Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Detail shots

The weapons and accessories are packed in nicely.

The bare figure alone

HGGT Atlas Gundam - The sub-legs (auxiliary legs) are connected by what looks like a complex joint — and while they appear to

The sub-legs (auxiliary legs) are connected by what looks like a complex joint —
and while they appear to be multi-jointed, in reality only the two parts indicated by the red arrows actually move; the rest is just for show.

The front and rear sections are separate and can rotate.

HGGT Atlas Gundam - There's a gimmick where the sole of the foot connects to the middle section of the sub-leg, for when the

There's a gimmick where the sole of the foot connects to the middle section of the sub-leg, for when the figure is riding on top of it.

Two types of hands are included in total.

HGGT Atlas Gundam - The hands don't grip the large blade shield very well.. The front and back parts keep coming apart, so I

The hands don't grip the large blade shield very well..
The front and back parts keep coming apart, so I just went ahead and glued them together. -.-;;

The beam saber is stored inside the shoulder cover.

The joint parts for the stand lock firmly onto the rear skirt via a slide mechanism.

Only 2 leftover parts.

Articulation is quite good, and there's even a hip rotation gimmick built in.

The waist and neck bend back quite a lot.

Kneeling pose

HGGT Atlas Gundam - Rail gun firing pose (1/3)

Rail gun firing pose

HGGT Atlas Gundam - Flight mode riding on the sub-legs - Assault rifle firing pose (1/3)

Flight mode riding on the sub-legs - Assault rifle firing pose

Flight mode - Beam saber action pose

HGGT Atlas Gundam - Submarine mode with the figure lying prone on top (1/4)

HGGT Atlas Gundam - Submarine mode with the figure lying prone on top (2/4)

Submarine mode with the figure lying prone on top

Together with the HG Full Armor Gundam from Gundam Thunderbolt.

It's been a while since we got something new from Gundam Thunderbolt, and here we have the HG Atlas Gundam. As you can see, this is a mobile suit that looks quite different from your typical Gundam in a number of ways — especially thanks to those two large sub-legs (auxiliary legs), which give it a really unique visual presence.

Even setting the sub-legs aside, the main body itself has a peculiar design feel — rounded and colorful, almost like something out of the non-Universal Century Gundam universe. It's HG-grade, but a solid combination of color separation and sticker work means the color scheme is reproduced pretty convincingly.

The basic frame uses the latest HG polycap system, delivering decent joint strength and excellent articulation. But more than anything, those unique sub-legs let you pull off wild poses you just won't see on any other kit. The sub-legs are connected via multi-jointed arms that can be positioned in various ways — there's a flight mode where the figure rides on them like skis, and a submarine mode where it lies prone as if riding a life raft. Beyond that, you can rotate and angle them all sorts of ways for a wide variety of display options.

The issue is that despite looking like a complex multi-joint structure, the sub-leg arms only actually move at two points — which makes getting the angles right surprisingly tricky. Flight mode and submarine mode are fine, but when you try to pose it standing or sitting, the angles get awkward and placing the sub-legs ends up being harder than you'd expect. It seems like the articulation on the multi-joint arms was intentionally limited for durability reasons, and that means replicating the natural-looking poses from the box art isn't as easy as it looks — worth keeping in mind.

On top of that, with submarine mode in mind, the waist and neck joints bend back quite far, and there's even a hip rotation gimmick — so in terms of articulation, this kit actually outperforms a lot of others in several areas. There are also some thoughtful touches, like beam saber storage inside the shoulder cover and a peg that connects the foot sole to the sub-leg for flight mode. That said, the hand parts don't have enough grip strength to hold the large blade shield securely, and they keep falling apart. In my case, I just took the easy route and glued them together....

Honestly, the fact that it looks almost too radical to pass as a Universal Century Gundam could be seen as a drawback of sorts — but flip that around, and being such a uniquely styled Gundam is actually a big part of its appeal. If you're a fan of Gundam Thunderbolt or just love unconventional Gundam designs, this is definitely a kit you'll have a lot of fun with. :-)

HGGT Atlas Gundam | 2017.3 | ¥2,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.