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Aerial Gundam HG 2
May
1. The GUND-ARM Legacy: A New Mechanical Design
Designed by mechanical artist JNTHED, the XVX-016 Gundam Aerial departs drastically from the traditional, blocky Universal Century designs. Piloted by Suletta Mercury, the Aerial features an organic, heavily curved silhouette. Aerial Gundam HG
Instead of an imposing, angular military machine, the Aerial boasts wide thighs, a tapered waist, and an expansive chest housing the Shell Unit—the central hub for the revolutionary GUND Format system. This curvature presents an engineering challenge: how do you translate fluid, human-like mechanical curves into rigid interlocking plastic pieces? Bandai’s answer was to throw out the old HG playbook.
2. In-Mold Decoration: A High-Tech Breakthrough
The crowning achievement of the HG Gundam Aerial is its implementation of IMD (In-Mold Decoration) technology for the chest Shell Unit.
In past HG kits, intricate light-up mechanical patterns were achieved using metallic stickers placed underneath a smoky clear plastic piece. For the Aerial, Bandai prints the glowing red GUND-Format pattern directly onto a film inside the injection mold before the clear plastic is poured.
The Result: A perfectly flush, iridescent piece of plastic that shimmers with deep, metallic red circuitry under lighting. It looks like a premium, factory-painted part right out of the box.
The Backup: For builders who prefer a different look (or want to depict the Aerial with its systems turned off), Bandai also includes a standard clear piece paired with double-sided adhesive stickers.
3. The Unboxing and Assembly Experience
Pop open the box, and you are greeted by vibrant runners that immediately showcase Bandai’s advanced color separation. The kit relies on a stark white, a bright royal blue, crimson red, and an accentuating yellow.
Polycap-Less Construction
Following the trend set by kits like the HG Gundam Beyond Global, the Aerial completely eliminates polycaps (soft plastic joint caps). The inner frame and joints are constructed entirely out of high-density KPS plastic. This means the joints rub plastic-on-plastic, resulting in an incredibly tight, solid build that will not decay or stretch out over years of heavy posing.
Under-Gating and Nub Management
Bandai strategically placed under-gates on many of the curved blue and white armor plates. When you cut the parts from the runners, the gate mark is hidden underneath the interlocking seam lines rather than on the visible face of the armor. This makes the Aerial exceptionally friendly for straight-builders who do not paint their kits.
4. Articulation: Human-Like Fluidity
Because the Aerial’s fighting style in the anime is incredibly dynamic, athletic, and dance-like, the model kit requires a massive range of motion.
[Double-Jointed Neck] ---> Allows dramatic upward head tilts for flying poses
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[Ball-Jointed Torso] ---> Pivots deeply at the mid-section for athletic crunches
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[Y-Axis Hip Joints] ----> Enables a full 180-degree lateral split
The Upper Body and Shoulders
The shoulder joints feature a forward-swing mechanism that allows the arms to cross over the chest perfectly. The neck is double-jointed, allowing Suletta’s suit to look straight up during flight or bury its chin deep into its collar for a menacing, defensive stance.
The Dynamic Thigh Swing
The legs are where the articulation truly shines. The hip sockets can shift downward on a track to expand the leg’s clearance. Combined with the massive ball-jointed ankles, the Aerial can achieve incredibly wide, grounded samurai stances while keeping its feet completely flat on the surface.
5. The Escutcheon Shield and Bit on Form Gimmick
The absolute highlight of the HG Aerial is its primary weapon and defensive tool: the Escutcheon. This massive shield is not just a solid piece of plastic; it is a complex puzzle comprised of 11 individual GUND-Bits (remote-controlled drone weapons known as Bit-Staves).
| Mode Configuration | Aesthetic & Gameplay Features |
| Shield Mode | All 11 bits interlock perfectly into a single, rock-solid shield mounted to the left forearm via a swivel clip. |
| Bit on Form | The 11 bits detach from the shield and mount directly onto hardpoints across the Aerial’s body (shoulders, back, and rear skirt). |
The Power of Bit on Form
When configured into “Bit on Form,” the Aerial undergoes a massive visual transformation. The bits on the shoulders act as added thruster armor, the bits on the rear skirt elongate its silhouette, and the entire kit takes on an aggressive, high-speed aerodynamic look.
6. Weaponry and Effects
Beyond the shield, the Aerial comes fully prepared for dueling at the Asticassia School of Technology:
The Beam Rifle: A cleanly molded weapon that can plug directly into the back skirt armor when not in use. It features an attachment point to combine with two of the GUND-Bits to form the massive Gund-Bit Rifle.
Beam Blade Effect: Bandai includes a massive, stylized translucent blue beam effect part that clips over the barrel of the rifle, replicating the high-output blade output seen in the anime.
Twin Beam Sabers: Mounted on the backpack, these feature long, crisp clear-blue beam effect blades that contrast beautifully against the traditional pink sabers of older Gundam series.
7. Pros and Cons
Pros:
Revolutionary IMD Tech: The pre-molded chest piece looks professional and breathtaking without paint.
Incredible Value: Offers Master Grade-level engineering and gimmicks at a budget High Grade price point.
Zero Polycap Stability: The KPS frame ensures the kit remains rigid and stable over time.
Flawless Color Separation: Even the tiny yellow vents on the chest are individual pieces of colored plastic.
Cons:
Lack of Open Hands: The kit only comes with two closed fist/holding hands. If you want a dynamic open expressive hand for dramatic anime poses, you have to buy a separate Mirasoul Flight Unit expansion pack or third-party hands.
Sticker Reliance on Secondary Areas: While the chest is gorgeous, the back of the thighs and the back of the shield rely on standard foil stickers to fill in black mechanical gaps.
8. Final Verdict: The New Gold Standard for High Grades
The HG 1/144 Gundam Aerial is not just a fantastic model kit; it is a milestone achievement for Bandai. It took the traditionally affordable, simplistic High Grade line and elevated it with cutting-edge plastic technology, flawless articulation, and an innovative, modular weapon system.
Whether you are a seasoned builder who wants a perfect canvas for custom painting, or a newcomer brought into the hobby by The Witch from Mercury, this kit offers an unmatched, joyful building experience. It is, without a doubt, a perfect entry point and a mandatory centerpiece for the modern generation of Gunpla.
