Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack.
Note that a stand is not included with this kit.

HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon - Views from various angles. The backpack is so large that a stand is essentially requir

Various angles
The backpack is so large that a stand is essentially required.

HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon - Detail shots (1/4)

HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

The weapons from the HG Astray Red Frame [Flight Unit] are also included as-is.

Parts for building the normal Flight Unit configuration are also bundled in.

Three Khaled Bulf units provided as newly tooled parts

You can slide the grip to switch between S Mode and G Mode.

HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon - The separated blades can be recombined to form a Build Knife (top) and a Build Cutter

The separated blades can be recombined to form a Build Knife (top) and a Build Cutter (bottom).

HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon - You can rearrange the blades into S Mode, or connect two together to form the Ambidext

You can rearrange the blades into S Mode, or connect two together to form the Ambidextrous Halberd.

Leftover parts

Articulation is the same as before.

The Khaled Bulf mounting points on the backpack can be positioned at various angles.

Khaled Bulf G Mode firing pose

HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon - Build Cutter + Build Knife pose (1/3)

Build Cutter + Build Knife pose

HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon - Khaled Bulf S Mode attack pose (1/3)

Khaled Bulf S Mode attack pose

HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon - Ambidextrous Halberd pose. Getting a two-handed grip pose to work is a bit tricky. (1/

Ambidextrous Halberd pose.
Getting a two-handed grip pose to work is a bit tricky.

HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon - Alongside the HG Astray Red Frame [Flight Unit] released as a standard retail kit in 2

Alongside the HG Astray Red Frame [Flight Unit] released as a standard retail kit in 2013.

HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon - Alongside the MG Gundam Astray Red Dragon released through Club G in 2019. Neither can

Alongside the MG Gundam Astray Red Dragon released through Club G in 2019.
Neither can stand on its own without a stand.

This kit is the Gundam Base exclusive HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon. Based on the HG Astray Red Frame [Flight Unit]released as a standard retail kit in 2013, it adds newly tooled Khaled Bulf units and backpack joint parts. For a Gundam Base exclusive, it comes with quite a generous amount of new parts.

The main body and basic accessories are completely identical to the original kit, and the parts for building the Flight Unit are included as well. Since it's based on the later-type HG Astray with some improved engineering, it doesn't feel all that dated even by today's standards. The Astray Red frame itself shows decent articulation and joint strength — as long as you watch out for the forearms occasionally popping off during posing, the overall build quality is pretty solid. It's easy to get into the poses you want, and they hold well too.

The three newly added Khaled Bulf units deliver functionality on par with the MG version — S Mode, G Mode, Build Cutter, Build Knife, and the Ambidextrous Halberd configuration are all doable. The Khaled Bulf mounting points added to the backpack also articulate in multiple directions for all kinds of display options, and since they're lighter than the MG version, you can spread them out without any stress. That said, just like the MG, the backpack is so massive that standing upright or displaying the kit without a stand is pretty much out of the question.

With newly tooled Khaled Bulf units that match the MG in terms of functionality and detail, this ends up being one of the more worthwhile Gundam Base exclusives out there. The one thing that bugs me though... this kit can barely stand or hold a pose on its own, yet a stand isn't included. I've seen kits pad their price with unnecessary stands before, but I can't recall many cases where a stand was left out of a kit that genuinely needs one..

Personally, I actually like this kit a bit more than the MG Red Dragon — it's lighter and feels more stable. If you're a fan of the Astray series and the design appeals to you, this is a solid limited release that I'd definitely recommend. :-)

HG Gundam Astray Red Dragon | 2022.10 | ¥3,700

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.