HG Hashmal Straight Build Review: Part 1 of the Custom Gunpla Build Series

TL;DR: This first part of the HG Hashmal Custom Gunpla Build Series focuses on the straight build stage. The HG Hashmal already has strong shelf presence thanks to its wide wingspan, sharp silhouette, and unique Mobile Armour design from Iron-Blooded Orphans. However, the straight build also reveals areas that need refinement, including flat white armour, bright red plastic, visible seam lines, and details that need more depth. This stage helps plan the custom work before seam line removal, scribing, painting, and panel lining begin.

Every great custom Gunpla build starts with something simple: the straight build.

Before panel lining, shading, repainting, or adding extra detail, the HG Hashmal stood exactly as Bandai intended. Clean, sharp, and impressive straight out of the box. Even as a simple snap-fit Gunpla build, the Hashmal has incredible shelf presence. Its wide wingspan, aggressive stance, and alien mechanical design make it one of the most unique High Grade kits in the Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans line.

But like many HG Gunpla kits, the base version also leaves plenty of room for improvement.

Why Start with a Straight Build?

The first version of this HG Hashmal build had all the right shapes, proportions, and mechanical detail. However, it still carried that unmistakable “plastic model kit” look.

The white armour panels were flat and uniform. The red armour sections felt bright and toy-like. Many of the sculpted mechanical details were difficult to notice at first glance because everything blended together in solid moulded colours.

That is often the biggest challenge with a straight build Gunpla kit. The design may already be strong, but without panel lining, shading, or detail painting, it can lack visual depth.

For this project, the goal was not to heavily weather the Hashmal or completely repaint the entire kit. Instead, the focus was on refinement: bringing out the existing detail, improving colour separation, and making the model feel more like a finished display piece rather than a simple snap-build kit.

Studying the HG Hashmal Before Customisation

The first step in any custom Gunpla project is understanding the kit itself.

The HG Hashmal is full of natural panel separations, layered armour, mechanical vents, and sharp design elements. These details are easy to overlook when the kit is assembled straight from the box, especially when large areas are molded in plain white and red plastic.

The wings are one of the most important visual features of the Hashmal. Their large, clean surfaces can feel a little plain in a basic build, but they also create the perfect canvas for subtle detailing, panel lining, shading, and tonal variation.

The legs are another key area for improvement. Their long, sharp shapes already create strong visual movement, giving the Hashmal its predatory look. However, without panel line detailing, seam line correction, and added contrast, they can feel too simple compared to the complexity of the overall design.

Planning the Custom Gunpla Details

This is where planning becomes important.

Rather than rushing straight into paint, I looked closely at where natural shadows would fall, where the panel lines could be enhanced, and which sections would benefit most from extra contrast. With a kit like the HG Hashmal, subtle upgrades often work better than over-detailing.

Sometimes the best Gunpla customisation techniques come from restraint.

The red armour panels became a major focal point early in the process. They immediately draw the eye, so adjusting their tone would help change the overall feel of the build. Instead of keeping them bright and flat, the plan was to soften the red slightly and give it a more refined finish.

The white armour needed a different approach. White is one of the trickiest colours to work with on a plastic model kit. Too much shading can make it look dirty, while too little leaves it looking lifeless. The goal was to create subtle tonal variation, adding enough realism and depth without losing the clean look of the original design.

Why Straight Builds Matter in Gunpla Customisation

This kind of project is where patience matters most.

A Gunpla straight build is not just the basic version before the “real work” begins. It is an important stage that helps you understand the kit before customisation. You learn where the design naturally shines, where it feels flat, and which details need extra attention.

Every panel line, wash, and painted detail added later works better because it is placed with intention rather than guesswork.

There is also something satisfying about seeing the “before” version of a custom build. It creates a clear reminder of how much transformation is possible without major structural modification.

The best custom Gunpla builds are not always the loudest or most heavily modified. Sometimes, they are the ones where someone looks twice and slowly realises how much work went into making the kit feel complete.

That was the goal with this HG Hashmal custom build.

Not to reinvent it, but to unlock what was already there.

Key Takeaways

The HG Hashmal has strong shelf presence even as a straight build. Its wide wingspan, sharp legs, and alien mobile armour design make it one of the more unique Iron-Blooded Orphans Gunpla kits.

The base kit looks impressive, but it can appear flat without panel lining, shading, and improved colour separation. Starting with a straight build makes it easier to identify where custom detailing will have the biggest visual impact.

Subtle refinement can make the HG Hashmal look more like a finished display piece without requiring a full repaint.

FAQs About the HG Hashmal Straight Build

What is the HG Hashmal Gunpla kit?

The HG Hashmal is a High Grade Gunpla model kit from Mobile Suit Gundam: Iron-Blooded Orphans. Unlike many traditional mobile suit designs, the Hashmal has a more alien, mobile armour-style appearance, with a wide wingspan, sharp legs, aggressive proportions, and a unique mechanical silhouette.

Is the HG Hashmal good as a straight build?

Yes, the HG Hashmal looks impressive as a straight build thanks to its unusual shape, large wingspan, and strong shelf presence. However, like many High Grade kits, it benefits greatly from extra detailing such as panel lining, shading, washes, and small colour adjustments to bring out the molded detail.

What is a straight build in Gunpla?

A straight build is a Gunpla model assembled directly from the box without major painting, modification, or customisation. It usually involves cutting the parts from the runners, cleaning nub marks, and snapping the kit together. A straight build is often the first stage before panel lining, painting, weathering, or custom detailing.

Why start with a straight build before customising Gunpla?

Starting with a straight build helps you understand the kit’s structure, proportions, panel lines, seam lines, and areas that need improvement. For a custom Gunpla project like the HG Hashmal custom build, the straight build stage makes it easier to plan where to add shading, contrast, paint, and detail work.

Does the HG Hashmal need panel lining?

The HG Hashmal benefits strongly from panel lining because the kit has many sculpted armour separations, vents, and mechanical details that can be hard to see in plain molded plastic. Panel lining helps define these details and adds more depth to the finished model.

What areas of the HG Hashmal are best for custom detailing?

The wings, legs, red armour panels, white armour surfaces, and mechanical vents are some of the best areas for HG Hashmal custom detailing. The large wing sections are ideal for subtle panel lining and shading, while the red and white armour panels can be adjusted to create better colour separation and a more refined display finish.

Is the HG Hashmal a good kit for beginner Gunpla customisation?

The HG Hashmal can be a good kit for beginner Gunpla customisation if the goal is subtle improvement rather than heavy modification. Simple techniques such as panel lining, light shading, washes, and careful colour adjustment can make a major difference without needing advanced scratch-building or full repainting skills.

How can you make a High Grade Gunpla look less plastic?

To make a High Grade Gunpla look less plastic, focus on panel lining, matte or semi-gloss top coat, subtle shading, colour separation, and small painted details. For the HG Hashmal, reducing the flatness of the white armour and softening the bright red sections can make the kit look more refined and display-ready.

Do you need to fully repaint the HG Hashmal?

No, you do not need to fully repaint the HG Hashmal to improve it. This project focuses on refinement rather than a complete repaint. By using panel lining, washes, shading, and selective colour adjustment, the kit can look more detailed and premium while still keeping the original design intact.

What makes the HG Hashmal unique compared to other Iron-Blooded Orphans Gunpla kits?

The HG Hashmal is unique because it is a mobile armour rather than a standard Gundam or mobile suit. Its wide wings, sharp limbs, aggressive stance, and non-human mechanical design make it stand out from other Iron-Blooded Orphans High Grade kits.

Final Thoughts

The HG Hashmal straight build is more than just the starting point of a custom Gunpla project. It is the foundation that shows what the kit already does well and where it can be improved.

By studying the snap build first, it becomes easier to make better decisions during the detailing stage. Panel lining, washes, shading, colour adjustment, and subtle contrast all work best when they are planned around the kit’s existing design.

In the next blog, I’ll break down the detailing stage, including panel lining, washes, shading, colour adjustment, and how subtle contrast completely changed the personality of the build.

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