Kit Review

Straight build
+ panel lining

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Additional armor for the torso.
The armor bulk is no joke.

Additional armor for the rear skirt

The massive shield and rifle unique to the HWS

HGUC Nu Gundam HWS - This kit is the standard HGUC Nu Gundam kit with HWS weapons added. Only a ¥300 increase for that much ex

This kit is the standard HGUC Nu Gundam kit with HWS weapons added.
Only a ¥300 increase for that much extra content.. Bandai never ceases to be a mystery.

HGUC Nu Gundam HWS - You remove the chest ducts, front skirt, and outer shin armor, then attach the HWS armor in their place.

You remove the chest ducts, front skirt, and outer shin armor, then attach the HWS armor in their place.
So it's essentially an armor-swap concept..

HGUC Nu Gundam HWS - If you take a close look at the leftover parts compared to the HGUC Nu Gundam, you can easily tell which

If you take a close look at the leftover parts compared to the HGUC Nu Gundam,
you can easily tell which parts are being swapped out.

HGUC Nu Gundam HWS - For the additional skirt armor, the front skirt is swapped out entirely, while the rear skirt is layered

For the additional skirt armor, the front skirt is swapped out entirely,
while the rear skirt is layered on top of the existing skirt.

Additional armor for the outer shins.

The massive Hi-Mega Shield, the defining feature of the HWS.

HGUC Nu Gundam HWS - The HWS shield can't be attached on its own — it mounts by layering on top of the existing Nu Gundam shie

The HWS shield can't be attached on its own —
it mounts by layering on top of the existing Nu Gundam shield.

The Hyper Mega Rifle for the HWS. It's got a nice, solid look to it.

The front bipod can be folded out and is detachable.

Going HWS really beefs up the arsenal something fierce.

The HWS body on its own

HGUC Nu Gundam HWS - Articulation. Despite all the extra armor, it cleverly doesn't compromise the Nu Gundam body's articulati

Articulation.
Despite all the extra armor, it cleverly doesn't compromise the Nu Gundam body's articulation at all.

The shoulder missile launchers can also move up and down a little.

HGUC Nu Gundam HWS - Action poses — launch! (1/3)

Action poses — launch!

HGUC Nu Gundam HWS - Underneath the Hi-Mega Shield are two mega particle cannons. (1/3)

Underneath the Hi-Mega Shield are two mega particle cannons.

HGUC Nu Gundam HWS - Hyper Mega Rifle action (1/3)

Hyper Mega Rifle action

Beam saber action.

HGUC Nu Gundam HWS - Comparison with the original HGUC Nu Gundam. Look closely and you'll notice the molded color shifted slig

Comparison with the original HGUC Nu Gundam.
Look closely and you'll notice the molded color shifted slightly to ivory with the HWS version.

Straight build

The Nu Gundam HWS (Heavy Weapon System) — a side story to Char's Counterattack — has been released as an HGUC kit. It's been available as various resin conversion kits over the years, but seeing it get a proper HGUC release as part of the mainline Universal Century series is very welcome news indeed.

The base Nu Gundam includes the complete runner set from the existing HGUC Nu Gundam, with two additional HWS runners on top of that. One thing that sparked debate even before release was the fact that despite getting two full-size runners added, the price only went up ¥300 compared to the Nu Gundam. There was speculation that something must have been cut or swapped out, but either way it launched at ¥2800 — a very generous price for what you get.

When you consider that the 1/100 No Grade Astray Green Frame released around the same time dropped the plated runners and added barely a palm-sized runner, yet still raised the price by ¥500... it really makes you scratch your head. The contents here would easily justify a ¥1000 increase. Anyway.

The overall volume and detail are excellent, and while the color separation isn't perfect, it does its best and looks plenty sharp even as a straight build. There were concerns that articulation would suffer with all the extra armor added, but interestingly the design doesn't interfere with the existing range of motion at all, so there's zero loss in articulation.

Since the original HGUC Nu Gundam was already a top-quality kit across the board, the HWS version is likewise a great kit that delivers a satisfying build and impressive shelf presence. Above all, the fact that they managed to release such a niche unit at a relatively affordable price is something to be genuinely grateful for. :-)

HGUC Nu Gundam HWS | 2009.4 | ¥2,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.