Table of Contents
Master Grade 1/100 Gundam RX-78-2 ver 3.0
- Manufacturer: Bandai
- Part number: BAN983655
- Year of production: 2013
- Gundam in-universe model number: RX-78-2
- Scale: 1/100
- Series: Gundam 0079
- Kit type: MG
- In-universe role: Prototype close combat mobile suit
- Build date: 2019
Manufacturer Images
Tools Used
- N/A - initial build not completed
Thoughts
Latest (and somewhat controversial) release of the iconic Gundam suit from the original series.
The ver 3.0 kit adds huge amounts of poseability, multiple opening/closing armour flaps and crisp, clean molding, as well as a move away from the traditional polycaps for joints.
However, it also makes several areas like the elbow and knee extremely delicate with very small parts. Personally, I like it. Beside the Gundam The Origins kit, I think it's the best Master Grade version of the RX-78-2.
Not quite finished yet… I suffered a mishap part way through the build; I had started snipping out the parts from the frame back in 2018, but after an illness it was put away. Unfortunately between that time and when I started to assemble it, I had lost one elbow joint as well as two small armour parts.
Although Bandai offers a parts-replacement service, this is only for domestic customers in Japan. Fortunately I was able source the three missing parts from Pla Parts Japan who will purchase the parts on your behalf and then ship worldwide. It's not cheap, but versus the cost of an entire replacement kit, it's worth it.
One thing which is worth bearing in mind with the v3.0 kit compared to, say the Origins or the ver Ka. kit is that because all the moving and sliding parts it's not quite as stiff or solid feeling. In particular, I'm not sure I like the amount of hinges and movement in the shoulder armour sections - the panel lines almost never sit straight and I've had problems with the shoulder armour actually staying on the peg and instead falling loose between the body and arm (it's one of those designs where the arm pushes through it and then on to the peg on the body, so it's just a friction fit around the arm peg).
We'll see how it goes, but I can see having to glue the shoulder armour on to the arm itself to stop the unwanted movement.
Finished Images
Not finished yet!
Progress Images
I'm missing an elbow joint part, as well as two armour panels, so the kit still isn't quite finished here:
Replacement parts from Pla Parts Japan
The replacement elbow and armour parts eventually arrived from Pla Parts Japan and I was able to complete the dry-build of the Gundam:
