MGUniversal Century

MSN-00100 Hyaku-Shiki Ver.2.0

Char's golden ace rebuilt on a modern frame, and the gold finish alone is worth the shelf space.

MechaGrade Score

4.3/5

Hyaku-Shiki · 1/100 · 2015

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2015

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is one of the best looking MGs Bandai has put out, full stop.

The undercut gold plastic reads like real metallic paint straight off the runner, the Mk-II Ver.2.0 derived frame gives it real pose range, and the price still buys you a kit that feels complete rather than padded out. It is not a beginner kit and it demands patience with detail parts, but if you want a display centerpiece this delivers on nearly every front.

Best for: MG builders who want a showpiece Zeta-era suit and don't mind spending real time on small gold detail parts

The full review

What it is

The Hyaku-Shiki is Char Aznable's (as Quattro Bajeena) gold command unit from Zeta Gundam, and this Ver.2.0 reissue rebuilds the old MG on the newer Mk-II Ver.2.0 movable frame. The difference shows immediately. It stands and poses with real confidence instead of the wobble older Hyaku-Shiki kits were known for, and the gold plastic is undercut around the panel lines so nub marks hide themselves before you even touch a hobby knife. Opening the box and seeing that gold catch light is genuinely one of the better first impressions in the MG line. It comes with the Zeta beam rifle, clay bazooka, and two beam sabers, all of which mount cleanly to the backpack and waist when not in hand.

The catch

The gold runners have faint, consistent scratch-like lines molded into the plastic itself, not damage from shipping or handling, and pretty much everyone who has built this kit mentions it. It is a cosmetic quirk you'll want to know about going in rather than panic over mid-build. There are also a lot of small detail parts to clip and place, especially around the chest and skirt armor, so this runs slower than a typical MG despite an easy overall part-fit. Pricing sits noticeably above kits with a similar part count, largely because of the specialty gold plastic, so value-per-dollar isn't this kit's strongest pitch even though the finished result earns it.

Who it's for

This is for builders who already have a few MGs under their belt and want a suit that looks striking with zero paint or panel lining required. If you love Zeta Gundam or just want gold plastic that actually looks like gold on the shelf, this earns its price. I would not hand this to someone building their first kit, the small gold parts and slower detail work will frustrate a beginner more than they reward. If you want cheap part-count value over presence, look elsewhere in the MG line first.

The build story

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

Overall assembly is straightforward and the parts fit together with the tight, confident click you want from a modern MG. Where it slows down is the sheer number of small gold accent pieces on the chest vents, skirt armor, and backpack, each one needs care during gate removal since the gold plastic shows nub marks more readily than standard color plastic, even with the undercutting helping matters.

The frame carries over the improved hip and shoulder engineering from the Mk-II Ver.2.0 line, so the suit holds dynamic flight and combat poses without the legs splaying or the arms drooping. Fingers get 3+1+1 articulation for real hand acting on the beam saber grips, and the backpack accepts either the clay bazooka or beam rifle without looking bolted on. For the price band, you are paying a premium for the gold plastic itself, but the frame and accessory count back it up.

Lore & trivia

01The Hyaku-Shiki's gold coloring is a Beam Coating meant to dissipate the thermal energy of beam weapon hits, not just a stylistic choice in the show's own lore
02It is piloted in Zeta Gundam by Quattro Bajeena, the alias used by Char Aznable while operating with the AEUG
03This Ver.2.0 kit rebuilds the classic Hyaku-Shiki on the movable frame introduced with the MG Gundam Mk-II Ver.2.0, released in May 2015 at 6,800 yen
04The gold runners carry faint scratch-like surface lines as molded, a detail widely reported by builders and confirmed as consistent across copies rather than shipping damage