| Overview Articulation: 3 Detailing: 4 Accessories: 5 SCORE: 4 |
| Model number: RX-78-2 Code name: Gundam Unit type: prototype close combat mobile suit Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces "Project V" Operator: Earth Federation Forces Rollout: July UC 0079 First deployment: UC 18 September 0079 Accommodation: pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso with Core Block System using FF-X7 Core Fighter Dimensions: overall height 18.5 meters; head height 18.0 meters Weight: empty 43.4 metric tons; max gross 60.0 metric tons Construction: lunar titanium alloy on semi-monocoque frame Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1380 kW Propulsion: rocket thrusters: 2 x 24000 kg, 4 x 1870 kg Performance: maximum thruster acceleration 0.93 G; 180-degree turn time 1.5 seconds (1.1 seconds after magnetic coating upgrade); maximum ground running speed 165 km/h Equipment and design features: sensors, range 5700 meters; "learning computer" system; re-entry coolant system; magnetic coated joints (subsequent field upgrade) Fixed armaments: 2 x 60 mm vulcan gun, fire-linked, mounted in head; 2 x beam saber, power rated at 0.38 MW, stored in recharge racks in backpack, hand-carried in use Optional hand armaments: beam rifle, powered by rechargeable energy cap; 380 mm hyper bazooka, clip-fed, 5 rounds per clip plus 1 round in chamber; beam javelin; hyper hammer; Gundam hammer; shield, can be optionally stored on backpack (FF-X7 Core Fighter technical data and history below) |
| The third mobile suit developed under the Earth Federation's top-secret "Project V," the RX-78 Gundam series saw final assembly and rollout at the Side 7 colony under the supervision of engineer Lieutenant Tem Ray. Three prototypes were constructed, although only one unit, the RX-78-2, survived a Zeon attack on Side 7 when Project V was discovered by Zeon Lieutenant Commander Char Aznable. The RX-78-2, having been commandeered by Ray's young son Amuro, fended off the attack and was transferred to the assault carrier White Base. Amuro Ray would continue to serve as the Gundam's pilot for the remainder of the One Year War, being White Base's mobile front line of defense. The Gundam was designed as a fast, close-combat mobile suit and was the first to feature several new technologies, including the energy cap-based beam rifle (making the Gundam the first mobile suit to pack the firepower of a battleship) and beam saber. Although designed with "high performance" in mind, the Gundam was simply outmatched by its own pilot: Amuro's emerging Newtype abilities would increasingly allow him to push the Gundam beyond its design limits. This had the often-annoying result of the Gundam's motors and joints getting burned-out or overloaded simply because it couldn't keep up with Amuro's reflexes. A later field upgrade which involved coating the joints with an electromagnetic solution, thus reducing the motors' and joints' friction, increased the Gundam's performance to a point where it could keep up with Amuro's reaction time. Another factor that contributed to the Gundam's success was its "learning computer" system, which allowed the mobile suit to "learn" from - and adapt to - the pilot's input. The data from the learning computer system would later be incorporated into the Federation's first mass-production model mobile suit, the RGM-79 GM. The Gundam's service record - and that of Amuro Ray - would continually draw the attention of the Zeon forces - and particularly Char Aznable - until the end of the war... thus providing the distraction the Federation military needed to complete construction of its GM units at its Jaburo base on Earth. The Gundam was finally destroyed at the Battle of A Bao A Qu in a fight against Char Aznable, piloting the MSN-02 Zeong mobile suit, although Amuro survived. As fate would have it, of course, the Gundam itself would become the most famous mobile suit of the One Year War - even more famous than its young pilot, Amuro Ray, whose own abilities were the keys to the Gundam's performance, perhaps more so than the abilities of the Gundam itself. Pilot(s): Amuro Ray, Sayla Mass, Ryu Jose Appearances: Mobile Suit Gundam; Gundam Battle Assault (PS1); Mobile Suit Gundam: Journey to Jaburo (PS2); Mobile Suit Gundam: Federation VS Zeon DX (PS2); Mobile Suit Gundam 0079: Zeonic Front (PS2); Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space (PS2); Gundam Battle Assault 2 (PS1) Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara |
| MSiA Features Battle Scarred RX-78-2 Gundam beam rifle hyper bazooka 2 beam sabers with removeable blades beam javelin hyper hammer 2 extra hand sets 1 full shield, 1 half shield severed left/right shoulders replacement right shoulder armor replacement right lower leg |
| Released: 2003 Series: Mobile Suit Gundam (Battle Scarred) Avg. Price: $7.99 Version: 1.5 |
| REVIEW Representing the beating the Gundam took at the hands of Char Aznable's MSN-02 Zeong, this figure of the Gundam is one of the first series in the Battle Scarred line. Made using the same ver 1.5 Gundam that came with the G-Fighter, it still features the pull apart waist with Core Fighter docking pegs, and upper half "folded Core Fighter" details. Replacement parts included with the figure give you the ability to recreate the damage the Zeong did to the Gundam, including both arms severed just below the shoulders, a mangled right shoulder armor, severed right lower leg, and two shields, one scarred and bullet ridden, the other sliced in half. The Core Fighter also is representative of the final battle of the Gundam, with half a left wing, ejected cockpit canopy, and mangled tail. Where this figure really shines is the sheer number of accessories crammed in with it, including the G-Fighter set's weapons, and the ver 2.0 Gundam's Hyper Hammer. Add to all that the weathering, and you get an excellent figure. |
| Battle Scarred RX-78-2 Gundam & FF-X7 Core Fighter |
| 1 = POOR 2 = DECENT 3 = GOOD 4 = EXCELLENT 5 = OUTSTANDING |
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| The FF-X7 Core Fighter was an integral part of the Federation's V Project, forming an interchangeable cockpit block for the RX-78-2 Gundam, RX-77-2 Guncannon and RX-75-4 Guntank. Developed by the Hervic Company, who was also the developer of the FF-6 TIN Cod and FF-S3 Saberfish fighters, the Core Fighter's primary purpose was to protect the data from the learning computer system of the Gundam, serving as an escape vehicle in the advent of the mobile suit being disable or destroyed. The Core Fighter was armed to protect its data and pilot, with four 25 mm machine guns mounted in the nose, and two small missile launchers mounted on the fuselage. The Core Fighter concept was used in many later suits and was used as late as UC 0153 in the LM312V04 Victory Gundam. Pilot(s): Amuro Ray, Ryu Jose, Hayato Kobayashi Appearances: Mobile Suit Gundam; Mobile Suit Gundam: Encounters in Space (PS2) Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara |
| Model number: FF-X7 Code name: Core Fighter Unit type: fighter for use in Core Block System of RX-75-4 Guntank, RX-77-2 Guncannon, RX-78-2 Gundam Manufacturer: Hervic Company Operator: Earth Federation Forces First deployment: UC 0079 Accommodation: pilot only, in standard canopy-style cockpit Dimensions: overall length 8.6 meters; overall height 3.2 meters Wingspan: 6.8 meters Weight: empty weight unknown; max gross 8.9 metric tons Propulsion: 6 x jet/rocket thruster: maximum speed rated at Mach 4.8 Fixed armaments: 4 x 2-barrel 25 mm vulcan gun; 2 x missile launcher, 4 rounds per launcher |