I decided to build the old school Best Mecha Collection RX-78-2 Gundam with the intention of having better appreciation with the engineering placed in the Renewal version. And now that I’ve completed the old kit, I decided to went straight into building the new one, and it really shows the 45 years of plastic model knowledge Bandai Spirits has gained.
Compared to my sloppy paint job and total disregard for proper seamline removal, the Renewal version is really a 1:1 translation of the old kit but with all the engineering you’d expect from an Entry Grade kit. I also appreciated how they didn’t go crazy and changed the articulation scheme to still have the same period-accurate feel despite the modern build.
I made some minor changes though, most notably the beam saber handles mounted at the backpack. It came as a single piece so I decided to cut them off so that I could display the kit with just one beam saber handle stored if the other was being used. Speaking of beam sabers, while the kit came with the ‘toothpick’ you’re expected to paint, it also has another handle that’s compatible with modern beam saber effect parts.
Now that I’m on holiday break, I have the option of building more RX-78-2 Gundam kits, like the Real Grades or the HGUC ‘Revive’, or just return to more modern kits like my SEED FREEDOM or Witch from Mercury backlog, with the latter in preparation for Gundam GQuuuuuuX in January. I’m inclined towards building my two copies of the HGCE Duel Blitz Gundam, but we’ll see.
