Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Various angles

Detail shots

Back view of just the body, without the additional weapons

A variety of weapons and accessories are included.

HG Bat-shu - Three yellow pipes connect to the Buster Launcher, but the connection points where they plug in are loose an

Three yellow pipes connect to the Buster Launcher, but the connection points where they plug in are loose and tend to pop out easily.
In my case, I just glued them in place with bond and that made things so much more relaxing~.

Buster Launcher handle and tripod articulation

By repositioning the fixing pin inside the binder, you can use it with other kits.

The binder attached to the left arm of the HG Atory

The Spiral Booster can also be used as a backpack on the HG L-Gaim.

The Saviour handle stores on the side of the lower leg.

Random slate open gimmick on the lower leg

HG Bat-shu - For the face pipes, you can choose between a fixed plastic version (left) or one where three black tubes are

For the face pipes, you can choose between a fixed plastic version (left) or one where three black tubes are connected (right).

A total of five hands are included.

A separate right hand for gripping the side of the Buster Launcher is included, allowing for a firm hold.

Only 2 leftover parts.

Once assembly is done, you're left with some pretty long tubes.

Excellent limb articulation

Waist articulation

The shoulder has a wide range of forward and backward motion.

Spread range of the arms and legs.

There's also a rotating articulation gimmick added at the mid-elbow section.

HG Bat-shu - Buster Launcher ground firing pose (1/3)

Buster Launcher ground firing pose

HG Bat-shu - Buster Launcher aerial firing + random slate open pose (1/3)

Buster Launcher aerial firing + random slate open pose

Energy Bomber attack pose

Saviour pose

Together with the HG L-Gaim from the standard release.

HG Bat-shu - Together with the old 1/144 Bat-shu from the 1/144 Class-A Heavy Metal Set. There's a massive gap in quality

Together with the old 1/144 Bat-shu from the 1/144 Class-A Heavy Metal Set.
There's a massive gap in quality between the old kit and the new HG.

This is the HG Bat-shu, released as a Premium Bandai online exclusive. It's the unit from Heavy Metal L-Gaim, and it's been completely redesigned with all-new tooling. The quality is on a whole different level compared to the old kit, and it came out really clean.

First off, the soft plastic material makes for a comfortable and satisfying build overall. The purple molded color could easily look cheap, but it came out beautifully in a subtle semi-gloss finish. The articulation is excellent and the joints are both smooth and sturdy, making posing a real treat. That said, the three yellow pipes connecting the Buster Launcher to the body are a bit too springy, which can get in the way of posing. Previous kits had similar issues, and here the pipes are stiff enough that they tend to pop out or interfere with posing. The tube fixing pins on the Buster Launcher side in particular are loose, so in my case I just glued them with bond before shooting and that made things a lot easier.

Weapons and accessories include the Buster Launcher, binder, Energy Bomber, Spiral Booster (backpack), and Saviour. The binder can be used with the HG Atory, and the Spiral Booster can be used with the HG L-Gaim. The shoulder and arm articulation is good enough that you can easily hold and lock the large Buster Launcher with both hands, and using the dedicated right hand lets it stand firmly while gripping the side of the Buster Launcher. The random slate open gimmick on the side of the lower leg is also well executed, adding a lot of dynamism to your poses.

As you'd expect from a fully new-tooled kit, it delivers top-notch modern quality. It's clearly a step above the HG L-Gaim, Atory, and Ogi, which were older HG kits with only partial new tooling added. The build feel, molded color, color separation, articulation, and joint strength are all excellent — it's truly an all-around great kit. The quality ranks among the very best in the HG lineup, so it's highly recommended not just for L-Gaim fans, but for anyone who likes the look of it :-)

HG Bat-shu | 2024.6 | ¥3,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.