To activate the THEMIS system, the seals on the head, shoulders, skirt, and Steelyard are swapped out fo HGUC Black Rider - To activate the THEMIS system, the seals on the head, shoulders, skirt, and Steelyard are swapped out fo

To activate the THEMIS system, the seals on the head, shoulders, skirt, and Steelyard are swapped out for yellow/purple ones,
and additional seals that aren't present in the normal state need to be applied to the calves, knees, and groin area.

HGUC Black Rider - Weapons loadout

Weapons loadout

HGUC Black Rider - The rail cannon's grip is articulated, which helps with posing.

The rail cannon's grip is articulated, which helps with posing.

HGUC Black Rider - You can extend the Steelyard prototype tactical unit mounted on the back by adding the extra parts.

You can extend the Steelyard prototype tactical unit mounted on the back by adding the extra parts.

HGUC Black Rider - The stun anchor on the left arm can be launched using the lead wire.

The stun anchor on the left arm can be launched using the lead wire.

HGUC Black Rider - The Steelyard can be positioned freely — up or to the sides.

The Steelyard can be positioned freely — up or to the sides.

HGUC Black Rider - Leftover parts

Leftover parts

HGUC Black Rider - Limb articulation is the same as the HGUC Pale Rider.

Limb articulation is the same as the HGUC Pale Rider.

HGUC Black Rider - Rail cannon action (1/2) HGUC Black Rider - Rail cannon action (2/2)

Rail cannon action

HGUC Black Rider - Heat knife action (1/2) HGUC Black Rider - Heat knife action (2/2)

Heat knife action

HGUC Black Rider - Stun anchor launch pose (1/3) HGUC Black Rider - Stun anchor launch pose (2/3) HGUC Black Rider - Stun anchor launch pose (3/3)

Stun anchor launch pose

HGUC Black Rider - Steelyard deployed! (1/3) HGUC Black Rider - Steelyard deployed! (2/3) HGUC Black Rider - Steelyard deployed! (3/3)

Steelyard deployed!

HGUC Black Rider - THEMIS system activated + Steelyard deployed + heat knife action pose (1/3) HGUC Black Rider - THEMIS system activated + Steelyard deployed + heat knife action pose (2/3) HGUC Black Rider - THEMIS system activated + Steelyard deployed + heat knife action pose (3/3)

THEMIS system activated + Steelyard deployed + heat knife action pose

HGUC Black Rider - Together with the base kit, the HGUC Pale Rider.

Together with the base kit, the HGUC Pale Rider.

This is the HGUC Black Rider, released as a Club G (Premium Bandai) online exclusive. It's the mobile suit from the PS4/5 game "Gundam Battle Operation Code Fairy," and it's based on the existing HGUC Pale Rider. It comes with a black molded color to represent its stealth capabilities, along with a silhouette fitted out with electronic warfare equipment.

Starting with the exterior, the head, upper body, and backpack designs have all been changed, and a grenade launcher has been added to the right forearm while a stun anchor has been added to the left. On either side of the new backpack, two prototype tactical units — the Steelyard — are mounted, connected via multi-joint sub-arms. The round, electronic warfare-style Steelyards can be extended upward by adding extra parts, and the sub-arms let you position them in all sorts of directions — up, to the sides, you name it. There's also one lead wire included, so you can recreate the grenade launcher being fired from the forearm.

For weapons, you get a newly sculpted rail cannon and heat knife. The red blade on the heat knife has to be covered entirely with seals, which are tricky to apply neatly and look a bit out of place — so that's a minor letdown. Aside from these new parts, the basic frame is identical to the HGUC Pale Rider, and it carries over that kit's excellent articulation and solid joint strength for a nice, stable build experience.

And just like the Pale Rider, you can swap out or add seals all over the body to activate the THEMIS system — though honestly, once you've stuck them on, swapping them back is pretty much a nightmare. I pushed through the hassle for the review and went back and forth between the normal and THEMIS seal configurations, but I really can't recommend it. T_T The seals are fiddly to apply in the first place, they tear easily when you try to peel them off, and on top of that there are a ton of them. (Just carefully peeling off the ones you've already applied, then re-applying them properly takes about an hour.)

Anyway, the build feel and overall quality are on par with the HGUC Pale Rider — it's a high-quality kit. If you had a great time with the Code Fairy game or just dig the look of this thing, it's definitely worth building. :-)

HGUC Black Rider | 2022.2 | ¥2,200

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.