The Gundam in the colours you actually remember
Every Master Grade RX-78-2 argues with you about what the Gundam looked like. Ver. 2.0 goes soft and retro, Ver. 3.0 goes sharp and modern, Ver.Ka goes its own way entirely. This one just uses the setting colours from the television series, over a body built from the design in the One Year War game, and lets the two combine into something with a bit of weight to it.
Amuro Ray comes in the box at 1/100, unpainted, standing next to the machine he never asked to fly. If your Gundam shelf is all glossy modern releases, this is the one that looks like the show.
Build difficulty
Bandai print 15 and over on the box. This is a straightforward Master Grade rather than a demanding one: a full inner frame, moulded colour throughout, no glue and no paint needed. One Japanese reviewer describes the leg frame as the trickiest bit, because it uses a runner with the shock absorbers moulded in one piece and a few small screws, so the gate cuts need care even though the assembly afterwards is easy. Everything else goes together cleanly. Set aside an evening or two.
Technical highlights
The colours are the point. Where the standard release uses a pale, washed palette, this one is moulded in the flatter, warmer setting colours from the anime, including a noticeably brighter blue and a grey that leans slightly green. The tooling underneath is the Ver. One Year War 0079 body: heavier moulding than a plain RX-78-2, a full inner frame, and rear leg armour that opens to show the mechanicals. Articulation is good for its era. The neck is a double ball joint, elbows and knees are double-jointed, the hip axis slides forward and back so the kneeling pose sits properly, the front toes are poseable, and the chest fins each move on their own. Hands are the articulated-finger type with 3+1+1 movement and moulded tabs in the palms, and the rifle and bazooka handles have matching tab holes so the weapons lock in rather than flopping. The shield takes a connection part that can go on any of three hardpoints on either forearm, its grip folds out, and it stows on the backpack. Foil stickers, marking stickers and a Gundam decal sheet are all included.
What makes this kit special
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Anime setting colours, moulded in: the same tooling as the standard release in the flatter television palette, no paint needed to get there.
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The Gundam Hammer is included: chain and all, part-built out of the box, and it does not come in every RX-78-2 kit.
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Weapons that stay in the hand: moulded palm tabs and matching holes in the rifle and bazooka handles, so they hold rather than slip.
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Sliding hip axis: the joint moves forward and back, which is why the kneeling pose sits naturally instead of splaying.
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Independently moving chest fins: separate parts rather than one moulded block.
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Opening rear leg armour: the inner frame is visible without dismantling anything.
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A 1/100 Amuro Ray figure: unpainted, moulded in white, in scale with the kit.
What's in the box
- RX-78-2 Gundam in animation colours, snap-fit, with full inner frame
- Beam rifle
- Hyper bazooka
- Beam sabers x 2, with two curved beam blades
- Gundam Hammer with a part-assembled chain
- Shield with connection part
- Articulated-finger hand pairs
- 1/100 Amuro Ray figure, unpainted
- Foil sticker sheet, marking sticker sheet and Gundam decal sheet
No display base is included. This kit does not have the Core Block System, so the Core Fighter cannot be built or separated.
Compatible accessories
No display base is included with the kit. For dynamic poses of the Gundam Hammer, pair it with the Bandai Action Base 4, the standard 1/100 display stand. The 3mm socket is on the rear of the waist.
Build your Universal Century collection
These are the machines from the same war, and all of them are in stock now:
Build specifications
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Series: Mobile Suit Gundam
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Timeline: Universal Century
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Grade: Master Grade, Ver. One Year War 0079, Animation Colour
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Scale: 1/100
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Mobile suit: RX-78-2 Gundam
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Pilot: Amuro Ray, included as a 1/100 figure
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Faction: Earth Federation Forces
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Manufacturer: Bandai, Japan
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First released: July 2007
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Kit packaged weight: approximately 560 g, retail box approximately 31 x 20 x 11.2 cm
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Barcode: 4573102569585
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Skill level: Skill Level 2, rated 15 and over on the box
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Assembly method: snap-fit, nippers needed, a few small screws in the leg frame
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Paint required: no, optional on small details
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Special features: animation setting colours moulded in, sliding hip axis, independently moving chest fins, opening rear leg armour, Gundam Hammer included
Perfect for
- First Gundam fans who want the RX-78-2 in the colours from the show
- Collectors who already own a modern MG RX-78-2 and want the contrast on the shelf
- Builders who like a solid, chunky Gundam silhouette over a sharp modern one
- Anyone after a Master Grade at the friendlier end of the price range
- Decal practitioners, since three separate marking sheets are included
- Universal Century collectors building out the One Year War side by side
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
This is a 2007 release on 2005 tooling, and it shows in a few places. These are the points that came up across independent builder reviews and the manufacturer's own material.
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There is no Core Block System. The cockpit hatch opens, but the block is fixed and the Core Fighter cannot be built or separated. If that gimmick is what you are after, this is not the RX-78-2 to buy. Confirmed by the manufacturer's own contents list and by an independent review.
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The hyper bazooka is awkward to hold. One reviewer flags that its grip does not pivot, which was only fixed from Ver. 2.0 onwards. Expect to work the arm angle around the weapon rather than the other way round.
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The legs do not spread far. One reviewer notes that although the hip axis slides forward and back, the legs themselves attach on a conventional ball joint, so wide stances are limited even though the arms and toes move well.
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Only one hand type is included. Articulated-finger hands, no separate closed fists. One reviewer raises this; it is not a problem, just worth knowing.
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The leg frame runner needs careful cutting. The shock absorbers are moulded into the runner and a few small screws are used, so take the gates slowly at that stage. The same reviewer says assembly is easy once the parts are off.
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It is a comparatively soft-featured Gundam. One reviewer describes the face as good but less sharp than modern releases, and the whole body as heavier and more solid. Whether that is a fault or the reason to buy it depends entirely on which RX-78-2 you grew up with.
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Box printing has changed since first release. Bandai have revised the logos on this box repeatedly. The kit inside is unchanged.
Builder tips. Cut the leg frame runner well clear of the parts and pare back, because that is the one place a slip costs you. Use the palm tabs rather than fighting them, since the weapons are designed to lock into them. If you want the Gundam Hammer airborne you will need a stand, as none is included. And if you panel line one area, do the chest and skirt armour, because the One Year War tooling has more moulding there than a plain RX-78-2 and a grey wash brings all of it out.
Build notes
No glue and no paint needed. Bring nippers, a hobby knife, a sanding stick and a small screwdriver for the leg frame. Rated 15 and over by Bandai. Three sheets of markings are supplied, foil stickers, marking stickers and Gundam decals, so decide how far you want to take it before you start.
Last updated: 29 July 2026 (AEST)
