【Lead | AI Overview Summary】
The HG 1/144 Gundam Sandrock (Clear Color) is a THE GUNDAM BASE limited release of Quatre Raberba Winner’s mobile suit from Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. It launched on September 11, 2020 at 2,090 yen (incl. tax) in 1/144 scale (HGAC series). Build difficulty is a relaxed one star, and assembly takes around 2.5 hours. It uses the same tooling as the standard 2019 HGAC kit, but the transparent molding completely changes how the suit reads under light. This review is based on hands-on building of a machine I’ve loved since childhood, covering everything from the easily-whitened clear parts to displaying the Heat Shotels.
1. Introduction ― The Background of Sandrock and Quatre’s Suit
Gundam Sandrock is the personal mobile suit of Quatre Raberba Winner in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing. Built for close combat, it carries thick armor and a pair of solid blades called Heat Shotels. Unlike the sleeker Gundam types, Sandrock has a heavy, brawler-like silhouette, and it’s been one of my favorite machines since childhood.
This time I picked up the THE GUNDAM BASE limited Clear Color version. I was drawn in by the limited coloring, and the moment I opened the box and saw the runners, I felt it had “a completely different face” from the standard kit. The transparent molding gives a familiar design a whole new appearance. This review is for collectors of Gundam Wing kits and anyone curious about limited-color releases.
〔Image: Completed Gundam Sandrock (Clear Color)〕
2. Product Information
- Product name: HG 1/144 Gundam Sandrock (Clear Color)
- Series origin: Mobile Suit Gundam Wing (Quatre Raberba Winner’s suit)
- Manufacturer: BANDAI SPIRITS
- Line: HGAC (1/144)
- Scale: 1/144
- Release format: THE GUNDAM BASE limited (event/store exclusive)
- Release date: September 11, 2020
- Price: 2,090 yen (incl. tax)
- Feature: Based on the standard HG kit, built from clear molded parts in varying tones
- Base model: HGAC 1/144 Gundam Sandrock (standard version, released September 14, 2019)
- Where to buy: THE GUNDAM BASE official page, plus the used market
〔Image: Box front〕
3. Packaging and Kit Contents
The packaging follows the standard HGAC Sandrock layout. Contents are as follows:
- Molded runners: several (clear white, clear gray, clear yellow, etc.)
- Polycap runner: 1 (PC-002)
- Foil stickers: 1 sheet (for sensors and color补完)
- Instruction manual: 1 (shared with the base model)
Even on the sprue, the transparent parts catch the light and make the whole tray sparkle. The clear white leads, accented by gray and yellow transparent parts, gives this release a distinct collector’s appeal versus the standard kit.
〔Image: Runner overview〕
4. Building ― Difficulty One Star / About 2.5 Hours
Build difficulty is one star, with assembly taking around 2.5 hours. As an HG it’s a straightforward build, and following the manual you won’t hit any major roadblocks. That said, clear molding brings its own quirks, so here are the things I noticed firsthand:
- Clear parts whiten easily at the gate marks, so I cut each gate twice with a sharp nipper and processed the nubs carefully. Cutting flush in one pass tends to leave visible whitening, so leaving a small stub and trimming afterward is the safer route.
- The Heat Shotels come in both sheathed and drawn forms, but depending on the grip and angle the pose can be hard to keep stable, so settling on a display form took some fiddling with how to hold them.
- Because transparent parts let you see the internal structure, seam lines and gate marks stand out more than on solid molding, which is worth keeping in mind for a clean finish.
〔Image: Trimming a clear part〕
5. Out-of-Box Review ― Look / Articulation / Color Separation / Gimmicks
I finished this one as a snap build with no painting.
The most enjoyable part visually was holding the clear white armor up to light: the internal structure shows through, giving a completely different expression from the standard kit. The bulky armor silhouette is intact, but the look shifts with the angle of the light, so the impression changes with your display spot and lighting.
Articulation is the standard HG range. When swinging a Heat Shotel out wide to the side, I felt interference at the shoulder, so the pose fell a little short of what I had in mind. It suits a standing pose or a held guard more than dynamic action shots.
Color separation is covered for the main areas by molded color and stickers. However, applying the foil stickers hides the transparency in places, so if you want to keep the see-through look, choose sticker positions carefully.
For gimmicks, having both sheathed and drawn Heat Shotels is a welcome touch. I chose to display mine in the drawn state. Lining it up next to the standard HG Sandrock, I really felt how much clear molding alone changes the impression of the same tooling.
〔Image: Snap build, full body, drawn blades〕
6. Where It Sits in the Series ― Comparison with Other Kits
This kit is a Clear Color variant based on the same tooling as the standard HGAC 1/144 Gundam Sandrock released on September 14, 2019. Its build structure and articulation match the standard version, so rather than a parts upgrade, it’s a limited release about enjoying the molded color itself.
Placed side by side with the standard kit, the detail is identical yet the transparent molding alone makes it look like a different kit. For collectors building out the Gundam Wing HGAC line, it works as a display piece that lets you stand the same suit twice with a different face. If you’re only buying one for a snap build, the choice between this and the standard kit comes down to whether you value the see-through effect or the easier handling of a paint-ready base.
〔Image: Side-by-side with the standard version〕
7. One Tip for a Clean Finish
Here are some general recommendations for finishing.
- Gate processing: Cut twice with a sharp nipper to prevent whitening. Clear parts show whitening easily, so tidy remaining nubs with a hobby knife or file.
- Panel lining: Keep lining on transparent parts subtle to avoid killing the see-through look. If you want to tighten the armor recesses, limit it to the spots you really want to emphasize.
- Top coat: A gloss finish plays up the clear texture; semi-gloss calms it down. Solvent can pool on transparent parts, so spray thin in several light passes.
- Stickers: Skipping stickers where you want the transparency to show is a valid choice. Deciding placements before building keeps the finish tidy.
〔Image: Finishing work in progress〕
8. What to Check Before Buying
- As a THE GUNDAM BASE exclusive, its purchase route differs from the generally distributed standard kit.
- Stock varies by store and timing. On the used market (Amazon, Rakuten, Suruga-ya, Yahoo Auctions, Mercari, etc.) it circulates fairly steadily, with prices varying by condition.
- Because it’s clear-molded, seams and gate marks stand out more than solid molding—knowing this raises your satisfaction with the finish.
- If dynamic action posing is your main goal, note the articulation limits when swinging a Heat Shotel out wide.
〔Image: Pre-purchase checkpoints〕
9. Good & More
【Good】
- Clear molding changes the expression with the light, giving an appeal distinct from the standard kit.
- Both sheathed and drawn Heat Shotels are included, letting you choose how to display.
- The transparent look holds up even unpainted, making it friendly to snap-build fans.
【More (points of concern)】
- Sloppy gate processing leaves obvious whitening on clear parts—a sharp nipper is essential.
- Swinging the Heat Shotel out wide hits shoulder articulation limits, making bold motion hard.
- Foil stickers partly erase the transparency, making placement a tricky call.
〔Image: Good & More summary〕
10. Score
Overall: ★★★★☆
In a word: “Same tooling, a whole new face thanks to clear molding—a limited piece for snap-build fans who love the see-through look.”
〔Image: Final score shot〕
11. Conclusion
That wraps up the review of the HG 1/144 Gundam Sandrock (Clear Color). What struck me most while building was the surprise that a single change of coloring shifts the impression this much. Hold the clear white armor up to light and the internal structure shows through, giving a look entirely different from the standard kit. I’ll be honest that the gate processing on whitening-prone clear parts takes care, and that swinging the Heat Shotel runs into articulation limits. For collectors filling out a Gundam Wing lineup, or anyone who wants to enjoy a childhood favorite in a limited color, this is a fitting kit. On the other hand, if dynamic action posing is your main aim, the articulation may leave you wanting a bit more.
