HG 40th

RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global]

Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] (1/6) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] (2/6) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] (3/6) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] (4/6) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] (5/6) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] (6/6)

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Detail shots (1/4) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Detail shots (2/4) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Detail shots (3/4) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Detail shots (4/4)

Detail shots

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Even for an HG, the V-shape in the center of the front skirt and even the beam rifle scope HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Even for an HG, the V-shape in the center of the front skirt and even the beam rifle scope

Even for an HG, the V-shape in the center of the front skirt and even the beam rifle scope are color-separated.
However, the front skirt's attachment point is a bit vague, so it doesn't align straight and neatly — the bottom tends to tilt inward like in the photo above.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Weapons loadout

Weapons loadout

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - The shield's inner mounting point can rotate.

The shield's inner mounting point can rotate.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - The shield and beam rifle can be stored on the back.

The shield and beam rifle can be stored on the back.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - A total of 4 hands are included.

A total of 4 hands are included.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Excellent limb articulation

Excellent limb articulation

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Hip joint slide gimmick

Hip joint slide gimmick

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - The hip joint connection has a unique structure, allowing the thighs to bend inward one mor

The hip joint connection has a unique structure, allowing the thighs to bend inward one more time.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Even the rear skirt is articulated, so you can extend the legs in all directions. (1/2) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Even the rear skirt is articulated, so you can extend the legs in all directions. (2/2)

Even the rear skirt is articulated, so you can extend the legs in all directions.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - The ankle's forward and backward range of motion is also quite wide. (1/2) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - The ankle's forward and backward range of motion is also quite wide. (2/2)

The ankle's forward and backward range of motion is also quite wide.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Shoulder and waist articulation

Shoulder and waist articulation

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - The gimmick that lets the arm swing forward has a unique structure where the rear armor ben

The gimmick that lets the arm swing forward has a unique structure where the rear armor bends along with it.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - The upper body can bend forward on its own, but the angle isn't very large.

The upper body can bend forward on its own, but the angle isn't very large.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Kneeling pose (1/2) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Kneeling pose (2/2)

Kneeling pose

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Various beam rifle action poses (1/8) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Various beam rifle action poses (2/8) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Various beam rifle action poses (3/8) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Various beam rifle action poses (4/8) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Various beam rifle action poses (5/8) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Various beam rifle action poses (6/8) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Various beam rifle action poses (7/8) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Various beam rifle action poses (8/8)

Various beam rifle action poses

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Beam saber action pose (1/7) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Beam saber action pose (2/7) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Beam saber action pose (3/7) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Beam saber action pose (4/7) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Beam saber action pose (5/7) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Beam saber action pose (6/7) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Beam saber action pose (7/7)

Beam saber action pose

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Together with the HG G40 Gundam Industrial Version.

Together with the HG G40 Gundam Industrial Version.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Together with the HGUC First Gundam Revive.

Together with the HGUC First Gundam Revive.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Together with the 30th Anniversary HG First Gundam.

Together with the 30th Anniversary HG First Gundam.

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Straight build (1/2) HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] - Straight build (2/2)

Straight build

As part of the Gundam 40th Anniversary, the RX-78 First Gundam has been released as an HG kit under the title "Beyond Global." There are so many HG First Gundams at this point it's hard to keep track — it keeps getting renewed in various forms over the years.

The highlight of this Beyond Global version is its high level of articulation achieved without polycaps. Several fresh gimmicks have been incorporated, including a hip joint slide gimmick, a thigh inward-bend gimmick, a rear skirt articulation gimmick, and a rear shoulder armor articulation gimmick. Thanks to all this, it delivers smooth and flexible articulation that lets you pull off the most natural poses we've seen yet. The ankle forward-and-backward movement in particular is extremely flexible, giving it excellent ground contact when posing.

That said, since the previously released G40 Industrial Version already showed off a truly revolutionary level of articulation, this one looks relatively modest by comparison. The difference is especially noticeable in how far the hip joint can raise forward.

There are also some differences in proportions compared to previous kits — the head is smaller, while the thighs have gotten noticeably thicker. Those chunky thighs came out of nowhere, and opinions will probably be split on whether the thick thighs work against the narrower upper body. The weapons also look quite different in terms of detail compared to before, with the shield's construction and internal gimmick being especially different from previous versions. The color separation is also a step above your typical HG — the V-shape at the center of the front skirt and even the beam rifle scope are color-separated. The shield is also neatly divided, with the white border around the edges and the yellow cross on the inside all broken out separately.

On the downside, the plastic itself isn't as soft as you might expect, and with no polycaps in the mix, the joints feel a bit stiff. It's got that tight, resistant feel reminiscent of early Kotobukiya kits, which personally I found a little uncomfortable to work with. The joint strength is solid as a result, but I do wish it were a bit smoother. Also, the front skirt is split into individual sections that can move independently, but the attachment is vague enough that they don't stay straight — the bottoms droop and tilt inward.

There are a few things to nitpick, but this kit delivers a distinctly satisfying build experience in terms of visuals, color separation, and natural posing. It's highly recommended for First Gundam fans, and if you've been feeling a bit tired of the standard HGUC, this one will definitely give you that "fresh" feeling. :-)

HG RX-78 Gundam [Beyond Global] | 2020.6 | ¥2,000

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.