HG IBO 1/144 Astaroth Origin Review

The HG IBO Gundam Astaroth Origin is based on a Mobile Suit that appeared in Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS Gekko, a manga that depicts the Calamity War that happened before the events of the IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS series.

This is one of the best Gunpla within the IBO lineup. It is stylish, sleek, and highly poseable. To be frank, this is my favorite IBO Gunpla that I had built. It is easy to build and very cheap.

	Bandai Hobby HG IBO 1/144 Astaroth Origin “Gundam IBO Side Story”
Dimensions	3 x 4 x 6 inches
Scale	1/144 scale
Model Grade	High Grade
Check Availability and Prices	HG IBO 1/144 Astaroth Origin, Amazon Link

With its simplicity in design, it is also has a lot of potential to improve its looks through painting it. Some of the pictures below are from my own HG Gundam Astaroth Origin where I painted some part of the inner frame with gold and silver while the armors had their panel lines inked and lightly weathered.

Build and  Out-of-the-box appearance

The build experience was excellent, it was very easy and simple. This is a very beginner-friendly kit. The manual was easy to follow and had clear instructions. In my estimate, you can finish building this Gundam within an hour.

Out-of-the-box, it looks really great that you only need to ink the panel lines and you start displaying this Gundam on your shelf. That is how well designed the Gundam Astaroth Origin is (well, that’s how well designed the whole IBO Gunplas are) that you don’t really need to paint, put stickers, or do so much just to make this model kit look good.

You can just finish building it, tidy up some sprues, and flop it down your desk and it’s done.

Speaking of sprues, most of them are placed in hard-to-spot areas in the Astaroth Origin. So cleaning it up is much easier compared to other HG Gunplas

Overall Looks and Colors

HG IBO Gundam Astaroth Origin will stand out on your shelf whether you like it or not because of its bright red and maroon color scheme. Even though the overall color just screams red, the Astaroth Origin has a very defined silhouette that poses are still readable and recognizable even if viewing it from far away.

It has a “transformation” if you can it that, the shoulder armor and backpack can be transformed into wings and thrusters revealing Astaroth Origins’ flight mode. This will give you even more options for poses.

 It has an overall dimension of 29.8 x 18.8 x 6.6 cm. It is kind of the standard height of an HG model but Astaroth Origin is kind of chunky if you consider its width. It also weighs 293g.

Accessories 

The accessories include:

• A shotgun
• A sledgehammer (that acts as a scabbard for its sword)
• The γ Nanolaminate Sword
• And an optional piece that can be used as a holster

One of the best things about the IBO model kits is that almost all kits have a way to store their accessories in the Gundam itself and in the HG IBO Gundam Astaroth Origin it is very clear to see.

Both the weapons can be stored on the Astaroth Origins’ side skirts using a plastic piece. The sword is stored within the sledgehammer and also acts as the sledgehammer’s main handle.

It is such a bliss when you have kits like this that you don’t have to put your accessories inside the box if they are not used.

Articulation

The IBO line of gunpla model kits is known for its inner frame, a similar concept to the inner frame found in RG and MG gunpla but at a simpler design. The HG IBO Gundam Astaroth Origin also uses this inner frame.

The Astaroth Origin has a very excellent movement and can give a wide range of poses. The thrusters behind the legs may limit the Astaroth’s articulation on those limbs but it is almost a non-issue considering it can still be put in different poses.

Conclusion and Recommendation

The HG IBO Gundam Astaroth Origin is one of the best and most well-designed gunpla within the IBO line and also in all High-Grade model kits in general. It is cheap, easy to build, has a simple but well-articulated design, and almost all accessories can be stored in the model itself.

If you are a beginner or you are looking for a model kit to recommend a beginner friend, the HG Astaroth Origin is a good gateway to gunpla building. 

I haven’t mentioned how easy it is to kitbash the IBO line model kit because of the inner frame used on all IBO Gundams.

ALSO READ: Other Review about Gundam model kits

• RG Freedom Gundam Review
• HGBF Ninpulse Gundam Review