Kit Review

Straight build + Partial paint + Panel lining + Decals

Size comparison with the universal standard — a cigarette pack. Long and slender.

The rear wing section feels incredibly long.

1/100 Saviour Gundam - Upper body front shot. The V on the chest is a seal, but everything else is done through color separat

Upper body front shot. The V on the chest is a seal, but everything else is done through color separation.

The back..

1/100 Saviour Gundam - The color separation on the shield is excellent. But this shield... the beam saber handle plugged into

The color separation on the shield is excellent.
But this shield... the beam saber handle plugged into the shoulder makes it really tricky to get a good angle;;

1/100 Saviour Gundam - Maybe because it's a transforming kit, the limb articulation is surprisingly good — almost hard to bel

Maybe because it's a transforming kit, the limb articulation is surprisingly good — almost hard to believe it's a No Grade.

Action po~se

Plasma accelerator beam cannon action

The beam cannon part is so long it can actually double as a floor stand;

An unusual draw pose. Hard to get the angle right;

Beam saber action

This one also has a stand peg hole..

1/100 Saviour Gundam - The hole size is compatible with all existing stands. However, given the insertion angle, it works bes

The hole size is compatible with all existing stands.
However, given the insertion angle, it works best with the deluxe stand that came with the 1/100 Legend Gundam.
Since that stand is also planned for separate release, it should be very useful.

Vesbar action really needs a stand..

Dual blades~

~
Transformation ~

Remove the hands and shield, fold the head antenna, and rotate the lower body 180 degrees.

A quirky gimmick on the arms. Extend the length, then rotate the inner armor to the outside.

1/100 Saviour Gundam - Then reattach the hands, and the armor hides them so you can barely see them... (though maybe you can

Then reattach the hands, and the armor hides them so you can barely see them... (though maybe you can kind of see them..;)
Bend the shoulder armor down 90 degrees.
At this point, pull the shoulders out slightly to the sides.

Slide the backpack structure upward.

Rotate the beam cannon section 180 degrees to face forward.

Fold the legs...

Insert the separate locking piece into the stand peg hole.

1/100 Saviour Gundam - It's a locking pin that keeps the thighs from shifting around after transformation. What a nice little

It's a locking pin that keeps the thighs from shifting around after transformation.
What a nice little extra for a No Grade..

Remove the shield mount, then lift the separate locking gimmick upward.

The shield locks in securely at two points, front and back.

Check out the beam rifle gimmick. You can detach the handle and stow it away.

Both shield and beam rifle attached.

Transformation complete. It's quite long, nearly 30cm. Sleek and shapely..

The transformed body looks pretty decent, all things considered..

1/100 Saviour Gundam - It's compatible with stands too. If you look closely at the transformation steps above, you'll notice

It's compatible with stands too.
If you look closely at the transformation steps above, you'll notice that a separate locking piece gets inserted into the stand peg hole used in MS mode —
— so it looks like the stand hole is gone.
But that locking piece itself is cleverly designed to accept a stand as well,
so you can still use a stand 100% in flight mode too.

Gives off a real fighter jet vibe.

Thin and long.

The underside. Pretty clean for what it is.

1/100 Saviour Gundam - Alongside the HG Saviour Gundam. Compared to the HG, it's slimmer~ and the color separation is much mo

Alongside the HG Saviour Gundam. Compared to the HG, it's slimmer~ and the color separation is much more complete.

Comparison in flight mode.

1/100 Saviour Gundam - The 1/100 and HG differ quite a bit in wing style. Unlike the thin, elongated HG wings, the 1/100 has

The 1/100 and HG differ quite a bit in wing style.
Unlike the thin, elongated HG wings, the 1/100 has shorter, chunkier ones.
If the 1/100 had gone with thin, long wings too, it would've been absolutely massive..

Alongside Athrun's other unit, the 1/100 Infinite Justice Gundam.
The Saviour is slimmer and taller.

Straight build front shot

Straight build rear shot

After four first-release limited editions that came with stands, we finally get a regular standard release with the 1/100 Saviour Gundam. It's a transforming kit with that bold red color scheme befitting Athrun's mobile suit — it really catches the eye.

As you'd expect from a modern 1/100, it shows much improved color separation and slimmer proportions compared to the HG. It might even look a bit too elongated, but there's definitely a sleek, refined feel to it. The color separation is excellent overall, though the V on the chest and the wing sections still require seals. That said, it doesn't have the same intricate, finely detailed feel as the 1/100 Legend — the detail work here is more straightforward and understated.

Since this isn't a first-release limited edition, no stand is included — but given that it transforms into an MA, a stand is actually more of a necessity for this kit; The developers clearly knew this, so thankfully the 1/100 Saviour does have a stand mount built in, and it's compatible with the peg from any other stand. That said, the standard first-release limited edition stand (the MG Wing Zaku version) can't adjust its angle, so it's a bit awkward to use with the Saviour — the deluxe all-purpose stand included with the 1/100 Legend works much better. Whether in MS or MA form, it definitely looks sharper with a stand, and since that Legend-version all-purpose stand is set to be released separately down the line, it should prove very handy.

One of the most important things in a transforming kit is joint strength, and the 1/100 Saviour does a really great job here. Every part transforms cleanly without any looseness, and there are several locking mechanisms built in to keep everything firmly in place after transformation. Things like the double-lock on the shield, the unique double-fold structure at the knees (an internal mechanism you'd only know about by checking the manual), and the added locking gimmick at the crotch to hold the legs in place — this kit puts a surprising amount of thought into the transformation for a No Grade. Probably because the Zeta 1.0 got so much flak back in the day that they're being more careful now, even on No Grade kits.

Anyway, the proportions in MA flight mode after transformation look fantastic. The long, slender shape stretching nearly 30cm really gives off that fighter jet vibe. And even without a stand, you can set it flat on the ground and it balances nicely thanks to the twin-winged shield shape. There's nothing like landing gear on the bottom, yet somehow it sits perfectly flat on the surface — pretty neat! Of course, it looks way cooler mounted up on a stand. :-)

Looking closely though, the character plate that used to come as a bonus with previous 1/100 kits has quietly disappeared. Sure, there are already so many Athrun character plates out there that another one probably isn't necessary, but it does seem like they're planning to leave it out of 1/100 kits going forward.

As you'd expect from a modern 1/100 kit, it's got solid quality, a large and stylish design, clean transformation, and the added appeal of being Athrun's mobile suit — all in all, a pretty decent kit for the price. ^^

1/100 Saviour Gundam | 2006. 6 | ¥2,600

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.