It's been a while since I've tackled a Real Grade kit, and I have to say, this Hi-ν Gundam is genuinely impressive!
Hailed as the greatest Hi-ν kit of all time, it's no exaggeration. The phenomenal articulation, combined with superb color and parts separation, is simply top-tier. For this project, I went for a simple straight build with no painting, just some light cleanup on the nub marks with a hobby knife. The assembly itself is quick; the real time sink is applying the waterslide decals and panel lining.
Since this is a straight build, I opted not to use traditional panel wash. Instead, I used a Gundam mechanical pencil to draw in the lines, which adds a nice texture. The kit comes with a standard sticker sheet, but I decided against using it, purchasing a set of EVO waterslide decals instead.
I have to give credit where it's due—these EVO decals are incredibly thin and easy to work with. After a dip in water, they slide off the backing paper in less than five seconds. They're so good you don't even need decal softener to get them to conform to surfaces. The only downside is their thinness; you have to be careful when wicking away excess water with a cotton swab, as too much pressure can tear them. Once the decals are on, the entire kit just pops with a new level of detail. The finished product feels fantastic to handle and pose!
For modelers who love straight builds and enjoy posing their kits, this one is a must-buy for your collection!
Here's a quick look at the build process.
▼【RG 1/144】4K RX-93-ν2 Hi-ν Gundam - The Best Hi-Nu Ever? (Video Build)
▼The color separation on the legs is fantastic right out of the box. The gold parts are a tasteful, rich yellow-gold rather than a cheap-looking "poop gold." The silver parts have a darker, more subdued gunmetal finish.
▼The legs have an extensive range of motion, and several armor panels can be opened for a deployed look.
▼The articulation is truly engineered to a high standard.
▼The armor on the sides of the ankles and the calf thrusters can also be opened.
▼The front and rear skirt armor has a wide range of movement, which helps avoid interference when posing. The panel lines here were all done with a Gundam mechanical pencil.
▼The inner frame of the skirt armor uses layered parts to create a detailed mechanical structure. On top of the gray inner frame, an additional metallic-colored frame piece is added, giving the internals a satisfying, multi-layered appearance.
▼The blue section of the rear skirt armor can be deployed independently.
▼A beautifully layered and detailed skirt armor interior.
▼Lower body complete.
▼The waist articulation primarily relies on the extension mechanisms built into the torso.
▼In addition to basic forward, backward, and side-to-side movement, the waist can be pulled upwards to raise the kit's center of gravity, allowing for deeper forward crunches and backward bends.
▼The outer blue armor on the shoulder can be pulled outward. The decals in this picture are from the original sticker sheet that comes with the kit.
▼The main body is complete. Even on a straight build, very few nub marks are visible. While the kit doesn't feature undergated parts extensively, the clever engineers at Bandai have designed the gates to be on less conspicuous surfaces. For any visible nubs on the sides, a straight builder can just activate their selective vision mode! XD
▼All six Fin Funnel mounts are individually articulated. The outermost mount links with the last funnel. The beam saber hilts can be stored on each side of the backpack.
▼The central unit on the backpack can not only pivot up and down but also extend backward.
▼Main body with backpack attached.
▼The weapons include the Hi-ν's two standard armaments.
▼Beam Rifle.
▼New Hyper Bazooka. I have to mention the barrel on this thing. It's molded as a single, solid piece, unlike older kits that used two halves sandwiched together, leaving an ugly seam line. This one-piece design is a massive aesthetic improvement.
▼You don't have to worry about storing the weapons separately. Both the New Hyper Bazooka and Beam Rifle can be mounted directly onto the kit for display. Additionally, the two propellant tanks on the backpack are also single-piece molds, so there are no seam lines to deal with.
▼The most tedious part of this build was the repetition: assembling the same parts 12 times and drawing the same panel line 12 times for the Fin Funnels. XD Thankfully, Bandai was merciful and only required 12 decals for all the funnels. The lines you see in the photo were all drawn with a Gundam mechanical pencil.
▼Applying the waterslides took me nearly two hours. Compared to the Ver.Ka Wing Gundam... yeah, the Hi-ν is much more user-friendly.
▼For the decals, I used the well-regarded EVO series waterslides. These are definitely thinner than Bandai's official ones. After cutting and dipping them in water, they release from the backing paper in under five seconds. Once applied and dried, they conform so well that no decal softener is needed. The printing quality is also top-notch; all the tiny text and logos are crisp and clear. The only thing to watch out for is that they are *very* thin, so be gentle when using a cotton swab to avoid tearing them.
▼With the waterslides applied, the build is officially complete.
That's all for this simple build log and brief introduction. I hope you enjoyed it.
I highly recommend this kit to anyone who loves the super-articulated and fun-to-pose RG line. You have to build it to truly understand why everyone is calling it the greatest Hi-ν Gundam ever. By the way, since this is a straight build, I didn't even apply a top coat. If you're using waterslides, it's always a good idea to seal them with a clear coat to prevent any unfortunate accidents down the line.
Here are a few more glamour shots. The next project will have to wait until I get back from a business trip! XD
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