OLD G Gundam 1/100 Shining Gundam

Release 1994.4

Price ¥1,500

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

OLD 1/100 Shining Gundam - Box side view (1/3)

Box side view

OLD 1/100 Shining Gundam - Runners (1/4)

OLD 1/100 Shining Gundam - Runners (2/4)

Runners

Runners with system insert

OLD 1/100 Shining Gundam - Parts layout (1/4)

OLD 1/100 Shining Gundam - Parts layout (2/4)

OLD 1/100 Shining Gundam - Parts layout (3/4)

OLD 1/100 Shining Gundam - Parts layout (4/4)

Parts diagram

Manual

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

The Core Lander can be detached.

Core Lander with much better color separation than the 1/144

The mask can be swapped out for an open-type one for Super Mode.

OLD 1/100 Shining Gundam - Various gimmicks for Super Mode are nicely done with movable parts. (1/3)

Various gimmicks for Super Mode are nicely done with movable parts.

Super Mode

Two beam sabers are included.

Articulated fingers

Decent arm and leg articulation

OLD 1/100 Shining Gundam - Super Mode action pose (1/3)

Super Mode action pose

Beam saber action pose

Together with the 1/144 Shining Gundam.

Together with the MG Shining Gundam released in 2002.

This kit is the 1/100 Shining Gundam released as part of the old-style G Gundam series. Back then, the HG (High Grade) label was used regardless of scale — it simply meant a high-quality lineup. After MG came along, the HG label ended up being used mainly for 1/144 scale kits.

True to the HG label, the kit includes some flashy system insert runners. Using multi-color insert molding to pack multiple colors into a single part, the straight build alone reproduces the design colors in a way that holds its own against MG kits.

Articulation is solid — above average and pretty impressive for its time. The polycap joint strength is sturdy too, so the whole kit moves in a stable, satisfying way. That said, despite the great joint articulation, poses somehow don't always come together as nicely as you'd hope — I think the poor foot contact with the ground is partly to blame. Still, the articulated fingers have a decent grip, so holding weapons isn't really a problem.

Shining Gundam's signature Super Mode is faithfully reproduced as well — only the face mask is a swap-out piece, while everything else is handled with movable parts, which keeps things clean. The only slightly frustrating bit is that the opening gimmick on the sides of the legs doesn't open up very far.

All in all, this kit's strengths are its excellent color separation, solid joints and articulation, and faithful Super Mode reproduction — it's one of the better old-style kits that really makes good use of the 1/100 scale. Sure, the MG Shining Gundam from 2002 has better overall quality, but this old 1/100 doesn't feel like it falls far behind. Either way, it feels like a step up from the earlier V Gundam 1/100 series — a solid old-style kit worth checking out. :-)
[ Updated at 2018.2.4 ]

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.