HGCosmic Era

GAT-X105B/GC Build Strike Galaxy Cosmos

A clear-part light show that trades sturdy wings for star power.

MechaGrade Score

3.4/5

Build Strike Galaxy Cosmos · 1/144 · 2018

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2018

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

I like this kit for what it is, a cheap way to get a genuinely striking clear-parts gimmick on the shelf, but I would not call it a clean build.

The Galaxy Booster backpack is the whole reason to buy it, and it delivers on looks while being the weakest engineered part on the model. If you go in wanting a fragile light show rather than a tank, you will have a good time with it.

Best for: builders who want a cheap, showy clear-parts display piece and don't mind babying a fussy backpack

The full review

What it is

This is the Battlogue follow-up to the original Build Strike Gundam Cosmos, and Sei Iori's kit swaps the old backpack for a new Galaxy Booster that folds between a compact 5-wing form and a fully deployed 12-wing Star Mode. Building it, the appeal is obvious the moment those wings snap open, the smoky clear plastic on the wings and shoulder crystals catches light in a way molded color just cannot fake. It comes with a beam rifle, the Cosmo Shield, two beam sabers, and a display stand, and the core Build Strike body underneath is the same proven HGBF frame that has held up well across several kits in this line.

The catch

The backpack is where the fun ends. Builders consistently flag the wing joints as too loose to hold a pose reliably, and the connector pegs are prone to working loose or popping off entirely, especially once you start swapping between 5-wing and 12-wing configurations. The reverse side of the backpack is mostly bare white plastic with no panel lines, so it looks unfinished unless you scribe it yourself. Markings lean on stickers rather than any new molded color, which is a step down from what the clear parts promise. The display stand genuinely helps, but it is closer to load-bearing than optional.

Who it's for

Buy this if you already like Build Strike as a design and want the Battlogue variant for cheap with an eye-catching backpack for photos and static display. It's a fine pickup for a beginner who wants one flashy accessory-driven kit without a big investment, as long as you keep expectations at HG-tier accessory durability rather than expecting it to hold dynamic wing poses for years. Skip it if you want a rock-solid poseable kit or if loose backpack joints and sticker-only details are dealbreakers for you, in which case the standard Build Strike Gundam or the original Cosmos variant will serve you better.

The build story

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

The main body assembles the way most Build Strike HGBF kits do, straightforward gate placement, no unusual nub scars in visible spots, and a frame that snaps together with decent confidence. The clear parts need the same care as any clear runner, careful clipping to avoid stress marks, but nothing beyond normal HG skill. The backpack is the outlier: its connector pegs are noticeably softer than the rest of the kit's joints, and reviewers report having to reinforce or tighten them to keep the wings from sagging.

Articulation on the body carries over Build Strike's double-jointed elbows and knees, so the suit poses well from the waist up and holds a stance fine without the backpack fighting it. Accessories are generous for an HG price point, beam rifle with a poseable barrel, Cosmo Shield, two beam sabers, and a stand that is functionally necessary rather than a bonus. The clear parts are the actual value driver here, they read as a real upgrade over painted plastic and are the reason this kit stands apart from the earlier Build Strike Cosmos release.

Lore & trivia

01Build Strike Galaxy Cosmos is Sei Iori's upgraded version of his earlier Build Strike Gundam Cosmos, introduced in the Gundam Build Fighters: Battlogue OVA.
02The Galaxy Booster backpack activates the 'RG Star System' when its RG System and Star System run together, deploying all 12 wings as particle-controlling antennae.
03The kit released in Japan in 2018 as HGBF #066, priced as a standard-tier HG despite its expanded backpack parts.