The black AEUG Rick Dias from Zeta Gundam, HGUC No. 010
The Rick Dias is the mobile suit the AEUG had Anaheim Electronics build in Zeta Gundam, set in the Universal Century. It is a heavy, Zeon-flavoured design, closer to a Dom or Gelgoog than a Federation suit, with big back binders and a Vulcan Phalanx hidden in its head. This kit is the black general-production version from the first half of the series, the colours worn by pilots such as Apolly and Roberto. The red machine belongs to Quattro. The original design is Mamoru Nagano's, and Bandai credits Hajime Katoki with the concept design for this kit.
This is the original HGUC mould from June 2000, back in a 2025 reissue. It is not the updated Premium Bandai HG Rick Dias with the revised joints. It is an older kit with a strong shape and good colour moulding, and a few honest weak spots that are listed under What to watch for.
Build difficulty
A snap-fit High Grade kit, no glue needed, and Bandai rates it for ages 8 and up. One builder timed it at about an hour and a half. Many of the parts are simple two-piece shells, which is why seam lines are the real work if you want a clean finish. You will need nippers to cut the parts from the runners, and a sanding stick helps with clean-up. Skill Level 2.
Technical highlights
- Moulded in colour plastic, mainly blue-black and grey with brown and red parts, plus a clear green mono-eye and beam saber. Two reviewers found no stickers in the box, so every colour comes from the plastic.
- All parts are polystyrene except the polycap joints, per two reviews. There is no ABS.
- The Vulcan Phalanx head cover opens without swapping parts.
- Each hand has a movable index finger, per Bandai's page and one reviewer.
- The Clay Bazooka, the beam pistols and the beam saber can all be mounted on the backpack, per one reviewer.
- Many parts are two-piece shells, so seam lines run along the shoulders, forearms, thighs, lower legs and weapons, per several builders.
What makes this kit special
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Series-accurate black: the general-production colours from the first half of Zeta Gundam, moulded in so the basic scheme needs no paint.
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Dom-family silhouette: a weighty suit with large back binders and big lower-leg armour, a very different shape from the Federation Gundams.
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Opening Vulcan Phalanx: lift the head cover to show the weapon without swapping any parts.
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Four weapons: a Clay Bazooka, two Beam Pistols and a Beam Saber with a clear green blade, and all three weapon types can be stored on the backpack.
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Clear mono-eye: a clear green sensor lens gives the head a bit of depth.
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A piece of Gunpla history: HGUC No. 010, first released in June 2000 and reissued in 2025.
What's in the box
- Six runners moulded in colour plastic, per two reviews
- One sheet of polycap joints
- Clay Bazooka
- Two Beam Pistols
- One Beam Saber with a clear green blade
- Instruction manual
Not included: a display stand, a sticker sheet (two reviewers found none), and open-palm hands (noted by one reviewer).
Compatible accessories
No display base is included with the kit. For posing off the shelf, the standard 1/144 stand is the Bandai Action Base 2. We could not find a source confirming how this older kit mounts on it, so check the fit before relying on it.
Build your Zeta Gundam collection
Currently in stock at Mecha Express: the Bandai 1/144 HGUC MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam, the Bandai 1/144 RG MSZ-006 Zeta Gundam for a Real Grade Zeta in the same scale, and the Bandai 1/100 MG PMX-003 THE-O for Paptimus Scirocco's own suit at a larger scale.
Build specifications
- Series: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- Grade: HGUC (High Grade Universal Century) No. 010
- Scale: 1/144
- Mobile suit: RMS-099 Rick Dias, general production type (black)
- Height: 18.7 m (per Bandai's box)
- Pilots in the series: Apolly and Roberto
- Faction: AEUG
- Manufacturer: Bandai
- Release: June 2000 (Japan), reissued 2025
- Retail box weight: approx. 350 g (box approx. 31 x 19 x 7.3 cm)
- Barcode: 4573102692528
- Skill Level: 2
- Assembly: snap-fit, no glue
- Paint required: No, parts are moulded in colour
- Recommended age: 8 years and up (Bandai)
- Special features: opening Vulcan Phalanx head cover, movable index fingers, backpack weapon mounts
Perfect for
- Zeta Gundam and AEUG fans who want the black Rick Dias from the first half of the series
- Builders who enjoy a bit of finishing work, such as seam sanding and small tweaks, more than a straight build
- Collectors working through the numbered HGUC line
- Display builders who care more about the silhouette than extreme poses
- Anyone after a simple evening snap-fit build of a heavy-looking suit
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
Drawing on four Japanese-language builder reviews and English-language buyer reviews of this kit. Points raised by one reviewer are marked as such. Builders are positive about the proportions and the weighty look, and two found the colour separation good straight from the box.
- Seam lines are the main complaint. Every builder who assembled it mentions visible seams on the shoulders, forearms, thighs and lower legs, and on the weapons, so a clean finish takes sanding.
- Articulation is limited. Knees bend about 90 degrees at best, the hips do not spread wide, the ankles and waist move very little, and the large leg armour makes poses harder.
- Two builders found the feet sit poorly flat on the ground.
- Several builders found the Clay Bazooka awkward to hold, because its grip does not move.
- Two builders found the beam saber loose in its backpack rack, and one found the pistols and bazooka mounts a little wobbly.
- One reviewer found the chest, shins and side armour moulded in a brown closer to Quattro's colours than black.
- One reviewer noted there are no open-palm hands, so it cannot copy the box art pose.
Builder tips: one builder widened the weapon mount pegs with a little glue to stop them slipping out. The Clay Bazooka's mount base is thin, and the same builder warns it can whiten or snap if forced. Widening the joint range would be a big modification, so one builder suggests that job suits more experienced modellers.
Build notes
No glue needed. Nippers are required, and a sanding stick helps with clean-up. One builder took about an hour and a half. Seam removal and painting are optional. Suitable for ages 8 and up per Bandai.
Last updated: 16 October 2026 (AEST)
