Add one of the most unusual Mobile Suits from Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam to your Universal Century collection with the RX-160 Byarlant HGUC 1/144. Developed as an experimental high-mobility machine, the Byarlant stands apart from conventional Federation and Titans designs thanks to its enormous shoulders, elongated limbs and, most importantly, its ability to achieve atmospheric flight without transforming into a Mobile Armour or relying on an external flight system.
Piloted by Jerid Messa, the Byarlant’s strange proportions and unmistakable silhouette have made it a cult favourite among Universal Century fans. Bandai’s HGUC kit captures that unconventional design in an accessible 1/144 scale build with its signature beam weapons and plenty of presence on the shelf.
The Titans’ Experimental Flying Mobile Suit
The RX-160 Byarlant was developed during the Gryps Conflict as an experimental Mobile Suit capable of sustained atmospheric flight using its own powerful thrusters.
That was a significant achievement.
Many Mobile Suits of the era required transformation systems, sub-flight vehicles or additional equipment to operate effectively in the atmosphere.
The Byarlant takes a much more direct approach:
Give it enormous thrusters and make it fly anyway.
The result is one of the strangest – and most memorable – machines of the Zeta Gundam era.
Piloted by Jerid Messa
The Byarlant is most closely associated with Jerid Messa, one of the recurring antagonists of Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam.
Jerid pilots numerous Mobile Suits throughout the series, but the Byarlant is easily one of his most distinctive.
Its exceptional aerial mobility gives him a machine capable of challenging the AEUG’s advanced Mobile Suits while operating independently in atmospheric combat.
For collectors building Jerid’s increasingly impressive collection of replacement Mobile Suits, the Byarlant is an essential addition.
A Completely Different Mobile Suit Design
Put the Byarlant next to a Gundam, GM or Hizack and it barely looks like it belongs to the same military.
Its unusual appearance includes:
- Enormous shoulder thrusters
- Long articulated arms
- Oversized forearms
- Small central torso
- Elongated legs
- Large rear thrusters
- Distinctive mono-eye head
The unconventional proportions aren’t simply for appearance. Much of the machine’s design is dictated by the enormous propulsion systems required for atmospheric flight.
The result is a Mobile Suit that looks fast even when it’s standing still.
Independent Atmospheric Flight
The defining feature of the RX-160 is its ability to fly under its own power.
Large thermonuclear jet/rocket thrusters mounted throughout the machine provide the tremendous thrust required to keep the Byarlant airborne.
Unlike transformable machines such as the Asshimar or Gaplant, the Byarlant doesn’t need to change into a Mobile Armour configuration.
It remains a Mobile Suit throughout flight.
That gives it excellent freedom of movement during aerial combat and explains the enormous propulsion units that dominate its design.
Beam Rifles Built into the Arms
The Byarlant doesn’t carry a conventional handheld Beam Rifle.
Instead, its ranged weapons are integrated directly into its forearms.
These Mega Particle Guns/Beam Rifles give the Byarlant immediate access to ranged firepower without requiring the machine to carry additional weapons.
It’s another design choice that perfectly suits a Mobile Suit built around high-speed aerial combat.
No rifle to lose.
No weapon to drop.
Just point the arm at the problem.
Beam Sabers
The Byarlant’s arm-mounted weapons also function with its close-combat equipment, giving the Mobile Suit access to Beam Sabers when an engagement gets personal.
This keeps the overall weapon loadout remarkably streamlined.
Rather than carrying a huge selection of external equipment, the Byarlant relies on its mobility and integrated weapon systems.
Classic HGUC Construction
The HGUC Byarlant recreates the unusual proportions of the original design while providing a straightforward High Grade building experience.
Features include:
- 1/144 scale construction
- Articulated shoulders
- Poseable arms and legs
- Large thruster assemblies
- Integrated arm weapon details
- Beam effect parts
- Colour-separated components
- Snap-fit assembly
Despite the unusual proportions, the finished model retains an impressive range of posing possibilities.
Made for an Action Base
The Byarlant is a Mobile Suit designed to fly, so displaying it standing flat on a shelf almost feels wrong.
Pair it with a compatible Action Base and the design really starts to make sense.
Try displaying it in:
- High-speed aerial poses
- Arm-mounted Beam Rifle attacks
- Beam Saber combat
- Diving attack positions
- Gryps Conflict battle scenes
- Jerid versus Kamille displays
Getting the feet off the ground dramatically improves the appearance of the completed model.
Excellent Customisation Potential
The Byarlant’s large armour sections and extensive thruster systems make it an excellent candidate for additional detailing.
Try adding:
- Panel lining
- Metallic thruster interiors
- Heat staining
- Custom Titans markings
- Mono-eye detailing
- Mechanical painting
- Matte top coat
- Battle weathering
The huge shoulder and rear propulsion systems are particularly good areas for metallic paints and additional mechanical detail.
From Byarlant to Byarlant Custom
The original Byarlant design also has an interesting legacy within the Universal Century.
Decades later, heavily modified examples would lead to machines such as the Byarlant Custom, famously seen during the attack on Torrington Base in Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn.
That spectacular sequence introduced an entirely new generation of Gundam fans to the basic Byarlant design.
Displaying the original RX-160 alongside its later Custom descendants makes a fantastic mini-evolution collection.
Build Your Zeta Gundam Collection
The HGUC Byarlant looks fantastic alongside other machines from the Gryps Conflict.
Pair it with:
- Zeta Gundam
- Gundam Mk-II
- Hyaku Shiki
- Rick Dias
- Hizack
- Marasai
- Gaplant
- Asshimar
- The O
- Palace Athene
The Byarlant’s unusual silhouette helps break up a display filled with more conventional humanoid Mobile Suits.
Kit Features
- Manufacturer: Bandai Spirits
- Grade: High Grade Universal Century (HGUC)
- Scale: 1/144
- Mobile Suit: RX-160 Byarlant
- Series: Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam
- Pilot: Jerid Messa
- Experimental high-mobility Mobile Suit
- Designed for independent atmospheric flight
- Large shoulder-mounted propulsion systems
- Distinctive rear thrusters
- Integrated forearm beam weaponry
- Beam Saber equipment
- Articulated arms and legs
- Colour-separated plastic parts
- Foil stickers included
- Snap-fit construction
- No glue required
- Painting optional
Why Add the RX-160 Byarlant HGUC 1/144 to Your Collection?
The Byarlant is exactly the sort of design that makes Universal Century collections interesting.
It isn’t another Gundam. It doesn’t transform. It doesn’t need an enormous backpack strapped to it.
Instead, the engineers essentially built a Mobile Suit around enough propulsion to make the whole thing fly.
The result is wonderfully strange.
Its enormous shoulders, long arms, integrated weapons and unmistakable silhouette make the Byarlant stand out immediately, while its connection to Jerid Messa, Zeta Gundam and the later Byarlant Custom gives it an important place in Universal Century history.
Whether you’re completing a Zeta Gundam collection, building Jerid’s Mobile Suit lineup or simply want something that looks completely different from everything else on the shelf, the RX-160 Byarlant HGUC 1/144 is a fantastic choice.
Huge thrusters, integrated beam weapons and absolutely no interest in transforming – the RX-160 Byarlant HGUC 1/144 is one of Zeta Gundam’s strangest and most distinctive Mobile Suits.
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