Kit Review

Straight build
+ decals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack. With the fin funnels included, it's quite tall.

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version (1/3)

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version (2/3)

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version (3/3)

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version (1/2)

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version (2/2)

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version - Upper body close-up. The black parts on the body are metallic molded. Look closely an

Upper body close-up. The black parts on the body are metallic molded.
Look closely and you can see a pearl-like metallic shimmer.

The head. Big-headed as expected.. ;;

The hefty backpack section

The yellow tips of the fin funnels are still done with stickers..

Arm section.

Skirt section. Coating quality is uniform.

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version - Legs and feet (1/3)

Legs and feet

Rifle and shield.

Fin funnels. They click into place nicely as always.

Cockpit hatch open

Full-armed body with fin funnels removed.

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version - A closer look at the back after removing the fin funnels (1/3)

A closer look at the back after removing the fin funnels

The inner frame is also metallic molded.

The body's metallic frame

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version - Arm and leg metallic frame (1/3)

Arm and leg metallic frame

Alright, let's strike a cool pose..

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version - The lower legs are too long, so getting a proper kneeling pose is a bit awkward. As y

The lower legs are too long, so getting a proper kneeling pose is a bit awkward.
As you can see, it needs to be propped up by the shield on the left and the bazooka at the back;

The knees don't touch the ground.. ^^;

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version - Beam rifle action pose (1/3)

Beam rifle action pose

Bazooka action pose

Draw!

Beam saber action

Nu Gundam also has a beam saber on the left forearm.

Together with the normal MG Nu Gundam.

Body-only comparison. The black body feels like a better fit.

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version - The Metallic Coating Version does give off a slightly more premium feel. (Though ther

The Metallic Coating Version does give off a slightly more premium feel. (Though there's a price difference for that..!)

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version - Comparison with the MG Gundam Ver. O.Y.W. 0079 coating version. Nu Gundam's build is

Comparison with the MG Gundam Ver. O.Y.W. 0079 coating version. Nu Gundam's build is great as always.

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version - The MG Sazabi Metallic Coating version that came out just before. The two were releas

The MG Sazabi Metallic Coating version that came out just before.
The two were released almost like a set.

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version - Honestly, in terms of coating quality and overall feel, the MG Sazabi Metallic Coatin

Honestly, in terms of coating quality and overall feel, the MG Sazabi Metallic Coating version looks better.

Straight build.

Following the MG Sazabi Metallic Coating version, it was only natural that the MG Nu Gundam would get a metallic coating release as well. There have been plenty of coated Gundam kits before, and this one uses the same coating combo we've seen on previous Gundam coating kits — a semi-gloss silver coating with a metallic molded frame.

The silver coating quality is pretty solid overall — it's applied fairly evenly with no clumping or blotchiness. That said, the nature of silver means gate marks show up very clearly, which is a downside. Since there are no under-gates at all, it's unavoidable, but on the MG Sazabi coating version the darker color hid the gates much better, so this feels like a bit of a step back in that regard.

The body color, which was a deep blue on the normal version, is now molded in a black tone mixed with metallic pearl, giving it quite a premium look — though it's hard to capture in photos. The frame parts on the body are also all done in metallic molded with that same metallic pearl mixed in.

The MG Nu Gundam itself is such a classic, timeless kit that this version also delivers a clean build, solid joints, and a well-balanced proportion. For a detailed look at the individual sections of the body, check out the MG Nu Gundam review— and as is the case with most coating versions, the joint tolerances are tighter, giving you stiffer joint strength. This means it holds poses better than the normal version, and even with those big fin funnels hanging off the back, it stands perfectly upright without any wobble.

Since the base kit is a bit older, the articulation isn't quite up to the standard of more recent kits. That said, the excellent joint strength and large frame mean even small poses come across as dynamic. The biggest flaw of the normal MG Nu Gundam has always been the notoriously weak hand joints that make it hard to hold the rifle properly — and the coating version is no different -_-;

The finger articulation itself is stiffer and improved compared to the normal version, but the way the thumb and rifle grip are designed still makes it really hard to get a secure hold on the rifle. This doesn't seem like a grip strength issue — it feels more like a fundamental design flaw. Well, it's an older kit, so structural quirks like this are kind of unavoidable.. It would've been nice to have palm pegs like on more recent kits, but this remains the one and only weak point of this kit.

The MG Nu Gundam coating version has good coating quality in itself, but the fairly standard coating style makes it feel a bit less appealing compared to the Sazabi coating version. The base kit quality is actually better than the Sazabi's, but it somehow feels less compelling as a purchase. On top of that, the ¥8,500 price tag is a pretty steep hurdle.

The MG Sazabi coating version is pricey at PG-level, but when it comes to sheer dazzle and presence after completion, the Sazabi coating version wins hands down over the Nu Gundam coating version.. -_-)b It'll make a great gift for die-hard Nu Gundam fans, and if you're willing to stretch the budget a little, it's a great companion piece to the Sazabi coating version.

One thing worth noting.. the reason Bandai suddenly put out coating versions of these two kits — my personal theory is that they probably had the upcoming HGUC Nu Gundam and Sazabi in mind. Build up some hype with the MG coating versions first, then drop the HGUC releases for maximum impact, right? Or maybe it's more like this.. the HGUC Nu Gundam and Sazabi have been so long-awaited by 1/144 fans that they're almost certain to come out with quality that surpasses the existing HGUC lineup. So before a better-than-MG HGUC comes along and tanks sales of the MG Nu Gundam and Sazabi, why not squeeze one more run out of the molds while they still can! Something like that, perhaps.
Take it or leave it.. ^^;

MG Nu Gundam ~ Metalic Coating Version | 2008. 2 | ¥8,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.