Up to now, all my toy collecting and photography has focused on LEGO and action figures, but I’m looking at something slightly different here. This is a Bandai model kit which ultimately becomes an action figure; however, it offers a unique value proposition worth discussing. Let’s get into it.
Product Description
The Gunpla Entry Grade RX-78-2 Gundam Full Weapon Set features easy assembly, pre-coloured parts, and enhanced armament! It’s perfect for beginners new to the world of Gunpla. You won’t need glue, paint, or stickers to complete the project. In addition to the beam rifle and shield included in the standard edition, this version comes with two beam saber effects, a beam javelin, a hyper bazooka, and a Gundam hammer.
Model Behaviour
Most of my toy purchasing now is driven by nostalgia—I loved LEGO and action figures as a kid. Now I have a job and a little disposable income, so I’m buying the things I loved back then, but on a scale I could never have afforded. That’s what makes this item an odd choice for me.
I never built model kits in my youth. Air Fix kits were common in local shops, but they never grabbed my interest. I also don’t have much of a connection to Gundam, though I’ve always admired this iconic mech with its bold primary colours.
In recent years, I’ve tried a couple of model kits—one that was gifted to me and another that was a sort of Build-A-Figure included with four other toys I bought. But this is the first I’ve picked up for myself.
A Snip of a Deal!
These days, the most basic figure I’d buy—say, a Marvel Legend—would set me back over £20. This kit cost me £13. You have to build it yourself, but hey, I love LEGO, and there are some similarities since no glue is required—it all just clicks together. There’s value in the building experience itself, which is a bonus if you enjoy that aspect.
Is the final figure as good as a Marvel Legend? In some ways, not quite; in others, it’s better—we’ll get to that.
All you need to build this is a pair of nippers/snippers to cut the parts from their sprues. Some of the pieces are very small, so you have to be careful not to accidentally snip part of the model. It’s all pretty straightforward, though, so don’t let that put you off.
The instructions are brief but effective—at all stages, I knew exactly what needed to happen. They don’t step it out like LEGO instructions, but the process is satisfyingly simple. The model comes together quite quickly. I was filming it, so it took me a bit longer, but I’m sure this could be done in about 45 minutes.
Mech A Move!
Once assembled, you’ve got an action figure with a solid amount of pose-ability. The head is on a ball joint, the arms have good range at the elbows, and the hands, legs, and feet give you all you need.
One limitation is the shoulders, which don’t easily allow you to bring the arms across the body. There is a bicep swivel that helps with that, though.
As for the detail, there is no paint on this figure at all. Different coloured plastics are used, and they do a good job of bringing the model to life. Because it’s a mech based on an old anime, this works—but I can imagine some people wishing for at least a wash of paint when looking at it purely as an action figure. That said, it cost £13. I’m sure this could be enhanced with model paints if you wish.
The Gundam stands about 5 inches tall—apparently, that’s 1/144 scale, meaning I have nothing else that fits with it technically. But here are a few shots to show how it measures up.
(Bottom Row) Mythic Legion, LEGO Minifig
Armed for Action
There is a cheaper version of this figure with fewer accessories for £8, but I wanted more options, so I went for the full loadout.
The most prominent accessory is the shield—especially as it has several different colours, making it quite striking. It has a handle that locks into the hand and can be turned when the shield is not in use.
The figure only has one set of hands, and they are basically holding/punching hands—all weapons fit in either hand.
There’s an assault rifle, a cannon of some sort, a spear, a flail, and laser swords. Aside from the shield and swords, the other weapons are all a fairly flat grey. They don’t look or feel great due to the lack of paint detail, but—as I said before—that’s okay for the price.
The laser beams from the swords are a nice translucent pink and can be moved, with the hilts stored on the figure’s back.
Gundam Goodness
I mentioned earlier that I would come back to how well this stacks up against other toys. Marvel Legends figures seem like a fair comparison—they’re bigger and feel more solid, while this model is fairly lightweight. However, they can sometimes be sparsely painted and have limited articulation.
Marvel Legends figures are about twice the price of this mech and often don’t come with nearly as many accessories—nor do they offer the fun building experience. I appreciate they are two different things, but it’s an interesting value comparison.
This is easily the best-value collector-oriented toy I’ve bought in a long time. It’s fun to build, fun to pose, and offers different display options. It’s a little slight, and the weapons feel the lack of paint the most, but those are minor quibbles. Overall, this is a fun little model, and I’ll be snipping and clipping another one soon.
FREETHEFIGURES 