New Gundam Model Kits Review] I tried to detail up "HG 1/144 Gundam Aerial", the main MS of "Mobile Suit Gundam: Witch of Mercury", in a handy and cool way!

Currently airing to rave reviews! Mobile Suit Gundam: Witch of Mercury" has become a topic of conversation for its various elements that overturn the conventional wisdom of the "Gundam" series, and is likely to become a new turning point in Gundam history, but the Gundam plastic models are also outstanding! So Akiba Research Institute also built a plastic model of the main mobile suit, the "HG 1/144 Gundam Aerial!

The silhouette of the "Gundam Aerial" is similar to the "Gundam Lubris" that appeared in "PROLOGUE", but it has a more massive and refined form.

Here is a straight assembly.

It was assembled in about an hour with a crackle. It is polycapless, mostly PS material. Only the in-molded chest shell unit is made of ABS material.

The thighs are as firm as a pro wrestler's.

Check out the head area!

The camera eye and rear head camera are metallic stickers. The color options are green and red, and this time I assembled it in green.

The head, vulcan, intake, and chin are all separately parted, and the coloring can be reproduced almost exactly as set just by assembling. The shell unit on the forehead is covered with metallic stickers and clear parts, which reflect the light beautifully.

The shell unit on the chest can be either an in-mold molded part or a clear part with a metallic sticker attached to the back. The in-molded parts seem to reflect the light better.

Shell units are also attached to the thighs and backpack.

These are the type where metallic stickers are attached to the back of clear parts.

Let's take a look at the movable parts!

The shoulders can be raised approximately 90 degrees to the side. The shoulders can be raised 90 degrees to the side, and can also be raised straight up. The elbow joints are uniaxial, but can be bent deeply to almost 180 degrees.

Both shoulders can swing forward.

The legs can be opened like this. The skirt of the waist is small, so it does not interfere with the movement of the legs.

The knees can be raised up to this level.

So ......

She can be posed standing on her knees. The impressive cut from the teaser visual can also be recreated!

Next, let's check out the equipment!

First, let's start with the characteristic armament "Escutcheon". It looks like an evolution of the bit-stave equipped on the "Gundam Lubris" and has a sleeker silhouette.

Of course, from this shield form, ......

It can also be separated into 11 bit-staves.

The Weapon Display Stand, scheduled for release in January 2023, will allow you to display these bit-staves beautifully.

Now, let's take a look at the Gundam Aerial armed form.

It is equipped with a beam rifle and a shield form escutcheon. Standard Gundam style!

Even when standing, it looks really cool! The escutcheon is attached to the base to form a shield. The base is also well sculpted, so even a glimpse of it looks great.

Here is another figure of Gundam Aerial.

This is the bit-on form, in which bit-staves are attached to the entire body.

In this form, the Gundam Aerial's own mobility and defensive capabilities are improved while supplying power and propulsion to each bit-stave. It was also in this form when it first appeared in the first episode of the anime!

Next, we introduce the beam rifle.

Effect parts are included, allowing you to recreate battle scenes like this.

Also, by connecting an attachment to the beam rifle, ......

It can be mounted on the back.

Furthermore, the beam saber mounted on the back can also be ......

By using effect parts, the saber can be reproduced. It is a fresh clear blue color, perfect for the aerial image.

So, although the "HG 1/144 Gundam Aerial" is very substantial even when assembled straight, let's try to improve the quality easily!

Detail up with ink, matte finish and stickers!

Here is the figure after spraying with ink and matte finish.

Real Touch Markers were used for the ink. Gray, red, blue, and brown are used according to the color of the molded parts.

The figure now has a more intrepid impression.

The inked parts are very important to make the figure look more realistic.

The slit-like parts on the back also look more three-dimensional when colored in.

Parting lines were removed by filing the joint parts on the elbows and backs of the knees.

The escutcheon looks like this. The thruster parts are painted black for a more crisp look. The stickers have also made the coloring more complex, so the impression has changed quite a bit.

Next is the bit-on form.

The floating display is also very well suited for this model!

The kit's density has been increased by the complex overlapping of the parts and the increased amount of information provided by the inking.

Let's pose the figure in various ways!

The beam rifle can also be made into a long-barreled version by docking the bit-stave to the beam rifle. In this way, the ability to play with various combinations of parts is a feature of the "HG 1/144 Gundam Aerial".

So, that was the "HG 1/144 Gundam Aerial"!

It is an excellent kit that can be assembled straight and looks cool, but by adding inking and partial painting, it can be made even more detailed!

As there are no difficult parts to assemble, I would recommend this kit as an introductory kit for Gunpla beginners.

As mentioned above, the "Weapon Display Base" is scheduled to be released in January 2023, and when combined with the kit, the Bit Stave can be displayed in a floating state. We would like to reproduce the all-range attack scene from the climax of the first episode, which had a huge impact. ......, so we would definitely like to get that as well.

I am looking forward to seeing more "Witch of Mercury" kits in the future. If you have any other kits you would like us to review, please let us know!

Product Information

HG 1/144 Gundam Aerial

Now on sale

Price: 1,430 yen (tax included)

Target age: 8 years old and up

From the latest in the Gundam series, "Mobile Suit Gundam: Witch of Mercury" comes a HG series figure of the main character, the Gundam Aerial!

The shield can be separated into 11 bit-staves. The shield can be separated into 11 bit-staves, which can be connected to various parts of the fuselage to express the image in the play.

The shell unit is reproduced with a combination of in-mold molded parts, double side seals and clear parts. The shell unit can be assembled in either luminescent or non-luminescent state.

Beam parts are clear molded.

Double side stickers with printed patterns on the adhesive side can be applied from the inside of the clear parts to create a sense of transparency and depth.

＜Accessories

Beam saber x 2

Beam rifle × 1

Beam shield × 1

Shell unit clear parts × 1 set

Beam rifle effect parts×1

Joint parts×1

Seal×1