-- Series Common Notes ---------------------------------
The Gundam SEED 1/144 No Grade series ran from 2002 to 2004, with a total of 22 kits released, priced between 300 and 600 yen — these are entry-level Gunpla. They use system injection to achieve up to 5-color color separation, and due to simplified parts construction, the elbows and knees are fixed in place. The remaining joints do move thanks to 6 ball-type polycaps, but there aren't really that many poses you can pull off. On the flip side, with fewer moving parts, joint strength is rarely an 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 — no need to set your expectations too high.
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<Individual Kit Notes>
This kit is No. 11 in the series — the Freedom Gundam. The Freedom Gundam is the most popular mobile suit in the SEED lineup regardless of grade, and this kit is likewise the most popular among the SEED 1/144 No Grade series. The quality is also the highest in the series.
First off, thanks to the 5-color molded colors and stickers, the straight build looks pretty good right out of the box. The overall proportions in particular are incomparably better than the 1/144 Strike Gundam. And since there are fewer moving parts and the joints are solid, it actually feels like it holds poses even better than the HG Freedom Gundam in some ways.
That said, being a No Grade kit, the range of poses is still limited — but the kit looks good enough that even a little partial painting would make it look really sharp. At just 400 yen it's very affordable, so if you're a fan of SEED and the Freedom Gundam, this No Grade kit is definitely worth picking up. :-)
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
