Review- HGUC Gerbera Tetra

Something from the Stardust Memory series and FINALLY! Took a long time for this kit to be released.

Gerbera Tetra is red, machine gun is grey. When Cima barges in, you run

The Gerbera Tetra is actually a GP-04 that was never been made since its’ role overlaps with the more multi-role GP-01/01FB. With that AE sold it to a “prospecting” buyer and gave it a new body work.

Front 3/4 profile

The Gerbera Tetra is a machine is built for the high-speed assault role, in-line with many Zeon attack doctrines, especially when the thrusters at the shoulders are very pronounced and coupled with a fast-firing beam machine gun.

Front profile

The Gerbera Tetra could be mistaken as a sister unit of the Kampfer, which inadvertently also a fast assault unit and shares some of the visual aesthetics.

Rear profile

Large thrusters dominates the MS. The main thruster at the back has a special feature, more of this later. The design for the shoulders are fiddly to move and are a bit fragile.

Side profile

You’d noticed that Bandai used the parts seam lines as armour fitting lines so much that its hard to identify on where is it. You also noticed that it lacks of a shield and some protective armour. Since its a speed-based unit it uses its’ speed and agility as means of survival.

Details

Head and upper torso detail

Originally the eye is just a circular green seal/sticker/decal that you just paste it, just like the previous HGUC Dreissen. Mine however, had been modified to incorporate a movable eye. The modification is similar to the Dreissen albeit on a smaller area.

Torso and waist detail

The engineering for this kit is something a mix of both old and new; while some parts moves nicely while others… a bit limited (non-pivoting pelvis and a 90° elbow joint).

Leg detail

The foot (and the rest of the kit) has a very spartan colour scheme and very devoid of markings.

Backpack detail

The main thruster has a protective shroud, which very well means it has a higher than normal output.

Hind leg detail

The legs also houses thrusters in giving its high agility factor.

Articulation

Arm and torso

The arms couldn’t go high as it is blocked by the over-sized shoulder thrusters, also, the said thruster is secured with a flat peg which one could “accidentally” break it, which, I learned the hard way. Hence the long-ish delay for the review.

The torso however is connected by ball joints so it can swing side-to-side and forward backward.

Elbow movement

It uses a single-joint elbow, which fits the purpose.

Arms swivel

The arms, like many modern HG kits able to swing the arms forward and yes, the shoulder armour/cowlings tends to get loose whenever you do movement also the pegs for the parts looks kinda frail…

Leg movement

The knee, eventhough it’s double-joint, could only do a 90º due to the armour design.

Splits (?)

Not much. Its because of the thighs’ beam faux beam saber storage blocking the range.

Weapons

Beam machine gun

This beam machine has a higher than normal firing rate very likely to overheat if fired too long. It uses the standard AE-designed magazine clip at the stock of the rifle, the tubing jutting out at a 35º angle is actually the coolant storage (which you don’t see in many other handheld beam weaponry).

Beam saber

Your stock-standard beam saber, the meat and potato of melee combat.

The 110mm machine cannons

The more unusual weapon on an MS. Used for quick target harassment/suppression during combat.

Backpack options

The backpack can be interchanged between the normal and the Stürm Booster backpack which enables the unit to go faster than many MS and give it an extended combat time.

Even with the Stürm Booster, the Gerbera Tetra has no problem standing straight as its hollow.

Action

Going into combat

Since this is a space-based MS, an action is highly recommended for posing.

High-speed harassment

Nothing annoying others by doing a fast strafing run.

Searching for new targets

The Gerbera Tetra is more menacing with the movable eye.

Charging in

It is very hard to shoot down a fast moving and agile target, just ask Lt. South Burning.

Two-handed operation

To give the machine gun a more stabler firing solution.

Going personal

The kit comes with two beam sabers and instead of your usual pink ones, its yellow.

Slash.

With the Stürm Booster, the beam saber is only good for a hit-n-run slash attacks but not so for dueling (its kinda hard on NOT to miss the overly large fuel tank).

And sees another target of opportune

A tribute to a certain charging grunt

Salute to the Stark Jegan pilot in OVA MS Gundam Unicorn, episode 1.

Off to the next battle space

As a conclusion, the kit is very nice and pretty solid (all except the shoulder armour and thrusters and the hand parts that likes to pop-out). Sadly it is also very underrated by many as it only appeared for a short time and the lack of exposure in terms of kit releases. Also maybe a turn-off for some who likes their kits with lining details as this has very less (then again, the design of it is already very minimal).