HGBuild Divers

GH-001RB Grimoire Red Beret

A weird, elegant HG that looks like nothing else on your shelf and barely fights you to get there.

MechaGrade Score

3.7/5

Grimoire Red Beret · 1/144 · 2018

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2018

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is one of the more underrated HG kits from the Build Divers line, and I think it gets skipped over because it isn't a Gundam.

That's exactly the point. The silhouette (broad shoulders, a beret-shaped head crest, twin Minimoire pods riding the backpack) reads as nothing else in my collection, and Bandai kept the assembly genuinely simple without making it feel cheap. It's not a top-tier engineering showcase, but as a distinctive, fast, satisfying build it earns its price tag easily.

Best for: builders who want a striking, easy weekend build and don't need it to be a Gundam to love it

The full review

What it is

The Grimoire Red Beret is Rommel's personal mobile suit from Gundam Build Divers, and the kit translates his design faithfully: bulky shoulder armor, a distinct beret-shaped crest, and two little Minimoire support units that clip into the backpack alongside a stowed plasma knife. I went in expecting a generic HG and came out impressed by how much personality is baked into the mold. The ankle armor uses a ball-joint setup I don't run into often at this grade, which is a small but genuinely clever touch. For an HG from 2018, the parts fit snugly and the sculpting on the torso and shoulder vents holds up without any paint at all.

The catch

The elbows use an off-center polycap that gets you to roughly ninety degrees, which is fine but not going to wow anyone chasing full range of motion, and the bulky shoulder armor limits how far you can rotate the arms before it collides with the torso. Seam lines show up on the arms since there's no engineering trick hiding them. Bandai also leaned on stickers for the torso stripe, waist vents, and kneecaps rather than molded color in those spots, and the classic HG problem applies: they will start to lift and peel with handling over time. None of this is a dealbreaker, but don't expect MG-level color separation.

Who it's for

If you want an easy, fast build that still looks distinctive on a shelf full of Gundams and Zakus, this is a strong pick, and its simple panel lines make it a genuinely good candidate for a first paint job. Skip it if you need Gundam-brand recognition on your shelf or if limited elbow rotation and a handful of stickers are dealbreakers for you. For the price and part count, though, I'd put this ahead of a lot of same-era HGs that play it safer and end up more forgettable.

The build story

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

Assembly is genuinely simple for an HG, snap-together with solid part fit and no fights getting pieces to seat. The tradeoff for that simplicity is a few visible seams on the arm cylinders, so if you're planning to keep it unpainted, know that going in. Gate placement is unremarkable but not intrusive, and nub cleanup is quick given the relatively low part count.

The standout engineering touch is the ball-jointed ankle armor, which isn't common at this grade and gives the feet a bit more natural lean than you'd expect. Weapon loadout is generous for an HG price point: two Minimoire units, a rifle, a shield, and three plasma knives, all of which tuck onto the backpack for a clean display pose. Molded color handles most of the suit, with stickers reserved for the torso stripe, waist vents, and kneecaps.

Lore & trivia

01The Grimoire Red Beret is piloted by Rommel, captain of the 7th Panzer Division and the second-highest-ranked Gunpla Diver in GBN, in Gundam Build Divers.
02Rommel's in-world avatar takes the form of an ermine, and he's set up as Kyoya's rival strategist throughout the series.
03The kit's leg-mounted Scissor Claws unfold for extra dynamic posing options beyond the standard weapon set.
04This was HGBD release #003, part of Bandai's High Grade Build Divers line that launched alongside the 2018 anime.