Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HGUC Messer Type-F01 - Detail shots (1/4)

HGUC Messer Type-F01 - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

Weapons loadout

The beam saber handles can be stored inside the shield or on the inside of the right spike armor.

An extra right hand specifically for holding the long beam rifle is included.

HGUC Messer Type-F01 - A slide-type joint part for a display stand is included, which slots in from the side. Apparently it's

A slide-type joint part for a display stand is included, which slots in from the side.
Apparently it's compatible with Action Base 2 and 5 by design.

HGUC Messer Type-F01 - The top and bottom of the backpack vernier covers can move, and the rear skirt can be flipped open as

The top and bottom of the backpack vernier covers can move, and the rear skirt can be flipped open as shown.

Two extra mono-eye stickers are included as spares.

Leftover parts

Limb articulation

Forward/backward shoulder articulation

The waist bends forward quite a bit with a two-stage joint.

You can also open the head hatch and rotate the mono-eye.

HGUC Messer Type-F01 - Action pose (1/7)

HGUC Messer Type-F01 - Action pose (2/7)

HGUC Messer Type-F01 - Action pose (3/7)

HGUC Messer Type-F01 - Action pose (4/7)

HGUC Messer Type-F01 - Action pose (5/7)

Action pose

Together with the HGUC Penelope.

HGUC Messer Type-F01 - Together with the HG First Gundam [Beyond Global]. The size difference is so dramatic you'd hardly bel

Together with the HG First Gundam [Beyond Global].
The size difference is so dramatic you'd hardly believe they're both 1/144.

Straight build

Following the Penelope, the Messer Type-F01 from Hathaway's Flash has also been released as an HGUC kit. Some of you might not be familiar with it since it's from a more obscure title, but with the theatrical anime adaptation, it finally made its way into plastic kit form. (It was originally set for a July 2020 release, but got pushed back due to COVID...)

As with the other mobile suits from Hathaway's Flash, the in-universe size is large, so this kit comes out impressively big for a 1/144 — practically MG-sized. On top of the sheer size, the design itself is chunky and stocky, giving it an outstanding presence for an HGUC. The color separation is well done throughout, with only the pipe section on the head handled by stickers, resulting in a great-looking straight build.

No polycaps are used in the joints, but they're sturdy enough to hold up that big frame without any issues. Arm and leg articulation is nothing particularly special, but there's a neat two-stage waist joint that lets it bend forward quite a bit. That said, the range of motion on the other joints isn't all that wide, so it's not easy to actually take full advantage of that great waist joint in a pose. On top of that, the front and rear skirts tend to pop off during posing, so you have to be a bit careful when moving it around.

For weapons, you get a long beam rifle, a shield, and two beam sabers. The beam saber handles can be stored inside the shield or on the inside of the right spike armor. There's also an extra hand included specifically for holding the rifle, and there's a gimmick where the backpack vernier covers and rear skirt deploy for a flight pose. A joint part for Action Base 2/5 is also included — it locks in from the side with a slide mechanism, so it holds on pretty securely. Just be aware that if you tilt the kit forward while on the stand, the weight of the kit can cause the slide-locked section to come loose and drop, so some caution is needed there.

To sum it up, this is a clean, well-made HGUC kit with a satisfying build, a great-looking straight build, and an imposing, chunky presence. Articulation is a bit more limited than you might hope, but it's the kind of kit that looks impressive just standing there on the shelf. If you're a fan of big, beefy kits like this, it's definitely worth a strong recommendation. :-)

HGUC Messer Type-F01 | 2020.7 | ¥2,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.