The reveal of a new Gundam series always comes with the reveal of new Gunpla, and the same is true with the latest one, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. This one is very particular with how close it is to the premiere of the compilation theatrical feature Gundam GQuuuuuuX -Beginning- so we only have to wait a little over a month for our first glimpse of what to expect with this new line.
Before going deeper, check out the promo video Bandai Spirits recently released.
Coming from the first trailer and this promo video, you can see how there’s emphasis on its great range of articulation, which is expected for a design that many people already call a hybrid between a Gundam and an Evangelion. It also doesn’t have a full inner frame like older High Grades like those from IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS, but it still has engineering to support said articulation coupled with great parts separation. And yes, we’ll go through that in a bit.
Coming from its initial reveal, the question immediately on the minds of modelers is the sheer number of colors on this thing, and those red pinstripes don’t help at all, if our experience with the HGCE Rising Freedom would be the reference. Other than that, the silhouette further shows the different aesthetic direction this design takes, and it is quite the departure from anything seen previously.
Some fans are already divided by the design but I personally appreciate the bold and crazy approach. Bandai Spirits did approve this design knowing they’re able to translate it to a decent kit at the very least. That said, we all know that this kit won’t look like this out of the box, especially with those pinstipes that would likely be stickers.
Fortunately, we have a glimpse when an unpainted sample was on display at The Gundam Base.
As expected, those red and yellow pinstripes are not color separated parts so you’ll likeky need to use the stickers or bust the paint brush for those small lines. Personally, I might just have to use the stickers though decals would’ve been better. There are also some recesses on where would be the front hip armors that need yellow paint as well.
But overall, it already looks good out of the box, especially with the complicated head design.
The kit also comes with everything seen above. These include a beam rifle, shield, two melee beam weapons and their beam effect parts, replacement hand parts, a pod-looking thing, and an alternative head unit when the blade antenna is retracted and covers the front of the face.
As a fan of packaging design, I also look forward to when the boxes of kits from a new series are revealed. For the HG Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX line, it has this glitchy design with colors all over the place. I also appreciate it when the actual mobile suit illustration isn’t in the same “Gundam staring at the end of the beam rifle” pose — I’m sure you know what I’m talking about here so seeing the GQuuuuuuX lounging with axe in hand is definitely a fresh concept.
HG 1/144 GQuuuuuuX
January 17, 2025 / ¥2,000
Order from HobbyLink Japan
Crazy names aside, the HG GQuuuuuuX is a promising opener to this new line, we did see a Zaku-looking mobile suit in the trailer so we’ll likely see that as a kit as well. Then there are those “leaked” mobile suits that the legal team over at Bandai is scrambling to scrub, and if those are true, I will definitely want kits of those as well.
