【Lead｜AI Overview Summary｜approx. 260 chars】
This is a hands-on build review of the HGUC 1/144 Penelope from Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash (BANDAI SPIRITS, released October 26, 2019, 7,700 yen incl. tax). The kit’s standout traits are a runner count you’d never expect from an HG and a massive silhouette dominated by its Fixed Flight Unit. Lined up next to the nu Gundam or Sazabi, it stands a full size larger and dominates the shelf. Difficulty is 3 of 5 stars and the build takes around 4 hours. Below I focus on real-build notes: sagging joints under the kit’s weight, the delicate wings, and the display space you’ll need.
1. Introduction — Penelope and Hathaway’s Flash
Penelope, from Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash, is a large mobile suit defined by its imposing Fixed Flight Unit. The kit I built this time is the HGUC 1/144 Penelope.
To be honest, the moment I opened the box I was a little intimidated by the sheer number of runners. It’s a volume you simply don’t expect from an HG, and I checked the box’s scale marking more than once, wondering whether this was really 1/144. Once assembled and placed on the shelf, the size surprised me all over again. Next to the nu Gundam and Sazabi, it sits a full size larger and completely dominates the display.
What follows are my honest impressions, good and not-so-good, based on actually building the kit.
〔Image: Package and size comparison with nu Gundam and Sazabi〕
2. Product Information
- Name: HGUC 1/144 Penelope
- Series source: Mobile Suit Gundam: Hathaway’s Flash
- Maker: BANDAI SPIRITS
- Line: HGUC (High Grade Universal Century)
- Scale: 1/144
- Release date: October 26, 2019
- Price: 7,700 yen (incl. 10% tax)
- Distribution: General retail release
- Feature: A large kit whose silhouette changes by removing the Flight Unit
- Where to buy: Bandai Hobby Site (official product page), plus hobby shops and online retailers
〔Image: Package side panel with product details〕
3. Box and Kit Contents
The box is large for an HG, and opening it the first thing you notice is the runner count. Contents are as follows:
- Colored runners: several sheets (white, navy, gray, yellow, clear green, etc.)
- Polycap runner: 1 (for joint articulation and retention)
- Foil sticker: 1 (sensor parts and marking supplements)
- Instruction manual: 1 (full-color, with separation/combination steps for each unit)
The color split is built around white and navy, accented with yellow and clear-green sensors. The molded colors alone cover the color separation well, so even a snap build looks good.
〔Image: All runners with polycap and sticker laid out〕
4. Assembly — Difficulty 3/5 / about 4 hours
Difficulty is 3 out of 5 stars and the build takes roughly 4 hours. No single part is hard to handle, but the count and the sheer size mean it pays to set aside a solid block of time so you can work calmly.
Here are the spots that tripped me up, based on the actual build:
- There are many large parts, so following the manual’s order and orientation for the armor keeps things stable. Don’t jump ahead; stick to the steps.
- The finished kit’s weight makes joints prone to sagging, so I made sure every joint was fully seated to secure retention. Leaving things loosely test-fit tends to cause slack later.
- The wing sections of the Flight Unit are thin, and pushing too hard felt like it could break them, so I was careful. Take your time when cutting them from the runner or seating them, easing off the force.
The scale is overwhelming, but building each unit in sequence kept me engaged all the way to the final combination.
〔Image: Flight Unit and body mid-build〕
5. Out-of-Box Review — Looks, Articulation, Color, Gimmicks
My honest snap-build impression is closest to “they really did this in 1/144?” With the Flight Unit attached on the shelf, the HGUC Sazabi I had next to it actually looked small. The color separation works even unpainted and without panel lining, so it looks good straight off the runners.
**Proportions**
With the Flight Unit equipped, from the side the unit looks larger than the body itself. Next to the Xi Gundam, the Xi feels sleeker, while Penelope reads purely as a “mass of heavy armament.”
**Articulation**
For its size, the joints move well. With an action base, flight poses come together. That said, the arms gradually droop under their own weight, so I had to mind the angles when displaying it.
**Color separation**
The white-and-navy contrast is clear, and it pulls together nicely even as a snap build. The clear-green sensors, combined with the sticker, tighten up the eyes and noticeably change the face. Small yellow accents scattered around add good rhythm to a frame that could otherwise feel monotonous.
**Gimmick**
Removing the Flight Unit lets you display it as the Xi Gundam form, giving you the fun of changing how it’s shown.
〔Image: Completed snap build, full body and with Flight Unit〕
6. Place in the Series — Comparison with Other Kits
Next to the HGUC nu Gundam and Sazabi, Penelope stands a full size larger and completely dominates the shelf. If the nu Gundam and Sazabi are the standard “large MS” kits, Penelope sits one step above them again in both size and price.
The ability to change the silhouette by removing the Flight Unit is also a unique appeal not found in the many fixed-silhouette HGUC kits. Compared with the Xi Gundam, the design direction is the opposite: the sleek Xi versus Penelope, which wins on sheer heavy-armament presence.
〔Image: Three-way lineup with nu Gundam and Sazabi〕
7. One-Point Tips for a Clean Finish (General Recommendations)
As general recommendations, here are a few finishing ideas to push the looks further.
- Panel lining: With so much surface detail, simply flowing in panel lines greatly boosts the visual density. Mixing gray and black lets you tune the mood.
- Gate processing: Cut marks stand out on the white parts, so a two-stage nipper cut plus light sanding keeps even a snap build looking tidy.
- Top coat: Because the surfaces are so large, a light flat top coat tames the molded-plastic sheen and unifies the overall look.
None of these are required, but precisely because the kit already looks great out of the box, a little extra effort changes the impression considerably.
〔Image: Before and after panel lining〕
8. Things to Check Before Buying
- Display space: The finished width and depth are bigger than expected, and I ended up clearing an entire shelf section. Secure your display spot in advance.
- Standing stability: When freestanding, it tends to lean forward, so the ankle angles need fine adjustment. Consider pairing it with an action base.
- Availability: As of 2025, reprints run regularly, and you can often find it at hobby shops and online stores. Being a popular kit, though, stock can vanish temporarily right after a reprint.
- Secondary market: It circulates on Amazon, Rakuten, Suruga-ya, Premium Bandai, Yahoo Auctions, Mercari, and so on. Unopened units trade around retail, with clean-condition pieces sometimes carrying a small premium.
〔Image: Shelf footprint when displayed〕
9. Good & More
**Good**
- The overall size with the Flight Unit looks a clear notch different when lined up with same-scale kits.
- You can change how you show it, such as removing the Flight Unit for the Xi Gundam form.
- With abundant surface detail, just flowing in panel lines greatly raises the information density.
- Building each unit in sequence stays enjoyable right through to the final combination.
**More (points of concern)**
- The finished footprint needs more width and depth than expected; I cleared a whole shelf section.
- Many armor parts look alike, and I once had to take it apart after swapping left and right.
- Freestanding, it leans forward easily, so the ankle angles need careful adjustment.
- The price is high for an HG, so if you’re not used to large MS, it may be easier to get a feel from other HG kits first rather than starting here.
〔Image: Close-up cut symbolizing Good & More〕
10. Score
Overall: ★★★★☆
In a word: “Presence beyond the HG bracket. Highly satisfying if you can spare the space and time.”
〔Image: Overhead score cut of the finished kit〕
11. Conclusion
That wraps up the HGUC 1/144 Penelope review. What I felt most was a presence that, despite being an HG, makes you rethink how you use your shelf. Its size, part count, and price all clearly stand apart from a typical HG, so I’d recommend securing both display space and time before you start.
At the same time, even compared with the nu Gundam and Sazabi, the fun of swapping the silhouette by removing the Flight Unit is this kit’s own appeal, and the display variety feels wide. It suits anyone who wants to put a truly large MS on the shelf, or who wants to keep the machine from Hathaway’s Flash in physical form. Conversely, if you’re short on space or new to HG, it may be a slightly higher hurdle.
