Kit Review

Straight build
+ panel lining

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Size comparison with the universal standard — a cigarette pack. It's quite a bit bigger than you'd expec

Size comparison with the universal standard — a cigarette pack.
It's quite a bit bigger than you'd expect. Total height is roughly 26cm.

The side profile is super slim.

Front/rear close-up shots

There's very finely engraved text on the left shoulder.
Probably laser-etched..

The ring on the shoulder is articulated.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - The head. The cables on the back of the head are pretty unique. You wrap three strands of wire together

The head. The cables on the back of the head are pretty unique.
You wrap three strands of wire together to make them.

Leg section

The binder looks like a solar panel... the result of a serious panel lining grind ;;

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Rear view with the back armor removed. The body color on the two rear butt wings is handled with sticker

Rear view with the back armor removed. The body color on the two rear butt wings is handled with stickers.
But.. those butt wings have weak attachment and fall off easily T_T

The backpack.. it's pretty thin.

Green clear parts

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Cockpit hatch open. It opens up nice and wide. There's also an additional cover inside the cockpit that

Cockpit hatch open. It opens up nice and wide.
There's also an additional cover inside the cockpit that opens up, letting you see the interior molding.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - The cockpit vehicle is called the Spiral Pro Vui. You can choose to assemble it either with the pilot se

The cockpit vehicle is called the Spiral Pro Vui.
You can choose to assemble it either with the pilot seated or with the pilot out.

Two sets of hands are included — a fixed type and an articulated type.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - When swapping hands.. the socket is so tight that the wrist joint of the articulated hand pops out first

When swapping hands.. the socket is so tight that the wrist joint of the articulated hand pops out first;
You really have to be careful with how much force you use.

And that hand back cover.. the attachment is weak so it falls off constantly — best to just glue it.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Like other recent kits, you can cut the hands yourself and convert them into individually articulated fi

Like other recent kits, you can cut the hands yourself and convert them into individually articulated fingers.
Though since all the fingers are connected, separating them is a bit of a pain.

The weapons are roughly what you see there.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - The Buster Launcher is about 37cm long. Seeing it in person is kind of absurd; it's almost too long to s

The Buster Launcher is about 37cm long.
Seeing it in person is kind of absurd; it's almost too long to store..

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - The Buster Launcher handle has this articulation gimmick built in. Push and pull the handle and the stru

The Buster Launcher handle has this articulation gimmick built in.
Push and pull the handle and the structure on top links up and automatically moves up and down..

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - The grip strength of the hands is pretty weak, but the locking peg on the palm is relatively sturdy, so

The grip strength of the hands is pretty weak, but the locking peg on the palm is relatively sturdy, so
it holds that big Buster Launcher just fine.
If you look closely there's another peg at the back, which is a gimmick that locks the position
when holding the Buster Launcher. Pretty handy :-)

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - The beam saber is stored in the wrist, and when stowed there it functions as a weapon called the Hand La

The beam saber is stored in the wrist, and when stowed there it functions as a weapon called the Hand Launcher.

Various weapons are also stored inside the binder.

Armor removal

Internal frame

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Body frame. You can see the spine ;; (1/3)

Body frame. You can see the spine ;;

The spine's joint has a ratchet-style locking gimmick so it doesn't go loose.

The head frame looks a bit creepy..

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Arm and leg frames. There's a set of articulated cylinders above each ankle. (1/3)

Arm and leg frames.
There's a set of articulated cylinders above each ankle.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Something to watch out for when assembling the feet. That peg must be assembled facing downward. Otherwi

Something to watch out for when assembling the feet. That peg must be assembled facing downward.
Otherwise the whole thing just topples forward;
I assembled it wrong at first and spent a good while scratching my head..

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Knee articulation.. the far left shows the normal range of motion, which is about 100 degrees. But there

Knee articulation.. the far left shows the normal range of motion, which is about 100 degrees.
But there's an additional joint in the middle for transformation, and if you use that too it folds completely like on the right.

Using the transformation gimmick, you can make a pretty convincing little dwarf. :-)

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Heh, the pose we just can't avoid~ Looks like it can pull off a comfortable squat in a fairly stable sta

Heh, the pose we just can't avoid~
Looks like it can pull off a comfortable squat in a fairly stable stance.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - The basic articulation is just average.. but use the transformation gimmick and it folds right up. With

The basic articulation is just average.. but use the transformation gimmick and it folds right up.
With no front skirt in the way, the legs can kick up nice and high.

The shoulder armor panel moves slightly forward and backward as a whole.

The neck looks stiff but actually has a surprisingly wide range of motion.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - There are holes all over the body for connecting cables, so you can plug them in all sorts of different

There are holes all over the body for connecting cables, so
you can plug them in all sorts of different configurations.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Alright, action pose! This is the only action pose recommended in the manual.. but it's actually pretty

Alright, action pose!
This is the only action pose recommended in the manual..
But it's actually pretty hard to pull off as naturally as it looks in the manual.
No matter how I look at it, the center of gravity just doesn't work out so I can't replicate it....hmm.. -_-

There are actually supposed to be 3 cables that connect to the Buster Launcher..
but I lost one T_T

Beam saber and Power Launcher action

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - The dedicated stand. True to recent trends, it uses a ratchet-lock type. It holds well which is great, b

The dedicated stand. True to recent trends, it uses a ratchet-lock type.
It holds well which is great, but it also feels like it could pop off easily..

The detail on the stand base is pretty nice..

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - The stand's locking gimmick opens and closes with a sliding mechanism. Usually these come with a removab

The stand's locking gimmick opens and closes with a sliding mechanism.
Usually these come with a removable cover type, so this kit is a bit special.

Stand on~

Binder open

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Beam saber action.. but the grip strength on the RRR L-Gaim is absolutely terrible..;; It's really hard

Beam saber action.. but the grip strength on the RRR L-Gaim is absolutely terrible..;;
It's really hard to get it to hold the beam saber properly. I struggled like crazy just to get this one shot T_T

Low Profile action pose

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Action with the cables connected to the Power Launcher, or you can connect the cables to the binder inst

Action with the cables connected to the Power Launcher
Or you can connect the cables to the binder instead.

Though honestly.. it doesn't really look like a kit that absolutely needs a stand;

Two 1/100 figures are included, and the molding feels a bit more refined than your typical MG figures.

~ Transformation ~

Fold the shoulders 90 degrees backward and twist the wing locking gimmick 90 degrees.

Fold the legs up tightly like you're transforming a Zeta Gundam..

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Pull out the hidden peg from the body and plug it into the hole in the knee. This gimmick makes the lock

Pull out the hidden peg from the body and plug it into the hole in the knee.
This gimmick makes the lock really solid.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Fold the ankles and slide the pointed section on the back forward. The wings attached to the rear end ge

Fold the ankles and slide the pointed section on the back forward.
The wings attached to the rear end get raised straight up.

Tuck the head back.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Pull out the Buster Launcher's locking gimmick, remove the binder from the left shoulder, and fold the r

Pull out the Buster Launcher's locking gimmick, remove the binder from the left shoulder, and fold the ring downward.

Attach the Buster Launcher to the left shoulder and the transformation is complete.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - The look with the Buster Launcher removed and just the binder attached. Personally I think this looks be

The look with the Buster Launcher removed and just the binder attached.
Personally I think this looks better..

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - The top looks pretty good.. but the underside just looks like a stubby little dwarf;; I think it's becau

The top looks pretty good.. but the underside just looks like a stubby little dwarf;;
I think it's because there's no cover panel like on the Zeta Gundam.

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Comparison with the Layzner, the first RRR release. The Layzner was already on the larger side, but L-Ga

Comparison with the Layzner, the first RRR release.
The Layzner was already on the larger side, but L-Gaim is even bigger..;

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II - Comparison with the MG Gundam Ver. O.Y.W. 0079, the standard MG size reference, and the latest Hi-Nu. Lo

Comparison with the MG Gundam Ver. O.Y.W. 0079, the standard MG size reference, and the latest Hi-Nu.
Looking at this photo you can really get a sense of just how big L-Gaim is, right? ^^:
The Hi-Nu is already on the bigger side, but it looks tiny standing next to L-Gaim..

You'd need something like the MG Sazabi to come close in height..

Here comes the pride of the MG line, the Perfect Zeong. How dare you try to match it in height..

Here's a comparison by grade.
The overall height is basically PG-level;;

One last soft-focus glamour shot.
The sheer size of this thing is really something..

Straight build

L-Gaim Mark-II was chosen as the second RRR release. It was definitely a unit worthy of the RRR treatment.

The second entry, L-Gaim Mark-II, came out at a relatively steep ¥5,500 — partly due to the price premium that tends to come with the RRR lineup's more niche appeal, but more importantly, the quality has been dramatically improved compared to the previous Layzner. The RRR Layzner got a lot of flak for being "an HG in MG's clothing," but with L-Gaim they've clearly stepped it up to genuine MG-level quality.

The RRR L-Gaim Mk-II features a full inner frame throughout the entire body, just like an MG, rendered with fine detail, and the overall parts layout and functionality are all on par with MG standards. If anything, things like the wiring in the head and the level of detail on the frame give the whole kit a feel that goes above and beyond your average MG. Bandai must have taken the backlash from the RRR Layzner to heart, and decided it was better to raise the price and deliver higher quality. :-)

The first thing that'll hit you when you start building this RRR L-Gaim Mk-II is the sheer size — it's a real shock. It's not just a big box; the actual kit itself is one of the larger entries in the 1/100 scale lineup. Sure, that's because the unit is canonically huge, but still — you'd need something like the MG Sazabi to come close in height. That said, while it's tall, the body is very slim. Especially from the side, it almost looks too thin..

In terms of detail and parts layout the quality is definitely there, but articulation is another story — it's hard to call it good. Part of that is down to the unit's design, and part of it is the transformation gimmick. But more than anything.. it just doesn't lend itself to dynamic action poses. And despite those big feet, the ground contact when posing isn't all that great either.

The joints are generally fine — not too loose, not too stiff — but the hand dorsal covers and the butt wings tend to pop off pretty easily, which gets a little annoying during posing. And the grip strength on the articulated hands is seriously bad.. holding a beam saber is a real struggle. On the plus side, the palm peg connection with the Buster Launcher is surprisingly solid, so despite how absurdly long that thing is, it stays in the hand without dropping. Small mercies ^^;

And getting action poses to work is just.. really tough with this kit. The crouching-and-firing stance unique to L-Gaim Mk-II is the only action pose the manual even suggests, but the center of gravity is so off that it's nearly impossible to pull off. On top of that, the Buster Launcher is so ridiculously large and back-heavy that balancing any pose is a pain. From a reviewer's standpoint, this is the kind of kit where every single shot takes forever to set up T_T

The transformation is fully reproduced too, though calling it a "transformation" feels like a stretch — it's more like the unit just crouches down into a flight configuration. Either way, the gimmick itself is properly implemented, and the locking mechanisms are solid enough that the form holds together without falling apart, which is appreciated.

The included dedicated stand looks pretty nice in terms of detail and style.. but honestly, it feels like a kit that doesn't really benefit much from being on a stand. It stands fine on its own, and there aren't really any poses dynamic enough to make the stand worthwhile — that's the dilemma;; You'd want to strike a cool pose with the Buster Launcher, but it's so long and heavy that you just can't get the angle right..

The biggest hurdle with this L-Gaim Mk-II is probably the design and the kit's overall style. For those used to Gunpla, it has a somewhat unfamiliar feel, and while the kit quality itself seems solid, the emotional payoff feels a bit ambiguous. It's definitely going to be a love-it-or-leave-it situation between people who were already fans of L-Gaim and those who never really cared about it.

Overall, the kit is a massive step up in quality from the previous Layzner.. but it still leaves you feeling like something's missing. The frame is good, the detail is good, the options are plentiful, and the presentation is solid.. yet it doesn't quite have that sharp, satisfying feel. I think it's because it's bigger than it needs to be, and the poses just don't come together the way you'd want. And even though it's MG-level, it doesn't give you that same feeling as an MG Gunpla — or rather, the feeling it gives is just completely different.

For anyone who's always loved the mecha of Heavy Metal L-Gaim, this is a fantastic treat — but for those with little prior attachment, it's hard to deny that the kit's pull is limited. Then again, the whole concept of the RRR series is to bring classic kits back to life for longtime fans, and in that regard, this one delivers pretty faithfully. :-)

RRR L-Gaim Mark-II | 2007. 2 | ¥5,500

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.