The ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex is the main mobile suit featured in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam IRON-BLOODED ORPHANS second season. It is piloted by Mikazuki Augus.

The Barbatos Lupus Rex was an upgrade/repaired version of the Barbatos Lupus after it was damaged badly following a battle with the Hashmal (unmanned mobile armour). The repair was carried out in Saisei’s Mobile Suit Workshop.

Data sampling of Barbatos Lupus’ fight with Hashmal was also conducted during the overhaul. To match the combat data of Mikazuki Augus, who was increasing his compatibility with the mobile suit through the Alaya-Vijnana System, the machine’s response speed was increased to the limit of its theoretical value. Movement of the frame’s joints were also delicately tuned to match the pilot’s actual sensations. The suit’s cockpit hatch was changed from its predecessors’ top opening method to a front opening style in consideration of Mikazuki’s worsened injuries from piloting Barbatos.

Heavy re-modification to Barbatos was carried out to reflect Mikazuki’s fighting style, the suit’s arms were enlarged and elongated like a beast, and various weapons are fitted on the body. The tail parts of the Hashmal was transplanted to the suit’s back, and through the Alaya-Vijnana System, Mikazuki is able to controls this tail blade as if it was part of his limb.

Overall, the Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex is customized for close combat, and its silhouette gives it a more ferocious look than its predecessors, the Barbatos and the Barbatos Lupus.

The High Grade ASW-G-08 Gundam Barbatos Lupus Rex is a 1/144 scale kit released in Early Feb 2017 with a suggested retail price of ¥1,260. For comparison, the Grand-daddy HGUC RX-78-2 Gundam (Revive) is only ¥1,000 and HG Barbatos which was released in 2015 is merely ¥900.  The relatively cheap Barbatos Lupus Rex is actually not bad considering it cost especially its unique beast-like design.  

The parts separation (in my humble opinion) for IBO kits are one of the best in HG class due to the inner frame style of assembly. I am able to paint most of the parts separately with a bit of help from masking in different colours so if I choose. I would prefer the elongated arms to have more parts separation otherwise it is fairly straight forward due to the fact that most parts are either curved or rounded.

I was inspired to give Barbatos Lupus Rex the Gold treatment especially it is the “King”. Hence I have planned the original Barbatos in its original Gundam-like White, Blue and Red, while the Lupus is in Dark Silver, which nicely leading to a Dark Gold for the Lupus Rex.

In the anime, the Lupus Rex is featured next to Gusion Rebake and they are commonly seen bashing up cannon-fodder such as the Graze and the Reginlaze.

I also have a version of the Barbatos Lupus Rex in SD/CS scale; I also painted the cute little Lupus Rex in faint gold livery. The dark gold livery of the HG Lupus Rex contrasts nicely next to each other.