My very first
Real Grade model kit, hell of an experience to build, starting with internal skeletal frame, and then from there adding on mechanisms such as pistons, tubing, and my favorite internal piece the cockpit sphere, essentially creating the Gundam from the inside out. Real Grade is adequately named, with all the smaller armor pieces coming together to make the outer skin it definitely gives this class of model kit a more realistically detailed military war machine look to them. The articulation on the complete model is amazing, he has double jointed knees and elbows, and with full range of motion for his shoulders and hip joints he can pull almost any pose imaginable, including holding his beam rifle with both hands, and being able to reach back for a beam saber.
The
RX-178 Gundam Mark II comes with all of his weapons he has used the
Zeta Gundam anime ranging from his trusty beam rifle, to his expanding shield, hyper bazooka, removable head vulcan gunpod, and two beam sabers, which the beam blades that come with him are way too long for a 1/144th scale mobile suit but are instead for the Master Grade 1/100th scale model kits, a weird choice for Bandai to include. Aside from the pair of hands with the articulated thumb and trigger finger, he also comes with 4 extra hands, a pair of closed fist for holding Beam Sabers, an open hand with fingers spread, and a closed hand shaped to hold the beam rifle. Other accessories include 3 additional energy cartridges for the beam rifle, which two can be stored on the back of the shield, a spare bazooka clip that can be attached to his hip armor, and a small unpainted pilot figurine of
Kamille Bidan.
The coolest thing I love about this model is you can attach and store all of his weapons on him, like the beam rifle can either be in his hand, or pegged in to his hip armor, while the rear armor skirt has a fold out clasp to grip the hyper bazooka , and then with his head vulcan gunpod mounted he is fully armed and battle ready. Since Bandai made the
Skygrasper with Launcher and Sword Packs for the
Real Grade Strike Gundam, I’m hoping they’ll make the
G-Defenser to combine with the Gundam Mk.II to upgrade him to
Super Gundam. I’m looking forward to building more Real Grade model kits, a longer and more tedious build but turns out a stunning example of model kit engineering.
