Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - Detail shots (1/4)

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

Underside view

A-packs removed

Narrative Gundam base unit

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - Base unit detail shots (1/4)

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - Base unit detail shots (2/4)

Base unit detail shots

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - There's an inner frame structure inside the forearms and legs. (1/3)

There's an inner frame structure inside the forearms and legs.

Accessories for the base unit are just two beam sabers and a right hand for holding the rifle.

Only 5 leftover parts.

Limb and waist articulation

The vernier covers on the back of the legs do move,
but there's nothing inside them.

Double beam saber action pose

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - To attach the A-packs, first place the large booster connector on the stand, then store the t

To attach the A-packs, first place the large booster connector on the stand,
then store the two beam sabers inside.

Remove some of the base unit's front skirt parts and attach the large armor, then

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - insert both legs into the large leg gimmick and secure to the stand using the large hole at t

insert both legs into the large leg gimmick
and secure to the stand using the large hole at the back of the rear skirt.

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - Attach the psycho-capture equipment on both sides and slip the hands onto the handles — assem

Attach the psycho-capture equipment on both sides and slip the hands onto the handles — assembly complete

Various support stands and gimmicks are also included for the A-packs.

The psycho-capture/large beam saber units can be spread open like this.

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - There are 3 missile pods each on the back of the psycho-capture equipment, and you can remove

There are 3 missile pods each on the back of the psycho-capture equipment,
and you can remove the covers to expose them. (Not poseable)

The large beam saber handles are connected with multiple joints, so they're fairly flexible.

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - The psycho-capture equipment can be pulled forward from the back and then spread open. A clea

The psycho-capture equipment can be pulled forward from the back and then spread open.
A clear stand is included to support the weight.

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - Psycho-capture equipment deployed (1/4)

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - Psycho-capture equipment deployed (2/4)

Psycho-capture equipment deployed

You can swap out the connector parts to change the angle of the psycho-capture.

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - Psycho-capture pose with direction changed to a grasping position (1/3)

Psycho-capture pose with direction changed to a grasping position

With the included large beam sabers attached

Alongside the HGUC Nu Gundam.
There's quite a size difference — more than you'd expect.

Alongside the HGUC Phenex Narrative Version.

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - Alongside the HGUC Full Armor Unicorn Gundam Destroy Mode Red Color Ver., which was already a

Alongside the HGUC Full Armor Unicorn Gundam Destroy Mode Red Color Ver., which was already a pretty hefty kit in its own right.
The Booster at the back uses the same sculpt.

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - Straight build (1/4)

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs - Straight build (2/4)

Straight build

The Narrative Gundam A-packs, which appears in "Mobile Suit Gundam NT" released on November 30, 2018, has been released as an HGUC kit. In the lore, it's a unit that was left unfinished during the development of the Nu Gundam, and true to that unfinished concept, the design leaves the armor omitted on the forearms and thighs. If you look closely, you can see the design concept is similar to the Nu Gundam, though comparing it to the HGUC Nu Gundam, it does come out a bit smaller in terms of volume. There's been a lot of debate about this backstory — the production side has also stated it's more of a psycho-frame test unit than a Nu Gundam derivative — but either way, it feels like a hastily put-together piece of lore, so the controversy is pretty understandable.

The base unit itself shows a solid level of quality, with decent color separation and standard articulation. The waist joint strength feels a little weak, but the rest of the joints are sturdy enough that it's not really a problem. For weapons, you get two beam sabers, and there's an extra rifle-grip hand included — though since there's no rifle, you won't really have a use for it.

The highlight of this kit is the large high-mobility A-packs equipment, which has a design reminiscent of the Meteor from Gundam SEED. Since it comes with a lot of big parts, the box is huge and the price tag of ¥5,500 puts it on the pricier end for an HGUC. That said, the finished kit has a really satisfying sense of volume and a pretty sleek look to it.

Even with all those large parts, the fit is solid and the whole thing feels sturdy. The psycho-capture gimmick, which is really the centerpiece of this kit, is well-reproduced as a poseable feature. Using the extra joint parts, you can also configure it in a gathered-center pose, and a clear support stand is included to keep the psycho-capture from drooping under its own weight when extended forward. The lower Booster deployment and the upper missile pod opening gimmicks are also reproduced — though the covers are detachable rather than hinged.

All in all, this kit stands out for how solid it holds together given its size, and setting aside the lore controversy, it's just a big, cool-looking kit. The flashy psycho-capture gimmick is especially well done, so I'd definitely recommend it to anyone who's into large weapon systems like this. :-)

HGUC Narrative Gundam A-packs | 2018.11 | ¥5,900

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.