Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Various angles

Detail shots

Front skirt with jewel stickers and chain decorator with PET stickers applied

Weapons loadout

The small wrench section of the large weapon, the Riot Zalenchi, is articulated.

The Gig Gun — impressively sculpted with just two parts

You can detach the chain decorator from the shoulder, unfold the handle, and swap in the gear blade.

The two Deca Spanners can be stored in the side skirts.

HG Gunleon - Three sets of hands are included, but there's only one set of hand backs, so you'll need to swap th

Three sets of hands are included, but there's only one set of hand backs, so you'll need to swap them around.

Each weapon handle has a hole that locks securely onto the peg on the weapon-holding hands.

HG Gunleon - The head canopy can be done either by applying a blue sticker onto the white part, or by using the

The head canopy can be done either by applying a blue sticker onto the white part, or by using the clear blue part.
Since there's no white sticker to go on the clear blue part, that option is really meant for those who plan to paint it.

The included clear stand.
It's a newer design with a solid hold.

The articulation on the limbs is better than you'd expect given the design.

The shoulders move in two stages, bending nearly 90 degrees forward.

The waist does move, but the range isn't all that wide.

The ankle tilt angle is surprisingly good given how chunky the feet are.

Chain Decorator pose

Gig Gun pose

Deca Spanner pose

HG Gunleon - Riot Zalenchi pose. It's a big, heavy weapon, but the hold is excellent. (1/4)

HG Gunleon - Riot Zalenchi pose. It's a big, heavy weapon, but the hold is excellent. (2/4)

Riot Zalenchi pose.
It's a big, heavy weapon, but the hold is excellent.

HG Gunleon - The manual says to use the included stand to support the Riot Zalenchi, but the pose holds up just

The manual says to use the included stand to support the Riot Zalenchi, but
the pose holds up just fine without it.

MAGNA MODE

To transform into Magna Mode, you first need to remove the head, chain decorator, and backpack.

Replacement parts exclusive to Magna Mode

Comparison of the standard head (left) and the Magna Mode head

Pull the lion head section forward, then attach the Magna Mode head.

HG Gunleon - Flip the top of the lion head back to expose the eyes and nose. Since it can interfere with the chi

Flip the top of the lion head back to expose the eyes and nose.
Since it can interfere with the chin of the Magna Mode head, it's best to swap the head first before flipping it up.

Open the lion's mouth, then push it inward.
(If you don't, it ends up looking like a dislocated jaw..)

Fold both rear skirts inward 90 degrees, connect them, then stand them upright.

Swap in the spread-open front skirt, then

HG Gunleon - Swap out the forearm armor, add the gauntlets to the hand backs, then rotate the chain decorator mo

Swap out the forearm armor, add the gauntlets to the hand backs, then rotate the chain decorator mount on the shoulder 90 degrees upward.

Then mount the chain decorator — with the blade swapped in — on top of the shoulder.

While swapping out the shin armor, push the inner peg downward to extend the ankle.

Spread out the mane on the side of the ankle as shown, then

Deploy the claw at the back of the foot, then

Reposition the front paw to match the configuration shown.

Spread the backpack open wide, then adjust the angle.

Extend the wings upward, align the pointed parts straight with the wings, then

Unfold the large folded wings and arrange them as shown.

Of the three small wings, detach the middle one and reattach it below the large wing.

The completed transformed wings

HG Gunleon - Once you attach the fully transformed backpack to the back, the main body transformation is complet

Once you attach the fully transformed backpack to the back, the main body transformation is complete.
Note that unlike Normal Mode where you plug it into the lower hole, here you need to plug it into the upper hole.

The fully transformed Magna Mode main body

HG Gunleon - Magna Mode detail shots (1/3)

Magna Mode detail shots

Normal Mode parts left over after transforming into Magna Mode

Unfold the secondary handle of the Riot Zalenchi as shown, then

Open up the wrench section and pull out the additional claws.

HG Gunleon - Deploy the rear section, remove the inner nozzle and reattach it rotated 180 degrees, then move the

Deploy the rear section, remove the inner nozzle and reattach it rotated 180 degrees, then
move the round part at the very back and plug it in on the side.

The Riot Zalenchi fully transformed for Magna Mode

Magna Mode with the transformed Riot Zalenchi included

Magna Mode pose 1

HG Gunleon - Magna Mode pose 2 — showing off monstrous strength by holding the Riot Zalenchi up with one hand, n

Magna Mode pose 2
Showing off monstrous strength by holding the Riot Zalenchi up with one hand, no support stand needed.

HG Gunleon - Again, the manual says to use the included stand to support the Riot Zalenchi, but unless you're di

Again, the manual says to use the included stand to support the Riot Zalenchi, but
unless you're displaying it long-term, it really doesn't seem necessary.

Alongside the HG Huckebein Mk-II.
Gunleon's size is closer to MG than HG.

This kit is the Gunleon released as part of Bandai's Super Robot Wars HG series. It's the mech from Super Robot Wars Z that uses tools as weapons — a repair-type robot. With that lion head and all those tools, it also comes across as something of a homage to GaoGaiGar.

First off, the tight color separation gives it a really impressive straight build look. The articulation exceeds expectations for a design like this, with especially remarkable shoulder mobility — and above all, the joints are incredibly solid. It uses Bandai's recent polycap-less joint system, but these feel smooth without any stiffness while still locking in tight.

As you can see in the action poses above, it can hold the massive Riot Zalenchi horizontally with one arm — which is just insane. The joints are so strong that the included support stand almost feels pointless; this is top 0.1% durability among Bandai kits. The joint tuning is so fantastically dialed in that I almost wish every future Bandai kit would use this one as a benchmark. On top of that, Gunleon's full arsenal — Riot Zalenchi, Gig Gun, Chain Decorator, Deca Spanner — is all faithfully included, and everything locks securely into the weapon-holding hands, so grip issues are nothing to worry about.

The transformation into Magna Mode is handled partly through parts swapping, but the wings at least feature a complex full transformation that's pulled off really well. As you can see from the review above, the transformation process is fairly involved. That said, the end result is very satisfying — it's definitely a step up in visual flair compared to Normal Mode. (There's a definite whiff of Genesic GaoGaiGar about it..)

All in all, this turned out to be an ultra-high-quality mech model kit that blows past expectations. I half suspect it was developed by someone at Bandai who's a huge Super Robot Wars fan and especially loves Gunleon. Either way, it's a genuine masterpiece that could give most MG/RG Gunpla a run for their money — if the design appeals to you or you're a fan of Super Robot Wars Z, this is an easy recommendation. :-)

HG Gunleon | 2024. 10 | ¥5,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.