Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining

The universal standard for size comparison — a cigarette pack. It's on the smaller side. ^^

HGUC Gundam GP01FB - Close-up of the upper body. Surprisingly, there are quite a few spots where the official colors aren't p

Close-up of the upper body. Surprisingly, there are quite a few spots where the official colors aren't properly represented.
As expected, the V on the chest should be yellow, but it's just finished with panel lining.. -_-;

The symbol of the Full Vernian — its massive backpack.

Articulation is average.

Action pose

Beam saber action pose

Together with the Full Vernian Core Fighter

Full Vernian Core Fighter. The detail is on par with MG level.

Bottom of the Core Fighter..

HGUC Gundam GP01FB - Together with the HGUC GP01. The Full Vernian is supposed to be a bit taller, but there's not much of a

Together with the HGUC GP01. The Full Vernian is supposed to be a bit taller, but there's not much of a difference.

HGUC Gundam GP01FB - Together with the MG GP01 FB. The MG's molded color has a bit of a yellowish-green tint to it.. The MG i

Together with the MG GP01 FB. The MG's molded color has a bit of a yellowish-green tint to it..
The MG is quite a bit more slender, but the HGUC actually feels closer to the original design.

MG & HGUC GP01 family

Straight build photos before panel lining

Core Fighter in straight build state

Following the GP01, the GP01FB naturally came out shortly after. As you know, the GP01FB is the space-use conversion type, so the head, arms, legs, and part of the torso are mostly the same — but more than half of the exterior is new armor.

Since the HGUC GP01 was already a charming and excellent kit, the GP01FB is no different. That said, while the articulation is above average, there are surprisingly quite a few limitations, so as you can see in the photos, it can't pull off super dynamic poses. Most of the joints are nice and stiff, so it holds its angles much better than the somewhat loose MG. Some people mentioned the feet are a bit too wide and flat, but I personally like how well it holds poses. Just like the GP01, a Core Fighter for the GP01FB is included, and the detail is outstanding — barely any difference from the MG version.

Like the rest of the GP series, the FB is one of those kits where the look changes dramatically before and after panel lining (see photos). The biggest difference from the GP01 is probably the molded color representation. While the GP01 had most of its colors well represented straight out of the box, the FB version has quite a few spots where the molded colors fall short. Little things like the foot armor, the cockpit hatch mount (same issue as the GP01), the lower torso armor, the open verniers on the chest, and the open verniers on the shoulders — there are a handful of missed spots here and there. That said, the overall color layout is well-balanced enough that it doesn't look glaringly off — it's more of a "compared to the official specs, it's a bit lacking" kind of thing. The open verniers on the chest and shoulders in particular are fixed in the exposed position (they can also be stored inside), and the yellow and blue colors on these parts — which should have been done in a dark gray — are a bit of an eyesore. You could always paint them or do some spot painting, but.. ^^;

Overall, setting aside the minor molded color shortcomings, the parts breakdown is solid, the articulation and joints are great, the proportions are really good — it's a fantastic kit. With a good paint job, it's the kind of kit that can easily surpass the MG. ^^

HGUC Gundam GP01FB | 2001.1 | ¥1,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.