Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Detail shots

The cockpit hatch is a separate part, but there's no actual cockpit interior sculpted inside.

Open the cover on top of the shoulder and you'll find the beam saber storage compartment.

Weapons loadout

Shield interior detail

Only one additional gun-holding hand is included.

Top-notch limb articulation that folds up nicely

HGUC Galbaldy-Beta - The old HG shoulder polycap parts had weak retention, but switching to plastic parts means the shoulders

The old HG shoulder polycap parts had weak retention,
but switching to plastic parts means the shoulders don't pop off nearly as easily anymore.

You can pull the shoulder joint out to the side slightly and then bend it forward.

It raises up nice and high too.

Waist articulation

A kneeling pose is possible, though a bit unstable.

Launch pose

Aerial firing pose

Beam saber action

Together with the HGUC Z Gundam G.E.P. version.

Together with the old 1/144 Galbaldy-Beta.

Straight build

The Galbaldy-Beta from Z Gundam has finally gotten the HGUC treatment. Like other kits that came out later than the rest, it's a high-quality release with the latest technology applied.

First off, the excellent parts breakdown makes for a great-looking straight build, and the limb articulation in particular is better than expected. For the shoulder joints, plastic parts were used instead of the standard HG shared shoulder polycaps — thanks to that, there's no shoulder popping out at all, and you can pull the shoulder joint outward and swing it forward and upward with satisfying range.

Overall joint strength is solid, though the hip joints feel a little on the weak side. They're not floppy like a wet noodle, but the retention is relatively lower compared to the rest, which is a bit of a letdown in terms of joint strength balance.

For special gimmicks, you can open the shoulder cover to expose the beam saber storage compartment, and the cockpit hatch on the left chest is provided as a separate part. However, removing the hatch doesn't reveal any sculpted cockpit interior — it's really just the cover coming off.

Anyway, it's a well-made kit with solid quality that was worth the wait, and it should be a great treat for Universal Century fans. Now that the Galbaldy has gotten the HGUC treatment, it seems like the similarly designed Gaz-R/L might be next in line. :-)

HGUC Galbaldy-Beta | 2018.6 | ¥1,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.