Premium Bandai HG 1/144 黑色騎士

The panel lining really pops on the black armor, and the special-order parts fit together with barely any seam lines to clean up. I spent a good evening on it and the articulation in the shoulders alone makes the whole build worth it.

The joints on this kit are surprisingly tight for an HG, so it holds its lance poses without drooping after a day on the shelf. Build took me about three hours and the black armor has a nice subtle sheen that photos don't capture. Worth the wait for the special-order.

The armor detailing on the Black Rider is sharper than the usual HG fare, and the dark plastic hides nub marks better than I expected. Took me about three hours to snap together, and the black-and-grey contrast looks great on the shelf.