-- Series Overview ---------------------------------
The Gundam SEED 1/144 No Grade series ran from 2002 to 2004, with a total of 22 kits released, all entry-level Gunpla priced between 300 and 600 yen. They use system injection to achieve up to 5-color color separation, but due to simplified parts construction, the elbows and knees are fixed in place. Six ball-type polycaps handle the remaining joints, so there is some movement, but there aren't really that many poses you can pull off. On the plus side, with fewer moving parts, joint strength issues are pretty much a non-issue.
Given when these came out, the detail is a bit soft as you'd expect from a No Grade kit, but the proportions are on par with HG. The parts count is simple enough that you can usually put one together in about 10 minutes, and considering the price, the build feel and overall look are pretty decent. These are a great entry-level Gunpla for anyone who just wants a quick, affordable build or is looking for something to practice painting on — just don't go in with sky-high expectations.
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<Individual Kit Notes>
This is kit No. 7 in the series, the 1/144 Blitz Gundam. It's molded entirely in a single dark blue color with stickers to fill in the details, but since the design itself isn't exactly a riot of colors to begin with, it actually comes out looking better than you might expect. And while options were pretty sparse for No Grade kits, the claw on the left arm can be swapped out for an open version, which is a nice touch. Beyond that, it sticks faithfully to the basic series concept without any major standout features — but there's something satisfying about the fact that all five of the original protagonist mobile suits finally made it into the lineup. :-)
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
