REVIEW HG 1/144 AMX-014R Reben Wolf [ AOZ Re:BOOT ver. ], Premium Bandai

This is review of P-Bandai Gunpla HG 1/144 AMX-014R Reben Wolf [ AOZ Re:BOOT ver. ] from AOZ RE-BOOT: Gundam Inlay The Dream of the Black Rabbit.

P-Bandai Gunpla HG 1/144 AMX-014R Reben Wolf [ AOZ Re:BOOT ver. ] Review

From the ever-expanding AOZ (Advance of Zeta) series under the HGUC line, Bandai brings us the HGUC Lieben-Wolff, a completely new kit based on the "A.O.Z RE-BOOT: Gundam Inle – The Dream of the Black Rabbit" storyline. Priced at 3,520 yen and available exclusively through Premium Bandai, this kit is a bold reinterpretation of the classic Doven Wolf, and it's packed with modern features and thoughtful engineering.

As typical with Premium Bandai releases, the box comes in a monochrome design, and the manual is entirely black-and-white with no lore or unit background.

Included Accessories:

Beam Machine Gun
2 Beam Sword Axes
1 Pickaxe effect part
1 Axe effect part
2 Sword effect parts
Connector parts for Woundwort leg installation
Optional head part without antenna
Open hands, weapon-holding hands, and standard fists

Only marking stickers are provided—no foil stickers for color correction.

The Design – Where Style Meets Function

Lieben-Wolff is a customized, more streamlined successor to the Doven Wolf, developed by Zeon Mars. By modularizing most of its weapons, internal armaments are simplified, while production efficiency was improved by sharing parts with the Zaku III-R. The end result is a striking mobile suit that carries hints of its predecessor and siblings but with a distinct, stylish edge.

While the silhouette is imposing—especially with its large back-mounted thrusters and missile pods—the mechanical detailing feels refreshingly modern. The build avoids ABS or polycaps, using only KPS plastic, giving it a solid and durable feel. Despite its size, the joints are impressively tight and stable.

Head and Torso

You get the option of a head with or without antenna, with a cleverly designed movable mono-eye, adjustable via a lever under the chin. The design features smooth contours reminiscent of the Doven Wolf, but also has a bit of Geara Doga charm. Parts like the Vulcan guns and forehead sensors are separately molded, enhancing realism.

Note: Swapping the head can be tricky—the pegs are tight. You might want to sand them down slightly for easier customization.

The torso construction is neat, with most details like pipes and thrusters built from separate parts. However, inner thruster colors require painting if you want full screen-accuracy. The chest mega particle cannon is optional in-universe, but no conversion parts are included in the kit.

Backpack & Articulation

The massive backpack-mounted missile pods are connected via articulated arms—each one capable of rotating and swinging, although the hatches are non-functional. Verniers are sharply molded with internal detailing, though the arms do have some hollow areas.

Articulation is excellent:

Shoulder joints use both ball joints and swing arms
The chest block can shift forward, increasing poseability
The abdomen can bend, revealing piston details, though side-to-side motion is limited
The legs can raise high due to the lack of obstructive skirt armor

Feet feature linked vernier gimmicks that move in sync as you tilt the ankle—an unexpected and satisfying mechanical touch.

Arms, Legs, and Detail

The forearms bear Zaku III vibes, complete with 3mm ports for attachments. Seams are cleverly hidden as panel lines. The rear skirt armor includes mounts for the Beam Sword Axe grips, and the knees showcase signature Doven Wolf design traits while being significantly redesigned for this model.

The feet are heel-type and tall, giving the unit a commanding height. Despite some minimal hollow areas under the feet, overall build integrity is top-tier.

Weapons and Effects

Weapons are on the minimal side:

Beam Machine Gun – Features molded seam lines (partially disguised as panel lines) and clear sensor parts
Beam Sword Axes – Grips feature telescoping gimmicks (rare even in MG kits), and come with three effect parts:

Pickaxe-type
Axe-type
2 standard Sword effects (vibrant fluorescent yellow)

One downside: There are no locking tabs on the grips, so the axes may rotate slightly in-hand.

Compatibility & Customization

There’s a bit of fun for kitbashers:

You can swap backpacks with the HGUC Doven Wolf
Or just use the binders alone
Even the HGUC Sinanju’s propellant tanks can be adapted

The knee joints can also be swapped to attach the kit to a Woundwort, but be cautious—this area is very tight and may risk breakage. Unless you're very experienced, consider getting a second kit for modding purposes.

Size Comparison

Standing next to a standard HGUC RX-78 Gundam, or even the Woundwort, the Lieben-Wolff towers over them—marking it as one of the larger MS kits in the HGUC line.

Summary

The HGUC Lieben-Wolff (A.O.Z RE-BOOT) is a completely new mold, not a simple rehash of the Doven Wolf. It’s big, bold, and engineered with a modern mindset: solid joints, minimal seam lines, and poseability that encourages dynamic display.

Its smart structural design (especially the feet and swing joints), detailed effect parts, and optional head units make it a joy to build and pose. It even offers mild customization for AOZ fans. If Bandai decides to release more AOZ add-ons or unit variants, this could become a centerpiece kit.

Pros: