Build the legendary Granddaddy Gundam with the RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 3.0 MG 1/100 from Bandai. Taking the most famous Mobile Suit in Gundam history and combining it with significantly more advanced Master Grade engineering, the Ver. 3.0 delivers intricate layered armour, an articulated internal frame and impressive movement while retaining the unmistakable RX-78-2 silhouette.
Released in August 2013, the Ver. 3.0 introduced Bandai’s Movable Armor System, where sections of the exterior armour move in conjunction with the internal structure. The result is a particularly mechanical interpretation of Amuro Ray’s original Gundam and one of the most distinctive RX-78-2 Master Grades.
The Original Gundam
The RX-78-2 Gundam is the machine that started everything.
Developed by the Earth Federation as part of Project V, the RX-78-2 was an extraordinarily advanced Mobile Suit for its time. When Amuro Ray climbed into its cockpit during the attack on Side 7, neither he nor anyone around him could have predicted what followed.
Amuro and the Gundam would become central to the Federation’s campaign against the Principality of Zeon, with the RX-78-2 earning an almost mythical reputation among Zeon forces.
More than four decades later, it remains the defining Gundam design.
What Makes the Ver. 3.0 Different?
There have been a lot of RX-78-2 model kits.
And we mean a lot.
The Ver. 3.0 approaches the design differently from the more anime-faithful MG Ver. 2.0, incorporating considerably more surface separation and mechanical detailing.
Rather than large uninterrupted armour panels, the exterior is divided into numerous interlocking sections, producing an appearance reminiscent of a full-size piece of machinery.
It makes the Ver. 3.0 particularly appealing to builders who prefer a more technical interpretation of the original Gundam.
Movable Armor System
The headline feature is the Movable Armor System.
Sections of the exterior armour interact with the internal frame as the Gundam moves, creating a much more convincing mechanical relationship between armour and articulation.
Bandai specifically highlights movable shoulder armour, backpack covers and rear shin armour. These mechanisms increase freedom around the arms and ankles while maintaining the Gundam’s heavily layered appearance.
Bend a limb and you’re not simply moving two pieces of plastic around a joint.
Parts of the surrounding armour react with it.
Incredible Armour Separation
The exterior of the Ver. 3.0 is one of its defining characteristics.
Individual panels use subtly different shades and extensive part separation to create the impression of a machine assembled from numerous armour sections.
It looks impressive straight from the box, but panel lining really brings the design to life.
Add the markings and suddenly the familiar RX-78-2 starts looking considerably more like an enormous piece of military hardware.
Fully Transformable Core Fighter
At the centre of the Gundam sits another piece of classic Universal Century technology – the Core Fighter.
The Ver. 3.0 includes a transformable Core Fighter that can be converted and stored inside the Gundam’s torso. Bandai confirms this functionality as part of the Ver. 3.0 design.
That gives you the choice of displaying the Core Fighter separately or incorporating it into the completed RX-78-2.
It’s a classic Master Grade feature and one that feels particularly appropriate on the original Gundam.
Beam Rifle
Naturally, Amuro’s Beam Rifle is included.
At the beginning of the One Year War, a Mobile Suit carrying a compact weapon with battleship-level destructive potential was a very serious problem for Zeon.
For the model builder, it’s also one of the essential components of the RX-78-2 silhouette.
Combine it with the shield for the classic Gundam combat pose.
Hyper Bazooka
When the Beam Rifle isn’t enough, there’s the Hyper Bazooka.
The much larger weapon gives you another selection of combat poses and can be carried by the Gundam alongside its other equipment. Gunpla UK’s listing confirms the standard Ver. 3.0 package includes the Hyper Bazooka together with the Beam Rifle, shield and two Beam Sabers.
Because sometimes “Beam Rifle” apparently isn’t enough firepower.
Beam Sabers
Two Beam Sabers are mounted on the backpack.
Remove them and the Ver. 3.0’s articulation allows for some excellent close-combat poses.
Dual-wield them.
Use one with the shield.
Or recreate one of the many classic RX-78-2 combat scenes from Mobile Suit Gundam.
Gundam Shield
The famous red-and-white Gundam Shield completes the traditional weapon loadout.
Its large surface also gives you another excellent area for markings and additional detailing.
Beam Rifle in one hand.
Shield in the other.
Sometimes the original configuration is still the best.
Impressive Articulation
The Ver. 3.0 was engineered to improve upon the movement of the previous Master Grade while incorporating the new armour system.
Movable shoulder armour and backpack covers increase the available movement around the arms, while opening rear-leg armour improves ankle articulation.
This allows the RX-78-2 to achieve much more dynamic positions than its relatively simple 1979 design might suggest.
Detailed Internal Structure
Underneath the multi-layered armour sits an extensively articulated internal structure.
Bandai also specifically used paintable material for the internal structure, making the kit particularly attractive for builders who enjoy adding mechanical detailing.
Try adding different metallic finishes to:
- Pistons
- Joint mechanisms
- Thrusters
- Mechanical framework
- Weapon details
- Backpack components
Then cover most of your hard work with armour.
Welcome to Master Grade.
Optional LED Upgrade
The Ver. 3.0 was also designed with additional customisation in mind.
Bandai produced an official expansion set for the model containing a yellow LED unit for illuminating the Gundam’s eyes, alongside additional weapons and water-transfer markings.
The expansion equipment was sold separately, so it isn’t part of the standard MG Ver. 3.0 package.
A Brilliant Detailing Project
The Ver. 3.0 really rewards builders who want to spend some extra time on their model.
Try adding:
- Full panel lining
- Water-slide decals
- Metallic inner-frame details
- Painted thrusters
- Subtle armour shading
- Matte top coat
- Custom Federation markings
- Battle damage
- One Year War weathering
The sheer number of individual armour sections means even relatively simple panel lining can dramatically change the finished appearance.
Build the White Base Team
The RX-78-2 naturally belongs at the centre of a Mobile Suit Gundam collection.
Display it alongside:
- RX-77-2 Guncannon
- RX-75 Guntank
- RGM-79 GM
- MS-06S Char’s Zaku II
- MS-07B Gouf
- MS-09 Dom
- MSM-07S Char’s Z’Gok
- MSN-02 Zeong
Or simply put it opposite Char’s Zaku II and you’ve got one of the most recognisable rivalries in anime history.
Which Master Grade RX-78-2?
The RX-78-2 has received numerous Master Grade interpretations, but the Ver. 3.0 occupies a particularly interesting position.
If you want a clean, animation-inspired Gundam, the Ver. 2.0 has its appeal.
If you want Hajime Katoki’s distinctive interpretation, there’s the Ver.Ka.
If you want something heavily mechanical with layered armour, extensive panel separation and moving exterior components, the Ver. 3.0 is where things get interesting.
It’s a Gundam that rewards looking closely.
Kit Features
- Manufacturer: Bandai
- Grade: Master Grade (MG)
- Scale: 1/100
- Mobile Suit: RX-78-2 Gundam
- Version: 3.0
- Series: Mobile Suit Gundam
- Pilot: Amuro Ray
- Originally released: August 2013
- Movable Armor System
- Interlocking exterior armour
- Detailed internal structure
- Movable shoulder armour
- Movable backpack covers
- Opening rear shin armour
- Transformable Core Fighter
- Core Fighter can be stored inside the torso
- Beam Rifle
- Hyper Bazooka
- Gundam Shield
- 2 Beam Sabers
- Highly articulated construction
- Paintable internal-frame material
- Colour-separated plastic
- Snap-fit construction
- No glue required
- Painting optional
Why Add the RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 3.0 MG 1/100 to Your Collection?
Because if you’re going to build the Granddaddy, you might as well build one that gives you plenty to get stuck into.
The RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 3.0 MG 1/100 takes one of the simplest and most recognisable Mobile Suit designs ever created and turns it into a much more intricate mechanical model.
The layered armour gives the finished Gundam fantastic surface detail, while the Movable Armor System means much of that complexity isn’t purely cosmetic. Add the transformable Core Fighter, complete classic weapon loadout and detailed internal construction and you’ve got a proper Master Grade project.
It’s approachable enough to build straight from the box but detailed enough to spend considerably longer painting, lining and finishing if that’s your thing.
For RX-78 collectors, Universal Century fans or builders looking for a more mechanically detailed interpretation of Amuro Ray’s original Gundam, the Ver. 3.0 remains a standout Master Grade.
The Granddaddy, upgraded – layered armour, an articulated internal frame, transformable Core Fighter and classic One Year War weaponry make the RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 3.0 MG 1/100 a proper centrepiece build.
Adam –
Ah the kit line that never was! To my knowledge this is the only 3.0 that ever existed and shows us how far Bandai can push moulding without it being a Ver Ka. A fiddly build that warrants some extra attention to get right. Well worth the effort though for a kit that poses beautifully and holds itself well over time. The hands are a little confusing but are a marvel when you think about how they mould joints that move directly on the sprue. To my mind, the best looking grandadddy MG kit around.