[Unboxing] Bandai MG 1/100 RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 3.0

35 Years!

どうも！
Reached in to my backlogs and wondered to build next.  I remembered that it was GunPla/Gundam's 35th year anniversary and so why not?  Time to document the unboxing!

 Foreword

Yes, time to build a Granddaddy Gundam kit.  Actually, this is the only RX-78-2 kit I have ever since I started with gunpla.  Given so, I got this a few months ago to take advantage of the new engineering that Bandai has poured into this iconic mecha.  This is actually the 3rd Version (Ver. 3.0) of the MG 1/100 kit for the first Gundam mobile suit ever featured in TV anime.  The design for the kit is actually said to be closely based on the 1:1 scale Gundam in Odaiba and I believe that it is the most 'realistic' design for the RX-78; 'realistic' in a sense that if ever the real thing was built to be piloted, then the design that this kit uses will most likely be the main basis of the works.

I guess the main feature of this kit is its new inner frame design and basically is the main reason I would say this kit brings the name MG (Master Grade) into a whole new level.  I don't have the previous versions of this mobile sit kit but I've seen in reviews how this departs from the previous ones.  By now, a lot of people what the RX-78 is: it is the first ever mobile suit that first main character of the Gundam series, Amuro Ray, ever piloted.  This kit is based on the RX-78-2 (to be exact), and technically the start of a whole new sub-genre of the mecha-anime franchise in Japan and eventually, in the whole world.  I wouldn't go into the details of the back-story but if you want to check it out, kindly browse the Gundam Wiki if necessary.
Now, onto the unboxing itself.

The Presentation

Main box art

The main box features the space sortie of the White Base trio along with the some GM mobile suits.  It also shows the Gundam in its 'full-gear' form and technically shows how it looks like in the Gundam Front in real life.

The side parts of the box features the improved pose-ability or articulation of the kit, primarily due to its new inner-frame as depicted in the sample pictures.

Parts Count

Runner A

Runner B

Runner C

Runner D

Runner E

Runner F1

Runner F2

Runner G1

Runner G2

Runner H1

Runner H2

Runner I

Runner J1

Runner J2

Runner K

Runner L

Polycap set

MP-1 for the fully-articulated hands

The kit technically has no repeating runners,  runners like J1 and J2 are containing mostly the same parts and will be used for parts like the arms and legs.  It is also worth mentioning that this particular kit is one of the first kits that used the new hands.  This has the MP-1 runner.  All you have to do is cut the hands carefully from the runner and just follow the instructions on how to set it up properly.  Just be careful as it is know to be kind of delicate and you might lose a finger or two.  I don't think it is as sturdy as the MP-2 included in the MG Sazabi Ver. Ka kit.  The hands are basically scaled down versions of something like the Perfect Grade Astray Red Frame.
As you can see from the runners, this has a lot of parts for the inner-frame.  Just telling you something of what to expect when assembling this guy.

Extras

Instruction Manual

Sticker Decal Sheet (above) - included in the kit
Water-Slide Decal sheet (below) - after-marker

Again, you can expect the same disappointment from Bandai as they included only a sticker sheet for the markings and also for the copper-colored bits of the inner frame.  The copper parts can be easily addressed with painting but as I don't like stickers, I already got an after-market water-slide decals from Samuel Decals, as always.

Final Words

I actually already started snapping the kit together as I wrote this.  Suffice to say, I can already feel the complexity of the assembly itself.  It is also nice to see the proper color separations of the bits and pieces as I can see that there are actually more than 2 shades of grey and about two shades of white - not to mention the 2 different shades of blue and red involved.  This kit was really meant to elevate the niche of the Master Grade line, specially since they've already had the RE/100 line in mind when they created this.  This kit was sort of their way of putting a clear difference between the new 1/100 scale kits and thus giving the name 'Master Grade or MG' its own prestige.  But my initial impression as I read the instruction manual (and now building it) is that it is kind of complicated for what it is worth.  But I believe, complicated as it may be this is one impressive kit that collectors and builders should get their hands on.
Given this, stay tuned as I progress thru this project.  See you again soon :)

P.S.
Here are the parts as they air-dry after taking a bath.