Bandai 1/144 EG RX-78-2 Gundam. The kit that proved Entry Grade could compete with HG.
The RX-78-2 is Amuro Ray's mobile suit from the original Mobile Suit Gundam (1979), the suit that started the entire franchise. The Entry Grade version is Bandai's beginner-first take on the design. Snap-fit, no stickers, no nub clean-up on the visible surfaces, no painting required, and an articulation range that quietly outpaces the standard HG. If a Gunpla shop only stocks one kit for a first-time builder, this is the one most of them stock.
It is also the cheapest current-production RX-78-2 in the Bandai range, which makes it a useful base for kitbashing, painting practice, or just owning the OG silhouette without committing $50.
Build difficulty
Skill Level 1 (per HLJ). Pure snap-fit, no nippers strictly required (parts can be twisted off the runner without scarring the visible side, by design). Build time is under an hour for a first-time builder, well under thirty minutes for an experienced one. The instruction sheet is colour-coded, no text translation needed.
Technical highlights
The Entry Grade frame uses an undergate moulding approach: every gate connection sits on the inside or underside of the visible part. Twist a part off the runner and the resulting nub is hidden from view once the kit is assembled. The articulation includes double-jointed knees and elbows, a fully rotating waist, and a head that turns and tilts. The full ball-jointed shoulders give the kit a wider posing range than most early-2000s MGs. The kit is moulded across three runners in colour-matched plastic, so the box-art look is achieved straight off the runner.
What makes this kit special
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Undergate moulding: the nub from each part removal is hidden on the assembled kit. No clean-up required to look clean.
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HG-grade articulation at EG price: double-jointed knees and elbows, full waist rotation, ball-joint shoulders.
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Three-runner design: the entire kit comes on three runners, so set-up and pack-down are fast.
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No stickers required: the colour separation is handled in the moulding, so the build looks accurate to the anime without applying anything.
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Includes a beam rifle and a shield: the iconic RX-78-2 loadout, both built up from the same runner system.
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Compatible with the EG RX-78F00/E Glass Feather optional parts: Bandai released expansion kits that share the EG body's connection standard.
What's in the box
- RX-78-2 Gundam body parts across three colour-matched runners
- Beam rifle
- Shield
- Beam saber handles (x2)
- Foot pegs for action base mounting
- Instruction sheet (colour-coded, no text)
Compatible accessories
Recommended display stands for 1/144 scale, all in stock at Mecha Express:
Build your Universal Century collection
If you're starting a One Year War shelf, every kit linked here is in stock at Mecha Express:
Build specifications
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Series: Mobile Suit Gundam (1979)
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Grade: Entry Grade (EG)
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Scale: 1/144
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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 (UC 0079)
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Manufacturer: Bandai Spirits
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Bandai SKU: 5060747
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HLJ code: BANS60747
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Skill Level: 1 (per HLJ)
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Assembly: Snap-fit, no glue required, undergate moulding
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Paint required: No
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Country of manufacture: Japan
Perfect for
- First-time Gunpla builders looking for a clean introduction to the hobby.
- Parents buying a starter kit for a builder aged 8 and over.
- Experienced builders who want a fast, satisfying break between bigger projects.
- Kitbashers using the EG body as a base for custom paint, decals, or modifications.
- Anyone who wants the original Gundam silhouette on their shelf without the price tag.
Fast Australian shipping
Orders placed before 2 pm AEST on a weekday ship the same day from Brisbane. Free shipping on orders over $199 within Australia. Subsidised shipping to New Zealand.
What to watch for
The articulation is generous but the joints are friction-fit, not ratcheted. After a year of repeated reposing, some joints loosen. A small dot of clear nail polish or PVA glue inside the joint cup tightens them back up.
The beam rifle is a single piece on its own small sub-runner, and the foregrip is moulded as part of the rifle body rather than hinging. Some builders cut and re-pin the foregrip for a more dynamic hold. The straight-out-of-box version holds the rifle two-handed at the chest.
This is an Entry Grade. The detail level is intentionally simpler than an HG. Surface panel lines are not deeply moulded, so panel lining adds less visual depth than it would on an HG. If you want a more detailed RX-78-2 to paint and weather, consider the HGUC RX-78-2 Revive instead.
Build notes
Plastic nippers are not required because of the undergate moulding, but they still give a slightly cleaner finish on the few parts where the gate falls on an edge. A hobby knife is useful for tidying the parting line on the head V-fin.
Build time: roughly 30 to 60 minutes for a first-time builder, 20 to 30 minutes for an experienced builder.
Recommended age: 8 years and over.
Last updated: 9 June 2026 (AEST)