-- Series Overview ---------------------------------
The Gundam SEED Destiny 1/144 No Grade series followed up on the original SEED 1/144 line, with a total of 14 kits released between 2004 and 2005, priced between ¥300 and ¥600 as entry-level Gunpla. The basic construction is similar to the SEED 1/144 series, but you can feel a step up in terms of detail, and they use an evolved dumbbell-shaped ball joint polycap. Each joint moves on both ends, so articulation has improved — but since the elbows and knees are still fixed, the range of poses you can pull off remains limited.
That said, the proportions are quite solid, on par with HG, and while color separation is limited, the molded colors look pretty decent. Each kit also recreates its own transformation gimmick or key feature. The parts count is more complex than the SEED 1/144 kits, which pushed the average price up to ¥500, but overall quality has gone up along with it. True to the No Grade label, these are great entry-level Gunpla — reasonably priced for a fun build or painting practice.
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<Individual Kit Notes>
This kit is the second entry in the series, the 1/144 Zaku Warrior. It was well known as the best-quality kit in the lineup — aside from a few color separation compromises, the color scheme and design are nearly identical to the HG version. Unlike the previous Force Impulse Gundam, this one looks pretty great even as a straight straight build.
So yes, in terms of articulation and accessories it doesn't escape the limits of a No Grade kit — but as you can see, even a simple build gives you a really impressive-looking result. At just ¥300 it's also the cheapest in the series, making it a great bang-for-your-buck kit that anyone can enjoy without hesitation. :-)
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
