Hell, it's about time for the granddaddy to make an appearance.
Why this kit
The RX-78-2 has always in my to build list. But I never got to it because of 2 things. 1, I never build myself enough hype to get this MS and 2, the RX-78-2 kits are always sold out.
I read and watch a lot of review of the grand daddy gundam on the net and almost everyone gave a big thumbs up. Is it really that good? When the 3.0 kit is made available at Modelland one fine day, I asked myself why not. It's a 3.0 kit. The remastered kit is good. 2.0 kits are excellent. 3.0 must be f**king heaven to build. So I YOLO, paid 155 bucks and leave with a big box.
Kit Details
The RX-78-2 ver 3.0 kit was released in August 2013, a D1 box kit with 19 runners and 432 parts. You also get 1 big sheet of stickers. No dry transfer nor water slide. I'm kind of expecting more of a 3.0 kit. Perhaps Bandai wants to keep the cost down or probably reserve all the difficult decals to Katoki Hajime's kits. This kit is priced at 4500 yen.
Note that I changed the price to yen instead of ringgit. Cause the Malaysian currency has depreciate so badly this 2 years that all the price tag I mentioned in my previous review are around 10-20% more expensive now, thus no longer applicable. For example I mentioned Freedom 2.0 is priced at RM155. But the kit is sold at RM175 today.
Don't worry, 4500 yen is 45 US dollars. Multiply by whatever shitty conversion rate for ringgit.
Build / Difficulty
(Score: +2)
I have to say the best part of this kit is the build process. This kit is essentially an up-sized RG kit. If you have been holding back from RG kits due to its challenging size, this one is for you. This kit has 19 runners. That is a very generous amount of parts for an average sized master grade with no fancy big wings, funnels or effect parts.
This means 100% of parts are focused on the gundam itself. Maybe not 100% cause you got the core fighter and some weapons but let's just say a big chunk of it. Every single parts gets the best detail and mechanics a plastic model engineer can think of.
Why so many parts you asked? For starters, you get 2 shades of red, 2 shades of blue, 4 shades of white and no, just 1 grey for the inner frame. FTW right? And the build is not overly complicated. There's not much panel lining to worry about too. All those color variations and a very good detailed inner frame makes this kit an absolute pleasure to build.
Looks / Details
(Score: +2)
This is an absolute wonder to look at. Real grade details at 1/100 size. Line and sticker up this kit and get ready to be mind blown. The stickers weren't that bad and doesn't overpower the kit. There are copper stickers all over the joints to give an extra bling to the bang.
Accessories
(Score: +1)
You get a standard RX-78 shield, a slightly modified beam rifle, a hyper bazooka and 2 beam sabers. Good color variation and generous amount of stickers on all weapons. You also get interchangeable parts for to fit these weapons to older manipulators.
Articulation / Pose ability
(Score: +1)
In terms of articulation and pose ability, this kit is the top of the top. It gets into whatever pose you put it in. And it's a very well balanced kit so you don't have the problem of this kit falling over, as long as you keep the feet planted.
Arms and legs can bend to the best amount of angles. Shoulder and waist armor are not over sized and can be easily moved to avoid getting the way while posing.
All is good right? Well, no. Although this kit is very flexible, but because of all the complications and those lots of small parts to bring out the details in the kit, it is not very solid. Things fall out a lot. I mean things, not only parts. Twist the legs, and it came out. Twist the arms, and it came out. Twist the body, 2 or 3 small parts fall out.
So although its very pose-able, getting to the pose you want can be very frustrating. So a bit of zen is needed.
Shelf presence
(Score: +1)
This is the icon of gundam and the grand daddy is easily recognizable by gundam fans. However, that could be where it ends cause this kit doesn't stand out that much compared to other kits I have in my collection.
For starters, it's a standard size master grade kit. Then, it doesn't have all those big backpacks with big wings and effect parts. So, on a busy shelf, this kit loses out to the big wings on Freedom and flashy reds of Sinanju.
Bonus
(Score: +1)
Not much added bonus here cause this kit is a complete kit with great looks but with quite a bit of problem on parts not holding together. I see a lot of builders are addicted to building the grand daddy gundam and won't stop with just one of Amuro's machine.
Summary and Rating
(Total Score: +8)
This has to be one of my favorite kit. The build is amazing, the details are amazing, the pose-ability is excellent. I hold no regret picking up this kit. Although I won't be moving or re-posing this kit quite that much cause I do't want to have missing parts on this great looking kit.
Gundam: Gundam
Code: RX-78-2
Series: Mobile Suit Gundam
Pilot: Amuro Ray
Faction: Earth Federation
Weapons: Beam Saber, BAUVA*XBR-M-79-07G Beam Rifle, BLASH*XHB-L-03/N-STD Hyper Bazooka, RX-M-Sh-008/S-01025 Shield
Release: August 2013
Box: D1
Runner: 19
Parts: 432
Price: 4500 yen
Pundit: The RX-78-2 is a must have kit of any gunpla builders. Be it this one, or any other master grade variants listed below or any other grades, you need to own at least one of this.
Variants
There are damn a lot of RX-78-2 variants that you can choose. But here are my top 5 picks.
1) Gundam the Origin. Possibly the best RX-78-2 variant ever created. More anime accurate and offers lots of gimmicks and effect parts as well.
2) Amazing Red Warrior. Souped up BF variant with lots of custom weapons and gimmicks. And it's red.
3) RX-78-2 ver 2.0. The most solid RX-78-2 kit ever.
4) Shin Musha Gundam. A RX-78-2 with samurai armor and weapons. Looks absolutely bulky and badass.
5) Thunderbolt ver Ka. If you like complicated kits, this one is for you.
And many more...
Dalong's Review
Dalong's Score: 108
Up Next: Turn A Gundam
This is an absolute wonder to look at. Real grade details at 1/100 size. Line and sticker up this kit and get ready to be mind blown. The stickers weren't that bad and doesn't overpower the kit. There are copper stickers all over the joints to give an extra bling to the bang.
Accessories
(Score: +1)
You get a standard RX-78 shield, a slightly modified beam rifle, a hyper bazooka and 2 beam sabers. Good color variation and generous amount of stickers on all weapons. You also get interchangeable parts for to fit these weapons to older manipulators.
Articulation / Pose ability
(Score: +1)
In terms of articulation and pose ability, this kit is the top of the top. It gets into whatever pose you put it in. And it's a very well balanced kit so you don't have the problem of this kit falling over, as long as you keep the feet planted.
Arms and legs can bend to the best amount of angles. Shoulder and waist armor are not over sized and can be easily moved to avoid getting the way while posing.
All is good right? Well, no. Although this kit is very flexible, but because of all the complications and those lots of small parts to bring out the details in the kit, it is not very solid. Things fall out a lot. I mean things, not only parts. Twist the legs, and it came out. Twist the arms, and it came out. Twist the body, 2 or 3 small parts fall out.
So although its very pose-able, getting to the pose you want can be very frustrating. So a bit of zen is needed.
Shelf presence
(Score: +1)
This is the icon of gundam and the grand daddy is easily recognizable by gundam fans. However, that could be where it ends cause this kit doesn't stand out that much compared to other kits I have in my collection.
For starters, it's a standard size master grade kit. Then, it doesn't have all those big backpacks with big wings and effect parts. So, on a busy shelf, this kit loses out to the big wings on Freedom and flashy reds of Sinanju.
Bonus
(Score: +1)
Not much added bonus here cause this kit is a complete kit with great looks but with quite a bit of problem on parts not holding together. I see a lot of builders are addicted to building the grand daddy gundam and won't stop with just one of Amuro's machine.
Summary and Rating
(Total Score: +8)
This has to be one of my favorite kit. The build is amazing, the details are amazing, the pose-ability is excellent. I hold no regret picking up this kit. Although I won't be moving or re-posing this kit quite that much cause I do't want to have missing parts on this great looking kit.
Gundam: Gundam
Code: RX-78-2
Series: Mobile Suit Gundam
Pilot: Amuro Ray
Faction: Earth Federation
Weapons: Beam Saber, BAUVA*XBR-M-79-07G Beam Rifle, BLASH*XHB-L-03/N-STD Hyper Bazooka, RX-M-Sh-008/S-01025 Shield
Release: August 2013
Box: D1
Runner: 19
Parts: 432
Price: 4500 yen
Pundit: The RX-78-2 is a must have kit of any gunpla builders. Be it this one, or any other master grade variants listed below or any other grades, you need to own at least one of this.
Variants
There are damn a lot of RX-78-2 variants that you can choose. But here are my top 5 picks.
1) Gundam the Origin. Possibly the best RX-78-2 variant ever created. More anime accurate and offers lots of gimmicks and effect parts as well.
2) Amazing Red Warrior. Souped up BF variant with lots of custom weapons and gimmicks. And it's red.
3) RX-78-2 ver 2.0. The most solid RX-78-2 kit ever.
4) Shin Musha Gundam. A RX-78-2 with samurai armor and weapons. Looks absolutely bulky and badass.
5) Thunderbolt ver Ka. If you like complicated kits, this one is for you.
And many more...
Dalong's Review
Dalong's Score: 108
Up Next: Turn A Gundam
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