Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

HG Gundam Gusion - Size comparison with a cigarette box. It's short, but it's got quite a hefty volume to it.

Size comparison with a cigarette pack.
It's short, but it's got quite a hefty volume to it.

Detail shots

With the outer armor removed on one side

It's not a full-body inner frame, but there is an underlying skeleton in the arms and thighs.

The waist structure has a similar feel to Barbatos.

The weapons included are the Gusion Hammer and a submachine gun.

HG Gundam Gusion - You can store the weapons by adding a separate peg on the back and opening the cover on the underside of t

By adding a separate peg on the back and opening the cover on the underside of the rear skirt,
you can store the weapons.

With the Gusion Hammer and submachine gun stored.

Comes with one standard pair of hands and one open left hand.

HG Gundam Gusion - The inner shoulder parts don't hold together very well, so the shoulder tends to fall apart and pop off wh

The inner shoulder parts don't hold together very well,
so the shoulder tends to fall apart and pop off when you rotate the arm.
It's easier to just glue that dark purple part in place..

The articulation is actually better than you'd expect given the chunky proportions.

HG Gundam Gusion - The knee joints are more flexible than expected, as shown above, but the legs are so chunky that it barely

The knee joints are more flexible than expected, as shown above, but
the legs are so chunky that it barely shows... ;;

The upper body bends quite a bit to the sides too, which helps with posing.

Launch pose

HG Gundam Gusion - Two-handed shooting pose. The body is so chunky that bringing the arms together isn't easy. (1/3)

Two-handed shooting pose.
The body is so chunky that bringing the arms together isn't easy.

HG Gundam Gusion - Submachine gun shooting pose (1/3)

Submachine gun shooting pose

HG Gundam Gusion - Gusion Hammer action pose (1/3)

Gusion Hammer action pose

Gusion Hammer overhead smash pose

HG Gundam Gusion - Gusion Hammer aerial pose (1/3)

Gusion Hammer aerial pose

Small but with an impressively solid-looking back.

Together with HG Gundam Barbatos.
They share the same "Gundam" name, but the two look nothing alike..;;

Gundam Gusion, a "Gundam" with a truly unique look from Iron-Blooded Orphans, has been released as an HG kit. The "Gundam" name is usually reserved for protagonist-type mechs with white bodies and yellow head antennas — so slapping the "Gundam" label on something with a drab olive-colored body like a Zaku, a toad-like head, and a morbidly obese build is honestly kind of shocking. ;;;

On top of that, the pilot is a creepy, unlikable character, which makes the "Gundam" name feel even more wasted on it. Setting the name aside, the chunky design itself is just an unfamiliar look. The proportions are less "stocky" and more "morbidly obese child," but in the show at least, that thick build is what makes it a tough unit that can take a beating.

Surprisingly, the articulation is pretty decent for such a pudgy build. The knees in particular are pushed back at the joint pivot, allowing them to bend almost completely. The catch is that the proportions are so stubby that you can barely tell how much the joints are actually moving — that's the real trap here.

For weapons, you get the Gusion Hammer — which looks like it could be Thor's Mjolnir — and a plain submachine gun. Both come with storage gimmicks on the back and rear skirt. The Gusion Hammer especially makes for some dynamic and characterful poses, though the short limbs do make it tricky to get them just right.

On the downside, the shoulder parts don't hold together very well. The inner joint piece in the shoulder is loose, so when you rotate the forearm, the shoulder itself can fall apart and pop off. (See the review photos.) In my case, the arm kept coming off while I was trying to pose it, so I ended up just gluing the inner shoulder part in place. The legs also have a tendency to pop off during posing, and overall the joint stability feels a bit lacking — probably due to the sheer bulk of the kit. It's not loose enough to be a dealbreaker, but it definitely doesn't feel solid either.

Overall, in terms of quality, it doesn't have that crisp, top-tier feel like Barbatos or Graze — it's just average. The deep green molded color also means gate marks are pretty visible, which could be a frustration point for those who prefer a cleaner finish. That said, this kit's bizarre look — something that barely passes as a mobile suit, let alone a Gundam — is ironically what gives it its unique personality. If you enjoyed watching it go up against Barbatos in the show, it's a kit you'll have a decent time with. Whatever else you might say about it, it's certainly one of a kind. :-)

HG Gundam Gusion | 2015.12 | ¥1,400

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.