This is a hands-on review of the RG 1/144 Nu Gundam (νガンダム). It condenses the last machine flown by Amuro Ray in the theatrical anime Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack into a 1/144-scale RG (Real Grade) kit. This time I built it out of the box with no painting, and the assembly took about 210 minutes. The completeness of the main body is among the densest in the whole RG range, and the way the armor slides in sync with the joints is genuinely impressive. On the other hand, I’ll be candid about the caveats I only discovered once building — the demanding process of making the same fin funnel six times over, and a weak point in the holding structure that leaves the funnels bent rather than lined up straight when connected to the back. This review is meant to help anyone picking it up next understand the easy-to-trip-over points ahead of time.

1. Introduction ― Building the Nu Gundam as an RG

The Nu Gundam is the machine Amuro Ray boarded last in Char’s Counterattack. This kit takes its heavy proportions and enormous level of detail and distills them into 1/144 scale as an RG (Real Grade). The first thing I felt once it was finished is that this density is a cut above the rest. Despite its simple silhouette, every single armor panel is finely and massively sculpted, and the weighty presence of the CCA-version Nu Gundam is condensed straight into a palm-sized model. Among the many RGs I’ve built, I felt the completeness of the main-body proportions is one of the very best.

2. Product Information

• Product name: RG 1/144 Nu Gundam (RX-93)
• Series: RG (Real Grade) / 1/144 scale
• Release: August 2019 / Suggested retail price 4,950 yen (tax included)
• Source material: Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack
• Main features: High mobility via the MS Advanced Joint, complete color separation out of the box, Realistic Decals, six fin funnels

Built around the MS Advanced Joint at the heart of the RG line, it achieves a range of motion and level of detail that hardly feel like 1/144. Six fin funnels are included in total, supporting connection to the back as well as a launched-state display using a stand.

3. Packaging and Kit Contents

The box carries the stylish, RG-standard design, laying out the Nu Gundam’s fierce face and its distinctive fin funnels. Inside you get a full set of intricately color-separated molded parts centered on light gray and white, the MS Advanced Joint, and the Realistic Decals that bring out the fine details. Spread out the runners and you can see the kit is designed to reproduce nearly the on-screen color separation even out of the box.

4. Assembly ― About 210 Minutes, the Six Fin Funnels Are the Peak

This time I built it out of the box with no painting, and the assembly took about 210 minutes. Difficulty is a standard RG level of three stars. The body has high part precision and comes together at a good pace. That said, to be honest, the process of making the same-structure fin funnel six times in a row is quite a grind. I’d recommend setting aside a solid block of time before tackling this part.

There are mainly three points to watch for a clean build.

• The armor-linked gimmick demands care: the leg and waist armor uses a precise structure that slides in sync with the joints, so the trick is to check the orientation of each mating point and the seating of each pin one at a time as you go.
• The funnel connection joints are tight: the joints linking the fin funnels together have spots where the movement and removal are stiff. It’s safest to handle them carefully without forcing them.
• Gate cleanup on small parts: there’s a run of tiny parts, so cutting them out and cleaning up the gates carefully tightens the finish.

Rather than the difficulty of the assembly itself, the peak of this kit is whether you can patiently repeat the same process over and over — keeping that in mind makes it easier to plan the build.

5. Out-of-Box Review ― A Best-in-Class Body, but Quirky Funnels

The first thing that catches your eye once finished is, again, the overwhelming quality of the main body. The sculpting balances simplicity and mass, and it’s top-tier among RGs in both density and proportions. Even as an unpainted out-of-box build, the result holds up plenty well for display.

• Color separation: centered on an exquisite two-tone armor of light gray and white, it’s reproduced almost perfectly out of the box. It’s a good impression that the molded colors alone rarely feel lacking in information.
• Articulation: a top-class range of motion with armor that slides in sync with the bending of the knees and waist. The body alone moves extremely well, offering great posing freedom from a plain stance through to action.
• Gimmicks: on top of deploying the fin funnels, you can draw a beam saber from a secret pocket in the arm and more — it’s packed with things to play with after building.

On the other hand, there are honest weak points too. The biggest drawback is the holding structure: when you connect all six fin funnels to the back and mount them, they don’t line up straight but end up bent. Frankly, I felt this reached a fatal level. Add to that the fatigue from repeatedly making the six funnels mentioned earlier, and for some people this may be a concern. That’s exactly why satisfaction with this machine changes greatly depending on how you display it.

6. Place in the Series ― Compared with Other Kits

This is a model that lets you feel how dramatically the RG series has evolved. Despite being 1/144 scale, it pursues an armor-linked gimmick and proportional perfection that rival even an MG — truly flagship content. Compared with the Nu Gundam Ver.Ka (MG) from the same Char’s Counterattack lineage, that kit’s appeal is its refined beauty making the most of its 1/100 size, whereas the RG version wins on the density condensed into palm size and the fun of the sliding-armor articulation. If you want to enjoy a dense Nu Gundam in a compact footprint, this is a first candidate.

7. One Tip for a Cleaner Finish

This time I built it out of the box with no paint, but for those who want to add one more step, here are finishes that pair well with the kit (general recommendations).

• Panel lining: The body’s panel lines are extremely fine, so emphasizing them with a gray-toned panel line wash makes the density leap up all at once. It’s the highest cost-performance step you can take.
• Realistic Decals: Applying the included decals adds even more information and raises the level of completion.
• Top coat: Spraying a thin flat top coat suppresses the shine of the molded plastic and pulls the look together with a dense feel.

8. What to Check Before Buying

• When you connect all six funnels to the back, they don’t align and end up bent, so you’ll need to accept a compromise on the back-mounted standing pose.
• If you want to show the funnels off beautifully, I recommend preparing a separately sold display stand and displaying them all in a launched (flying) state.
• Making the six funnels repeatedly requires patience, so it’s reassuring to secure a solid block of working time.

9. Good & More

【Good】

• Best-in-class completeness and density even among RGs. A sculptural beauty that balances simplicity and mass.
• A mechanical structure — such as armor sliding in step with the joints — that’s satisfying just to build and move.

【More (points of concern)】

• The holding-structure flaw that leaves the fin funnels warped and bent when connected to the back.
• The grind of making six identical parts.

10. Score

Overall: ★★★☆☆

The grind of making six fin funnels and the holding structure that leaves them bent when connected are points where opinions will divide. But the body’s proportions and density are among the best in the RG range, and on the premise of preparing a stand and displaying all funnels in flight, it’s a piece you can be plenty satisfied with.

11. Conclusion

This is a kit where the body’s overwhelming quality and the challenge of the funnel warping when back-mounted coexist — a kit that transforms with a bit of ingenuity in how you display it. It’s especially recommended for those who want to enjoy the Nu Gundam’s top-class proportions in an easy 1/144 size, and for those who want to display it in a dynamic launched pose using a display stand. For display, I overwhelmingly recommend a lively, energy-filled layout: skip mounting the funnels on the back, introduce a stand, and deploy and send all the funnels flying out around the model.