XXXG-01D2 Gundam Deathscythe Hell
A scythe-swinging stealth Gundam that finally moves like the assassin it's supposed to be.
MechaGrade Score
Gundam Deathscythe Hell · 1/144 · 2023
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This is one of the best HG treatments an After Colony suit has gotten in years.
The Active Cloak actually works as a display feature instead of a fixed cape, the twin beam scythe and buster shield give you two completely different silhouettes to pose, and the whole thing snaps together with a confidence I don't always get from this price tier. It is not flawless, the dark plastic shows every nub mark, but the build itself is a genuine pleasure from start to finish.
Best for: Gundam Wing fans and HG collectors who want a dynamic, display-ready Deathscythe Hell without jumping up to MG money
What it is
I went into this expecting a straightforward HG reissue of an old design and came out surprised by how much engineering Bandai actually put into it. The Active Cloak is the star of the show, six armor panels on multi-axis arms that open and close independently instead of being molded as one static shroud. That single feature turns Duo's suit from a guy in a cape into something that genuinely looks like it's unfurling for an ambush. The twin beam scythe comes with effect parts, and the redesigned buster shield deploys its own blades, so you get real weapon variety without buying a single aftermarket part.
The catch
The plastic is dark and glossy, which looks great on the shelf and terrible under a desk lamp during the build, gate marks show up more than they would on a lighter kit and I ended up reaching for a sanding stick more than usual. Bandai still leans on stickers for the visor, the head camera, the shield markings, and some interior wing panels rather than molded color, so if you want a fully painted look you're committing to some careful cutting or a trip to the paint booth. The big wing binders also want room, they swing forward and back nicely but they will bump into other kits or a cramped display shelf if you're not paying attention.
Who it's for
If you grew up on Gundam Wing or just like your mobile suits with a horror-movie edge, this is an easy recommendation, it captures the character of Deathscythe Hell better than the kit's age would suggest. Newer builders will find it forgiving, the frame is sturdy and the articulation is generous for an HG. Skip it only if sticker-heavy detailing is a dealbreaker for you or you specifically want the plain Deathscythe over the Hell upgrade, since this tooling is built around the cloak and the redesigned weapons, not the original silhouette.
The build story
What the build is actually like, and the engineering worth knowing about.
Assembly is fast and satisfying, the wing and cloak attachment points are solid and open and close cleanly rather than feeling loose, which is where a lot of HG kits in this category cut corners. Cleanup is the one place I slowed down, since the dark plastic Bandai chose for this release makes every nub nub and seam far more visible than it would be on a lighter color, so budget a little extra time with a side cutter and a sanding stick if you want a clean finish.
The engineering standout is the cloak mechanism itself, six panels on independent multi-axis arms that fold flat for a sleek flight pose or fan open for the classic assassin's ambush look. Articulation backs that up well: elbows rotate 360 degrees and bend to 90, knees are double-jointed, and the ankles get a limited ball-and-socket swivel, enough range that scythe swings and lunging poses actually hold. For the price band, getting both a redesigned buster shield with deployable blades and a fresh twin beam scythe with effect parts is real value, you're not left improvising a weapon loadout.
Lore & trivia
- 01Deathscythe Hell is the upgraded version of the original Deathscythe, rebuilt by the Gundam engineers while Duo Maxwell was held on the lunar base during Endless Waltz, with enhanced stealth and heavier weaponry than its predecessor.
- 02Duo Maxwell's fighting style leans on evasion and sensor-scrambling rather than head-on combat, which is exactly what the Active Cloak's stealth function represents in-universe.
- 03At the end of Endless Waltz, Duo self-destructs Deathscythe Hell alongside Trowa's and Quatre's Gundams as a symbolic act of disarmament once the conflict ends.
- 04This HGAC release in 2023 was a Bandai Hobby Online Shop exclusive, giving the After Colony line a modern reissue with all-new sculpting rather than a straight reissue of the older 1990s tooling.
What other builders say
This write-up is grounded in real reviews and builder discussion, not just one opinion. A few worth reading:
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