REVIEW HG 1/144 XGF-01[II3] Gundam Lfrith Jiu, Premium Bandai

This is review of P-Bandai plastic model Gunpla High Grade HGTWFM 1/144 XGF-01[II3] Gundam Lfrith Jiu from Mobile Suit Gundam : The Witch from Mercury series.

P-Bandai Gunpla HGTWFM 1/144 XGF-01[II3] Gundam Lfrith Jiu Review

The Gundam Lfrith Jiu is a part of the HG Mercury Witch series. Priced at 1,980 yen, it is available for order exclusively on Premium Bandai. While the packaging features a single color, the instruction manual remains consistent with the general sale product, including an aircraft description.

The only provided accessories are the tiger hand connection joints. The three components depicted on the right side are extra parts for runner convenience. Included are seals encompassing sensors, various shell units, and foil stickers that enhance the color coding of the tiger's hands.

The Gundam Lfrith Jiu has been crafted as a kit from "Mobile Suit Gundam Witch of Mercury Vanadis Heart," a side story related to the Witch of Mercury. The main body doesn't appear to be intended for combat, featuring no built-in weaponry. However, it's equipped with a "tiger's hand" at the back, which repurposes the right arm of a larger Mobile Suit. Similar to other Gundams, it possesses a shell unit covering its face, as well as chest and shoulder sections, but not legs.

Though a kit, this iteration borrows certain parts like joints from the Gundam Lfrith model. The structure is analogous, and in line with other Mercury kits, it utilizes KPS joints instead of poly caps. Knees and ankles feature C-type joints akin to those on Lfrith.

Present is a figure of a tiger with its paw removed. Lacking inherent armaments, its proportions are comparable to Lfrith and Aerial, boasting a well-balanced torso and robust thighs. The fuselage's color scheme is mostly reproduced using the molding color, with the exception of the gray duct on the back and the ◯ joint part. The shell unit seal can be chosen to emit or not emit light, and in this case, it's assembled in the emitting state.

Head Unit

Turning our attention to the head, when juxtaposed with Lfrith for comparison, the face is concealed by a visor-like shell unit. Opting for a luminous sticker reveals twin eyes on the back. The ducts and sensors exhibit intricate color coding, but the head is divided into front and back sections, resulting in some seams. The mask component boasts a three-dimensional mold, and the seal is designed to cover everything except the twin eye area.

Body Unit

Moving on to the torso, which is also compared with Lfrith, despite some shared joint parts, the designs differ. A chest shell unit mold is also evident.

Although it's a back martial arts design, it employs a large round joint instead of the mainstream two-hole joint seen these days. As such, a straightforward pack exchange requires modification.

Arms Unit

Affixed to the back is the tiger hand, reputedly repurposing the arm of another Mobile Suit. This feature also encompasses a built-in shell unit and is replete with various gimmicks. Shell units are present on the shoulders and forearms, replicated using stickers and transparent parts.

The arms are fashioned like standard arms, with the upper arm capable of rotating, swinging around the shoulder, and flexible movement at the elbow and wrist. The grip on the rounded part of the elbow can be rotated and employed to trigger the grip stored in the upper arm. Bending the elbow part extends it approximately 90 degrees, and the wrist can be independently moved, facilitating varied facial expressions.

While the arm design differs significantly apart from the shared joint parts, the upper arm's framework and the forearm's 3mm joint remain consistent. The wrist design is unique and lacks an open hand configuration.

Concerning the arms, the shoulder armor is constructed to be seamless, with a shell unit integrated here as well. The hip joint lacks swing gimmicks, and the stand hole maintains its usual location.

Legs Unit

Regarding the legs, they're predominantly new aside from the joint parts. Similar to Lfrith and Aerial, the thighs are bulky, yet the ankles are smaller and slightly elevated, giving the impression of longer legs compared to Lfrith. The calf's side hosts the vernier unit, instead of the knee, and there's no vernier on the back of the thigh.

The ankles are compact in shape, but the foot's sole remains hollow. The toes and heels can move independently.

Movability and Articulation

In terms of range of motion, the joint structure mirrors that of Lfrith, implying limited alterations. However, the impression is that the horizontal swing range of the torso is slightly narrower than that of Lfrith.

Since the legs lack hip joint armor, they appear more open than Lfrith, affording better grounding. The knees remain sufficiently flexible, as illustrated in the comparison with HG Gundam Lfrith.

The chest's width is slightly narrower, and the legs are longer, creating a sleeker impression. The figure is also slightly taller due to the ankles. Utilizing the tiger's hand as a backpack unit yields a simple craft devoid of handheld weapons.

The backpack can be fine-tuned using a large-diameter ball joint, and the shoulder armor on the tiger's hand can be rotated, enabling precise adjustment of the vernier's position.

Detach the tiger's hand from the backpack and hold the grip to simulate a beam cannon. While it can be held with both hands, the fingertip muzzle lacks color coding, necessitating the use of a sticker for replication.

Furthermore, it can be connected to the forearm using the included joint while retaining the wrist grip. This configuration transforms the main body into a substantial arm-shaped unit.

The joints are detailed, with clear parts employed for the shell unit, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing appearance. Secure attachment to the forearm allows it to function as a manageable weapon, even though it can be employed as a shield. The part that strikes the elbow flexes, simplifying setup.

Given the movable fingers, intricate expressions can be achieved. Functioning as a bit is also possible, enabling decorative use upon separation. In this scenario, the weapon display base joint is employed for arrangement.

Despite being a tiger's hand, the wrist accommodates both left and right hands. It's feasible to assemble it as a left hand, although the hand-held grip requires rotation for orientation change. Unfortunately, the forearm attachment joint isn't compatible with the left hand, rendering complete left-right symmetry unachievable. Nevertheless, the grip allows usage as a left hand.

Comparison

Concluding with a size comparison between the recently released HG Caliburn and HGUC Gundam, it's roughly the same size as Caliburn and approximately one head taller than Gundam.

Summary

That concludes the review of HG Gundam Lfrith Jiu. Though ordered through Premium Bandai, likely due to its status as a Gaiden craft, the instruction manual is comprehensive, containing an aircraft description.

While in-mold parts are absent due to the three-dimensional shape of the face and chest shell unit, clear parts are used effectively, extending up to the tiger's hand, with minimal seams for an appealing appearance. The distinctive tiger's hand unit functions as a backpack, a colossal arm unit, and parts suitable for various uses, including bits. It's a versatile kit for decoration and customization.