OLD Z Gundam 1/100 Galbaldy-Beta

Release 1985.6

Price ¥1,000

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

OLD 1/100 Galbaldy-Beta - Box side view (1/3)

Box side view

Runners

1/100 Galbaldy-Beta dedicated polycap/soft parts runners

Waterslide decals

Wire cores for fingers

OLD 1/100 Galbaldy-Beta - Parts diagram (1/3)

Parts diagram

Manual

Straight build + wet decals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

The power cables on the head and neck are made of soft material.

The polycap joint structure inside the limbs. Pretty simple compared to the Mk-II or Hi-Zack.

Like the Mk-II, all four fingers are articulated using wire cores.

OLD 1/100 Galbaldy-Beta - Sole mold detail. Unlike the Mk-II or Hi-Zack, the front and rear sections don't split and move inde

Sole mold detail. Unlike the Mk-II or Hi-Zack, the front and rear sections don't split and move independently.

OLD 1/100 Galbaldy-Beta - Just like the 1/144 Galbaldy-Beta, the left chest armor is a separate part so you can build the coc

Just like the 1/144 Galbaldy-Beta, the left chest armor is a separate part so you can build the cockpit in an open configuration.

The rifle's shoulder stock gets in the way and makes it awkward to hold.

1/48 Lyra figure

The articulation is absolutely terrible..;;

OLD 1/100 Galbaldy-Beta - Rifle firing pose. No other weapons and the articulation is so bad there's really not much you can

Rifle firing pose. No other weapons and the articulation is so bad there's really not much you can do with it.

Together with the 1/144 Galbaldy-Beta.

Together with the 1/100 Hi-Zack.

Together with the Camille/Jerid figures from the previous kits.

The third kit in the old-style Z 1/100 lineup is the 1/100 Galbaldy-Beta, and just like the 1/144, it's the only Galbaldy-Beta model kit at this scale. For whatever reason, as of 2017 when I'm writing this review, the Galbaldy-Beta still feels completely left out in the cold — there's no sign of it getting an HGUC release, let alone an MG. -.-

As a kit, it's simpler than its predecessors. The internal polycap layout is straightforward, the overall design and parts breakdown are more streamlined, and that's reflected in the price — it came out at ¥1000, the cheapest of the bunch. That makes it an easy build, but it also feels like less effort went into its development. Just look at the soles: unlike the other 1/100 kits, they're completely bare with no mold detail whatsoever.

That said, the proportions are genuinely well done and look quite refined. There's no MG to compare it against, but honestly, with a decent paint job you'd never guess it was an old kit. The articulation, on the other hand, is among the worst in the 1/100 lineup — it's incredibly stiff and limited. And since the only weapon included is the rifle, there's barely any pose variety to speak of.

Feature-wise, just like the 1/144, the left chest armor is provided as a separate part so you can display the cockpit open, and like the Mk-II, all four fingers are articulated using wire cores.

It's a relatively simple kit without any standout gimmicks, so it can feel a bit plain — but being the only 1/100 Galbaldy-Beta out there is a selling point in itself. The proportions are clean and the structure makes it easy to paint, so it'd work great as a painting practice kit too. All in all, a solid old-school kit. :-)
[Updated at 2017.4.7]

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.