Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Detail shots

Rear view with the backpack removed

The legs actually have a frame structure inside.

The face can be swapped between normal state (left) and damaged state (right).

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - A comparison of the normal and damaged states. The damaged state has the forehead scraped off and the r

A comparison of the normal and damaged states.
The damaged state has the forehead scraped off and the right side of the mask cracked.
There's a tiny red sticker that goes between the eyes, but both of mine ended up slightly off-position T_T
The sticker is only about 1mm, so you'd never notice from a little distance, but once I took a close-up shot, the misalignment was plain to see.

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - The weapons included are the Buster Launcher, Power Launcher, and beam saber. It's a similar loadout to

The weapons included are the Buster Launcher, Power Launcher, and beam saber.
It's a similar loadout to the original L-Gaim, though the Power Launchers have been cut from two down to one.
Of these, the Buster Launcher is made up of the exact same parts as the HG L-Gaim's.

The beam saber stores inside the forearm.

Leg articulation that folds completely shut thanks to the articulation gimmick

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - This pose shows up in the box art and various promo photos, so I tried to replicate it... but pulling i

This pose shows up in the box art and various promo photos, so I tried to replicate it...
Pulling it off without any support is pretty much impossible.
The rubber hose connected to the Buster Launcher has way too much spring to it, making it hard to keep flush against the body,
and there's no hand part designed to actually grip the Buster Launcher.
In my case, I ended up sticking double-sided tape between the hand and the Buster Launcher to hold it in place for the shot.

Forward/backward shoulder articulation

Leg and arm spread range

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - The Buster Launcher aerial pose also suffers from the rubber hose being too springy to hang naturally.

Buster Launcher aerial pose
The rubber hose is too springy to hang naturally.

Power Launcher pose

Beam saber pose with the damaged face applied

Transformation

To transform, flip the front skirt forward, remove the binders, then rotate the arms 90 degrees inward.

Next, rotate the entire shoulder assembly 90 degrees backward, then reattach the binders.

Pull the thighs out to extend them as shown

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Then bend them 90 degrees and position them as shown. On the RRR 1/100, the legs fold completely into a

Then bend them 90 degrees and position them as shown.
On the RRR 1/100, the legs fold completely into a U-shape for the transformation,
but on the HG, the thighs are stood up at 90 degrees instead.

Bring the feet together as shown, then

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Pull the nose section at the center of the backpack forward to extend it, then raise the rear skirt to

Pull the nose section at the center of the backpack forward to extend it, then raise the rear skirt to form a vertical tail fin.

Finally, press the head flush against the backpack to complete the transformation

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Land Booster form - transformed into Flauros (1/5)

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Land Booster form - transformed into Flauros (2/5)

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Land Booster form - transformed into Flauros (3/5)

Land Booster form - transformed into Flauros

Underside

You can also remove the right binder and mount the Buster Launcher instead.

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Together with the HG L-Gaim. With L-Gaim Mk-II transformed into Flauros, a collaboration pose with L-Ga

Together with the HG L-Gaim.
With L-Gaim Mk-II transformed into Flauros, a collaboration pose with L-Gaim is possible.

To do this, first swap out the shoulder ring on the Flauros for the larger parts.

This kit also includes joint parts for the collaboration.

Secure the long joint part inside the chest armor, then close the chest armor back up.

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Insert the joint part into the back of the HG L-Gaim with its backpack removed, and have it grip the ri

Insert the joint part into the back of the HG L-Gaim with its backpack removed, and have it grip the ring with its hand.
By securing both the ring and the back like this, it locks in nice and solid.

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - L-Gaim hanging from L-Gaim Mk-II's Flauros pose (1/4)

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - L-Gaim hanging from L-Gaim Mk-II's Flauros pose (2/4)

L-Gaim hanging from L-Gaim Mk-II's Flauros pose

This time, plug the small joint part into the chest, and plug the large joint part into the hip joint.

Fold the HG L-Gaim's feet as shown, then

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Pull out the hidden locking pin on L-Gaim Mk-II's shin and plug it into the slot on the back of the HG

Pull out the hidden locking pin on L-Gaim Mk-II's shin and plug it into the slot on the back of the HG L-Gaim's leg.

This way, it locks in firmly at three points — the handle, the back, and the back of the legs.

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Pose with the body pressed close, riding along (1/6)

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Pose with the body pressed close, riding along (2/6)

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Pose with the body pressed close, riding along (3/6)

HG L-Gaim Mk-II - Pose with the body pressed close, riding along (4/6)

Pose with the body pressed close, riding along

Together with the RRR 1/100 L-Gaim Mk-II released in 2007.

In March 2021, the L-Gaim plastic model series was rebooted, and the HG L-Gaim Mk-II was released along with it. Unlike the first three HG L-Gaim renewal kits, which were released through general retail, this fourth kit — the L-Gaim Mk-II — was released exclusively as a Premium Bandai online exclusive, which was a bit of a head-scratcher. To make matters worse, this is the one kit in the lineup that's an all-new mold rather than a renewal, so releasing it as a limited item drew quite a bit of criticism. (For reference, Club G refers to the web-exclusive lineup specifically focused on Gunpla, and since this kit is not Gunpla, it's not categorized under Club G.)

While all the parts are indeed new molds, the Buster Launcher reuses the runner straight from the HG L-Gaim. That said, since that runner itself was newly added when the HG L-Gaim was renewed, it still fits in well with the all-new-mold L-Gaim Mk-II body. The one thing that carries over unchanged, though, is that the three lead wires connecting to the body are still way too stiff, making it hard to pose the Buster Launcher freely. It would've been great if they'd used a softer material so the wires could hang naturally — that's a bit of a missed opportunity.

As a modern kit, it delivers a great straight-build look through color separation alone, with excellent articulation and a smooth yet sturdy feel to the joints. The transformation into the Land Booster form "Flauros" is cleanly reproduced, and it holds its shape well after transforming too.

One notable feature is the inclusion of damaged state (damage face) parts — two pieces that let you swap out the front of the head and the mask to recreate a battle-worn look. The parts are so small that the effect isn't super dramatic, but it's a nice touch that faithfully recreates the design. Also, by swapping the shoulder ring in Flauros mode and adding two joint parts, you can pull off collaboration poses with the HG L-Gaim. A lot of thought went into the connection points, so the combined display holds together really securely.

And of course, you can't help but compare it to the RRR 1/100 L-Gaim Mk-II from 2007. The RRR was a big PG-sized kit, but its durability left something to be desired. The HG 1/144, being smaller and more solid, is much easier to handle. Between the damage face, the properly implemented L-Gaim collaboration, and everything else, the newer HG version is definitely the better kit overall.

Anyway, despite being an online exclusive, this is a clean, quality kit worthy of a new release, and if you're an L-Gaim fan, this is definitely one to pick up :-)

HG L-Gaim Mk-II | 2021.3 (Premium Bandai Web Exclusive) | ¥3,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.