RGCosmic Era

MBF-P03 Gundam Astray Blue Frame

A P-Bandai exclusive that proves the Astray frame was made for the RG treatment.

MechaGrade Score

4.2/5

Gundam Astray Blue Frame · 1/144 · 2015

GradeRG

Scale1/144

Released2015

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is one of the better-kept secrets in the RG line, and I mean that as a real compliment.

It was a Bandai Hobby Online Shop exclusive, so fewer people built it than the mainline Strike or Freedom RGs, but the engineering underneath is every bit as good. The Astray frame was practically designed for the RG gimmick of a molded, pre-colored inner skeleton, and here it finally gets to show off. If you can find one at a fair price, it earns a spot on the shelf.

Best for: RG collectors and Astray fans who want the definitive small-scale Blue Frame and don't mind hunting a P-Bandai exclusive

The full review

What it is

The RG Astray Blue Frame takes the Real Grade formula, that full inner frame molded right on the runner in real color, and applies it to a suit whose in-universe gimmick is an exposed, articulated frame under foam-metal armor plating. That match between kit engineering and source material is what makes this one click for me. Building it, the frame goes together with the same satisfying click-lock RG parts are known for, and once the blue and white armor panels snap over it, the color separation is genuinely impressive for 1/144. It looks better finished than the HG Red Frame it's often compared against, and it has the presence of a kit twice its scale.

The catch

Being a P-Bandai exclusive means the price and availability are the first real hurdle, this one was never a regular retail release and secondary market prices reflect that. On the build side, a handful of parts run looser than I'd like, the ankle guards, the waist connection, and the red torso vent piece are the usual suspects builders flag, so don't expect the rock-solid tension of Bandai's newer RG molds. The wrist joint that doubles as a weapon peg is also worth watching, hand the weapon off at the wrong angle and it pops loose mid-pose. Nothing here ruins the kit, but it is a slightly less polished experience than the flagship RGs.

Who it's for

If you already love the Astray Blue Frame or the SEED Astray manga and you can track down a copy at a reasonable price, this is worth the hunt, it is the best small-scale version of the suit Bandai has made. Builders who panel line with Gundam markers and give it a light top coat (skipping the chrome bits) will get a display piece that punches above its scale. I'd steer newcomers toward an easier-to-find RG first, and I'd steer anyone allergic to loose ankle joints toward the MG version instead, but for the target audience this kit delivers exactly what it promises.

The build story

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

Assembly follows the standard RG rhythm, inner frame first, then the armor shell locks over it panel by panel. Gate placement is typical RG-small, so a sharp side cutter and some patience around the tiny inner frame joints pays off. Most of the parts snap together with confidence, though a handful, the ankle guards and the waist connector especially, sit looser than Bandai's best RG tolerances and benefit from a careful eye or a dab of cement for peace of mind.

The standout here is how well the RG inner-frame concept maps onto a suit whose whole design is an exposed frame under lightweight armor, the color separation on the frame itself does real storytelling work without a single sticker. Articulation is full RG spec, ball-jointed neck, double-hinged elbows and knees, swinging shoulders, and it holds dynamic poses without drooping. The kit mounts to the Action Base via an adapter and comes with its signature beam weapons, though the wrist joint doubling as the weapon peg means you want a firm, deliberate hand-off rather than a loose press-fit.

Lore & trivia

01The Gundam Astray Blue Frame was one of five prototype Gundams built by Orb's Morgenrote Inc. using stolen G Project data, minus the Phase Shift armor the originals had.
02In place of Phase Shift, the Astray units use lightweight foaming metal armor, which is why the exposed inner frame is such a core part of the suit's design and backstory.
03The Blue Frame is piloted by Gai Murakumo, leader of the mercenary group Serpent Tail, after he takes it from Lowe Guele's salvage crew during the fallout of the Heliopolis attack.
04This RG version was a Bandai Hobby Online Shop (P-Bandai) exclusive released in December 2015, which is why it never had the retail visibility of the mainline RG Strike or Freedom kits.