First Grade 1/144

RX-78 Gundam

First Grade RX-78 Gundam Box
Release 1999.7
Price ¥500First release price: ¥300
BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info
First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Box side view (1/3) First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Box side view (2/3) First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Box side view (3/3)

Box side view

First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Runners

Runners

First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Parts diagram

Parts diagram

First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Manual (1/2) First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Manual (2/2)

Manual

Straight build

Straight build

First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

First Grade RX-78 Gundam (1/2) First Grade RX-78 Gundam (2/2)

First Grade RX-78 Gundam - There's even molding on the inside of the shield~

There's even molding on the inside of the shield~

First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Limb articulation

Limb articulation

First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Beam rifle action pose (1/2) First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Beam rifle action pose (2/2)

Beam rifle action pose

First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Beam saber pose (1/2) First Grade RX-78 Gundam - Beam saber pose (2/2)

Beam saber pose

First Grade RX-78 Gundam - With the old 1/144 First Gundam (1/2) First Grade RX-78 Gundam - With the old 1/144 First Gundam (2/2)

With the old 1/144 First Gundam

First Grade RX-78 Gundam - With the HGUC First Gundam.

With the HGUC First Gundam.

This kit is the FG (First Grade) RX-78 Gundam released in 1999 to commemorate Gundam's 20th anniversary. It follows the same basic layout as the original 1/144 kit, but with redesigned proportions closer to the PG.

The molded colors are limited to a single color just like the old kit, and the articulation setup is pretty much the same too — except that the forearms can now rotate. On the plus side, it's snap-fit with no glue required, and the finished proportions and overall sculpt feel much more refined than the old version.

The articulation isn't dramatically better than the old kit, but the joints move surprisingly smoothly even without polycaps. And since the sculpt looks so good, the poses just come out looking a lot better than the old kit.

So the real appeal here is being able to build something with a classic format but a modern sculpt. At ¥300 it's also very affordable, making it a great kit for a quick, casual build or for painting practice. :-)

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.