MGUniversal CenturyTop pick

MSN-04 Sazabi "Ver.Ka" [GDHKIII LIMITED]

Char's final ride, cast in clear plastic so you can see every gear that makes it move.

MechaGrade Score

4.4/5

Sazabi · 1/100 · 2018

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2018

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is the standard MG Sazabi Ver.Ka's engineering wearing a see-through coat, and that combination works better than I expected.

The Katoki redesign already made this one of the best-posing big MG kits Bandai has ever put out, and the clear armor over the metallic inner frame turns the whole thing into a display piece you can study from any angle. I would not call it a better build than the original release, it is the same kit, but as an object to own it hits harder. If you can find one at a fair price, it earns the premium.

Best for: Sazabi fans and MG collectors who already know the build and want the clear GDHKIII version as a shelf centerpiece

The full review

What it is

This is the MG Sazabi Ver.Ka, the Hajime Katoki-redesigned take on Char's final mobile suit from Char's Counterattack, molded here in the GDHKIII clear armor colorway that came out of the 2018 Gundam Docks at Hong Kong event. Underneath the clear red and clear parts is the same metallic-toned inner frame and full range of accessories as the standard release: beam rifle, beam tomahawk, shield, and six deployable funnels that clip into shoulder binders. Building it, what struck me most was how the shoulders pop away from the torso on ball joints, giving a suit this bulky a surprising amount of reach and swagger in a pose. It is a big, heavy, satisfying build.

The catch

The oversized forearm cuffs and the wide waist skirt armor are the two things every builder I read ran into, they physically block certain hip and shoulder rotations, so the pose range is generous but not limitless. The waist skirts can also pop off mid-pose if you are not careful. Assembling all six funnels is fiddly, small parts with unfolding stabilizer fins, and it takes patience. On this clear variant specifically, the transparent plastic shows fingerprints and dust more readily than opaque plastic, and being an event-exclusive colorway it typically costs more and is harder to find than the standard Ver.Ka release.

Who it's for

I would point this at builders who already have MG experience and want either a striking display alternative to the standard Sazabi Ver.Ka or a piece to pair with the matching clear Nu Gundam. It is not a first kit, the part count and funnel assembly will frustrate anyone new to Master Grade. If you just want the cheapest route to a great-looking Sazabi, buy the standard Ver.Ka release instead and save the clear GDHKIII version for when you specifically want that event-exclusive look on the shelf. For collectors chasing the full Char's Counterattack lineup, this is a genuinely satisfying grab.

The build story

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

Runner count is high (reports put it around 31 runners and 480-plus parts) but most individual pieces are large and easy to handle, it is the funnel sub-assemblies where things get small and tedious. Fit is generally tight and confident once assembled, joints hold poses well and the kit balances on one leg without a stand, though a few panels need care to seat fully.

The standout engineering is in the shoulders and hands, full articulation across all five fingers per hand including a working thumb crank for expressive grips, which is not something every MG bothers with. Color separation on this clear variant comes from the molded clear red and clear smoke plastic plus the metallic-finish frame parts rather than paint, so it displays well straight off the runners once cleaned up.

Lore & trivia

01The MG Sazabi Ver.Ka is a Hajime Katoki reinterpretation of the original Sazabi design, giving it larger proportions and flatter, sharper panel lines than the anime-accurate version.
02This GDHKIII colorway was a clear-armor exclusive tied to the 2018 Gundam Docks at Hong Kong III event and was sold alongside a matching clear Nu Gundam Ver.Ka.
03In Char's Counterattack, the Sazabi is Char Aznable's final mobile suit and the one he pilots in his climactic confrontation with Amuro Ray's Nu Gundam.
04The kit includes the beam shot rifle and beam tomahawk as molded plastic weapon accessories, giving Sazabi its full melee-and-ranged loadout out of the box.