SD BB Senshi Kabuto Gundam

Release 2002.10

Price ¥1,000

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

Runners

Parts diagram

Manual

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

SD Kabuto Gundam - After applying seals (1/2)

SD Kabuto Gundam - After applying seals (2/2)

After applying stickers

SD Kabuto Gundam - The inner body "Waka" with armor and weapons removed (1/3)

The inner body "Waka" with armor and weapons removed

There's a gimmick where extending/retracting the lower body slides the eyes to change their expression.

Wing deployment

SD Kabuto Gundam - Weapons include a large Shichiseimadoken, the Saigankan (Crusher Arm), a mace, a sword, and other accessor

Weapons include a large Shichiseimadoken, the Saigankan (Crusher Arm), a mace, a sword, and other accessories.

Configured as a bazooka gun

Configured as a twin-type cannon

Configured as a Madanken

SD Kabuto Gundam - You can combine the Daishinmudo armor to build a rhinoceros beetle mech. (1/3)

You can combine the Daishinmudo armor to build a rhinoceros beetle mech.

Underside

Wings spread open just like a real rhinoceros beetle

It can be configured as a completely independent unit from Waka.

Add weapons to configure it in Battle Tank Mode.

Rotate the wheels and add the Shichiseimadoken to configure it in Kaigyujin Mode.

Leftover parts

Since the neck and waist are fixed, you're basically limited to rotating the arms and legs.

The head horn can be mounted on both arms like weapons.

SD Kabuto Gundam - Action poses with various weapons (1/4)

SD Kabuto Gundam - Action poses with various weapons (2/4)

Action poses with various weapons

Together with SD Yakushinkan.

This kit is the SD Kabuto Gundam released as part of the SD Gundam Musha Maruden 2 series. "Kabuto" means "helmet" in Japanese, and the kit also brings that rhinoceros beetle motif to life as a mech.

The inner body uses the same "Waka" form as the SD Yakushinkan, and the gimmick where you pull the legs down to slide the eye shape is carried over as well. You could basically think of it as the same build with just the armor swapped out — though the armor here is noticeably larger and more complex than on the Yakushinkan. The addition of clear parts and plated parts in particular pushed the price up to 1,000 yen.

The highlight of this kit is that you can collect all the armor pieces together to form the Daishinmudo armor — a rhinoceros beetle mech. It's a good size, looks the part, and with a plated frame inside those clear wings, the overall look is pretty premium. On top of the wing-spreading gimmick, you can also add weapons to configure it in Battle Tank Mode or Kaigyujin Mode.

For weapons, you get the Saigankan (Crusher Arm) that was also included with the Yakushinkan, and by combining additional parts you can configure it as a bazooka gun, twin-type cannon, or Madanken. There's also a large clear Shichiseimadoken included, and the head horn can be attached to the forearms in various ways — so there's quite a lot of variety in how you can use the weapons.

It's on the pricier side for an older SD kit, but it more than makes up for it with a really generous set of contents and plenty of play value. The rhinoceros beetle gimmick in particular is genuinely clever and fun. This is definitely one of the more recommended kits in the Maruden series. :-)

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.