This is a hands-on review of the HG 1/144 Rick Dom Gaia’s / Ortega’s Custom (GQuuuuuuX). It’s a heavy mobile suit appearing in the latest series, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX, and it fuses the silhouette of the classic Rick Dom with its own distinctly modern reinterpretation. The appeal lies in a presence that recalls the personal machines of Gaia and Ortega of the Black Tri-Stars. I built it out of the box with no paint, and assembly took about 1.5 to 2 hours — despite the large box, it came together at a good pace. Below I share, with photos, the concrete appeal and cautions I discovered while building, from the density that comes from the signature “third leg” and the thruster sculpting on the soles — fitting for a space-use high-mobility machine — to the high play value delivered by its abundant included weapons.

1. Introduction ― About the Rick Dom Gaia’s / Ortega’s Custom (GQuuuuuuX)

This machine is a heavy mobile suit of the Zeon-aligned forces that appears in the latest series, Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX. Its design recalls the personal machines of Gaia and Ortega of the Black Tri-Stars, retaining the powerful stance of the classic Rick Dom while packing in a unique structure and varied gimmicks specific to the GQuuuuuuX spec. The biggest highlight is the fresh silhouette as a space-use high-mobility machine, created by the “third leg” and the thruster sculpting on the soles. While keeping traces of the traditional Dom, this latest HG kit conveys an entirely new sense of a high-mobility MS.

2. Product Information

• Series: HG (HIGH GRADE) 1/144
• Source material: Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX
• Feature: Deployment gimmick for the “third leg,” thruster sculpting on the soles, abundant included weapons
• Packaging: A large box, quite big for an HG
• Reference: HG 1/144 Rick Dom Gaia’s / Ortega’s Custom (GQuuuuuuX) | Bandai Hobby Site
• Price: Varies, so please check the official listing or a retailer

The color scheme is based on a lavender purple and dark navy, with the red T-shaped mono-eye as an accent. On top of the “third leg” deployment gimmick, the abundant array of weapons gives this a setup where you can enjoy very high play value from a single kit.

3. Packaging

The box is quite large for an HG, and you can feel the sheer mass of it when you pick it up. It takes a little consideration for carrying home from the store and for storage space, but in return the impact of the box art and the sense of excitement when opening it are exceptional. Spreading out the runners, the parts are split into multiple molding colors centered on purple and dark navy, so the color separation holds up well even out of the box.

4. Assembly ― About 1.5–2 Hours Out of Box, Good Pace Even for a Big Box

I built it out of the box with no paint, and assembly took about 1.5 to 2 hours. Despite the volume of the large package, the balance between the density of the finished build and the smooth, well-paced ease of assembly is extremely good, so you can progress to completion without stress for such a big box. Here are the points worth watching.

• Get a feel for the “third leg” deployment gimmick: The third leg, the centerpiece of this kit, comes with a deployment gimmick. Understanding how the articulation works during assembly lets you deploy it smoothly when displaying.
• Save the abundant weapons for the end: There are so many included weapons that you can take your time choosing which to equip after building the main body. Checking how each weapon is held and swapped broadens your posing options.
• Direction of the sole thrusters: The thruster sculpting on the soles is an important detail that conveys the high-mobility feel. Being mindful of their direction when setting it down or on a stand improves the look.
• Treat only the seams that bother you: It looks good enough straight out of the box, so treating only the spots you care about will raise the finish further.

With a high density in the finished build and yet an easy assembly — that good balance — this is a kit with very high satisfaction from opening the big box to completion.

5. Out-of-Box Review ― A New-Concept, Space-Use High-Mobility Silhouette

Once finished, the first thing that catches the eye is a silhouette that evokes the traditional Rick Dom while having evolved into an entirely new high-mobility MS. The distinctive “third leg” and the thruster sculpting on the soles beautifully produce the freshness of a high-mobility machine tearing through space. The greatest appeal of this machine is how the weighty Dom character and the newness unique to the GQuuuuuuX version coexist. The contrast between lavender purple and dark navy is vivid even out of the box with no paint, and the red mono-eye tightens up its sharp, spirited face.

And what supports this kit’s play value is the third-leg deployment gimmick and the abundant weapons. Deploy the third leg and it instantly gains the expression of a high-mobility machine; pose it holding the many weapons and you can showcase both the Dom’s characteristic weightiness and the lightness of racing through space at the same time. Being able to present it in so many ways from a single kit is proof that it satisfies whether displayed or played with. Even the time spent experimenting with arrangement and poses is fun in itself.

6. Place in the Series ― Compared with the Classic Dom

Differences from the classic Rick Dom: Whereas the old Rick Dom’s signature trait was a “weighty, solidly planted silhouette,” this GQ version adds the lightness of a high-mobility machine through the “third leg” and sole thrusters. Its direction is clear — respecting the Dom character while evolving it with a reinterpretation in the latest-series spec. Line the two up and, even within the same lineage, the difference of eras is plain to see.

Polish as a latest HG kit: The density of the finished build, the well-paced ease of assembly, and the abundant gimmicks and weapons. It achieves all of these at a high level, letting you feel the evolution of Gunpla through the latest reinterpretation.

For those who love heavy MS: For fans who like the heavyweight silhouette characteristic of the Dom line, this machine — with the latest high-mobility feel added to that appeal — can be strongly recommended as exactly an “evolved Dom.”

7. One Tip for a Cleaner Finish

This time I built out of the box with no paint, but for those who want to put in a little extra work, here are some finishing steps that pair well (these are general recommendations).

• Panel lining: Just adding panel lining to the armor’s panel lines greatly increases the contrast between the weighty body and the high-mobility detail. It’s the most cost-effective single step.
• Painting the thruster sections: Painting the thrusters on the soles and the third leg makes the high-mobility character stand out even more.
• Flat top coat: A thin coat suppresses the sheen of the molding colors and brings the look together with a dense feel.

8. What to Check Before Buying

• It’s a large box, quite big for an HG. Securing space for carrying it home and storing it in advance is reassuring.
• Deploying the “third leg” and posing it with the abundant weapons makes it easy to create a showpiece, so imagining how you’ll display it before building raises the satisfaction after completion.
• Despite the big box, the ease of assembly is good, so it’s also suited to those who want to casually enjoy a voluminous kit.
• Since it’s a machine from the latest series, GQuuuuuuX, it’s recommended not only for fans of the show but also for anyone who wants to enjoy both a heavy MS and the latest gimmicks.

9. Good & More

【🙅‍♀️ Good 🙅‍♂️】

• A new-concept, space-use high-mobility silhouette. While evoking traces of the traditional Rick Dom, the distinctive “third leg” and thruster sculpting on the soles beautifully produce a fresh high-mobility MS feel.
• A lavish gimmick spec with wide play range. On top of the third-leg deployment gimmick, the abundant array of weapons lets you enjoy very high play value from a single kit.
• The balance between the density of the finished build and the well-paced ease of assembly is extremely good.

【💁‍♀️ More 💁‍♂️】

• Because the package is quite large for an HG (a big box), a little consideration is needed for carrying it home from the store and for storage space. In return, the impact of the box art and the excitement when opening it are exceptional.

10. Score

11. Conclusion

This is a piece that respects the old-school Dom character while being packed with gimmicks in the latest-series spec, delivering near-full-marks satisfaction whether you display it or play with it. You can enjoy the volume of the large package all the way to completion thanks to the well-paced ease of assembly, and the third leg and abundant weapons let you present it in many ways. It’s a kit I recommend to everyone who loves heavy MS, and to users who want to feel the evolution of Gunpla through the latest reinterpretation. By deploying the third leg and posing it holding the abundant weapons, you can create a hugely impressive display that showcases both the Dom’s characteristic weightiness and the high-mobility feel of racing through space at the same time.