The grunt suit that has to hold the line
By Char's Counterattack the Federation has stopped building one-off super prototypes for everyone and settled on the RGM-89 Jegan: a solid, mass-produced workhorse that most of Londo Bell actually flies. It is not the Nu Gundam and it was never meant to be. It is the machine that shows up in numbers, and the film is a lot more tense because of how ordinary it is.
Green, unfussy and quietly one of the better-engineered High Grades of its era.
Build difficulty
An easy snap-fit High Grade. Moulded in colour, no glue or paint required, low part count and a clean build throughout. A good first or second kit, and cheap enough that people often buy two or three to build a squad.
Technical highlights
There is more engineering here than the plain silhouette suggests. The elbow joints use ABS for extra strength. The shoulder units sit on a slide mechanism that lets them move forward and back, which noticeably widens what the arms can do. The head sensor goggles are moulded in translucent plastic rather than being a sticker. The beam saber is genuinely detachable from the right-side waist rack, and the grenade launcher on the left side opens and closes. Federation, Londo Bell and unit number marking stickers are included, along with a sheet of tetron stickers.
What makes this kit special
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Sliding shoulder mechanism: the shoulders travel forward and back, giving the arms far more useful range than a fixed mount.
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ABS elbow joints: stronger material where the stress actually is.
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Translucent sensor goggles: moulded in clear plastic rather than relying on a sticker.
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Detachable waist-rack beam saber: stows on the right waist and comes off to be used.
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Opening grenade launcher: the left-side launcher opens and closes.
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Unit number markings: Federation and Londo Bell markings plus unit numbers, so you can build a numbered squad.
What's in the box
- RGM-89 Jegan parts, moulded in colour
- Beam rifle
- Beam saber with waist rack
- Shield
- Tetron sticker sheet with Federation, Londo Bell and unit number markings
- Instruction manual
Compatible accessories
No display base is included with the kit. If you are building more than one for a squad display, or want a mid-air pose, pair it with the Bandai Action Base 2, the standard 1/144 display stand.
Build your Char's Counterattack collection
The Jegan exists to be outclassed by the hero unit, so the obvious pairing is the Bandai 1/144 HGUC RX-93 Nu Gundam Metallic Coating, in stock now.
For the Neo Zeon side of the same film, the Bandai 1/144 HGUC MSN-03 Jagd Doga (Quess Paraya Custom) is available, and in 1/100 the Bandai 1/100 MG RX-93 Nu Gundam Ver. Ka.
Build specifications
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Series: Mobile Suit Gundam: Char's Counterattack
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Grade: High Grade Universal Century (HGUC)
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Scale: 1/144
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Mobile suit: RGM-89 Jegan
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Faction: Londo Bell, Earth Federation
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Timeline: Universal Century
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Manufacturer: Bandai, Japan
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Original release: August 2009
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Kit packaged weight: 290 g, retail box 31 x 19 x 7.3 cm
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Barcode (JAN): 4573102573988
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Skill level: 2
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Assembly: snap-fit, no glue required
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Paint required: no, parts are moulded in colour
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Special features: sliding shoulder mechanism, ABS elbow joints, translucent sensor goggles, opening grenade launcher
Perfect for
- Builders who want to put a squad on the shelf rather than one hero unit
- Universal Century collectors filling in the mass-production machines
- First or second-time builders wanting a clean, cheap, satisfying kit
- Anyone building the Char's Counterattack line-up properly
- Builders who enjoy adding unit numbers and squad markings
- Collectors who like a grunt suit with real engineering under a plain shell
Fast Australian shipping
Dispatched same day from Brisbane if ordered before 2pm AEST on weekdays. Free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $199. Packed securely in a sturdy outer box with water-soluble cornstarch void fill that dissolves cleanly in the sink.
What to watch for
I did not find a repeated, independently confirmed fault with this kit. Builder sentiment is straightforwardly positive: one review calls it the classic minty grunt suit from Char's Counterattack and rates it as pretty great despite its age, and a separate build thread is similarly complimentary about how cleanly it goes together.
Set expectations by its age rather than by a defect. This is a 2009 High Grade, so the articulation is good for the era but not double-jointed the way a modern Revive-style kit would be. The sliding shoulders do more for its posing than you would expect.
Builder tips: the tetron stickers include unit numbers, so decide early whether you are building a specific numbered machine. If you are doing more than one, vary the numbers so the squad reads properly. Panel lining is worth doing on the green armour, since the moulded detail is subtle and disappears without it.
Build notes
No glue and no paint required. Nippers, a hobby knife and sanding sticks. Expect around an hour to an hour and a half. Recommended age 15 and over.
Last updated: 5 August 2026 (AEST)