HGUniversal Century

RX-79［GS］ Gundam Ground Type S

The Thunderbolt cast retools the old Ground Type into a lean, funnel-toting sniper support unit, and the kit backs it up.

MechaGrade Score

3.9/5

［GS］ Gundam Ground Type S · 1/144 · 2017

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2017

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is one of the stronger HG kits to come out of the Thunderbolt sub-line, and I think it gets undersold because it lives in the shadow of its 08th MS Team cousin.

The engineering carries over the excellent double-jointed knees and pull-out shoulder gimmick from the original Ground Type molds, then adds a redesigned head and a full beam-weapon loadout that fits the Thunderbolt aesthetic. The one real speed bump is the funnel-style backpack hardware, which is small and a little fussy to assemble. Everything else about this build feels considered.

Best for: Thunderbolt fans and Ground Type collectors who want a posey, well-armed 1/144 without stepping up to Master Grade money

The full review

What it is

I went in expecting a reskin and came out with a kit that earns its own identity. It reuses the A, D, and G runners from the HGGT-03 platform, so the frame underneath is the same well-regarded Ground Type engineering, deep knee bend, a shoulder joint that pulls out for the classic firing stance, a waist that spins the full 360. What changes is the loadout and the silhouette. You get a beam rifle, a shield, a beam javelin, beam sabers with clear effect parts, and swappable backpack arms, which is a genuinely generous spread for an HG. Popping the head on and seeing the new sensor design next to that lineup is what sold me on this being its own kit, not a repaint.

The catch

The backpack hardware is the part builders flag most, the small funnel-style arms take real patience to clip and align without stressing the tabs, and if you rush it you will feel a part want to pop loose. There is also a bit of sticker reliance on some of the smaller accent colors rather than full molded separation, typical for the price point. A few builders note the chest plate cover on this frame family can sit a touch loose if you are heavy handed with posing. None of it is a dealbreaker, but go slow on the backpack step and you will avoid the one part of this build that can turn frustrating.

Who it's for

If you already like the Ground Type frame from 08th MS Team and want a version with a more varied, beam-heavy arsenal and a different head sculpt, this is an easy recommend, it is the same trusted engineering with a fresh loadout. It also works well as a first Thunderbolt kit if you have not tried the sub-line yet, since the frame is forgiving and the pose potential is high once assembled. Skip it if you specifically want the ballistic 100mm-machine-gun loadout of the original 08th MS Team release, that is a different SKU, or if fiddly small backpack parts are something you would rather avoid entirely.

The build story

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

The build itself moves at a normal HG pace, shared A, D, and G runners with the rest of the HGGT-03 family mean nub placement and gate cleanup are already well trodden ground, nothing unusual to watch for there. The one section that slows you down is the backpack, the funnel-style arms are small, and getting them seated and aligned without stressing the connecting tabs takes a deliberate hand rather than a rushed one.

Where the kit earns its score is in the frame it inherited. The knees carry real double-joint travel, the shoulders pull out on a peg to let the arms clear the torso for that signature firing stance, and the waist spins freely, so posing with the beam rifle and javelin together actually looks dynamic rather than static. Pairing that engineering with a five-piece weapon loadout and clear beam-saber effect parts is a lot of play value for an HG price point.

Lore & trivia

01The RX-79[GS] is a Ground Type variant fielded from the assault carrier Spartan in Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt, with the S designation tying it to that ship.
02This HG kit reuses the A, D, and G parts runners from the HGGT-03 tooling, meaning the frame engineering is shared with other kits in the Thunderbolt HG sub-line.
03The kit was released under Bandai's Gundam Thunderbolt Ver. line in 2017, distinguishing it from the ballistic-weapon-focused Ground Type kit tied to Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team.