Journey into the Mobile Suit Gundam Universe begins with the RX-78-2 and RX-0 Unicorn (MG) Gundams

This journey has been a long time coming. More than a year ago has swiftly passed me by since I first toyed with the idea of starting a Gundam project. Precious non-utilized hobby time gone in a blink of an eye. Linear time sucks. Oh what I wouldn't give for the power of a Q. Forgive me this reference to another beloved franchise. Let us set that universe aside and continue with this one. In a nutshell, Mobile Suit Gundam is a science fiction anime series involving giant robots (mecha). And my first steps will involve the RX-79-2 and RX-0 Unicorn - both are found in the Universal Century timeline. 

Size-wise the RX-0 Unicorn with Mobile Suit Cage significantly dwarfs the RX-78-2 box (see below). Weighing roughly 1.4 kg, the RX-0 Unicorn box measures a whopping 59.1 x 32.2 x 11.8 cm. In comparison, the RX-78-2 box weights about 0.8 kg and has a dimension of 39.2 x 31.2 x 8.5 cm. Both are from the Bandai Master Grade series which translates into a 1/100 scale gundam. 

Gundam scale model kits await unboxing

Why start my journey with these two gundams? Well, it's simple really. Currently many versions of Gundam anime exist; each series unfolding within in its own timeline. So far I've only followed the first and oldest timeline i.e. the Universal Century timeline. And within this timeline, I've mainly (but not solely) watched story arcs with the protagonist/antagonist duo of Amuro Ray and Char Aznable like First Gundam, Zeta Gundam, Char's Counterattack and Gundam Unicorn. Confused? Don't worry. Check out this anime site if you ever want to start watching Mobile Suit Gundam.  

Closeup of the life-sized RX-78-2 Gundam statue located in Odaiba, Tokyo (source: nihongogo) 

RX-78-2 statue is a giant towering close to the roof of Tokyo's Diver City Plaza (source: branipick)

Scale comparison of the 18 meters (59 feet) tall RX-78-2 statue against puny humans (source: cnet)

My model kit choices are based on the first ever mobile suit gundam i.e. the RX-78-2, and the protagonist gundam i.e. RX-0 Unicorn in a story that [minor spoiler alert] pays homage to the Amuro/Char character arc, a passing of baton if you will from the old to new generation of newtypes [spoiler ends]. Coincidentlly both my gundam projects have (or had) life-sized equivalents on display in Japan. From its debut 2012 until five years later, the RX-78-2 Gundam had a life-sized version of itself in Tokyo (see above). That iconic statue has since been replaced by an even bigger RX-0 Unicorn (see below) which was unveiled at the same location in late 2017.

Standing at 19.7 meters , the life-sized RX-0 Unicorn replacement statue is huge (source: ikidane nippon)

RX-0 Unicorn statue is so big that it towers above the Diver City Plaza (source: ikidane nippon)

Humans look even tinier when stood against this nearly 65 feet behemoth (source: ikidane nippon)

All lighted up in the dark, the RX-0 Unicorn transformed into its Destory Mode (source: ikidane nippon)

Closeup of the RX-0 Unicorn's front chest panels in Destory Mode (source: ikidane nippon)

Closeup of the RX-0 Unicorn's transformed back in Destroy Mode (source: ikidane nippon)

Back when the missus was on a work visit to Japan for the first time last year, she took the time to go to The Gundam Base Tokyo, a store themed after the Gundam franchise. Outside the mall where the store was located stood the main attraction namely the life-sized 1:1 scale RX-0 Unicorn statue. She did this partly so that I could vicariously live out an old gundam geek's dream. The missus also managed to capture the statue's transformation sequence from normal to destroy mode (see below). 

Below are two high resolution photos of the RX-0 Unicorn statue taken by the missus on that night.

Lighted up the RX-0 Unicorn looks truly impressive up close

So with yet two more kits added to the project pipeline, I'm now up to my elbows with hobby work. More details on these two oldie but goldie gundam kits will be posted soon, starting with their unboxing, so do stay tuned. There is a certain calmness in being inundated with hobby projects. And no, I'm neither being ironic nor oxymoronic. Having lots to do can engage the part of my mind that thinks too much. Just do it might be a cliched marketing tag line but there's a universal truth to it. Now all I've to do is think of what I need to do next. Oops.