HGCE GAT-04

Windam

Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

HGCE Windam - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HGCE Windam (1/6) HGCE Windam (2/6) HGCE Windam (3/6) HGCE Windam (4/6) HGCE Windam (5/6) HGCE Windam (6/6)

HGCE Windam - Detail shots (1/4) HGCE Windam - Detail shots (2/4) HGCE Windam - Detail shots (3/4) HGCE Windam - Detail shots (4/4)

Detail shots

HGCE Windam - Rear view with the Jet Striker detached.

Rear view with the Jet Striker detached.

HGCE Windam - Weapons loadout

Weapons loadout

HGCE Windam - The shield's fixing pin can be locked at two different height positions.

The shield's fixing pin can be locked at two different height positions.

HGCE Windam - The Jet Striker can also be spread out like shown above.

The Jet Striker can also be spread out like shown above.

HGCE Windam - Excellent limb articulation

Excellent limb articulation

HGCE Windam - The hip joints are designed to splay out fully to the sides.

The hip joints are designed to splay out fully to the sides.

HGCE Windam - The Jet Striker's wings also move across a wide 180-degree range.

The Jet Striker's wings also move across a wide 180-degree range.

HGCE Windam - Action pose (1/6) HGCE Windam - Action pose (2/6) HGCE Windam - Action pose (3/6) HGCE Windam - Action pose (4/6) HGCE Windam - Action pose (5/6) HGCE Windam - Action pose (6/6)

Action pose

HGCE Windam - Together with the HGCE Infinite Justice Gundam released at the same time.

Together with the HGCE Infinite Justice Gundam released at the same time.

HGCE Windam - Straight build (1/2) HGCE Windam - Straight build (2/2)

Straight build

This is the Windam released as part of the HGCE lineup. It's a mass-produced MS from Gundam SEED Destiny — basically a cannon fodder unit like the GM (you know, the kind that shows up in huge numbers just to get blown up...). Maybe because it had such a low profile, it never even got an HG release, and now it's finally making its first appearance as an HGCE.

First off, the build quality and overall feel are clean, with great articulation and solid joint strength. That said, for an HGCE — which is supposed to be a step above your standard HG — it feels like something's missing, that last 2%. The biggest issue is the Jet Striker's color separation, as most of the color breakdown is handled with stickers. To make things worse, the HGCE Infinite Justice Gundam released at the same time has its wings cleanly separated into individual parts, which makes the comparison pretty stark.

Sure, you could argue it's just the difference between a main character's unit and an Extra-grade grunt suit, but still — they're the same lineup released at the same time, so it's hard not to wonder if this gap is really okay. In that sense, this kit feels like it sits somewhere in between HGCE and a regular HG.

Anyway, aside from the Jet Striker's color separation issues, the kit itself is clean and well-made, so for anyone who's been waiting for a Windam in plastic form, this should be a meaningful release. :-)

HGCE Windam | 2020.5 | ¥1,400

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.