The Gundam X has quickly become one of my favorite mobile suits.

This High Grade model is a fantastic rendition of it.

The build itself was a joy.

And now I am happy to report that so was the photoshoot.

It’s so crisp. So clean. It’s that 90’s Gundam aesthetic finally perfected.

I could stop right here and by content with this build. But I’ve got lots more to share.

Articulation

This is a kit from 2010, which in my experience is a period of time where High Grade articulation was on the cusp of being great. That means that the range on the GX here could be all over the place.

Starting with the head, it can swivel freely, and it gets a nice side tilt:

It can also move up and down a bit:

I’ve seen a lot worse, so I’m happy with what we’ve got here.

The elbow bend is, sadly, less than stellar:

This sub-90 degree bend is not uncommon for pre-2010 kits, but it still cropped up from time to time in this era. It’s made up for by a semi-decent arm lift:

The torso rotates freely:

And it has the slightest bit of forward and backward tilt:

It’s not much - it almost seems accidental - but it’s better than nothing.

Here is a half split:

And a fairly poor leg lift and knee bend:

Lastly, the toe can point downward a bit:

All in all, the articulation is … not great. But as we’ll see later, I don’t think it compromises the model. As you might expect, the Satellite Cannon does a lot of the heavy lifting.

Beam Rifle Poses

I like the Beam Rifle, but even I can admit that it looks kind of plain and uneventful compared to the Beam Saber and the Satellite Cannon. As a result, I didn’t take too many pictures with it (though I admit I should have taken more).

Now let’s switch to shield mode:

Since the grip isn’t on a hinge, there’s no choice but to keep holding it like a rifle. It’s as awkward as it sounds, though I was able to recreate this pose:

I don’t love shield mode, but it’s so quirky that it deserves to be documented.

Beam Saber

Good news - the articulation is good enough to grab the Beam Saber:

It’s such a cool blade:

It’s just a mean looking weapon, and a highlight of the GX line of mobile suits.

Shoulder Cannon

There’s not much you can do with this in regards to action poses, but it’s worth throwing it on there and taking a look:

It’s a nice, if not totally necessary addition. It limits the head’s range of movement, so for that reason it’s not worth keeping on.

Middair Poses

This is my first time using a clear (non colored) Action Base 5. I wish I would have made the switch ages ago. I had no idea it’d blend in so well with the white background of the lightbox. It’s not completely invisible, but it’s close. It really does make it look like the model is flying in some of these shots.

This isn’t an action pose perse, but I love it anyway. The GX looks so cool with its Reflector panels open and its weapon holstered in the back:

(Though once again, this is when it would have been great to have some open hands)

The pose below is awkward and goofy, and for some reason I really like it:

I went a little nuts with the Beam Saber:

As expected, the Beam Saber looks plenty fierce.

Now I think to wrap up this post. As I look out the window, I can see that it’s getting late, and that it’s time to sleep under a full moon.

Wait a minute …

… the moon is full? Oh crap. That means it’s time for the -

Satellite Cannon

EVERYONE HIT THE DECK!!

In all seriousness, the Satellite Cannon looks great. And while it does require some partsformation, it isn’t difficult, nor is it particularly fragile.

Conclusion

This isn’t a perfect model (then again, what is?)

The lack of extra hands is disappointing. The decals on the Satellite Cannon are constantly at risk of peeling off. And the articulation could be better.

But at the same time, the articulation is good enough. It’s got a ton of gimmicks. And the entire model is extremely sturdy from top to bottom.

Put it all together, and this is by far one of my favorite, most enjoyable builds of the entire year. Just a rock solid High Grade all around.