HG Bound Dock (Gates Capa Exclusive) Review

This time, we will be introducing a review of 

the HG 1/144 Bound Dock (Gates Capa exclusive machine) !

HG Bound Dock (Gates Capa Exclusive) is a 1/144 scale model kit of the MS “Bound Dock (Gates Capa Exclusive)” that appears in “Mobile Suit Z Gundam”. The characteristic gray body color is reproduced with molding color. The kit can also transform into MA form thanks to a transformation gimmick that matches the setting image. The price is 5,500 yen (tax included). This product is limited to Premium Bandai.

The Gates Capa’s machine, the Bound Dock (Gates Capa’s machine), which was deployed to monitor the enhanced human Rosamia Badam, has been made into an HGUC kit. Based on the HGUC Bound Dock (hereinafter referred to as the regular version) released in October 2020, the coloring unique to the Gates machine has been reproduced.

The molding color is a blue-gray and gray-based Gates color like the prototype, while the interior and joint parts are molded in dark gray KPS.

The stickers are only used to supplement the mold on the head armor, mono-eye , and legs . (There were extra stickers.)

The power pipes, which can be partially seen, are made of the same green molded rubber material as the regular version.

The only polycaps used are ball joint type PC-7. Although the aircraft is large and has a distinctive shape, there is no equipment that puts a lot of weight on it, and the sole is three-pronged and firmly attached to the ground, so it stands stably on its own.

Includes a beam rifle, diffusion mega particle cannon, beam saber (handle, blade), various finger parts (for holding the beam rifle, for gripping hands), and joint parts for display.

It comes with a clear molded color Action Base 5, two types of support parts for rearrangement, and connecting parts for the bottom plate.

Various extra parts from the Action Base 5 are included. One extra beam saber blade is also included. The accessories are the same as the regular version.

The head has a distinctive, sharp shape reminiscent of a dog or fox. The armor on the forehead is colored with a yellow sticker.

The two antennas are connected with ball joints for moderate movement. The head is made of parts that have no seams. The whole figure has a sophisticated gray base coloring.

The mono-eye is molded. The head can be disassembled to swing left and right, but it is hard and seems to be easily damaged, so care must be taken when handling it. The surface is colored with green stickers, but they tend to float and peel off, so care must be taken.

The back side also has a slit mold. The neck can be combined with the left and right sides to create a seam in the center. The power pipe is made of rubber with a green molding color. The paint peels off easily, so if you are going to paint it, it is best to spray an adhesive such as a primer first.

The torso is simply sculpted with blue-grey armor.

The abdomen is mechanically sculpted by combining multiple parts. The power pipes are also made of rubber.

Two small thrusters on the back are separate parts.

The right arm. It has a long and distinctive design. Most of it is molded in a plain gray color. It is equipped with a large claw at the tip.

The upper arms can be combined front and back (left and right) to create seams on the sides. Contrary to appearances, there are no movable parts. This one also has a green power position pipe.

Forearm. By combining the left and right sides, you can create a seam in the front and back. The elbow can roll.

Large claw. The mold, which is color-coded in the regular version, is unified in gray in the Gates version. The large claw is movable.

The small claws have movable bases and claw joints.

 

The inside of the claw is lined with lining parts. The large claw is a left and right combination, but the joints are molded with a step, and even the fine details are well sculpted. The base of the small claw can be spread to the left and right with a ball joint polycap.

Left arm. Equipped with a distinctive curved shield that becomes the main camera in MA mode. Some of the armor on the shield is colored gray with molded parts.

The arm itself is shaped like an internal frame. It can be bent in two places. It is a left and right combination, but the joints are molded with a step-down mold. The hand parts are sculpted, and only the thumb is movable. The remaining four fingers are interchangeable.

The mono-eye armor and shield base are also movable.

Some of the armor on the shield can be removed. The mono-eye is reproduced with a clear green molded part. It does not emit light even when illuminated with a black light.

The shoulder armor has different shapes on the left and right, but both parts are color-coded in detail. The center seams are also molded in a stepped pattern.

The left shoulder armor can be deployed, and there is an additional joint inside the shoulder, allowing for a wide range of movement.

The waist area features a distinctive skirt armor. The base color is blue-gray, with the slit mold and upper armor molded in gray.

The rear of the skirt armor is a combination of left and right sides, but the seam in the center is molded in a stepped pattern.

There is a mechanical mold on the inside.

Equipped with three verniers at the rear. All three vernier bases can swing back and forth. The verniers are also attached to ball joints, so they can move moderately.

The upper and side armor can be deployed to transform into MA form.

The crotch area has a simple yet highly movable frame structure.

Legs. The frame is exposed at the thighs. The legs from the knees down are made of thick curved armor, and the soles are modeled with an animal motif. This also reproduces the impressive coloring with a combination of gray and blue-gray molding colors.

The thighs are a combination of left and right, but the seams on both the front and back are molded with steps or drops. The armor in the front can be deployed.

The lower part of the knee is a combination of four sides, but the blue-grey upper and lower armor have seams on the sides. The triangular mold on the knee is colored gray.

The sole is three-pronged and mechanically sculpted. The base is a combination of left and right sides in dark grey molding, but the seams are also molded in stepped sections.

The sole is three-pronged and mechanically sculpted. The base is a combination of left and right sides in dark grey molding, but the joints are also molded in stepped sections. Each part of the bottom of the legs is sculpted with molded backing parts.

The toes and heels are movable, and in MA form they take on a claw-like form.

Comparing the size with the HG GM Ground Type and HG Lupus Rex, it’s simply huge. But the shape and proportions are excellent. The Bound Dock is 29.7m tall (in MS mode).

Next to the regular version. Both are good, but the Gates version has a more subdued color scheme that gives it the sophistication of a mass-produced model or prototype. Not only the exterior but also the internal frame has been changed from green-grey to dark grey.

I also put it next to Zeta and Rick Dias (remake version) that I had on hand. There weren’t many scenes where they met in the movie, but the exchanges over Rosamia were memorable.

The range of motion is the same as the regular version, so if you want to check the details of each part and the range of motion, please refer to the review of the regular version (HGUC Bound Dock) from the link below m(_ _)m

⇒HGUC Bound Dock Review

Beam rifle. The main body is a simple combination of left and right parts. There is a seam at the top, but the seam at the bottom is molded with a step-down mold.

Next to the regular version of the beam rifle. The molding colors of the joints and internal frame have changed, so the molding color of the beam rifle has also changed to match.

The main body of the Diffusion Mega Particle Cannon is a simple monaka split. There are seams on both sides.

The muzzle is not open, and the beam rifle sensor is colored with clear green molded parts.

It can be attached to a shield. You need to remove the armor from the shield before attaching it, but when you put it together, some of it will float.

 

Equipped with a beam rifle.

It can be equipped by rearranging the finger parts. The finger parts are fairly strong, so they didn’t come off easily when I was playing with them. However, I was a bit concerned about the wrist coming off easily.

It’s a big kit, but when viewed from below it looks even bigger. The skirt armor on the waist is also impressive. It’s hard to get the ankle angle right, so it seems a little unstable when it touches the ground. However, the heel is bifurcated, so it’s possible to balance it well.

The arms have many movable parts, allowing for soft movements. There is little interference and plenty of room, so it’s easy to recreate scenes where the shield is equipped with a mega particle cannon and fires.

The beam sabers can also be held without falling off by using the included gripping finger parts. The beam blades are molded in the same clear yellow color as the regular version. They do not emit light even when illuminated with a black light.

The MA form at the landing stage can also be recreated midway through the transformation. There is no sense of incongruity even with this molding color.

MA form. It has a unique crustacean-like shape. There’s no trace of its MS form at all.

The legs are deployed forward as claws. There are few points to fix with dowels, but the joints are strong enough that the shape is unlikely to collapse even in MA form. Be careful not to tamper with the inside of the skirt armor as the shield part may float a little.

A beam rifle can be mounted on the right side.

 

The sides of the shield are equipped with diffusion mega particle cannons.

In MA mode, the dowels of the display joint parts are off-center, so the kit tends to tilt a little. Action bases with thin supports tend to tip over easily, so care must be taken to prevent the kit from falling or being damaged when displayed.

Please feel free to take a few.

Combined with the regular Bound Dog to recreate a scene from the movie. There were no flashy battle scenes, but it was nice to see the different colored Bound Dogs lined up like in the scene where they guide Rosamia.

The coloring is subdued, but the blue-gray and gray of the exterior matches the shape of the Bound Doc’s fuselage, giving it a cool, austere look like a mass-production or prototype aircraft. Since the base is the recently released Bound Doc, each part is well made and easy to handle.

There are not many points of concern, but as with the standard version, the shield armor was easy to detach and the heel armor was easy to detach. Also, when retracting the upper body during deformation, the head antenna easily interferes with the body, so care should be taken.

Although each part is simple to make, the partial joints have been carefully considered by using step-down molding, and the proportions are as always excellent and remarkable. The transformation mechanism is also excellent. It is nice to see such a high level of perfection in a three-dimensional form, even for an aircraft that has only appeared in a few scenes.