HGUC 1/144 Hyaku Shiki — Gold Plated Legend

The Hyaku Shiki is one of the most recognizable MS designs in all of Gundam, and the HGUC treatment with vacuum-metallized gold parts makes it the most visually striking kit in its price range. Quattro Bajeena's legendary gold suit lives up to its reputation.

HGUC Hyaku Shiki: The Gold-Plated Icon

The Hyaku Shiki ('Hundred Type') is Char Aznable's Z Gundam-era mobile suit — the gold-plated successor to the Zeta Gundam in his personal pilot lineage. The HGUC Hyaku Shiki (2017) captures this distinctive gold finish at 1/144 scale.

For Char fans completing his pilot history (Char's Zaku II → Gelgoog → Hyaku Shiki → Sazabi), this kit is essential as the Z-era entry.

The Gold Plating

The kit's defining feature is the gold plating on major exterior panels. Bandai uses electroplated plastic for the body, achieving a metallic finish that paint cannot match. The result is genuinely reflective — the figure catches and amplifies ambient light.

Care is required during the build. The plating is hard but can scratch with rough handling. Use sponges or fabric (not bare fingers) when handling plated parts.

The Build Considerations

Plating means painting is essentially impossible without removing the plating first. Most builders display the kit OOB. Some apply panel-line work; others leave it pristine.

For builders who insist on painting modifications: the plating must be sanded off (significant work) before painting. Most builders accept the OOB finish.

Articulation

Standard 2017-era HGUC articulation. Ball joints, double-hinge knees, swivel waist. Smooth and reliable.

The Hyaku Shiki's pose vocabulary is grounded and weighted — the gold finish reads better in stationary stance than dynamic action.

Weapons

Beam rifle, beam saber dual-handle (two blades), and clay bazooka (mass-produced ranged weapon). The clay bazooka is particularly distinctive — slightly squat, attached via shoulder hardpoint.

Display Significance

The Hyaku Shiki is one of those kits that fundamentally elevates a shelf. The gold finish stands out among mostly-painted plastic kits. It serves as a 'centerpiece' visually anchoring nearby figures.

For Char-themed displays, the Hyaku Shiki represents the 'middle period' of Char's career — between the One Year War (Gelgoog) and Char's Counterattack (Sazabi).