The First and the Last

Many, many unseen before piccies of the upcoming GunPla kit for the earliest and the latest main Mobile Suit of respective series – 1/144 HG Gundam 30th Anniversary version and 1/100 MG Exia…

Doki doki, waku waku indeed…

All piccies are procured from Happinet Online…

RX-78-2 Gundam

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
Armor materials: lunar titanium alloy
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 60mm 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: BOWA·XBR-M-79-07G beam rifle, powered by rechargeable energy cap; BLASH·XHB-L-03/N-STD 380mm hyper bazooka, clip-fed, 5 rounds per clip plus 1 round in chamber; beam javelin; hyper hammer; Gundam hammer; RX·M-Sh-008/S-01025 shield, can be optionally stored on backpack
Pilot(s): Amuro Ray, Sayla Mass, Ryu Jose
Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara (Mobile Suit Gundam version)

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.

Beam javelin A configuration
Beam javelin B configuration
Beam javelin B configuration attachment
Beam rifle (Gundam Evolve version)
BLASH·XHB-L-03/N-STD 380 mm hyper bazooka
Foot thrusters (Gundam Evolve version)
Grenade (Gundam Evolve version)

Gundam hammer

Head (Gundam Evolve version)
Hyper hammer
Pilot seat (Gundam Evolve version)
Shield (Gundam Evolve version)
Torso (Gundam Evolve version)

GN-001 Exia

Unit type: general purpose close combat mobile suit
Overall height: 18.3 meters
Overall weight: 57.2 metric tons
Equipment: GN Drive, Trans-Am system
Armament: GN sword/rifle x 1, GN long blade x 1, GN short blade x 1, GN beam saber x 2, GN beam dagger x 2, GN vulcan gun x 2, GN shield x 1
Pilot: Setsuna F. Seiei (aka Soran Ibrahim)
Mechanical designer: Kanetake Ebikawa

Gundam Exia is the mobile suit piloted by protagonist Setsuna F Seiei during the first series of Mobile Suit Gundam 00. Exia is the second Gundam to appear in the series as it overpowers and destroys the AEU’s latest mobile suit, the Enact, during a public demonstration of the Enact’s capabilities. Designed for melee combat, Exia’s primary weapon is a massive metal blade mounted on its right forearm, which can be folded down to reveal a beam gun. Additional handheld swords, beam blades, and shield compliment Exia’s armament. While the Exia is in battle with the Ali Al-Saachez piloting the stolen Gundam Throne Zwei, the death of Aeolia Schenberg triggers a system trap and activates Exia’s Trans-Am system and releases the Gundam’s full potential. During the battle at Lagrange point 1, Exia is severely damaged during its confrontation with Graham Aker in an upgraded Flag, the GN-Flag, and left drifting in space. The partially repaired Exia makes a short appearance during the first episode of the second series. Although it could stand its ground against the GN-XIII, it was no match for the newer Ahead. Celestial Being recovers the Exia after its battle at the Proud colony and installs the Exia’s GN Drive on the 00 Gundam. A repaired and upgraded Exia, Exia R2, makes another appearance in the last episode of the second series, when Setsuna transfers from the wrecked 00 Gundam to pilot the Exia against Ribbons Almark, piloting the 0 Gundam. In the side story Mobile Suit Gundam 00V, an optional series of large-capacity GN particle condensers appears called the Avalanche that boosts Exia’s speed and armor.