Welcome back to Noob Builds Gundam and… another EG RX-78-2 review? What’s going on here?
That’s right, today we’re looking at the Entry Grade Grandpa once again, this time with the 1/144 scale RX-78-2 Gundam (Full Weapon Set) release.
To the obvious question – yes, this is exactly the same as the regular EG RX-78-2. The difference is that this one comes packed with extra weapons, adding more to build and plenty more posing options.
But, as well as the weapons, repeating this build gave me another opportunity too.
If you saw my review of the standard release you may recall that I wanted to test myself and rush through that kit as quickly as possible; taking due care but seeing how fast I could build one of these to basic completion.
That took about 50 minutes. Whilst I made one or two mistakes, I was happy enough with the outcome.
This time I wanted to do it better. I wanted to spend as long as it took to see how well I could actually build one of these kits using my limited experience.
Build
Let’s avoid re-treading old ground about the ins and outs of the build. Here we’ll focus instead on what I did differently.
In large part my approach this time followed this Zaku Aurelius video, a beginner’s guide to building the exact same kit. I didn’t follow every step, but it gave me confidence to try some new things.
The first big change from the last build was my cutting technique.
Last time out my approach was to cut close to the part and tidy up any excess with a knife and a file. This time round, I went back to leaving a bigger gate and taking care to cut the nub down with single-bladed nippers before tidying it up carefully with a blade. With this approach, I only had to sand where absolutely necessary.
This slowed the build significantly, but the extra effort added up to a cleaner looking model.
On the subject of cutting: you may have noticed on my earlier builds that I didn’t trim the rounded ends off the v-fins. This time, using a combination of the nippers and the knife, I’ve tidied that part up.
The end result looks pretty sharp, wouldn’t you say?
Modifications
Panel Lining
Next up was something I’d wanted to try for a while – panel lining.
Armed with a set of Mr Hobby markers, I put pen to plastic for the first time and brought out the modest detail of this kit.
Using black for the dark grey plastic, grey for the white and blue sections, and brown for the yellow and red sections, I applied lines to all of the engraved and defined joins.
The aim wasn’t to make defined, anime-style lines (although I do see the appeal of that). Instead, I wanted to achieve a more subtle wash effect.
Pretty much as soon as the ink was applied I rubbed off the excess with either a cotton bud or my finger, sometimes using a bit of remover in spots where I’d been too heavy-handed. On bigger areas I used a pencil eraser, which worked surprisingly well.
It’s far from perfect, but the added definition makes the kit pop compared to the standard model.
At this point you might notice that something’s missing…
Option Parts Hands
Back on my very first build, the EG Strike Gundam, I mentioned being impressed with how simple yet effective the hands were.
Well… that impression has worn off in the interim. The blocky, fixed hands are my least favourite part of the EG RX-78-2 kit, and I knew that this time out I’d need to do something to change that.
So I went and ordered (as my wife astutely and somewhat incredulously described it) “a box full of hands”:
This Option Parts set of generic “round” hands comes with three sizes of clenched fists, open hands, and replacement weapon-holding hands for 1/144 scale model kits.
For this build I used the medium sized hands, and it’s safe to say that they’re a game changer. I’m so much happier with how the kit looks now.
Filling Holes
As I became more focused on the aesthetics, I noticed something that completely passed me by on the first build – the gaping weapons ports on the inside and outside of each forearm.
As much as I love the look of the shield on the RX-78-2’s arm…
- I already have a kit for that, and;
- I prefer the look of it pegged to the back.
So these holes no longer serve a function – which means they’ve gotta go.
Luckily – as if by design – the outside of the runner is the perfect diameter for these holes. I cut a section for each hole and glued them in place using Humbrol liquid poly cement.
After leaving it overnight to cure, I used nippers to trim each bit as flush to the arm as possible, and then used sanding sticks to tidy them up.
The recesses on the arm panels made it a bit tricky to get them completely flat, and the approach left a visible circle. But I’m pretty happy with it overall. It definitely looks better than exposed peg holes!
Top Coat
Finally, I took the model apart and applied a top coat using a can of Tamiya TS-80 Flat Clear.
I was keen to avoid frosting so planned to keep the application as light as possible. However, I got carried away and went a little too heavy on the first coat. After about 25 minutes I gave it a light second coat and then left it for four hours to dry.
Whether it was too much or too little, only experience will say. But the finished model?
This is easily the best I’ve ever put a kit together.
Weapons
Now the real draw of the Full Weapons Set is right there in the name: the weapons. So with the build complete, let’s take a look at the load out.
In the box we get:
- 2x beam saber blades
- Beam javelin
- Hyper bazooka
- Gundam hammer (spiked ball and chain)
These are all in addition to the shield, beam rifle and beam saber hilts that the regular EG RX-78-2 came packed with.
Given my experience trying to tidy up the nubs on the softer grey plastic on the last kit, I took a lot more care and did my best to avoid having to sand this time.
The trickiest piece to remove was the clear beam saber blades. The translucent plastic is gummy, and on the first blade I slightly messed the clean up. Learning from this, I was much cleaner in my approach to the second blade.
I’m satisfied with how this one turned out.
Otherwise the rest of the weapons involved a lot of clean cuts and panel lining. Once all assembled and top coated, they give the EG RX-78-2 a range of different display options.
Final Thoughts
The Entry Grade Gundam sets are designed to be as accessible and easy to pick up as possible. This makes them fantastic Gunpla beginner kits, and a great way to get into the hobby.
What I’ve learned with this build – simply from trying a few new-to-me techniques – is that there’s a world of creative approaches to take to make these kits look as good as possible.
I don’t know yet if I’ll put the same time and energy into another Entry Grade kit. But once I start tackling High Grade and Real Grade kits, I know I’ll be grateful for the experience.
And, most importantly?
I’m dead chuffed with the fully-armed, one-of-a-kind EG RX-78-2 model that now stands on my shelf.
Next Up In NBG05: Entry Grade Gundam Lah
