Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HG Gundam Calibarn - Various angles (1/6)

HG Gundam Calibarn - Various angles (2/6)

HG Gundam Calibarn - Various angles (3/6)

HG Gundam Calibarn - Various angles (4/6)

Various angles

HG Gundam Calibarn - The weight is shifted toward the back because of the weapons, so it's hard to stand it upright on a flat

The weight is shifted toward the back because of the weapons,
so it's hard to stand it upright on a flat surface without a stand.

Detail shots

Internal frame

HG Gundam Calibarn - The head antenna and chest parts come in two versions: smoky clear parts and in-mold color parts. (1/3)

The head antenna and chest parts come in two versions: smoky clear parts and in-mold color parts.

HG Gundam Calibarn - Shell units on the head antenna, shoulders, thighs, and torso. (1/3)

Shell units on the head antenna, shoulders, thighs, and torso.

You can also apply black "normal state" stickers to the shell units.

Weapons loadout

The large Variable Load Rifle.

Articulation of the grip section.

The rear thruster deployment.
You'll need to carefully apply 16 tiny green stickers.

Shield front/back.

The shield can be broken down into 11 Gunbits.

Pose with all Gunbits attached to the body.

A clear simple stand is included in the box.

Limb articulation

Shoulder and waist articulation.

Backpack and rear skirt articulation.

HG Gundam Calibarn - Two-handed firing pose with the Variable Load Rifle. (1/3)

Two-handed firing pose with the Variable Load Rifle.

Shield pose.

Beam saber pose

Pose with Gunbits attached to the body.

Gunbit deployment pose using the separately sold Weapon Display Base.

Together with the HG Gundam Schwarzette.

Together with the HG Gundam Lfrith.

Together with the HG Gundam Aerial Rebuild.

This kit is the HG Gundam Calibarn from the Mobile Suit Gundam "The Witch from Mercury" series. It's the main unit that Suletta pilots in the second half of the show, and the overall kit format is similar to the Gundam Lfrith/Aerial — though while it shares that same DNA, the design itself is completely different, sporting a near-pure white color scheme.

First off, as you'd expect from a kit released later in the series, the shortcomings of the earlier Witch from Mercury HG kits have been well addressed, and it comes out with a polished level of quality. The assembly and articulation feel smooth, and the joint strength is solid. The shell units come with both normal-state and lit-up stickers, and in-mold color parts are also included — same as the Gundam Aerial. This time around, even the blade antenna on the head uses in-mold molding, so the rainbow color of the high-score state looks pretty convincing.

The main weapon is the large Variable Load Rifle, which even recreates the rear thruster deployment gimmick. It looks great, but the weight shifts so far back that it makes standing the kit upright a real challenge. That's probably why a clear simple stand is included in the box — once you put it on the stand, you can pull off just about any pose nice and stably.

All in all, this is a solid, well-made kit with no real complaints — it's definitely one that deserves a top spot on the recommended list for the Witch from Mercury HG series. If you've been waiting for the Gundam Calibarn that closed out Season 2, go ahead and grab it without hesitation. :-)

HG Gundam Calibarn | 2023.7 | ¥2,000

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.