MGAnno Domini

GNX-609T GN-XIII (ESF Colors)

The blue-collar successor to the GN-X, dressed in Earth Sphere Federation blue and armed with a lance that does double duty.

MechaGrade Score

3.7/5

GN-XIII (ESF Colors) · 1/100 · 2018

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2018

Runnersn/a

Check price on Amazon

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

The verdict

This is a very good MG with one genuinely clever gimmick and a couple of the same old GN-X family fit problems.

The GN Lance that folds out into a rifle is the reason to own this kit, and the articulation on paper (double-jointed elbows, 3+1+1 fingers, a hip axis that drops for extra leg clearance) backs it up in the hand. It just is not a flawless build, and I want you going in with eyes open about where it gets loose.

Best for: Gundam 00 fans who want the ESF-blue GN-XIII specifically, and MG builders who do not mind a little wrist-ring wrestling for a genuinely interesting weapon gimmick

The full review

What it is

The GN-XIII is the follow-up design to the GN-X in the Gundam 00 timeline, and this ESF Colors release paints it in the blue of the Earth Sphere Federation's forces rather than the red and white A-Laws scheme. What sold me on this kit is the GN Lance. It is not just a beam saber with a longer handle, it actually telescopes out into a rifle with an exposed trigger grip and four beam guns clustered at the base of the cone, so you get a melee weapon and a ranged weapon in one accessory without swapping parts. Pair that with a full range of joints (ball socket neck and shoulders, a 360 degree waist, double elbows) and the GN-XIII poses like a suit that wants to be posed, not just displayed standing at attention.

The catch

This kit shares its lineage with the earlier MG GN-X, and it inherits some of that kit's known headaches. The wrist ring connection between forearm and hand has a reputation for popping loose rather than seating firmly, which is the single most common complaint across the GN-X family of MGs. The particle generator binders on the waist and shoulders are also on ball-and-peg joints rather than proper polycaps in places, so expect some parts to want to fall off mid-pose until you get used to handling them. This was also sold as a Bandai Premium exclusive rather than through general retail, so if you did not grab it in 2018 you are hunting secondary market listings and paying above the original release price.

Who it's for

If you already love Gundam 00 and want the ESF-blue GN-XIII specifically, this is worth tracking down, the lance alone makes it stand out from a shelf of standard beam rifle poses. If you are shopping by mobile suit design and do not care about the exact color variant, the more common A-Laws Type or the base GN-X will get you a similar build experience for less hunting. New builders should also know this is not a forgiving first MG, the loose wrist joints will test your patience before you get a feel for how firmly to seat them. Go in with a hobby knife, a little superglue on standby for stubborn joints, and reasonable expectations about a six year old exclusive kit.

What works

The GN Lance actually converts between melee mode and a rifle with an exposed trigger grip, a genuinely different accessory gimmick from the usual beam saber and rifle set
Full range of MG-standard articulation including double-jointed elbows, a ball-and-socket neck, and a hip axis that swings down for extra leg clearance
Distinct ESF blue colorway gives you a different look on the shelf than the more commonly seen A-Laws red and white version

Worth knowing

Wrist ring joints between forearm and hand are loose and prone to popping out of place, a recurring complaint across the whole GN-X kit family
Ball-and-peg connections on the binders and x-fin style parts can work themselves loose during posing rather than staying locked in
Originally a Bandai Premium exclusive, so it is secondary-market only now and priced above what it sold for at release

Sold? Grab it.

Check price on Amazon

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

The build story

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

Expect a standard MG-tier build in terms of part count and runner complexity, nothing overwhelming, but pay attention to the wrist and binder joints as you go. These are ball-and-cap connections rather than polycap sockets in a few spots, and they benefit from a firmer seat than you might instinctively give them. Gate placement is typical Bandai for the era, workable with a basic side cutter and hobby knife, and panel lines are cut deep enough to reward a liquid panel line pass once assembled.

The standout engineering is the GN Lance mechanism itself, sliding from a compact melee form into an extended rifle with a separate trigger grip is a satisfying bit of Bandai design work, and it is backed by a real articulation package: double elbows, a rotating 360 degree waist, swiveling ball-jointed shoulders and manipulators, and 3+1+1 finger movement for actually gripping weapons rather than just holding a fixed hand pose. The GN Beam Sabers, vulcans, claws, and shield round out a loadout that gives you real posing variety beyond the lance.

Lore & trivia

01The GN-XIII is the direct successor to the GN-X in the Gundam 00 series, serving as the mass-production mobile suit for both the A-Laws faction and the Earth Sphere Federation during the second season timeline
02The two most common color releases are the A-Laws Type in red and white and this ESF Type in blue, reflecting which faction the suit was fielded by in the show
03The GN Lance's rifle mode is triggered by extending the shaft to reveal a dedicated grip, and it carries four beam guns near the base of its conical head for rapid-fire ranged combat separate from its melee GN Field function