-- Series-wide Notes ---------------------------------
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, the elbows and knees are fixed in place. Six ball-type polycaps handle the remaining joints, though there aren't really that many poses you can pull off. On the plus 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 low enough that you can usually put one together in about 10 minutes, and considering the price, the build experience and overall look are pretty decent. These are great entry-level Gunpla for anyone who just wants a quick, affordable build or needs something to practice painting on — just don't go in with high expectations.
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<Individual Kit Notes>
This is kit No. 16 in the series — the 1/144 Raider Gundam. It comes molded in 4 colors with stickers included, but the purple parts are left out, so the color accuracy takes a hit compared to the HG. There are also some sink marks visible on the claw section. That said, since the HG Raider Gundam was already pretty much rock-bottom in terms of quality, the No Grade version actually ends up looking cleaner and more solid by comparison. Either way, the overall quality doesn't go beyond what you'd expect from a No Grade kit — but for the Raider Gundam specifically, I'd honestly recommend building the No Grade over the HG. :-)
AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.
