I love the Arios Gundam… it is sleek, sharp and it transforms! Though I’ve always thought it was lacking in heavy-duty weapons so good thing Bandai came out with the GNHWBWHENDH/M. Even though the Arios is Kyrios’ successor, it never really felt that way because 1. there wasn’t enough Hallelujah 2. No pincer in MS form was a crime in its design and 3. Allelujah didn’t really do much with it. At times, I almost thought it was a downgrade actually but hey, I like Arios’ design more than Kyrios so… MODEL GET!
Special mention- Hallelujah is my favorite character in 00! Sucks that he didn’t get the screentime he deserved but every second of his appearance was just badass! He is proof that you can be one of the main protagonists (aka “good guys”) and still be a sadistic killer/lunatic laughing your head off in the battlefield instead of whining, crying, or angsting that you are forced to pilot an awesome weapon of mass destruction.
OUT OF THE BOX
Runner count is a little less compared to the other GNHW 00 units; Arios itself takes 3 and the weapons take 1. I do not like HG manuals… hate how they fold out and take so much space >_>. abundant amount of foil stickers. plain clear parts which I immediately painted in their appropriate color (clear green and blue). Hooray for separate parts for the GN missiles! The beam effect parts are from 2002… Gundam 00 existed all the way back then! Actually… they’re the same ones used for the MG Shining Gundam. That’s how badass Arios is!
BODY UNIT
Loads of polycaps are used… Can you figure out how to assemble the body just by looking at the photos? ^^;
ARM UNITS
I am amazed at the amount of parts there are for the arms… but it also includes the shoulders as well. The arms also have a pseudo-inner frame so that’s pretty cool. The hands are your generic 00 hands… you can swap with any of the 00 units and it’ll make no difference. Included is one left closed-hand… yes, just for the left side only.
HEAD UNIT
Not much to say here except that I trimmed off the excess plastic behind the V-fin which made it look sharper and painted the crest in clear red. I hate that excess chunk of plastic… it’s on EVERY HG model.
LEG UNITS
Arios has one of the funkiest looking feet (so does Dynames/Cherudim…).. like it’s a square bowl or something. Anyway, I couldn’t stand the orange inside so I painted it gray. I also could not stand the foil stickers for the fins on the shin but I don’t have orange paint :(… so I just panel lined it. I think it looks better without the foils >_>.
WAIST UNIT
I’ve always wondered where Arios kept its beam sabers and now I know… whose great idea was it to keep it behind the front armor skirt?! Someone must’ve loved The O… xD. Anyway, other weird points: The GN Drive orb thingy is on the crotch… oh, and giant crotch blade.
WEAPONS
The GN Beam Rifle and Beam Cannon. Awesome stuff… I didn’t have a wide enough brush to paint the clear parts so I left some brushstrokes u_u.
GN Missile pods… they were all the rage in battles. I wanted to paint them gold… but I think I had enough of working with gold paint for awhile >_>
COMPLETED MODEL
Straight-built. No topcoat (I don’t use it for 1/144 models). Man… this Gundam is SHARP! Sharper than it is sleek… you might not notice it but Arios has somewhat thunder thighs ^^;. The missile pods thankfully doesn’t break the sleekness but rather makes it look a bit more complete. I’m lovin’ it!
Upper body looks small compared to the lower body… keyword: “looks”. If you examine carefully though, this model is very well proportioned ^^.
Closer look at everything
GN SUBMACHINE GUNS
Hidden underneath the forearm covers are the GN Submachine guns… just remove the armor and slide back into the shorter slot to keep it open.
These really do go like this: “pewpewpewpewpewpewpewpewpewpew”
I don’t remember these weapons doing anything significant but hey, it’s better than nothing.
GN TWIN BEAM RIFLE
TBR… No no, it’s not the Twin Buster Rifle… It’s called the Twin Beam Rifle. The top barrel and split to point upward.. but it doesn’t look cool nor have I seen Arios actually firing it that way >_>.
Oh how I love the articulation of this model! The arms and shoulders are completely free and can go just about anywhere thanks to a ball and socket connection.
As you can probably tell.. it is very easy to pose this Gundam however you like ^^. The joints are very cooperative and…again, so free moving!
Arios is also just as capable of holding its own on the ground as it does in the air.
Very stable on the ground… despite the the added missile containers, it is not one bit backheavy.
The only downside I’ve noticed is that the shoulders became a bit loose, causing the arms to droop a bit. This is what happens when you have joints made of polycaps…
GN BEAM CANNON
Can’t be an effective hit-and-run unit without one of these!
GN Beam Cannon- When the GN Submachine guns just doesn’t cut it.
Many times two-handed weapons are a PITA to carry but thanks to its wide range of articulations, Arios was able to hold it properly and even have some degree of adjustment for different poses.
I think it was more fun posing with the beam rifle ^^;
BEAM SABERS
Arios Gundam The O Version
This just proves Arios is a badass :D
The hilt just sits inside the hand so it is a bit easy to knock out… and you cannot hold the beam saber upside down which is too bad.
Note- The left open palm hand is not included. I just borrowed it from Exia. The 00 also has one.
This has got to be my favorite pose!
What’s nice about Arios is that you can stick any of its weapons on it and it’ll look good or not out of place. Truly versatile ^^.
If there is one other trouble with this model is that the front skirt armor is NOT COVERED… so it can easily just pop off the waist; the armor joints are just out in the open on the top.
SECRET WEAPON
While not mentioned in the anime or any official material, Arios also have a secret hidden weapon in MS form just like Kyrios. It’s name is the GN P3N15 Blade.
How it works is that Arios will grab any unsuspecting enemy and thrust the GN particle-infused blade repeatedly into said unfortunate soul until the target is destroyed.
HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! *pelvic thrust*
FINAL FORM RIDE
A-A-A-ARIOS!
Transformation was pretty easy… I got it down in my head in just one try ^^;. No parts swapping necessary but you do need to remove some parts and flip it here and there. Very simple overall.
One of the better looking transformations I’ve seen…
It’s so sleek and sharp just like its MS form!
I’m not well-versed in posing aircrafts… >_>
GN MISAIRU HASSHA!*click click* ugh… stuck.
PINCER!
Imagine that… going into close combat/melee battle in jet fighter mode…
ITADAKIMASU!!!
PROS AND CONS
PROS
– SUPERB articulation!
– Light yet sturdy
– Great playability
-For what it is, color separation for the plastic is quite decent… nothing is seriously off or wrong except the clear parts. The shin is understandable because the parts are really thin.
– Easy transformation
CONS
– Polycaps for joints; easy to loosen. Had to tighten the shoulder joints by drying glue on it halfway through.
– Unsecured front skirt armor… can easily pop off.
VERDICT
While I like transforming Gundams, I often dread their gunpla counterpart because their structure integrity are usually compromised. However, Arios is very solid all around as if it wasn’t a transformable unit at all. This model is very fun to pose around with thanks to its articulation and the added GNHW/M set is a nice welcome otherwise armaments are very limited. There were two black pieces left over from the model which I believe lets you assemble this into the regular Arios (not sure why you would want to do that though…). For its price ($15-20), this model was absolutely worth it!
REVIEWS FROM OTHER BLOGGERS:
GUESS WHO’S BACK…
“HAA! HAHAHA! HAHAHAHA! HALLELUJAH!!! THE SUPER SOLDIER RETURNS!” >:D
“Allelujah…? No… it’s someone different…”
“WUT?! I just lost one GN Drive!!!”
“HAHA! THAT MEANS NOW YOU’RE JUST THE 0 RAISER!!!” >:D
“C’MON SETSUNA! I’LL SHOW YOU WHAT A TRUE SUPER SOLDIER REALLY IS!!!” >:D
“!!!”
*beams collide*
“Your mind is distorted!”
“D’oh! You expect to survive with that kind of attack?!”
“SURPRISE!”
“Crotch beam?!”
“Even with one GN Drive, I’ll still defeat you!”
*Dodges* “Without your main character power, you’re just a jobber!”
*GLOMPS*
“What are you doing?!”
“HORAA!”
“SAJI CROSSROAD!”
“HAHAHA! HAAA!!!” *smacks with the beam rifle*
“HAHA! IT’S OVER NOW SETSU–” “Stop it, Hallelujah!”
“OI! ALLELUJAH! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU’RE DOING?!”
“I said stop this! We shouldn’t be doing this! Gimme back the controls!”
“…wtf”
“You can’t keep doing this!”
“ORLY?! WHO WAS IT THAT CHICKENED OUT WITH MARIE LAST NIGHT AND I HAVE TO COME IN AND FINISH HER OFF?! HUH?!”
“THAT was a different matter!” “IT DOESN’T MATTER!” *wrestles for control*
“00 Raiser! Exterminating the target!”
“OH $#!T!”
“ARGHH!”
“You SCREWED UP BIG TIME! DAMNIT, ALLELUJAH!” >:O “Hallelujah!”
*flies by*
“Let’s settle this!”
“AI HABU CONTORORU!”
“TOTSUGEKI LOVE HEART!!!” >:D
“OH CRAP! UAAAGHHHH”
“HAHAHAHA!!! How does it feel?! To helplessly watch your life slip away as another power slowly kills you?” >:D
“What are your final words?! “Mama”? Marina? Or are you reliving your childhood memories?!” >:D
“Gun… dam…”
“HAHAHA! You’re too dependent on your Twin Drive! THERE’S NO WAY YOU CAN BEAT US LIKE THAT!!!” >:D
“HALLELUJAH! Stop this right now! Please!” ;_;
“Alright alright… I’ll stop. Geez… I just can’t win against you, Allelujah…”
“JUST KIDDING!” >:D
“HAHAHA! ISN’T IT FUN, ALLELUJAH! ALLELUJAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!” >:D
“HAHAHA! HAHAHAHAHAAA!”
“tch… That Gundam-bastard is on a climax…”
ガンプラ命 
Ah, if only Arios is as badass in the series as you have posed in the review…
I like the MS form of Arios, perhaps not so much for the MA form. The bendable beam barrel of the TBR is only used bent in MA form for shooting downwards at ground enemies, according to the instructions manual.
The “HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” sounds familiar. Is it a reference to Hard Gay? lol
Guess I should’ve looked more carefully in the manual ^^;
Yea… that’s a hard gay reference hehe.
lolx. awesome review Z. haha… nice photos and poses too! and your working speed nv fails to amaze me.. truth be told im working on arios’s predecessor now.. HG Kyrios. but the colour parts separation was an epic fail. so im slowly getting it back to the accurate colour….. your review does come in the right time to perk me up and stay strong.. lolx. thanks! see ya ard dude. =)
After Virtue, comes Kyrios eh? Can’t wait to see how awesome you’ll make it :D
Well atleast no Healing Care was harmed in the making^^;;
man you have some serius hayt on main protag suits >=)
seriously, the only episode where arios was badass is the last episode of season 2 (by Hallelujah), and that makes the episode only one of the best in Gundam 00 season 2.
others just lots of “MARIEEEE~~~”
great comic Z, as always, :)
Underdogs FTW
TANOSHIII DAROO ?! NEEE?!! ALLELUJAH!?!?! XD
ALLLELUJAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!! :D
Am I the only one who thinks that the 2nd Generation models (00, Arios, Seravee, Cherudim) look better than the 3rd Generation (Qan-T, Raphael, Zabanya, Harute)?
I really don’t like the Trailblazer Movie models…
Quanta and Harute stands out for me.
Everyone except the Quant stands out for me… ironically, it’s the Gundam with the Swords that I don’t care about this time around >_>.
I want a 1/100 one, but no GNHW… =.=
In the 00 series, I think 1/144>>>1/100 models.
Great review, Z. I loved that O move you pulled off with it. Too bad the HCM Pro can’t do that since it handles are just props that loosely clip into the skirt armor. The actual beam sabers come molded into handles on their own. Same with Kyrios whose handles clip into his back skirt armor.
The thing I didn’t like about Arios was the damn tail fin. Kyrios/Arios have some pretty nice range of motion in the legs due to the transformation so Kyrios can pull off some nice kneeling poses. Arios not so much because of the tail…
I know that’s kinda pointless for flying Gundams but having the option is always nice.
I just got curious after reading your comment so I took out my Arios out of the case and put it in a kneeling pose (no photos)… and it came out perfectly fine. Very natural ^^. No obstructions from the fin. The one you have in the photo looks like it has an overcompensating fin though…
Maybe the fin on the HG has more freedom of movement, because the HCM fin is stuck “limply” between its legs :p
The HG Fin can’t move forward actually… and moving it backward doesn’t shorten the distance that much. The one on your Arios does look like it is almost touching the ground ^^;
Lewlz on the THREE crotch blades and the “HOOOO!” part (makes it look like Hado Gei is piloting that thing… XD
I wished 1/100 Designer Ver had GNHW addons as well :(
i didnt know i liked arios this much until this review!
Me neither!
wha wha..P3NI5 blade???? kamen rider cameo? what?
do HG models make more better short stories than MGs or what?
it all depends on the gundam ;)
this is the 1/144 that took me the longest to paint. i hate the decals on it so it was well worth it to paint inside the shoulders and inner vents.
great poses z.
Don’t forget that when Trans-Am the P3N15 blade becomes faster than ever before!
hey Z, question do you ever snip the peg (or male parts) like danny does on any of your kits? :)
nah… i don’t ever care to remove the armor after I’m done with the kit.
The P3N15 Blade can also perform the “Pyramid Head” finisher.
“WHO WAS IT THAT CHICKENED OUT WITH MARIE LAST NIGHT AND I HAVE TO COME IN AND FINISH HER OFF?!!”
Oh, Hallelujah… XD
This review actually made me give up on Kyrios to get this guy… Even though I usually prefer Kyrios design I found that it has a lot to do with the orange on the wings making legs feel too skinny when your white wings gave it the fix I need for the silhouette.
So yeah thanks for the review just waiting for this one to arrive :)
Hey i was wondering, what stand do u use to pose your gundams?
its a soul stage yea? what act?
I think I did one better with the P3N!s Blade, Z…
http://celestialpreventer.blogspot.com/2011/01/hg-1144-arios-gundam-gnhwm-review.html
the movable barrel was supposed to be for ground sweeping in MA mode loooooool