-- Series Overview ---------------------------------
The Gundam SEED 1/144 No Grade series ran from 2002 to 2004, with a total of 22 kits released, all priced in the ¥300–¥600 entry-level range. 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. The remaining joints do move thanks to 6 ball-type polycaps, though 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 simple parts count means you can usually get it built in about 10 minutes, and considering the price, the build experience and overall look are pretty decent. It's a solid entry-level kit for anyone who wants a quick, affordable build or just wants to practice painting without any big expectations.
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<Kit-Specific Notes>
This is kit No. 12 in the series — the 1/144 Justice Gundam. Even though it's a No Grade, it actually comes with a system injection runner in as many as 5 molded colors. That said, the design has a pretty complex color layout, so compared to the HG, the lower body in particular looks a bit plain. On the plus side, the proportions hold up well against the HG, and with no moving parts to worry about, the poses actually end up looking nice and sharp.
The Fatum-00 on the back lets you detach and deploy the wings, and you can lock them horizontally on the body to recreate a flight pose. All in all, this is a No Grade kit that punches above its weight in terms of proportions and detail — with a good paint job, you could end up with a Justice Gundam that looks even cleaner and more solid than the HG. :-)
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
