HG 1/144 Dictus [Collisto of Light Custom]

This is the P-Bandai exclusive High Grade 1/144 Dictus Callisto of Light Custom. This mobile suit comes to us from the “Mobile Suit Gundam Crossbone X: Steel” manga. The most powerful of Jupiter Empire’s transformable mobile suits, its basic performance exceeds most mobile suits produced in the Earth Sphere. The Dictus are capable of transforming into hand-like Mobile Armor modes, with Jurisdis Sinistra Dictus resembling a left hand and Libertas Dextra Dictus being a right hand. The face of the MS mode becomes the thumb in the MA mode while their dominant arm combines with a sub-arm to form an index finger, with the other three limbs turning into the remaining fingers.

This may be one of the most bizarre looking Gunpla I’ve ever worked on, but I have to say, it’s actually pretty cool. What caught my attention about this kit was the mobile armor transformation gimmick that it features, in which it transforms into a giant hand with beam blade claws. No matter how you look at it, that’s just plain cool! At the time that I bought this, I actually didn’t know that there were two versions of this kit. The one I got is the Callisto of Light Custom (aka the Jurisdis Sinistra Dictus), but it turns out there are two versions available. As you might guess y the design, there is no articulation in either of the heads. The articulation in the arms and legs are really good, though, making the fingers in the mobile armor form very poseable. The kit is made of a really nice glossy plastic, and which you can panel line it, it really doesn’t need any. The only parts that really need paint are the beam axe and some spots on the back of the mobile suit.

As far as issues go, it’s hard to find any with this one. The build is very straightforward. If I had to nitpick on something, I guess it would be that the glossy plastic most of the kit is made of feels a bit fragile while you’re building the kit. Once you do have the kit assembled, though, it holds together quite solidly.

All in all, this is certainly a very unique kit in terms of design. As a kit, it’s not bad if you don’t mind the heads not moving, but I think it will only really appeal to builders like me who like unique looking mobile suits. If you are a fan of the more unique and lesser known mobile suits, this kit will make an eye catching addition to your collection. 🙂