Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Rear view with the Aile pack removed

The HG-scale Aile pack, completely transformed into a sleek MG-style look

Vernier details are present as well.

The wings can be folded just like on the MG.

Two Armor Schneiders are included.

Inner detail of the shield

Top-notch articulation that folds up every which way, just like you'd expect from a new release!

The ankle side-to-side range of motion is pretty impressive.

A kneeling pose is reproduced with ease.

Armor Schneider action

Super easy to pose~

HGCE Aile Strike Gundam - Launch pose using Action Base 2 (1/3)

Launch pose using Action Base 2

HGCE Aile Strike Gundam - Dynamic aerial firing pose (1/3)

Dynamic aerial firing pose

HGCE Aile Strike Gundam - Beam saber action pose (1/4)

HGCE Aile Strike Gundam - Beam saber action pose (2/4)

Beam saber action pose

HGCE Aile Strike Gundam - Alongside the HG Strike Gundam (Remaster version). There's already a quality gap between a regular

Alongside the HG Strike Gundam (Remaster version).
There's already a quality gap between a regular HG and an HGUC-level kit,
but with a whopping 12-year gap between them, the difference is huge in every way.

Alongside the MG Aile Strike RM version.

Straight build

Gundam SEED has finally made its way into the HGUC lineup, and naturally the first one out of the gate is the Aile Strike Gundam. Since it's not Universal Century, it comes under the title HGCE (Cosmic Era) rather than HGUC — but since it carries on the HGUC numbering (No. 171), it's really best seen as part of that same lineup.

And as you'd expect, it's a high-quality release that blows the 2002 HG Strike Gundam out of the water — all the construction and gimmicks of the latest HGUC kits have been applied, just as anticipated.

First off, the overall proportions are much slimmer, and the torso, shoulders, legs, and shield all have clean color separation. Some of the white parts on the shield and the red sections on the wings are handled with stickers. Even so, a straight build already looks great with accurate colors, and the articulation is top-notch — it folds up every which way — with solid joint strength thanks to the latest polycaps.

Ever since the MG and PG Strike, excellent pose reproduction has been a tradition with Strike Gundam kits, and this new HGCE Aile Strike Gundam feels like it's at the very top of its game as a poseable action figure. Built on outstanding articulation and great proportions, it pulls off dynamic poses that rival — or even surpass — the PG and MG, and it does so with surprising ease. Being smaller makes it easier to move around and hold poses, so there's a real fun factor to posing it. ^^

One thing that's a bit puzzling is that no alternate hand parts are included at all. It seems like those kinds of detailed accessories still tend to be packed in mainly with Universal Century kits.

All in all, it's come out as the high-quality kit we were hoping for — a clean, flawless release that's easy to recommend to Strike fans and Gunpla fans alike. One fun little fact: it's only 300 yen more than the HG Aile Strike that came out 12 years ago. Factor in inflation over the years and they're essentially the same price point, yet the quality gap is substantial.

With value like that, anyone would pick the HGCE over the old HG — so I wouldn't be surprised if Bandai is ready to shelve the old HG SEED molds for good and push forward with the HGCE SEED line from here on out. As we all know, the SEED lineup alone has plenty of similar-base suits that could roll out one after another. Either way, this is a kit that's a blast to build and play with, so personally I'm hoping all the major SEED suits get the HGCE treatment. :-)

HGCE Aile Strike Gundam | 2014.2 | ¥1,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.