Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - Detail shots (1/5)

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - Detail shots (2/5)

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - Detail shots (3/5)

Detail shots

The underside of the body has no detail.

On the flip side, the inside of the caterpillar tracks has some pretty convincing molding.

Two rear duct parts are left over as leftover parts.

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - The 4-barrel machine gun at the fingertips has a bit of articulation, and the elbow can bend t

The 4-barrel machine gun at the fingertips has a bit of articulation,
and the elbow can bend to about 100 degrees.

The shoulder joint has a corrugated shape, but it does extend out to the side 90 degrees.

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - The large-caliber cannons on top of the shoulders move up/down and left/right a little, though

The large-caliber cannons on top of the shoulders move up/down and left/right a little,
though the range of motion feels a bit narrow.

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - In exchange, when you move the large-caliber cannons up and down, the cylinders attached to th

In exchange, when you move the large-caliber cannons up and down,
the cylinders attached to the moving section link together and move up/down in sync.

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - The ring structure attached to the back of the barrel also moves, clicking into place at each

The ring structure attached to the back of the barrel also moves,
clicking into place at each angle, which gives it a really satisfying feel.

Just like the MG Guntank, there's a joint that lets you swing the caterpillar section outward.

The duct on the back moves ever so slightly too.

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - Full frontal attack pose (1/3)

Full frontal attack pose

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - Action pose (1/3)

Action pose

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - Dynamic po~se (1/3)

Dynamic po~se

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - Obstacle-climbing pose using the caterpillar joints (1/3)

Obstacle-climbing pose using the caterpillar joints

Together with the Origin HG Char's Zaku.

HG Origin Guntank Early Type - Together with the HGUC Guntank. You can't help but feel that the Early Type, being the newer d

Together with the HGUC Guntank.
You can't help but feel that the Early Type, being the newer design, looks a lot more stylish.

The second entry in the highly anticipated Gundam The Origin lineup is the Guntank Early Type. If the previous Origin Zaku was a slight refinement of the classic look, this Origin Guntank went in a completely different design direction and was generating a lot of buzz even before it was released.

Honestly, an "Early Type" sounds like it should be a Prototype before the proper Guntank — but the catch is that it's far more refined and stylish than the original Guntank. (lol) That's probably just down to when it was designed, but thanks to that, it feels like a great opportunity to build a fresh, military-flavored new Guntank.

The previous Origin HG Char's Zaku already came out with impressive quality, and the Guntank Early Type is no slouch either. Between the military-style detail and caterpillar tracks you don't usually see in standard Gunpla, plus Bandai's signature easy assembly and color separation, this kit manages to nail multiple things at once — ease of build, a satisfying hands-on experience, and a sharp-looking final result.

There's also a small moment of delight when you move the large-caliber cannons up and down and the upper and lower articulated cylinders move in sync. The caterpillar articulation joints from the MG Guntank are reproduced here too, letting you pull off dynamic poses you wouldn't expect from a Guntank. The 4-barrel machine guns at the fingertips can also be angled subtly, and the shoulder and forearm joints have better articulation than expected, which is great.

That said, the range of motion on the large-caliber cannons on the shoulders is quite a bit narrower than you'd hope. It's even more noticeable because the original Guntank had a pretty wide range of motion — these only move about 20 degrees, which makes it tough to get a variety of poses. On the bright side, you do get articulated cylinders that aren't even on the MG, so I guess that's some consolation.

The biggest appeal of this kit is that it lets you build a freshly redesigned, military-flavored Guntank at top-tier quality. It's the perfect cure for Gunpla fatigue, and it's a highly recommended pick that delivers a fresh building experience and serious visual satisfaction for all Gunpla fans. :-)

HG Origin Guntank Early Type | 2015.4 | ¥1,900

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.