Dearka's Buster Gundam, rebuilt for SEED Freedom
The Lightning Buster is Dearka Elthman's mobile suit in Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom, the sequel film. It is an overhauled Buster Gundam, and it keeps the artillery look of the original Buster: two big cannons on the back and beam guns on the waist.
This is Bandai's HG 1/144 kit of it, in the High Grade Cosmic Era line. If you collect the SEED Freedom cast, Dearka's heavy hitter fills the artillery slot.
Build difficulty
Snap-fit, no glue needed, and Bandai rates the kit for ages 8 and over. You will want nippers to take the parts off the runners and a hobby knife for the nub marks. The kit uses no polycaps, and the grey frame parts are KPS plastic with no ABS, so joint strength is solid and there is little worry if you panel line it later.
Technical highlights
The kit uses Bandai's SEED Action System inner frame, which is built for the big action poses SEED kits are known for. The left and right hip connectors move up and down individually, so the legs get more room to move. The inner frame parts come from the same GAT frame family as the HG Duel Blitz Gundam.
The colour is moulded in dull white, dark green and red, with shoulder sensors in fluorescent clear green. Foil stickers cover details such as the head and waist sensors and the cheek armour. Even built straight from the box, the colour separation is good.
What makes this kit special
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SEED Action System frame: built for wide limb, head and torso movement, so dynamic poses are easy to hold.
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Independent hip connectors: each side moves up and down on its own for extra leg articulation.
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Deployable waist beam guns: flip them forward and swap in the included barrel parts to show them in their deployed state.
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Foldable back cannons: the two large cannons fold and unfold, and the movable arm parts let you set them at the shoulders, or lower at the waist and legs.
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Opening missile hatches: the hatches on the back open to show the stored missiles.
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Moulded colour: a strong colour-separated look without paint, with fluorescent clear green sensors on the shoulders.
What's in the box
- HG 1/144 Lightning Buster Gundam runners
- Replacement waist beam gun barrel parts (x2)
- Foil sticker sheet
- Instruction manual
No display base is included.
Compatible accessories
For dynamic poses with the cannons deployed, pair the Lightning Buster with an Action Base. Bandai's Action Bases are sold separately, and the kit can be mounted on them.
Build your SEED Freedom collection
Build specifications
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Series: Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Freedom
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Grade: High Grade Cosmic Era (HG)
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Scale: 1/144
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Mobile suit: ZGMF-103HD Lightning Buster Gundam
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Pilot: Dearka Elthman
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Faction: Z.A.F.T.
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Timeline: Cosmic Era
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Manufacturer: Bandai Spirits
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Retail box size and weight: 29.9 x 18.9 x 7.9 cm, 350 g
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Barcode (JAN): 4573102671714
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Bandai SKU: 5067171
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Skill Level: 2
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Assembly: Snap-fit, no glue required
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Special features: SEED Action System frame, deployable waist beam guns, foldable back cannons, opening missile hatches
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Release date: 21 September 2024 (Japan)
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Recommended age: 8 and over (per Bandai)
Perfect for
- SEED Freedom fans who want Dearka's unit on the shelf.
- Builders who like artillery kits with cannons to pose and deploy.
- HG builders who want a SEED Action System frame at a modest build size.
- Newer builders: it is snap-fit, with no glue and no polycaps.
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. Genuine Australian stock in hand, not ordered through an overseas proxy.
What to watch for
Builder reviews flag a few things. Waist rotation is limited to about 45 degrees by the rear armour. The back cannons put weight behind the kit, and one reviewer found it tips forward easily when the cannons are raised and it is standing on its own, so an Action Base is a handy extra for those poses. Another builder found the waist joint that bends the torso forward and back very stiff, so take care there.
The head has seam lines on the sides, and one reviewer found the base of the legs tends to come apart. Two small details need paint if you want full accuracy: the missile warheads and the edges of the rear thrusters.
Build notes
No glue is needed. Nippers and a hobby knife are all the kit needs to build. Gundam markers or panel lining are optional extras if you want to sharpen the detail.
Recommended age: 8 and over (per Bandai).
Last updated: 14 October 2026 (AEST)