Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - Various angles (1/6)

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - Various angles (2/6)

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - Various angles (3/6)

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - Various angles (4/6)

Various angles

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - Detail shots (1/4)

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

The two Type-77 multi-purpose missile launcher hatches on the back can be opened.

The MA-X60S/D dual-barrel multi-purpose cannon can be extended at the tip.

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - The cannon can be deployed forward either over the shoulder or to the side of the waist. When

The cannon can be deployed forward either over the shoulder or to the side of the waist,
and when placing it over the shoulder, it can be positioned to fit the shoulder rest.
There's no real locking mechanism to hold it in place, so it doesn't sit cleanly.

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - The MI-KX815 high-energy beam gun mounted on the waist needs to be rotated forward, then the b

The MI-KX815 high-energy beam gun mounted on the waist
needs to be rotated forward, then the barrel swapped out with a separate part.

Excellent limb articulation

There's a gimmick that lets you lower each hip joint independently.

The neck tilts back quite a lot.

Waist articulation

Forward/backward shoulder articulation

High-energy beam gun attack pose

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - Dual-barrel multi-purpose cannon + high-energy beam gun pose (1/3)

Dual-barrel multi-purpose cannon + high-energy beam gun pose

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - Attack pose with the dual-barrel multi-purpose cannon deployed to the side of the waist and th

With the dual-barrel multi-purpose cannon deployed to the side of the waist,
attack pose with the backpack's Type-77 multi-purpose missile launcher hatches opened

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - Just like the HGCE Dual Blitz, it can also be combined with the HG Meteor — though the body do

Just like the HGCE Dual Blitz, it can also be combined with the HG Meteor.
The body doesn't lock in place, so you have to hold it together with arm strength.

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam - Together with the HG Buster Gundam released in 2003. The design concept is pretty much the sam

Together with the HG Buster Gundam released in 2003.
The design concept is pretty much the same, but the proportions show a 21-year gap.

Together with the HGCE Dual Blitz Gundam.

Straight build

The Lightning Buster Gundam from the theatrical anime "Mobile Suit Gundam SEED FREEDOM" has been released as an HGCE kit. It's been 21 years since the HG Buster Gundamwas released in 2003, and now it's finally been updated as an HGCE. The core design concept is pretty much the same, but the proportions are much sleeker, and the backpack and weapons have been changed.

Since the basic frame parts are shared with previous kits, the overall articulation characteristics are pretty similar too. You get excellent articulation along with that stiff, polycap-less feel. On the flip side, the joint strength is solid, so poses hold well no matter what you put it in — though it could probably stand to be tuned a bit smoother. The forward/backward torso joint in particular is so stiff it feels like it might break.

Given the nature of the Buster, there aren't many separate weapons or accessories — only the barrel of the waist-mounted high-energy beam gun is provided as a swap-out part. The dual-barrel multi-purpose cannon on the backpack has a wide range of motion, letting you point it forward either over the shoulder or to the side of the waist. You can also extend the barrel tip to increase its length, and the sub-arm is sturdy enough to hold poses stably. The one slightly disappointing thing is that when positioning it over the shoulder, you have to line it up with the shoulder armor, but there's no locking pin, so it ends up sitting a bit loosely. As for other gimmicks, the Type-77 multi-purpose missile launcher hatches on the backpack can be opened.

So overall, this kit shows a similar build structure and quality feel to its predecessors, now upgraded to modern standards after 21 years. There's some debate about the looks, but aside from the joints being a bit too stiff, it's a solid quality kit. If you're a fan of the SEED series and have a soft spot for the Buster, this is definitely one worth picking up and enjoying. :-)

HGCE Lightning Buster Gundam | 2024.9 | ¥2,600

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.