The one everything else is measured against
Bandai's first Master Grade was the RX-78-2 in 1995, and it changed what a plastic model kit could be. Thirteen years and a great many Master Grades later they went back and did it again properly. The Ver. 2.0 is the RX-78-2 rebuilt to the standards the line had grown into, with proportions matched to the 1979 television design rather than to 1990s kit engineering.
If you only ever build one Master Grade of the original Gundam, most builders would tell you to make it this one.
Build difficulty
A genuine Master Grade, but a well-engineered and enjoyable one rather than a punishing one. Snap-fit, moulded in colour, no glue or paint required. The new inner frame is the substance of the build and it goes together cleanly. Comfortable for anyone who has done a Master Grade before, and a reasonable first MG if you take your time.
Technical highlights
A completely new inner frame was developed for this release, capable of more dynamic and realistic posing than any MG before it. The Core Fighter is transformable and docks inside the torso to become the cockpit exactly as it does in the show, and critically the Gundam's movement is not restricted while it is docked, which is the engineering achievement people talk about. Armaments cover the full One Year War loadout. Three types of markings are supplied: marking stickers, foil stickers and dry transfers.
What makes this kit special
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Core Fighter docks without costing articulation: it transforms, slots into the torso as the cockpit, and the kit still poses freely with it inside.
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Purpose-built Ver. 2.0 inner frame: designed from scratch for this release and the reason the kit still holds up.
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Television-accurate proportions: matched to the 1979-80 design rather than to earlier kit conventions.
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The complete armoury: beam rifle with removable super napalm attachment, hyper bazooka, Gundam Hammer, beam javelin, two beam sabers and shield.
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Three Amuro Ray figures: two standing, in casual wear and pilot suit, plus one sitting.
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Three marking types: marking stickers, foil stickers and dry transfers all included.
What's in the box
- RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 2.0 parts, moulded in colour
- Transformable Core Fighter
- Beam rifle with removable super napalm attachment
- Two beam sabers
- Shield
- Hyper bazooka
- Gundam Hammer
- Beam javelin
- Three 1/100 Amuro Ray figures, moulded in white and unpainted
- Marking stickers, foil stickers and dry transfer stickers
Compatible accessories
To get the Gundam Hammer swinging or the beam javelin into a proper thrust rather than a standing pose, pair it with the Bandai Action Base 4, the standard 1/100 display stand.
Build your One Year War collection
The obvious opposite number is Char's, and the Bandai 1/144 RG MS-06S Char's Zaku II is in stock. At the same 1/100 scale, the Bandai 1/100 MG Gouf Ver 2.0 got the same Ver. 2.0 treatment and makes a natural pair.
If you want the same mobile suit as a quick second build, the Bandai 1/144 EG RX-78-2 Gundam (Entry Grade) is also available, and the Bandai 1/144 HGUC MS-09 Dom / MS09-R Rick Dom fills out the Zeon side.
Build specifications
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Series: Mobile Suit Gundam (0079)
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Grade: Master Grade (MG)
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Scale: 1/100
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Mobile suit: RX-78-2 Gundam
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Pilot: Amuro Ray
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Faction: Earth Federation
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Timeline: Universal Century
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Manufacturer: Bandai, Japan
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Original release: July 2008
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Kit packaged weight: 700 g, retail box 31 x 20 x 13.5 cm
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Barcode (JAN): 4573102615831
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Skill level: 2
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Assembly: snap-fit, no glue required
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Paint required: no, parts are moulded in colour
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Figures included: three 1/100 Amuro Ray figures, unpainted
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Special features: transformable docking Core Fighter, purpose-built Ver. 2.0 inner frame
Perfect for
- Anyone who wants the definitive Master Grade of the original Gundam
- Builders curious about what a well-designed MG inner frame actually feels like
- Collectors starting a Universal Century shelf at the beginning
- Builders who want a full weapon set rather than a rifle and a shield
- Anyone stepping up from High Grades to their first Master Grade
- Collectors pairing the Federation's first Gundam against a Zeon line-up
Fast Australian shipping
Dispatched same day from Brisbane if ordered before 2pm AEST on weekdays. Free shipping Australia-wide on orders over $199. Packed securely in a sturdy outer box with water-soluble cornstarch void fill that dissolves cleanly in the sink.
What to watch for
I did not turn up a repeated, independently confirmed fault with this kit. A detailed build review reports the finished model as feeling very sturdy and solid, with no joints having loosened even after a full photoshoot, which is a fair test of a Master Grade.
One genuine warning, and it is about research rather than the kit. A lot of what you will find online discussing loose armour, weak ankle joints and a waist that pops off is about the Ver. 3.0, which is a completely different and later kit. Those complaints do not apply here. Check which version a review is covering before you take it as read.
Builder tips: dry transfers are unforgiving once they are down, so line each one up before you commit and use a blunt tool with even pressure. Build the Core Fighter early and check it docks cleanly before you close the torso. The three Amuro figures are moulded in white and only really work once hand-painted, so treat them as an optional extra rather than a finished inclusion.
Build notes
No glue and no paint required. Nippers, a hobby knife and sanding sticks, plus a blunt burnisher if you are using the dry transfers. Expect four to five hours across a couple of sessions. Recommended age 15 and over.
Last updated: 5 August 2026 (AEST)
