Gunpla Spotlight: MG 1/100 Sazabi Ver.Ka Gives Char’s Ultimate Mobile Suit the Hajime Katoki Treatment
Char Aznable’s final confrontation with Amuro Ray in Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack saw the Red Comet take command of one of the most imposing mobile suits in Gundam history, the heavily armed MSN-04 Sazabi.
The “MG 1/100 MSN-04 SAZABI Ver.Ka” brings Char’s powerful Neo Zeon machine to Bandai’s Master Grade Gunpla line, combining its massive crimson armor, extensive weaponry, and six funnels with an elaborate internal frame and mechanical details designed by Hajime Katoki.
First appearing in 1988’s Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, the MSN-04 Sazabi served as Char’s personal mobile suit during the Second Neo Zeon War, when he led a renewed campaign against the Earth Federation.
Developed by Anaheim Electronics to take full advantage of Char’s abilities as a Newtype pilot, the Sazabi combined exceptional mobility and heavy armor with advanced remote-controlled weapons, making it a formidable opponent for Amuro’s RX-93 ν Gundam.
The two machines became the centerpieces of the movie’s climactic battle, bringing the long-running rivalry between Char and Amuro to its conclusion as the fate of Earth hung in the balance.
Bandai’s Ver.Ka interpretation revisits the original Sazabi with refined proportions, intricate armor detailing, and an extensive mechanical structure that takes full advantage of the larger 1/100 scale.
Its broad shoulders, massive legs, heavily armored torso, and oversized rear skirt give the completed model an imposing appearance, while multiple shades of red help define the different sections of its exterior.
One of the kit’s biggest attractions is its extensive armor-opening mechanism, known as Invoke Mode, which allows numerous panels across the body to be expanded to reveal the machinery underneath.
Sections of the chest, shoulders, arms, waist, and legs can be opened, exposing the detailed internal frame and additional thruster components that are normally concealed beneath the Sazabi’s armor.
The large rear skirt is especially impressive, with interconnected panels that open together to expose hidden thrusters, while the leg armor also expands to reveal multiple layers of mechanical detailing.
Bandai used a specially developed molding material for sections of the silver inner frame, giving them a metallic appearance without requiring additional painting.
The Sazabi’s backpack houses six detachable funnels within two large containers, each equipped with opening hatches that allow the remote-controlled weapons to be displayed in their deployed configuration.
Additional mechanisms allow the covers around the mobile suit’s apogee motors to expand outward, emphasizing the numerous thrusters responsible for maneuvering such a heavily armored machine.
The kit also comes with an extensive selection of weapons, including the Beam Shot Rifle, Beam Tomahawk, Beam Sabers, and Sazabi Shield, alongside a Long Rifle based on early concept artwork that had not previously been produced as a Gunpla accessory.
For more expressive combat poses, Bandai incorporated its Emotion Manipulator SP hand system, giving the model individually articulated finger joints and additional thumb movement for handling its weapons.
The head also supports a separately sold green Gunpla LED Unit, allowing builders to illuminate the Sazabi’s signature mono-eye, while a selection of Hajime Katoki-designed markings provides further opportunities to customize its appearance.
Builders looking to recreate the final confrontation between Char and Amuro should also consider the “MG 1/100 ν GUNDAM Ver.Ka,” which offers a similarly detailed 1/100 scale interpretation of the Sazabi’s greatest rival, complete with its signature Fin Funnels and expanding armor mechanisms.
Bandai has also explored alternative finishes for both machines, including the Gundam Base-exclusive “MG 1/100 Sazabi Ver.Ka [Mechanical Clear]” and “MG 1/100 ν Gundam Ver.Ka [Mechanical Clear],” which use transparent exterior parts to give builders a better look at the intricate engineering underneath.
Originally released in Japan on December 14, 2013, the “MG 1/100 MSN-04 SAZABI Ver.Ka” is a general retail Gunpla kit that should be available from most reputable Gunpla stockists, subject to availability.
It is also currently in stock through Premium Bandai US, priced at $117.
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