Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Detail shots

There's a simple frame structure in the forearms and thighs.

HGUC Gouf - The heat saber handle stores neatly inside the shield, and since the runners from the HG Gouf R35 are reus

The heat saber handle stores neatly inside the shield,
and since the runners from the HG Gouf R35 are reused as-is, you actually get 2 heat sabers included.

HGUC Gouf - The heat rod is also carried over from the HG Gouf R35 — it's a soft parts piece molded straight, and you

The heat rod is also carried over from the HG Gouf R35 — it's a soft parts piece molded straight,
and you bend it into shape by hand.

HGUC Gouf - Both the heat rod and heat saber have pegs on them, so they lock in nice and securely into the holes in th

Both the heat rod and heat saber have pegs on them, so they lock in nice and securely into the holes in the palm.

HGUC Gouf - Two types of hands are included for each side, and the fingers on the finger vulcan hands are also articul

Two types of hands are included for each side,
and the fingers on the finger vulcan hands are also articulated.

The fist-style finger vulcan hand can also be used to hold the shield.

The mono-eye can be rotated by turning the pin underneath the neck.

Leftover parts.

The articulation is really great for a Gouf~

HGUC Gouf - In particular, just like the MG Gouf v2.0, the front skirt curls inward, allowing the hip joint to raise q

In particular, just like the MG Gouf v2.0, the front skirt curls inward, allowing the hip joint to raise quite a bit —
but the problem is the front skirt's connection is weak and keeps falling off T_T

Heat rod action

Aerial heat rod action

Finger vulcan action

Heat saber two-handed pose

Heat saber aerial pose

Together with the MG Gouf v2.0.
The overall proportions and design concept are very similar.

HGUC Gouf - Together with the HGUC Gouf released in April 2000. There's a whopping 16-year gap between them, but the o

Together with the HGUC Gouf released in April 2000.
There's a whopping 16-year gap between them, but the original HGUC Gouf holds its own just fine in terms of proportions.
The bigger significance here is the structural improvements to articulation and joints.

Together with the HG Gouf R35 from Build Fighters, which served as the base kit.

HGUC Gouf - Together with the Origin ver. HG Prototype Gouf released in 2015. The design is so different that there ar

Together with the Origin ver. HG Prototype Gouf released in 2015.
The design is so different that there are essentially no shared parts between the two kits.

Straight build

The Gouf, one of the earliest HGUC kits, has finally been upgraded and released as a Revive version. When the HG Gouf R35 came out in 2014 as part of the Build Fighters lineup, a variation into an HGUC Gouf was kind of expected — and here it is, two years later.

Since the HG Gouf R35 had already established the basic frame and armor for the Gouf, the HGUC Gouf Revive only adds a single new runner exclusive to the original Gouf. Everything else reuses the Gouf R35 runners as-is, so compared to other Revive releases, it does feel a little less fresh.

From a proportions standpoint, the original HGUC Gouf from 2000 was already a really well-done kit, so as you can see in the comparison shots above, there's barely any noticeable upgrade in appearance. It's more like the design concept has shifted to an MG Gouf v2.0 style — which just goes to show how solid the original HGUC Gouf looked back in the day.

But once you get into the internals, you can clearly feel the new-kit-worthy upgrades. The dramatically improved articulation and smooth joint strength make it a much more satisfying kit to handle. In particular, just like the MG Gouf v2.0, the front skirt — which has always been a frustrating limitation of the Gouf — now curls inward and rotates, letting the thighs raise higher than you'd expect. That makes for some really dynamic poses, but the rotating front skirt does tend to pop off during posing, which gets pretty annoying T_T

The weapon loadout is almost identical to the existing HG Gouf R35, so you end up with two heat sabers included — whether you need them or not. The heat rod is also the same as the R35's, where you have to manually bend the straight-molded soft parts piece into shape, but it bends surprisingly smoothly and holds its shape well, so it's actually pretty satisfying. The finger vulcan, which is unique to the Gouf and wasn't included with the R35, has been newly added here — it comes in two versions, an open hand and a fist, and the open hand has articulation at the base of the fingers.

The overall quality is outstanding enough to make you go "now THAT'S a Revive version!!!" — though personally, since I'd already experienced this level of quality with the HG Gouf R35, it feels less like something brand new and more like "oh nice, we've got a Gouf in the latest quality." Either way, seeing these One Year War mobile suits get a clean, modern-quality refresh is absolutely welcome. :-)

HGUC Gouf | 2016.4 | ¥1,700

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.