Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HG Stargazer Gundam - Detail shots (1/4)

HG Stargazer Gundam - Detail shots (2/4)

Detail shots

Beam gun with surprisingly good color separation for an HG

The leg articulation achieves full bend — impressive for an HG.

The boosters hidden in the rear legs can be opened and closed.

HG Stargazer Gundam - The connecting joints on the large truss attached to the back can be configured in a wide variety of wa

The connecting joints on the large truss attached to the back can be configured in a wide variety of ways.

HG Stargazer Gundam - The truss arranged on the ground as a stand. Unfortunately the height is just a bit short, so displayin

The truss arranged on the ground as a stand.
Unfortunately the height is just a bit short, so displaying it in a floating mid-air pose isn't that easy.

HG Stargazer Gundam - Aerial pose using the included 1/144 exclusive stand (1/3)

Aerial pose using the included 1/144 exclusive stand

HG Stargazer Gundam - Various truss configurations. (1/3)

Various truss configurations.

HG Stargazer Gundam - Beam gun firing pose (1/3)

Beam gun firing pose

Interplanetary propulsion system, Virtual Lohengrin beam parts.

HG Stargazer Gundam - Spectacular Virtual Lohengrin display. (1/4)

HG Stargazer Gundam - Spectacular Virtual Lohengrin display. (2/4)

Spectacular Virtual Lohengrin display.

HG Stargazer Gundam - With hologram seals applied instead of the black seals on the body. (Photos retaken in 2023 — image qua

With hologram seals applied instead of the black seals on the body.
(Photos retaken in 2023 — image quality differs from the original 2006 release review photos above.)

HG Stargazer Gundam - Detail shots of each section (1/3)

Detail shots of each section

Action pose with hologram seals applied

Together with the HG Strike Noir Gundam.

The Stargazer Gundam — one of the most distinctive mobile suits from the SEED side stories — has been released as an HG. The Stargazer's defining feature is the large truss on its back, and the kit faithfully recreates this with a variety of joints that allow the truss to be split left and right and positioned or combined at various angles.

Basic articulation is pretty good too — full leg bend is achieved here, which is rare for an HG. That said, the nature of this mobile suit doesn't really call for dynamic action poses. Instead, the kit comes with Virtual Lohengrin beam parts that attach to the truss, plus a 1/144 exclusive stand, so you can use these accessories to pull off spectacular displays you just don't see with other kits.

Weapons-wise, you only get a single beam gun, but despite its small size, the color separation on it is surprisingly well done for an HG. Since pretty much all of this mobile suit's personality is concentrated in the truss gimmick on its back, the weaponry can feel a bit lacking by comparison. On the plus side, in addition to the standard seals, hologram seals are included so you can choose which to apply. Swapping them out after the fact is pretty much not an option, but if you make your choice carefully during assembly, you can recreate that beautiful, luminous look from the show.

All in all, this is a kit that clearly had some thought put into it — fitting for such a distinctive mobile suit — and it delivers a building experience unlike anything you'd get from other kits. If you're after a truly unique display, give the HG Stargazer Gundam's Virtual Lohengrin a shot! :-)

HG Stargazer Gundam | 2006. 11 | ¥1,900

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.