REVIEW HG 1/144 GN-004 Gundam Nadleeh, Bandai

This is review of Bandai Gunpla plastic model HG 1/144 GN-004 Gundam Nadleeh from Mobile Suit Gundam 00 series.

Bandai Gunpla plastic model HG 1/144 GN-004 Gundam Nadleeh Review

The Gundam Nadleeh is the true form of Gundam Virtue after it purges its armor. This kit was originally released in 2008 and retailed for 1,320 yen before any pricing revisions.

Included Accessories

The kit includes the GN Beam Rifle, GN Shield, beam blade for the rifle, two GN Beam Sabers, and an open left hand. There are no extra parts except for polycaps.

(Note: This is a previously assembled kit, so the stickers for the condensers and twin eyes have already been applied.)

The sticker sheet includes foil stickers to cover various gray sections and cables, as well as the red color on the shield.

Design and Appearance

After the armor is removed from Gundam Virtue, Nadleeh emerges with a noticeably slimmer profile and almost entirely white color scheme. Its most striking feature is the bundle of hair-like cables flowing from the head. Nadleeh is equipped with the Trial System, allowing it to control other Veda-linked mobile suits, making it specialized for anti-Gundam operations.

Since armor purging couldn't be replicated in HG scale, this kit is sold separately from Virtue.

Proportions and Details

The Gundam has long legs and broad shoulders, giving it a dynamic silhouette. The hair-like cables are molded from soft rubber material in grouped sections. The joints use a combination of ABS plastic and polycaps, similar to other Season 1 Gundam kits.

Color Separation

While the main body parts are well color-separated, the kit still requires stickers or paint for the many cables and small gray details scattered throughout the frame.

Head Unit

Shown next to HG Virtue for size comparison, Nadleeh's head is proportioned to match its frame. The antenna and top camera are separate parts. The red line on top is recreated with a sticker, and the chin area also requires stickers or painting for accurate color.

Cable Design

The cables are highly detailed and made from the same soft rubber material used in other Season 1 Gundams. The helmet is split into left and right halves with visible seams.

Torso

The chest vents are separate parts, and the central lens is a clear part. While front gray sections have stickers, the back gray areas require painting. The GN Drive is a single molded part and is non-removable.

Shoulder and Neck Area

Clavicle antennas can be stored, and cables are present around the neck. Despite the complex design, the neck can still turn well thanks to the soft cables.

Arms

Seams are visible on the shoulders and forearms. Some gray areas on the shoulders are covered by stickers, but painting is needed to complete the details. Only the left open hand is included.

Waist and Legs

The hip joints are ball-jointed and can slightly swing. Removing the cover reveals a 3mm hole. The legs are mostly white aside from cable stickers. Knee joints use a sandwich-style construction, creating seams on the thighs and calves. Beam sabers cannot be stored in the legs.

Feet

No hollow parts on the soles, but gray sections need painting.

Articulation

The slender design and minimal armor make it easy to pose. The waist can rotate and slightly swing. The lower body is free of obstructive armor and has good ground contact, although the ball-jointed hips limit motion compared to modern kits.

Size Comparison

Compared with HG Virtue, Nadleeh fits well size-wise, maintaining the concept of being inside Virtue’s armor. With today’s technology, it would be interesting to see a version where the purging gimmick is included.

Weapons and Equipment

Comes with a GN Beam Rifle and GN Shield—simple but effective loadout. The head cables are secured tightly and don’t fall off. Even after long-term display, the joints still hold poses well.

GN Beam Rifle

The rifle has a rectangular, angular barrel. The sensor uses a sticker, but the body is a two-part sandwich style, creating a seam along the middle.

The rifle attaches securely to both the hand and the forearm peg, allowing for stable handling, including dual-wielding.

Beam Blades

Beam blade attachments are included for the rifle. Unlike Exia’s HG, which omits these, it’s nice to see them present here as clear parts.

GN Shield

The shield has inner detailing, but the red outer color is missing and must be added with stickers or paint. It attaches to the forearm and can rotate but lacks fine angle adjustments.

GN Beam Sabers

Two flat-style clear beam sabers are included, and they are compatible with other kits like HG Exia and HG Dynames.

Optional Weapons

Although not included, you can equip the GN Cannons from HG Virtue. While the classic crossed-arm firing pose isn’t feasible, the parts can still be held (though not stably due to grip rotation).

Comparison with MG and Other Kits

Placed next to the MG Nadleeh (painted) for comparison, the MG has more human-like proportions. While the overall color scheme is simple, you'll need to address many small gray areas for a more accurate look.

Compared with HG Exia and HG Plutone, which was released in 2020, newer kits show a clear evolution in part separation and engineering. It would be exciting to see a modernized version of Nadleeh using today’s technology.

Summary

That wraps up the HG Gundam Nadleeh review. Despite lacking the armor purging gimmick, it’s a solid kit with a clean and poseable design, especially from the neck down. The soft cables are surprisingly non-intrusive. While stickers cover many details, a bit of painting really helps tighten the visual presentation.

This review concludes the coverage of all Gundams using original solar reactors from Season 1. The build experience captures the transition from HG SEED-era kits to the HG 00 Season 2 generation—an interesting historical point in Gunpla development. Hopefully, we’ll see a full renewal of this kit in the future with improved articulation and gimmicks.