As many of us are aware by now, Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt has finally ended its 13-year run and it was quite a rollercoaster. The finale included the reveal of the titular MSTB-001 Thunderbolt Gundam to which everyone was basically demanding a model kit of it to be made, but more on that later. In celebration of its completion, a series finale celebration event was held recently with a screening of Mobile Suit Gundam Thunderbolt: DECEMBER SKY and an interview segment afterwards.
They also released a special book entitled How to Build Thunderbolt Gundam, which is a 100-page book filled with illustrations and lineart that you can technically use to build a Thunderbolt Gundam model. I’ll include some of the illustrations from that book in this post, along with some information we’ve learned from the recent event.
The book mentions the Thunderbolt Gundam as the ultimate mobile suit envisioned by Yasuo Ohtagaki and the culmination of the previous units used by Io Fleming. As the ultimate mobile suit, it is designed to defeat both the Perfect Gundam and Perfect Zeong. It utilizes a large backpack unit remiscent of the Full Armor Gundam along with a linear railgun similar to the Atlas Gundam.
The dichotomy of a relatively slender mobile suit wielding a large backpack ultimately makes it a perfect space-use mobile suit, but is virtually unsuited in ground combat or any operation under gravity.
The book also mentions the choice of colors that evoke those of the legendary RX-78-2 Gundam, but it doesn’t have any application of blues sans the Titans logo on the left shoulder. The book is basically saying it’s not a tri-color Gundam, with its choice of warmer colors, in contrast to most modern Gundam designs sporting cooler colors.
Let’s not forget its Bomber Mode transformation, which many were easily reminded of the G-Fortress from Gundam ZZ. The book mentions how the “TBG Bomber” is designed based on the G-Armor from Mobile Suit Gundam, combining the versatility of a mobile suit with the mobility of a mobile armor in a single unit. The G-Fortress parallels are also on track since the Thunderbolt Gundam is technically being developed around the same time with the ZZ Gundam on the “prime” U.C. timeline.
I guess this is where the actual “how to build” part comes in besides the numerous parts breakdown seen all over the book. Yasuo Ohtagaki actually built a Lego model, albeit crude but very functional, of the Thunderbolt Gundam. It’s functional with how it is articulated and can actually transform into Bomber Mode.
The only way we’ll ever get a model kit of the Thunderbolt Gundam, or any of those from the latter chapters, is if the anime adaptation continues the story. That said, the interviews from that recent event basically says that we shouldn’t hold our breath on it in the near future, and a pre-requisite is to have Kou Matsuo return as director. Producer Naohiro Ogata also mentions how the mecha animation used in the anime adaptation is something they can’t replicate that easily since they’d go the 3D CG route if they’ll do it now.
Basically don’t expect anything but I would really appreciate if they suddenly surprise us with a continuation. Many think Gundam Thunderbolt is one of the best entries in the franchise with its gritty story, superb animation, and amazing soundtrack. It definitely deserves to be animated to the point we’ll see the Thunderbolt Gundam launch.
