HGAd Stella

EDM-GA-01 Gundam Lfrith Ur

A witch's prototype that builds like a dream and poses like it means it.

MechaGrade Score

4.2/5

Gundam Lfrith Ur · 1/144 · 2023

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2023

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is one of the best-engineered HG kits I have put together in a while.

The frame under that green and blue shell holds a pose without drooping, the gatling gun assembly is genuinely clever, and I never once fought a part to get it to sit right. For a suit that only shows up in a prequel short, Bandai did not mail this one in.

Best for: Builders who want MG-level fit and articulation in a small, cheap HG footprint

The full review

What it is

Lfrith Ur is the beefed-up test-type variant of the base Lfrith, and the kit reads as a straight upgrade over an already strong mold. The build went fast for me, under two hours, because the parts just fit. No hunting for the right angle to seat a peg, no forcing anything. The circuit-board chest detail and the phased array cannon on the back are molded in the actual colors instead of being left to paint or decals, so it looks finished the moment the runners are empty. The beam gatling gun with its side shield and rotating support handle is the standout accessory, it is a genuinely fun prop to swap between one-handed and two-handed grips.

The catch

There are no real structural complaints here, which is rare for me to say about an HG, but a few things are worth knowing going in. This is still 1/144 scale, so the gatling gun's smaller components and the hand parts are fiddly to clip and clean if your nippers are dull. The kit leans on molded color for its look rather than paint, which means the handful of stickers that do exist (mostly for the green light-up effects on the head and chest) are doing real cosmetic work, and they are not the easiest to place perfectly straight. Because the suit only appears in the PROLOGUE side story, some buyers may find the character connection thinner than a mainline HGTWFM release.

Who it's for

Buy this if you want proof that HG kits can hit MG-adjacent build quality without the MG price or time commitment, or if the gatling gun gimmick and the Vanadis Institute test-type look appeal to you regardless of screen time. It is also a strong pick for someone building their second or third kit who wants a confidence boost after a rougher first build. Skip it only if you specifically want a mainline Witch from Mercury cast member or you are chasing maximum accessory count for photo variety, since this kit's strength is fit and finish rather than loadout depth.

The build story

What the build is actually like, and the engineering worth knowing about.

Runner cleanup is straightforward and the plastic takes nub removal cleanly, no soft flash fighting you. Parts seat with a confident click rather than a loose wobble, and the reinforced joint blocks at the shoulders and hips clearly exist to carry the weight of the backpack and the gatling gun without sagging. I did not need to shim or glue anything to keep a pose held.

Articulation is where this kit earns its keep, the double ball-jointed neck, swinging shoulder blocks, and ball-socketed arms give it a real range that a lot of bulkier HG suits do not manage. Accessories include the beam gatling gun with its mounted side shield, two beam sabers stored on that shield, extra open-palm hands, and the phased array cannon backpack, a solid loadout for the HG price point.

Lore & trivia

01Gundam Lfrith Ur is a reinforced test-type variant of the base Gundam Lfrith, developed and tested by the Vanadis Institute aboard the Fólkvangr space station in the year Ad Stella 101.
02The suit and its story beats come from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury PROLOGUE, the prequel short that set up the main TV series.
03Test pilot Elnora Samaya is the primary pilot associated with the Lfrith program shown in the PROLOGUE, with the Vanadis Institute pushing Permet Score research through these trials.
04The kit's Beam Gatling Gun includes a rotating support handle specifically engineered so Ur can brace and fire it two-handed, a gimmick called out in multiple build reviews.