HGAnno Domini

GN-0000DVR/S Gundam 00 Sky

Riku's custom rebuild of the 00 Diver Ace, and proof an HG can carry a Destiny-grade weapon loadout without falling apart.

MechaGrade Score

3.9/5

Gundam 00 Sky · 1/144 · 2018

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2018

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is one of the better HGBD kits Bandai put out, and I mean that as someone who went in expecting a rehash.

The 00 Sky takes the 00 Diver Ace's bones and grafts on Destiny Gundam styling and gimmicks, and the result actually holds together as its own suit rather than feeling like a parts-bin mashup. The weapon spread alone (beam rifle, buster rifle, buster sword, twin sabers) makes it punch above its price band for shelf variety.

Best for: Build Divers fans and HG collectors who want a weapon-heavy display piece with real posing range for around entry-level HG money

The full review

What it is

The 00 Sky is Riku Mikami's rebuilt 00 Diver Ace, redesigned mid-series with a Destiny Gundam influence baked into the wing binders, the drive backpack, and the general silhouette. Out of the box you get the beam rifle, a buster rifle, a buster sword, twin beam sabers, and a swappable left hand, which is a genuinely generous loadout for an HG. Building it is straightforward and satisfying, the runners are clean, the color molding does most of the work so you're not fighting stickers for the main color scheme, and the parts snap together with the kind of confidence that tells you the engineers actually thought about how this thing gets posed.

The catch

The shoulder armor and skirt pieces are a little busy and can crowd certain poses, though nowhere near as bad as some other Build Divers kits with thick over-armor. The backpack and Sky Drive Unit carry real heft once every weapon is mounted, and I noticed the hip joints working harder to keep the suit standing under all that hardware, especially with the buster sword and long rifle both racked on the back at once. Some of the smaller side skirt tabs are the usual HG-scale friction fit, so they can pop loose if you're aggressive with dynamic poses. None of it is a dealbreaker, but it's the trade-off for cramming this much gear onto a 1/144 frame.

Who it's for

If you're building through Gundam Build Divers or just want an HG that looks busy and dramatic on a shelf without an MG price tag, this one earns its spot. It's also a solid pick if you like customizing, since the Destiny-inspired parts and effect-part attachment points on the bracers, leg guards, and drive unit give you a head start on kitbashing. Skip it if you specifically want the anime-accurate Higher Than Sky Phase effect parts, since those come in the separate expansion release, not this base kit. For straightforward HG value with a real weapon roster, though, this is an easy recommend.

The build story

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

This is a clean, quick HG build across eight runners, no surprises in gate placement and nub marks land in spots that are easy to clean up. The color separation is genuinely good for the grade, the blues, whites, and grays are all pre-molded so you're not relying on stickers to sell the paint scheme, and panel lines pay off nicely once the kit is together.

The engineering standout is how much articulation survives all that armor. The wide shoulder pads pivot out of the way instead of blocking the arms, the drive backpack can angle the GN Drives forward or back, and the weapon rack lets you carry the buster sword and long rifle folded against the back or deployed in hand. For a kit built around a heavily armored redesign, it holds dynamic poses better than I expected going in.

Lore & trivia

01The 00 Sky is Riku Mikami's rebuild of his own Gundam 00 Diver Ace, redesigned mid-story in Gundam Build Divers after a vision he had while connecting with his Gunpla's data on the GBN network.
02The design deliberately folds in visual and functional cues from the ZGMF-X42S Destiny Gundam on top of the base 00 Gundam frame, reflecting Riku's in-story influences from suits he fought against.
03The base HGBD kit is distinct from the later HGBD Gundam 00 Sky (Higher Than Sky Phase) release, which adds the light-wing effect parts and Lash Position backpack gimmick seen in the anime's climactic scenes.