Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Various angles (1/7)

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Various angles (2/7)

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Various angles (3/7)

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Various angles (4/7)

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Various angles (5/7)

Various angles

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Detail shots (1/4)

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - True to the series name "Variable Frame System," a transformation inner frame

True to the series name "Variable Frame System,"
a transformation inner frame is implemented throughout the entire body.

The kit comes with a rifle and laser sword as weapons.

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - The laser sword can also be deployed by opening the forearm armor and secured

The laser sword can also be deployed by opening the forearm armor and secured inside it.

Opening the leg verniers

Four nicely sculpted hands are included.

Leftover parts

Excellent limb articulation

Thanks to the transformation gimmick, the waist rotates a full 360 degrees.

Leg spread range

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Action poses. Despite being a transforming kit, the joint stability is excell

Action poses.
Despite being a transforming kit, the joint stability is excellent.

TRANSFORMATION

First, pull out the pin on the back that was locking the neck, and release it.

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Tilt the head back, then push it forward and tuck it into the body, and lift

Tilt the head back, then push it forward and tuck it into the body, and lift the cockpit cover upward.

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Rotate the lower torso parts upward to cover and conceal the front of the hea

Rotate the lower torso parts upward to cover and conceal the front of the head.

Bend the arms as shown above, then

Straighten the shoulder and arm into a single line, then rotate 180 degrees.

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Raise the rear wings 90 degrees upward, then fold both arms back and bring th

Raise the rear wings 90 degrees upward, then fold both arms back and bring them together.

Rotate the lower body 180 degrees, then

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Push the parts that were the rear skirt all the way up to form the nose. It's

Push the parts that were the rear skirt all the way up to form the nose.
It's nicely designed so the nose fits perfectly with the chest armor.

Extend the locking pin at the crotch, then raise the legs backward,

Unfold and fold the feet to arrange them as shown on the upper right.

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Spread the crotch section out to both sides, then rotate the lower body 180 d

Spread the crotch section out to both sides, then rotate the lower body 180 degrees again.

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Transform the rifle as shown above, then plug it into the locking pin extende

Transform the rifle as shown above, then plug it into the locking pin extended from the crotch section.

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Position the legs horizontally, then plug the locking pins under the wings in

Position the legs horizontally, then plug the locking pins under the wings into the holes at the back of the thighs.
Plugging them in like this gives the whole thing a solid, stable hold.

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - The rifle positioned in the center of the fuselage is locked onto the peg at

The rifle positioned in the center of the fuselage is locked onto the peg at the back of the head to hold it firmly in place, and then

Spread the wings and the main body transformation is complete.

Separate landing gear parts can be attached to the underside.

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Fighter mode in landed configuration (1/4)

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Fighter mode in landed configuration (2/4)

Fighter mode in landed configuration

Underside view with landing gear removed

Nose gun open gimmick

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - There's a stand mounting hole on the underside, but the diameter doesn't matc

There's a stand mounting hole on the underside,
but the diameter doesn't match standard Kotobukiya stands or Bandai Action Bases, so it's hard to plug them in.
It's sized specifically for Kotobukiya's Flying Base Neo, which is a bit of a letdown.

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] - Fighter mode flight poses. In my case, I used Hexa Gear joint parts to mount

Fighter mode flight poses
In my case, I used Hexa Gear joint parts to mount it on an Action Base.

This kit is the Garudagear [Beluga], released as part of Kotobukiya's ambitious 2022 lineup — the MSG Variable Frame System. As the name suggests, it's a new lineup that puts a transformation-optimized frame structure front and center, and the first release in the series is a mech that transforms into fighter mode.

It's a Valkyrie-style robot-to-fighter transforming kit of the kind we've seen before, and the basic format is similar to previous fighter-transforming kits — but there are fresh ideas applied throughout. For starters, the transformation method has changed from the conventional approach of using the body as the nose, to using the rear skirt as the nose instead. The transformation is easy and the gimmick clicks together really cleanly. The arms still come together in the center with the legs arranged on either side as before, but overall the transformation is smooth while still holding a sharp, tight silhouette. In particular, simply plugging the pegs on the underside of the wings into the thighs alone gives the whole thing a remarkably solid hold.

With this improved transformation structure over previous kits, it manages to nail both easy transformation and a sturdy fighter mode — two birds with one stone. The transformation process might look a bit involved, but it's really just a matter of steps; overall it goes quite smoothly. In short, this shows the most advanced transformation quality of any fighter-transforming robot kit to date.

The proportions and stability in robot mode are solid as well, and the excellent articulation combined with strong joint strength makes posing and displaying it a stress-free experience. One minor gripe is that the stand hole is sized only for the separately sold Flying Base Neo, making it incompatible with standard Kotobukiya stands and Bandai Action Bases. I managed to get it onto an Action Base using Hexa Gear joint parts, but it would've been nice if it were compatible with a wider range of stands.

All in all, as the most advanced fighter-transforming mech out there, what I love most about it is that despite being a transforming kit, there's not a single loose spot — everything holds together solidly. The smooth transformation process and the sturdy fighter mode it achieves are both very satisfying. Fighter-transforming mechs, a tradition that started with Macross, are one of the great dreams of robot fans everywhere — and if you're into transforming kits, this is definitely one you'll want to experience at least once. :-)

Variable Frame System Garudagear [Beluga] | 2022.6 | ¥6,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.