HG 1/144 Black Knight Squad Cal-re A

This is the High Grade 1/144 Black Knight Squad Cal-re.A. This mobile suit comes to us from Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom, and is piloted by Orphee Lam Tao and Ingrid Tradoll. A machine developed independently by the Kingdom of Foundation using PLANT's technology. It features a dual-seat cockpit, with the front seat for the pilot and the rear seat handling fire control. It is equipped with a new-generation armor known as Femto Technology Armor.

The first thing I’m going to say about this kit is holy crap! Bandai absolutely cooked with this one! When pictures of this kit were first released, I feared it was going to be a situation similar to the HG Sinanju, where all of the gold was going to be sticker decals, but after building the kit, I’m thrilled to say that isn’t the case. The white and gold on this kit is entirely color separated! This thing is absolutely stunning! It does have some stickers, but those are only for the visor, head cameras, and purple parts on the backpack. I can’t say enough how impressed I am with this kit. Bandai absolutely cooked with this one!

This is one of those kits that I had a very difficult time critiquing, because it’s so stellar. The only problem I’ve found with it is that the process of transforming the backpack is a bit tedious. Other than that, I really can’t find anything to nitpick on with this one.

Overall, this is an amazing kit! Easily one of the best in the Gundam SEED Freedom line, and (in my opinion) one of the best HG kits of 2024. I can’t recommend this one enough! Whether you’re looking to complete your Black Knight Squad collection, or just looking for a cool kit to add to your collection, this kit is a must have!