Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam - Detail shots (1/4)

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

You can rotate the side railguns to the back and mount the rifles on both sides.

Railgun deployment

You can also transform and combine the two rifles into one, just like in the show.

Beam saber and beam shield.

Hands are kept simple — just 2 types included.

The wings can spread open, and the Super Dragoons can be detached as well.

Limb articulation that folds up nicely, as you'd expect from a modern kit

Kneeling pose

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam - Railgun + double rifle firing pose (1/4)

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam - Railgun + double rifle firing pose (2/4)

Railgun + double rifle firing pose

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam - Wings fully opened. (1/3)

Wings fully opened.

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam - Combined beam rifle action (1/4)

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam - Combined beam rifle action (2/4)

Combined beam rifle action

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam - Beam saber + beam shield action with Super Dragoons deployed (1/3)

Beam saber + beam shield action with Super Dragoons deployed

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam - Alongside the HG Strike Freedom released back in 2005. It's gotten quite a bit taller over the p

Alongside the HG Strike Freedom released back in 2005.
It's gotten quite a bit taller over the past 10 years..

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam - Alongside the RG Strike Freedom. The HGCE really does come out bigger. (1/2)

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam - Alongside the RG Strike Freedom. The HGCE really does come out bigger. (2/2)

Alongside the RG Strike Freedom.
The HGCE really does come out bigger, and that checks out.

Alongside the HGCE Freedom Gundam.

Following the Freedom Gundam, the Strike Freedom Gundam (Strike Freedom for short) has now gotten the HGCE treatment as well. The original HG Strike Freedom came out back in 2005, so this is essentially an HGUC-level renewal after 11 years. And as expected, it's been completely transformed with top-tier quality.

Now, the Strike Freedom did get an RG release back in 2013. The RG's ultra-precise inner frame and detail were seriously impressive, but it was also a pretty tricky kit to build and pose thanks to all those incredibly complex and delicate parts. The HGCE grade, on the other hand, has a much simpler and cleaner parts layout compared to the RG, which makes it a whole lot easier to handle. ^^

The overall proportions are far more slender and refined compared to the HG from 11 years ago. But looking at how much taller it is even next to the RG, it does feel like the height has been pushed a bit too far. The same was true for the HGCE Freedom Gundam, though the height difference feels even more noticeable with the Strike Freedom. Some people might take issue with it straying from the original specs, but I think you just have to accept it as the HGCE concept.

Articulation is great — everything folds up as much as you'd want, as you'd expect from a modern kit, and the joint strength is just right, making posing a lot of fun. On top of that, all the key features are well covered: the rifles combine together, the railguns deploy and rotate to the rear, the wings open up fully, and the Super Dragoons can be attached and detached. What's really satisfying is that everything holds its position firmly without any loose joints.

Overall, it's just a really comfortable kit to handle, and personally I like it even more than the RG Strike Freedom. Kits with this many things hanging off them are honestly perfect at the HGCE level. Either way, there's really nothing to complain about here — if you're a Strike Freedom fan, this one's a definite must-buy. :-)

HGCE Strike Freedom Gundam | 2016.11 | ¥2,200

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.