Kit Review

Straight build + panel lining + partial painting

The universal standard for size comparison — next to a cigarette box.

HG Chaos Gundam - Even though the back looks a bit heavy, the joints are solid and the kit is light, so there's no problem at

Even though the back looks a bit heavy, the joints are solid and the kit is light, so there's no problem at all keeping it standing upright.

HG Chaos Gundam - The rifle has a complex color scheme per the design specs, so I painted it with several colors. Originally

The rifle has a complex color scheme per the design specs, so I painted it with several colors. Originally it's a single-color part.

The yellow section in the middle of the shield also needs partial painting.

HG Chaos Gundam - Three spots need partial painting: the red on the head, the yellow in the middle of the torso, and the red

Three spots need partial painting: the red on the head, the yellow in the middle of the torso, and the red on the sides.
The red areas on the head antenna can also be handled with stickers.

HG Chaos Gundam - I also painted the inside of the pods on the back when opened. The pod covers aren't hinged — they're just

I also painted the inside of the pods on the back when opened.
The pod covers aren't hinged — they're just removable. You pull them off and rotate them to reattach.

The pods can be detached from the body and used offensively like this.

HG Chaos Gundam - There are beam sabers stored in the side weapons, but the activated beam saber (i.e., the long beam blade)

There are beam sabers stored in the side weapons, but...
The activated beam saber (i.e., the long beam blade) isn't included — you only get the handle.

HG Chaos Gundam - The white parts on both sides of the lower rear skirt are applied with stickers, and they go on fairly clea

The white parts on both sides of the lower rear skirt are applied with stickers,
and they go on fairly cleanly.

The front of the legs has a variety of articulation to allow them to transform into claws in MA mode.

Arm articulation is just 90 degrees, but the legs bend quite a lot.

Action po~se

HG Chaos Gundam - Transforming into MA mode. Honestly, it's barely even a transformation — just remove the head, tilt the bod

Transforming into MA mode. Honestly, it's barely even a transformation...
Just remove the head, tilt the body forward, and spread the claw sections on the legs.

MA mode seen from below. It looks adorably like a puppet doing a little dance.

Pop open the cover on the back and there's a hidden beam weapon inside too.

MA mode with the pods detached

Together with HG Force Impulse and Zaku Warrior.

Straight build photos (with seals applied)

Chaos Gundam is the third Destiny HG kit to be released. True to the SEED HG lineup, it shows clean, quality construction, and the molded colors for the green sections are generally excellent. The color separation is also quite well done, so if you want to match all the design colors, there aren't many spots that need partial painting. Even straight out of the box, it already shows off a pretty flashy color scheme.

Like many of the Destiny mobile suits, Chaos Gundam can transform into MA mode — you just bend the upper body forward and open up the claw sections on the legs. "Transform" might be too strong a word; it's more like it's just hunching over ;; Either way, it's a simple transformation but the end result doesn't look bad at all, and the relatively complex claw structure on the legs is well reproduced. Joint strength is also a key point for transforming kits, and every joint on the body has just the right amount of stiffness — nothing feels loose anywhere.

The two pods on the back are removable, and while the covers aren't hinged, you can still open the missile pod hatches by detaching them. The missile sections also have good color separation in an orange tone, so they look great in a straight build and are easy to paint as well.

Overall it's a solid, well-rounded kit with very good quality. If you like the design, it's an easy pick. ^^

HG Chaos Gundam | 2004. 12 | ¥1,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.