Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Various angles (1/6)

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Various angles (2/6)

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Various angles (3/6)

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Various angles (4/6)

Various angles

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Detail shots (1/4)

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

The kit comes with a beam saber, bazooka, and beam rifle.

Bazooka handle articulation

You can detach the upper-right backpack part, rotate it 180°, and reattach it.

The bazooka and beam rifle can be mounted at this position.

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - The beam sabers are stored inside the side skirts. It looks like they open with a movable hatch, b

The beam sabers are stored inside the side skirts.
It looks like they open with a movable hatch, but it's actually just a cover that loosely sits over the opening.

A total of 4 hands are included.

Left arm grenade launcher open

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - There's a new gimmick where the leg armor spreads open to both sides. It's a feature added to the

There's a new gimmick where the leg armor spreads open to both sides.
It's a feature added to the Type-00 for exposing the internal thrusters and heat dissipation.
The deployment mechanism is a bit awkward though, so it takes some practice to get the hang of it..

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - The flexible shield's deployment joints are a bit stiff, so be careful not to break anything when

Flexible shield deployment
The joints are a bit stiff, so be careful not to break anything when moving them.

Leftover parts

Limb articulation.
Pretty decent for such a bulky build.

You can extend the range of leg movement by pulling the entire hip pin downward.

Due to the shoulder joint structure, the forward/backward range of motion is limited.

On the flip side, the shoulders raise upward quite well.

The waist can only move a little forward and backward.

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - You can extend the knee's range of motion by extending the knee joint and sliding the calf armor d

You can extend the knee's range of motion by extending the knee joint and sliding the calf armor down.

The toe section is articulated too.

Rear ankle vernier articulation

The blue shoulder armor section is articulated as well.

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Kneeling grenade launcher firing pose (1/3)

Kneeling grenade launcher firing pose

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Beam rifle firing pose (1/3)

Beam rifle firing pose

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Beam saber pose (1/3)

Beam saber pose

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Bazooka pose with leg armor deployed (1/3)

Bazooka pose with leg armor deployed

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Alongside the HGUC Gustav Karl [Unicorn Version]. They look similar at first glance, but over 95%

Alongside the HGUC Gustav Karl [Unicorn Version].
They look similar at first glance, but over 95% of the exterior design has been changed.

Alongside the HGUC Gustav Karl (Gihren's Greed Ver.), released as a Club-G exclusive.

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Size comparison with the HGUC/MG Gundam. It's noticeably larger than a standard HGUC, but slightly

Size comparison with the HGUC/MG Gundam.
It's noticeably larger than a standard HGUC, but slightly smaller than an MG.

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 - Alongside the HGUC Penelope. Penelope is just so ridiculously massive that this one looks tiny nex

Alongside the HGUC Penelope.
Penelope is just so ridiculously massive that this one looks tiny next to it.

Straight build

This kit is the HGUC release of the Gustav Karl Type-00 from Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway's Flash. At first glance, it might be mistaken for a color variant of the HGUC
Gustav Karl [Unicorn Version]that came out as a standard release. A small number of parts are reused, but 90% of the parts have been replaced with new tooling, making this essentially a brand-new kit.

The original Gustav Karl had an impressive, imposing build, but the joint strength was a bit disappointing — it was roughly MG-sized, yet used standard 1/144-scale polycaps. This kit, on the other hand, has had most of its joint structure retooled with new parts and comes polycap-less in the latest style. That nagging joint strength issue is completely resolved, giving you smooth yet solid movement and hold throughout.

On top of that, aside from the front ankle armor and the elbow/knee joint covers, nearly the entire exterior has been retooled, and the overall look has gotten subtly more refined. As you can see in the comparison photos, the silhouette looks similar, but the design has been changed all over. The blue molded color came out nicely without looking cheap, and the sculpt quality is excellent, making for a top-notch straight build. There's also a new gimmick where you pull the hip joints down to extend the leg range of motion, which even allows for a kneeling pose.

The Type-00's leg armor deployment feature has also been faithfully reproduced, delivering more gimmicks than expected. The deployment method is a little awkward, but it's well-designed so that once the leg armor is opened up, you can also reposition the internal verniers.

Overall, this is a very well-executed kit with a high level of polish. The biggest highlight is probably the joints — even for a large HGUC, they hold the whole body together smoothly and firmly. There's something really satisfying about picking it up after assembly and feeling how solid yet refined it is. The only real downside is that the shoulder forward/backward range of motion is narrower than before.. but regardless, if you loved the original Gustav Karl's look but held off because of the weak joints, this is finally the "definitive version." It's more than worthy of a top-tier recommendation among HGUC kits. :-)

HGUC Gustav Karl Type-00 | 2026.2 | ¥3,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.