HG 1/144 Twelve Olympians Prototype Transformable Mobile Suit ORX-139 "Hambrabi"
GQuuuuuuX kits are back, this time with the new GQ version of the Hambrabi from Zeta Gundam! The GFreD was going to be my last kit from this line, and I wasn't initially super interested in getting another GQuuuuuuX kit however the gimmicks included in this one really sold it for me.
The Hambrabi of the original timeline was a custom prototype unit created for the Titans, specifically the Yazan unit, featuring a simple tranformation and extensive auxillary sensors to support better visibility in the Mobile Armour state. The GQ version is mostly unchanged, being a much more limited (potentially even single) unit developed for the anti-Zeon Twelve Olympians and piloted by Gates Capa. This version is pretty similar to the design of the main timeline version, aside from an updated artstyle and some extra detail on the wing binders. The GQ version features a "head" section that can pivot forwards in Mobile Suit mode, and lacks the beam sabers used by the UC version. The inbuild shoulder-mounted beam cannons are also much larger, but overall the design is reliatively unchanged, compared to other GQuuuuuuX redesigns like the Red Gundam, Gelgoog, and Police Zaku.
I kept this build reliatively simple, as I took it with me on a trip to see some friends in Melbourne. Apart from a basic panel line and some limited soot staining around some of the visible vents, I also added some silver pigment to the metallic silver frame sections. The metallic detail of these parts is unfortunately a little lost due to the matte topcoat, and in hindsight these parts would probably benefit from a gloss finish instead. There's not really any colour correction necessary on this kit, which was a welcome surprise.
The various mono-eye sensors on this kit are really nicely concieved. They're moulded in a semi-translucent pearlescent UV-reactive pink, and are absolutely miniscule individual parts. They're actually articulated and you can more them along their "tracks" for the shoulder and rear cameras. The "head" camera is inserted into a ball-joint housing that can rotate freely with the aid of a tweezer or toothpick. The torso camera is not articualted and unfortunately very recessed and thus not very visible in my photos. Despite how tricky these tiny parts were to work with, I do perfer this approach to the often flat looking stickers used for mono-eyes in other kits.
The stingray-like Mobile Armour transformation of the Hambrabi was not featured in the GQuuuuuuX anime so it's surprising that the kit has a transformation, although it's not particularly impressive, resembling just the standard Mobile Suit form bent in half.
The kit has a decent number of weapons. There's a redesign of the Feyadin Rifle long beam rifle used by the Hambrabi and Gabthley in Zeta Gundam. It's done up in a really nice silver and dark purple. The foregrip and auxillary camera are articulated for extra poseability. This pairs well with the extra backpack-mounted beam rifles for a formidable armament.
While in Zeta Gundam, the stock of the Feyadin Rifle becomes a beam saber emitter, with the GQ version, the stock can fold forwards to turn the rifle into a Beam Sycthe, with the barrel making up the handle of the weapon. This is a design feature exclusive to the model kit. The beam effect part is made of a rather nice trans-yellow UV-reactive part.
Also included is the "sea snake" weapon (just as is wielded by the original Hambrabi). This is a small grappling weapon with an electric field emitter that can incapacitate mobile suit pilots. The kit includes a stowed and "active" form, with the latter using a lead wire to recreate the image of the weapon in use.
The kit includes two open fist options for the weapons, and two open hand options in a threatening claw-like pose. The hand options have a new and much more secure peg-based design, which makes them difficult to use but much more secure than older hand designs.
Overall, this was an enjoyable if at times frustrating build. Some of the ankle armour is needlessly loose, and it can be difficult to work with the complex internal design of the head, which uses a lot of small parts to achieve its articulation. Many of the parts are also very thin and feel as if they would be very easy to accidentally damage during assembly. Despite this, I really love how the final result turned out and the kit has a proud place in my GQuuuuuuX display.
Next up, I'm going to try and clear some more of my girlpla backlog.
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