Bring one of the most important Gundams of the One Year War to your collection with the RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1 “Alex” HGUC 1/144 #047 from Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket.
Developed as an advanced Newtype-use Gundam and intended for Amuro Ray, the NT-1 represents the Earth Federation pushing the RX-78 concept to its limits. With its distinctive blue-and-white armour, concealed 90mm Gatling Guns, Beam Rifle and optional Chobham Armour, Alex is one of the most memorable Gundam designs of the Universal Century.
And if you’ve seen War in the Pocket, you’ll know that this particular Gundam comes with considerably more emotional baggage than the box suggests.
The Gundam Built for Amuro Ray
The RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1, commonly known as Alex, was developed during the closing stages of the One Year War.
Combat data from the RX-78-2 had demonstrated that Amuro Ray’s abilities were beginning to exceed the capabilities of his Gundam.
The Federation therefore needed something faster and considerably more responsive.
The NT-1 was developed with improved reaction speed and mobility specifically to take advantage of a Newtype pilot’s extraordinary reflexes.
Its intended pilot was Amuro.
He never got it.
Christina Mackenzie
Instead, the Gundam becomes closely associated with Federation test pilot Christina “Chris” Mackenzie.
Chris is responsible for testing the NT-1 while it’s secretly stationed at the neutral Side 6 colony of Libot.
That puts her directly into the events of Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket and ultimately into conflict with the Cyclops Team and Bernard “Bernie” Wiseman.
What follows is one of Gundam’s most famous stories – and one of its most painful.
Concealed Arm Gatling Guns
One of Alex’s coolest features is hidden inside its arms.
Beneath the forearm armour sit a pair of powerful 90mm Gatling Guns.
The HGUC kit recreates this distinctive weapon system, allowing you to display the Alex with the forearm weapons exposed and ready to fire.
They give the Gundam considerable short-to-medium-range firepower without requiring it to carry an additional weapon.
They also produce one of the NT-1’s most recognisable combat poses.
Chobham Armour
The NT-1 can be equipped with additional Chobham Armour, transforming the appearance of the Gundam.
Rather than being permanently integrated into the Mobile Suit, these heavy external armour sections are fitted over the Alex’s standard body.
The HGUC kit includes the Chobham Armour, allowing you to display the model in either its standard Gundam configuration or its heavily protected armoured form.
The additional armour covers areas including the:
- Chest
- Shoulders
- Arms
- Waist
- Legs
Once installed, the familiar blue-and-white Gundam becomes a much heavier-looking military machine.
Two Very Different Display Options
The removable armour effectively gives you two visual styles from the same kit.
Standard RX-78NT-1
Remove the Chobham Armour and you get the familiar white, blue and red Alex with its classic Gundam silhouette.
Chobham Armour Equipped
Attach the additional armour and the entire personality of the model changes.
The Gundam becomes bulkier, more heavily protected and considerably more militaristic.
Being able to switch between the two is one of the biggest attractions of this HGUC release.
Beam Rifle
For conventional ranged combat, Alex carries its dedicated Beam Rifle.
The rifle complements the integrated Gatling Guns and gives the Gundam a familiar Federation weapon loadout.
Pose it alongside the shield for the classic Gundam appearance or expose the arm Gatlings for something more aggressive.
Gundam Shield
The NT-1’s distinctive shield is also included.
Its blue-and-white colour scheme matches the Gundam perfectly and completes the familiar RX-series silhouette.
The shield looks particularly good when the Alex is displayed without the Chobham Armour, where the cleaner Gundam styling is more visible.
Beam Sabers
A pair of Beam Sabers provide the NT-1 with close-combat capability.
Stored on the backpack, they can be removed and equipped for melee poses.
Combine them with the articulated construction and you can recreate Alex preparing for close combat with the MS-18E Kämpfer or Zaku II FZ.
Whether you actually want to recreate that final battle is another question.
We’re still not over it.
Classic HGUC Gunpla
The HGUC #047 Gundam NT-1 represents an earlier generation of High Grade Universal Century engineering.
That gives it a straightforward and satisfying construction compared with some of today’s increasingly complex High Grades.
Expect:
- 1/144 scale construction
- Colour-separated armour
- Articulated arms and legs
- Removable Chobham Armour
- Integrated Gatling Gun details
- Multiple weapons
- Snap-fit assembly
- No glue required
It’s approachable for newer builders while providing plenty of scope for experienced modellers to improve the finished appearance.
Excellent for Painting & Detailing
Alex is a particularly good candidate for additional modelling work.
The white armour provides an excellent canvas for:
- Panel lining
- Federation markings
- Custom decals
- Subtle shading
- Matte top coat
- Metallic Gatling Gun details
- Thruster painting
- Battle damage
The Chobham Armour offers even more opportunities.
Try giving the external armour a slightly different finish from the Gundam underneath to emphasise that it’s an additional protective system rather than part of the standard armour.
Recreate the Kämpfer Battle
One of Alex’s most memorable battles is against Mikhail Kaminsky’s MS-18E Kämpfer.
The Kämpfer arrives carrying enough weapons to equip a small army and launches a devastating attack against the Federation facility.
Alex responds by demonstrating exactly why hiding Gatling Guns inside a Gundam’s arms is such a good idea.
Display the HGUC Alex alongside an HGUC Kämpfer and you’ve got one of the most recognisable confrontations from War in the Pocket.
Build Your War in the Pocket Collection
The RX-78NT-1 belongs alongside the other machines from Mobile Suit Gundam 0080.
Build a collection featuring:
- RX-78NT-1 Gundam Alex
- MS-18E Kämpfer
- MS-06FZ Zaku II Kai
- MSM-03C Hygogg
- MSM-07E Z’Gok-E
- RGM-79G GM Command
- RGM-79GS GM Command Space Type
- RGM-79SP GM Sniper II
It’s a relatively compact lineup compared with some Gundam series, making War in the Pocket a fantastic theme for a dedicated HGUC collection.
Kit Features
- Manufacturer: Bandai / Bandai Spirits
- Grade: High Grade Universal Century (HGUC)
- Scale: 1/144
- HGUC Number: #047
- Mobile Suit: RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1 “Alex”
- Series: Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
- Test Pilot: Christina Mackenzie
- Originally intended for Amuro Ray
- Removable Chobham Armour included
- Concealed forearm 90mm Gatling Guns recreated
- Beam Rifle included
- Shield included
- Beam Saber equipment
- Articulated construction
- Colour-separated plastic
- Foil stickers
- Snap-fit assembly
- No glue required
- Painting optional
Why Add the Gundam RX-78NT-1 Alex HGUC #047 to Your Collection?
The RX-78NT-1 Alex occupies a fascinating place in Universal Century history.
It’s effectively the Gundam that Amuro Ray was supposed to receive, developed because his abilities were beginning to outgrow the original RX-78-2. Yet circumstances ensured that the machine would never reach him.
Instead, Alex became central to the much smaller and more personal story told in War in the Pocket.
As a Gunpla, it also offers considerably more than the standard Gundam loadout. The removable Chobham Armour gives you two distinct display configurations, while the concealed arm Gatling Guns provide one of the coolest integrated weapon systems fitted to any early Universal Century Gundam.
Whether you’re building a complete War in the Pocket collection, pairing it with the Kämpfer or Zaku II FZ, or simply filling an important gap in the RX-78 family tree, the RX-78NT-1 Gundam Alex HGUC 1/144 #047 deserves a place on the shelf.
Built for Amuro, tested by Chris and forever connected to one of Gundam’s most unforgettable stories – the RX-78NT-1 Alex HGUC #047 is a classic piece of Universal Century Gunpla.
creature0976 (verified owner) –
This kit is my first five out of five,even thought it’s an old one. It looks amazing,with only slight colour inaccuracies,which can be solved with yellow paint. Being an older kit,you will have to paint the beam saber,however,you can just steal a modern one from another kit. It comes with a fair amount of stickers (ones for the eyes,the front and back head cameras,and the federation logo in its waist) it also comes with some decals. It has its beam rifle,and a trigger finger hand to hold it,the gattling guns in the arms,which you have to take of the blue cover part,and put in the peice for the gun,and then the bus part ontop of that. It has its shield as well,and,most importantly,the chobam armour. I really can’t say how impressed I was that this kit came with the armour. It all just fits over the kit,and it looks really nice. The articulation,however,is where the Alex suffers a bit. It has the tiniest bit of an ab crunch,the knees bend at around a 90° angle,and the whole leg is on a ball joint.the arms have one point of articulation,at the elbow. The shoulders don’t move much,they’re just on a peg attached to the torso. Despite this,it still poses really well,and looks great. If you’re willing to look past the fact that this kit is 22 years old, it really is worth getting.