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"HG Gelgoog" Review: Thorough comparison of 14 HG Gunpla of "Gelgoog"! What's the difference?

Feb. 10, 2025

In this issue, we will focus on the "Gelgoog" type gunpla released in the HG series and examine what characteristics each has!

Contents
  1. The basic "Char Custom" and "Mass Production" Gelgoog
  2. HGUC Mass Production Gelgoog" is a great deal because it is a choice between "Gelgoog Cannon" and "Mass Production Gelgoog".
  3. Surprisingly, the first product released in the HGUC series was the "Gelgoog Marine"
  4. "Gelgoog J (Jager)" designed for ace pilots
  5. Various "Gelgoog" have already been released as limited models.
  6. My personal preference is the "HGUC Mass Production Gelgoog/Gelgoog Cannon".

Many fans may be familiar with the "Gelgoog", but first, let us review the basic settings of the "Gelgoog". "Gelgoog" is a mobile suit of the Principality of Zeon Army that appeared in the first-generation "Mobile Suit Gundam". It was developed as part of the Second Main Battle Mobile Suit MS Development Program as a replacement for the Zaku II. It is the first Zeon mobile suit to be equipped with beam weapons as standard equipment, and its weapons include a beam rifle and a beam naginata, positioning it as a state-of-the-art mobile suit that mainly uses beam weapons.

There are many variations of "Gelgoog", and the "Char Custom" and "Johnny Ridden Custom" are well known, but many of you may not know about the "Marine", "Jager", and "Vertex". In this issue, we will explain in detail!

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The basic "Char Custom" and "Mass Production" Gelgoog

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On the left is the "HGUC 1/144 Gelgoog Char Custom" and on the right is the "HGUC 1/144 Mass Production Gelgoog / Gelgoog Cannon" assembled to "Mass Production Gelgoog" specifications.

"Gelgoog Char Custom" has a commander's blade antenna on its head and is painted in his personal color, red. In terms of Gundam plastic models, "Gelgoog Char Custom" was released in 2006, and the following year, in 2007, the "Mass Production Gelgoog / Gelgoog Cannon" was released by diverting its mold.

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Compare the head. The "Gelgoog Char Custom" comes with only the parts with blade antenna. The "Gelgoog" is a selectable type, and the image shows it without the horn, but the parts with the blade antenna are included separately.
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Both models have exactly the same specifications except for the head and molding color. The construction is detailed, with thrusters built into the rear skirt of the waist and in the armor near the heels (in the image, the interior of the armor has been painted black).
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The weapons included are also the same. The "Beam Rifle" and "Beam Naginata" are included in the package.
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Shield can be attached to the back or worn on the arm.
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It is also compatible with "Action Base 2 Display Stand" and can be displayed in the air.
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They look good side by side.

The only difference between the "HGUC Gelgoog Char Custom" and the "Mass Production Gelgoog" is basically the color, but as lightly mentioned in the head comparison part, the "Mass Production Gelgoog" is a selectable kit with the "Gelgoog Cannon". I will explain a little more about that.

"HGUC Mass Production Gelgoog" is a great deal because it is a choice between "Gelgoog Cannon" and "Mass Production Gelgoog".

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The left is "Mass Production Gelgoog" introduced earlier, and the right is "Gelgoog Cannon" specification assembled.

The greatest feature of the "HGUC 1/144 Mass Production Gelgoog / Gelgoog Cannon" is that it can reproduce two forms. Since it is a selectable type, you choose either one and assemble it first.

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"Gelgoog Cannon" has a head design that is different from normal "Gelgoog". The right arm is equipped with a "triple missile launcher" and the left arm is equipped with a "buckler shield". In addition, it is characterized by being equipped with a "cannon pack" on the back, which is the origin of its name.
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"Gelgoog" and "Gelgoog Cannon" were displayed at the same time.
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However, to display two of them at the same time, you must buy two!

"HGUC Mass Production Gelgoog / Gelgoog Cannon" is a great value model that can reproduce two forms.

Surprisingly, the first product released in the HGUC series was the "Gelgoog Marine"

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On the left is "HGUC 1/144 MS-14F Gelgoog Marine", the 16th model in the HGUC series, released in 2000. On the right is "HGUC 1/144 MS-14Fs Gelgoog Marine Cima Custom", which was later released in 2002.

The "Gelgoog Marine" is a "Gelgoog" of the Zeon remnants that appeared in the 1990 OVA "Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 STARDUST MEMORY". It has been modified to "Marine landing force specifications", and its name is taken from "Marine (Navy)". Among the many "Gelgoog" kits, this kit was the first to be released in the HGUC series.

The "Cima Custom" is also a machine that appears in "Mobile Suit Gundam 0083 STARDUST MEMORY". It is the exclusive machine of "Commander Cima Garahau", a female officer belonging to the "Principality of Zeon Assault Cavalry", and is painted in purple and khaki colors. It also features an additional head blade antenna and thrusters, and is equipped with four propellant tanks on its back.

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Close-up comparison. They differ not only in the presence or absence of the blade antenna on the head, but also in the design of the torso and waist. Both are old Gunpla released around 2000, so they are not equipped with fashionable gimmicks such as moving mono eyes.
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Comparison of backs. The "Cima Custom" (right) features a reinforced backpack with more thrusters and propellants.
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Both models come with the "MMP-80 90mm machine gun" as a weapon (top image). In addition, the "Cima Custom" comes with an additional "Large Beam Rifle" (bottom image).
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"Spike Shield" is attached to "Gelgoog Marine" and "Shield" is attached to "Cima Custom" as armament to be equipped on the left arm.

There are many differences between the "Gelgoog Marine" and the "Cima Custom", and not only the molding color but also the armor and armament differ greatly. Incidentally, the runner configuration is different from that of the "HGUC Gelgoog Char Custom" introduced first, and there is no diversion from the same model.

These two models are the oldest of the "Gelgoog" type Gundam models introduced here, so they have many complaints, such as a narrow range of motion and many joints. From a modern Gundam modeler's point of view, this is a kit "for modelers who can tinker to some extent".

"Gelgoog J (Jager)" designed for ace pilots

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On the left is "HGUC 1/144 Gelgoog J" released to the public in 2004. On the right is its modified kit, the "HGUC 1/144 Shin Matsunaga's Gelgoog J".

The "J" in "Gelgoog J" reads "Jager", a German word meaning "hunter". It is a general-purpose mass-production mobile suit of the Zeon army that appeared in "Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket", the first OVA work in the Gundam series, and was produced in small numbers for ace pilots. The Shin Matsunaga exclusive machine is a limited edition, and features a new molding color and Shin Matsunaga exclusive marking stickers.

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"Gelgoog J" is characterized by its beam machine gun, propellant tank and rod antenna on the backpack.
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The main differences between "Gelgoog J" and "Shin Matsunaga's Gelgoog" are the colors and marking stickers. In terms of details, "Shin Matsunaga's Gelgoog" comes with additional "hand parts" and "beam saber" of the "HGUC Gelgoog Marine", but other than the colors and stickers, we can say that the specifications are almost the same!
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Side-by-side display.

Various "Gelgoog" have already been released as limited models.

From here, we will look at a model with modified specifications using "HGUC Gelgoog Char Custom" runner.

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From the left: "HGUC Gelgoog (Unicorn Ver.)", "HGUC Gelgoog Gato Custom", "HGUC Gelgoog Vish Donahue Custom". Basically it is a color change model of "Gelgoog", but there are some minor changes.
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First of all, there are changes in the attached rifle. "Gato Custom" (above image) comes with a "prototype beam rifle". "Unicorn Ver." (center of image) comes with an additional "Gira Doga-type beam machine gun". "Vish Donahue Custom" (bottom image) has no additional weapons.
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"Unicorn Ver." in the image above features a "sleeved" forearm design. Stickers for the chest are also included. On the other hand, the "Vish Donahue Custom" in the lower image comes with skull marking stickers. You can also see that both models are the same green color, but in different shades!
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This is "HGUC Gelgoog Johnny Ridden Custom". It is a "Gelgoog" dedicated to Johnny Ridden, also known as "High Mobility Type Gelgoog", but the main body is basically a color-changed version of the "HGUC Gelgoog Char Custom".
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The difference is that the "rocket launcher" and "Type B backpack" are newly sculpted and included. The design of the reinforced backpack is distinctive, as is the high-mobility type!
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These are "HGUC Rigelgu" (left image) that appeared in "Mobile Suit Gundam ZZ" and its modified specification model, the "HGUC Rigelgu" (Unicorn Ver.) (right image) that appeared in "Mobile Suit Gundam UC".
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Both models are modification kits of the "HGUC Gelgoog Char Custom", but the shoulder parts of "HGUC Rigelgu" have been changed to a huge "Wing Binder" and the backpack is newly sculpted. "Unicorn Ver." (image below), on the other hand, features sleeved arms in addition to this design.
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A special "Beam Rifle" is included as a weapon, but the "Unicorn Ver." also comes with a "Beam Machine Gun (Gira Doga Type)".
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The most maniacal of the models introduced here is the "Gelgoog Vertex". It is a "Gelgoog" type, which was used exclusively by Chimera Corps to which Johnny Ridden belonged during the "One Year War".
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The huge "active binders" on the left and right sides of the backpack have the same design as the shoulder parts of "Rigelgu" mentioned earlier.

There is an enormous amount of settings in the Gundam world, so it is interesting to research these maniacal "Gelgoog" and align them as Gundam plastic models.

My personal preference is the "HGUC Mass Production Gelgoog/Gelgoog Cannon".

Comparing the 14 models, I was again surprised to find that this unique "Gelgoog" mobile suit, which is different from "Zaku", "Guf" and "Dom", has been released in such a wide range of variations. In summary, "Gelgoog" Gundam plastic models available for general sale can be roughly divided into three types: "HGUC Gelgoog Char Custom", "HGUC Gelgoog Marine" and "HGUC Gelgoog J" series.

Excluding limited items, the quality of "HGUC Gelgoog Char Custom" or "Mass-production Gelgoog/Gelgoog Cannon" seems relatively high. However, to be honest, none of them are made in the latest format, so in order to bring them up to the current Gundam quality, it may be necessary to remove the joints (using glue and a file to remove the joints between the parts).

My favorite Gundam model among the Gelgoog models introduced this time is definitely the "HGUC Mass Production Gelgoog / Gelgoog Cannon", which can be reproduced in two forms, and also comes with a Char-specific commander's blade antenna (with horns on the head), making it a very versatile model with a wide range of play options. I think it is. The Gelgoog Cannon, which is full of maniacal and kaleidoscopic features, can be reproduced with a standard-sale Gundam model kit, making it an item that fans of the "First" series will not be able to resist!

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