HGAnno Domini

GN-006/SA Cherudim Gundam SAGA Type.GBF

A tactical gray reskin of an old favorite, and proof that a good frame ages better than its box art.

MechaGrade Score

3.6/5

Cherudim Gundam SAGA Type.GBF · 1/144 · 2017

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2017

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This kit is the HG00 Cherudim frame from 2010 wearing a new coat of urban camo paint, and I think that combination works better than it has any right to.

You are not getting cutting edge engineering here, you are getting a proven, well liked mold with a genuinely striking color scheme and a stupid amount of guns in the box. For the price of an HG, that is a very good trade.

Best for: Gunpla Build Fighters fans and gun-nut posers who want an arsenal in one box without paying MG money

The full review

What it is

This is the Meijin Kawaguchi III custom from Gundam Build Fighters Battlogue, recast in tactical gray over the original HG00 Cherudim Gundam tooling from 2010. Snapping it together feels familiar in the best way. The parts fit with the confidence of a mold that has had years to get sorted out, the double ball joint neck and waist give the head and torso real presence, and the skirt armor swings out of the way instead of fighting your hip joints. What sold me was unboxing the sheer pile of weapons, this thing comes loaded like it is compensating for something, and honestly I love that about it.

The catch

The frame is fifteen years old at this point, so do not expect the inner-frame complexity or knee/ankle range you get on a modern HG. Color separation leans on molded plastic in the main gray and green tones, which is fine, but panel highlights and small insignia still come down to stickers, and there are a lot of small gun parts across those runners that ask for patient gate cleanup if you want clean edges. The GN Drive and a couple of the smaller pistols are fiddly to keep attached once you start swapping loadouts, and shoulder movement is more swing than true multi-axis rotation, so some dynamic poses need help from the stand.

Who it's for

If you liked the Battlogue arc or just want a Gundam that looks like it raided an armory, this is an easy recommend, especially at HG pricing. It also works as a first kit if you want more accessories to fidget with than a typical entry HG offers. Skip it if articulation ceiling is your main priority, a newer HG frame will out-pose this one at the same price point, and skip it too if you want box-fresh color accuracy without any sticker work, because you will be applying a few here. For everyone else chasing that gray-and-green look, it is a fun, weapon-heavy build.

The build story

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

Assembly moves fast and feels low-stress, this is the same trusted HG00 Cherudim tooling from 2010 so the parts mate cleanly and nothing fights you going together. The main challenge is volume, not difficulty, with eight runners worth of weapon parts and small pistol components that reward taking your time on gate marks so the guns look clean in hand.

The standout here is the loadout. Between the beam pistols, beam pistol IIs, submachine guns, assault carbine, sniper rifle II, and the GN Shield Bits plus a clear green display stand, you get more distinct hand props than most HGs twice the price offer. The head sensor detail that opens and closes is a nice small gimmick, and the skirt armor's freedom of movement means the leg poses hold up better than the kit's age would suggest.

Lore & trivia

01The Cherudim Gundam SAGA first appears as Meijin Kawaguchi III's personal machine in Gundam Build Fighters: Battlogue, recolored from the original Cherudim Gundam's black into an urban camouflage gray scheme.
02This HGBF release reuses the HG00 Cherudim Gundam mold from 2010 with new F1, G1, and G2 runners to deliver the SAGA's color scheme and expanded weapon set.
03The kit's seven distinct gun weapons echo the design lineage of the 00 Gundam Seven Sword concept, translated into firearms instead of blades for the SAGA variant.
04In Battlogue episode four, the Cherudim Gundam SAGA is put through a high-difficulty test of the G-Quest system, showcasing its full weapons loadout in combat.