Kit Review

Straight build
+ panel lining + stickers

HGUC Kshatriya - Size comparison with a cigarette pack. The sheer size of this thing is insane for an HGUC. Most MGs can't ev

Size comparison with a cigarette pack.
The sheer size of this thing is insane for an HGUC. Most MGs can't even compete~

Great color separation on the torso

Head

True to its large HGUC status, even the yellow on the mega particle cannons is color-separated.

The massive binders on the shoulders..

The base body with binders removed

Base body front and rear

Arm section

The bottom of that massive crotch has no fewer than 3 ducts..

Legs

Just like the MG Sinanju,
the emblem areas are handled with stickers.

Just like with the Sinanju..
I cut away the black parts with a knife and applied only the white portions.

HGUC Kshatriya - Like so... It's not easy to cut out just the white parts cleanly, but since the background you're sticking t

Like so...
It's not easy to cut out just the white parts cleanly,
but since the background you're sticking them onto is black anyway, a little leftover barely shows.

HGUC Kshatriya - Before and after applying the chest stickers. As you can see, the emblem is raised in relief, so if you just

Before and after applying the chest stickers.
As you can see, the emblem is raised in relief, so if you just slap the sticker straight on top, it loses some of that 3D feel.
Cutting out just the white parts and applying them separately brings the depth back, but... it's a bit of a hassle..

HGUC Kshatriya - Before and after applying the arm stickers. Again, cutting and applying just the white parts gives a bit bet

Before and after applying the arm stickers.
Again, cutting and applying just the white parts gives a bit better depth.
In particular, if you leave the black parts on, there are overlapping areas, so if you don't cut out just the white parts
you end up with two stickers layered on top of each other in the middle of the black surface, creating a stepped effect.

The exterior and interior of the massive binders.

The upper section with two ball-joint verniers and the mounting point.

The panel mounting points.
On the right is the look with the panels removed.

Sub-arm storage area

The look with all panels detached

There are 6 panels per binder, for a total of 24 panels.

Close-up shot of the panels

Comparison shot of the panels in various configurations.
They're quite large panels for an HGUC.

Beam saber with MG-sized beam parts.

HGUC Kshatriya - They should really be stored in the wrists.. but the storage gimmick is omitted and the beam sabers are just

They should really be stored in the wrists..
but the storage gimmick is omitted and the beam sabers are just included separately.
Size-wise it probably could have fit, but it seems like they held back since it's an HGUC — a bit of a shame.

HGUC Kshatriya - The Kshatriya is so large that it's compatible with the Action Base 1 for 1/100 scale. A separate base adapt

The Kshatriya is so large that it's compatible with the Action Base 1 for 1/100 scale.
A separate base adapter is included as shown,
and instead of the usual round peg connection, it uses a complex lattice-frame style connector.
Given how big and heavy the kit is with its constantly shifting center of gravity, they seem to have gone with that complex
mounting design to get a really solid connection to the base.
And the result is a perfectly secure lock to the stand.
If it had been a round peg setup, the body probably would've spun around and refused to stay put.

The base body's articulation is decent enough.

HGUC Kshatriya - The shoulders have a unique mechanism for raising up — even when you lift the arms, the binder mounting poin

The shoulders have a unique mechanism for raising up,
and even when you lift the arms, the binder mounting points on the shoulders are designed that way to stay fixed in place.

The shoulders can also swing forward to a reasonable degree.

The small part below the knee can also move up and down.

You can rotate the mono-eye using the lever under the chin.

The binder articulation — the thing I was most worried about!

HGUC Kshatriya - First off, multiple rotation gimmicks allow for a huge variety of deployment positions, and the joint streng

First off, multiple rotation gimmicks allow for a huge variety of deployment positions,
and the joint strength is built quite solidly.
If you look at the yellow arrows, you can see that the articulation gimmicks interlock with each other to act as stoppers,
preventing the binders from drooping down easily.

HGUC Kshatriya - The most critical thing is how securely the pin holds at the point where it connects directly to the binder,

The most critical thing is how securely the pin holds at the point where it connects directly to the binder,
and there's a switch that locks the angle in place so it holds nice and firm.

HGUC Kshatriya - Looking at the internal structure, you can see that pushing the switch into the toothed rotating axle part p

Looking at the internal structure, you can see that pushing the switch into the toothed rotating axle part
prevents the binder from drooping down.
In practice, when you handle it, it's sturdy enough that you'd barely need this gimmick —
but for long-term display, it's probably worth making use of it.

The sub-arms attached under the binders are well-reproduced with a variety of joints.

Extending the binders outward

You can spread them out wide like this..

HGUC Kshatriya - Or fully extend them like that. As you can see, even with the center of gravity severely offset, the joints

Or fully extend them like that.
As you can see, even with the center of gravity severely offset,
the joints are sturdy enough to hold the binders horizontally without any sagging.

If you fully extend the joints, you can even stand them up vertically like that.

HGUC Kshatriya - All four binders raised straight up. (If you ask me what that's supposed to be... I honestly don't have a go

All four binders raised straight up.
(If you ask me what that's supposed to be... I honestly don't have a good answer.. ^^;)

Binder articulation and holding strength: 100 out of 100!

HGUC Kshatriya - Storage mode (a.k.a. "everything closed up" mode) (1/3)

Storage mode (a.k.a. "everything closed up" mode)

Aerial action poses using Action Base 1.

HGUC Kshatriya - The sheer bulk is no joke.. seeing it in person, the presence is absolutely incredible! (1/4)

HGUC Kshatriya - The sheer bulk is no joke.. seeing it in person, the presence is absolutely incredible! (2/4)

The sheer bulk is no joke.. seeing it in person, the presence is absolutely incredible!

HGUC Kshatriya - Double beam saber pose (1/4)

HGUC Kshatriya - Double beam saber pose (2/4)

Double beam saber pose

HGUC Kshatriya - Beam saber action pose (1/6)

HGUC Kshatriya - Beam saber action pose (2/6)

HGUC Kshatriya - Beam saber action pose (3/6)

HGUC Kshatriya - Beam saber action pose (4/6)

Beam saber action pose

Sub-arm deployment!

HGUC Kshatriya - Just as impressive as ever.. (1/6)

HGUC Kshatriya - Just as impressive as ever.. (2/6)

HGUC Kshatriya - Just as impressive as ever.. (3/6)

HGUC Kshatriya - Just as impressive as ever.. (4/6)

Just as impressive as ever..

All binders pointed forward with sub-arms deployed.

HGUC Kshatriya - Enjoy from various angles.. (1/8)

HGUC Kshatriya - Enjoy from various angles.. (2/8)

HGUC Kshatriya - Enjoy from various angles.. (3/8)

HGUC Kshatriya - Enjoy from various angles.. (4/8)

HGUC Kshatriya - Enjoy from various angles.. (5/8)

HGUC Kshatriya - Enjoy from various angles.. (6/8)

Enjoy from various angles..

A pose like Laplace in full bloom with its petals spread wide.

HGUC Kshatriya - The presence is so overwhelming it's almost terrifying~ (1/4)

HGUC Kshatriya - The presence is so overwhelming it's almost terrifying~ (2/4)

The presence is so overwhelming it's almost terrifying~

HGUC Kshatriya - Size comparison with HGUC / MG. Even though it's 1/144, the in-universe size is so massive that even just th

Size comparison with HGUC / MG.
Even though it's 1/144, the in-universe size is so massive that even just the base body is MG-sized.

HGUC Kshatriya - It's not just big — the sheer volume of the kit is so immense that most MGs can't even hold a candle to its

It's not just big — the sheer volume of the kit is so immense
that most MGs can't even hold a candle to its presence.

HGUC Kshatriya - With the HGUC Qubeley, another funnels-equipped unit. The Qubeley is no small kit itself, but it's just no m

With the HGUC Qubeley, another funnels-equipped unit.
The Qubeley is no small kit itself, but it's just no match here.

HGUC Kshatriya - With the HGUC Sazabi. Body-to-body they're roughly the same size, but those binders make even the Sazabi loo

With the HGUC Sazabi.
Body-to-body they're roughly the same size, but
those binders make even the Sazabi look tiny..

HGUC Kshatriya - With the Psycho Gundam, the biggest MS in the HGUC lineup. (Den-chan doesn't count~) Even the Kshatriya can'

With the Psycho Gundam, the biggest MS in the HGUC lineup. (Den-chan doesn't count~)
Even the Kshatriya can't beat the Psycho, which stands at a whopping 40m tall in the lore.

With the MG Unicorn Gundam.
As you can see, most MGs don't even come close in terms of sheer volume..

With the MG Sinanju.
Now this one actually gives it a run for its money.

With the MG UC series lineup.
I'm really looking forward to seeing the HGUC Unicorn lineup expand from here!

Straight build

With the big announcement that Mobile Suit Gundam UC was getting an anime adaptation, UC mobile suits started coming out as kits in earnest. Under normal circumstances they might've just been released as regular HG grade like most recent anime series, but since this is the Universal Century we're talking about, they were proudly brought into the HGUC line. Even though it's technically the same HG grade, HGUC quality tends to be a notch above, so that's definitely a welcome thing.

As you can tell just from the MG Unicorn and Sinanju, the UC kit designs are seriously flashy and elaborate. These are the latest designs from Hajime Katoki, the designer who's practically synonymous with Gundam and Gunpla, and when I first saw them I honestly thought they'd be nearly impossible to turn into plastic models. The one that caught my eye the most was definitely the Kshatriya with its massive backpack presence.. If they're leading off with the biggest and most complex kit of the bunch, I guess they really wanted to make a statement right from the start, huh?

The Kshatriya's official height is 22.3m, which puts it in Sazabi territory — but the real issue is those four enormous binders. They give the kit an absolutely overwhelming presence, and setting aside the detail work, the structure looked like it'd be a nightmare to keep in place as a model kit. Based on past experience, I honestly thought a unit like the Kshatriya would never get an injection-molded kit. And sure enough, the very first question everyone raised when this kit was announced was exactly that — how well do those binders hold up?

So naturally, the first thing I focused on after building the kit was checking that out thoroughly. The binder stability was clearly the biggest challenge in developing the HGUC Kshatriya, and Bandai pulled it off with 99.99% perfection. To get a good range of motion out of the binders, they went with a four-point multi-joint mounting system, and it delivers plenty of range — just as much as you'd hope for. On top of that, the mold tolerances are dialed in really well, giving you this smooth yet satisfyingly snug feel — kind of like the soft ABS joints on the MG Zaku II. And as you can see in the photos, there's a stopper mechanism mid-joint to prevent sagging, plus a locking switch at the final binder attachment point, making it a perfect 100/100 for stability. Honestly, even without those extra locking gimmicks, the joint strength alone is solid enough to hold the binders in any position you put them in. Bottom line — don't worry about the binder stability at all!!

Along with the binder stability, the stand connection also gets a nice upgrade here. This is a 1/144 kit, but the unit is so large by design that you need to use Action Base 1, which is normally compatible with 1/100 scale. A dedicated adapter for the Kshatriya is included, and instead of the usual round pin or C-clamp style connector, it uses an H-beam steel frame-style mount. My guess is they were worried that with the binders deployed in action poses, the standard connector wouldn't hold up well against the shifted center of gravity — so they went with this more complex locking adapter instead. Using it in practice, it holds rock solid, keeping the kit firmly in place no matter what pose you put it in. The fact that they thought this far ahead — thanks, Bandai :-)

It's already a tall unit to begin with, and with those massive binders on top of that, the presence this kit has in person is honestly hard to imagine from photos alone. As you can see, it puts most MGs to shame in terms of sheer volume. Photos really don't do the size justice — seeing it in person, your jaw just drops.

Since the binder stability is so solid, you can freely set up action poses with them fully spread or dramatically deployed without any worries — and with the binders fully open spanning over 50cm wide, the presence is just incredible. On top of that, each binder tip has multi-jointed sub-arms, which lets you put together even more dynamic action shots.

Getting into the finer details — because the kit is so large even for an HGUC, the color separation is surprisingly thorough, right down to the yellow sections on the mega particle cannons. The markings on the chest and forearms are handled with stickers, similar to the MG Sinanju, and the sticker quality is good enough that they don't look too out of place. One thing to watch out for is that if you apply the stickers over the black areas as-is, the raised molded detail underneath gets hidden — though pressing them down carefully with a toothpick or similar tool does bring out some of the dimension. In my case, like I did with the Sinanju, I cut out only the white portions and applied those separately to keep 100% of the raised detail visible, but it is a bit of a hassle. ^^; That said, it's not difficult at all, so if you want that extra depth it's definitely worth trying. (Note: no waterslide decals included)

A few things to be aware of or that I found a little lacking — getting all four massive binders locked into exactly the same position and balance is a bit tricky. With so many joints in the connection, getting all four symmetrically aligned is harder than you'd expect. ^^; That said, at least they're not loose, so I wouldn't really call it a flaw. Also, the mounting pin that plugs directly into the top of the shoulder feels slightly less secure compared to other connection points, though it's not bad enough to actually cause problems. I think it just feels that way because everything else is so solid by comparison. And the sub-arms at the tips of the binders are ever so slightly on the loose side. Not floppy by any means, but I did find myself wishing they were just a little tighter.

Overall, this kit combines outstanding sculpting with an absolutely jaw-dropping sense of volume, and the fact that those huge binders hold so well makes it all the more satisfying to own. At ¥4,500 it's on the pricier side for an HGUC, but with this kind of presence, I'd honestly say it beats most MGs hands down.

Forget the anime, forget the lore, forget whether it's a new unit or whatever. This kit just wins on sheer presence alone — if you're a sucker for an imposing-looking kit, this is an absolute must-buy. :-)

HGUC Kshatriya | 2009.10 | ¥4,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.