RX-78-2 Ver. 1.5 & Ver. Ka Detailed Comparison
Basically, the original RX-78 v1.5 and the Ver. Ka are completely different kitsaltogether.
So rather than looking at this as a comparison of which one is better or worse,
the focus here is on what changes Katoki made to his version compared to the original First Gundam.
In all photos, ver. 1.5 is on the left and Ver. Ka is on the right.
From the exterior to the inner frame, these two share absolutely nothing in common.
The defining feature of the Ver. Ka is its overall ivory color scheme.
First, the head differences. The cheeks feel a bit different.
The back of the head is pretty much the same..
The torso differences. The cockpit hatch area in the center looks quite different between the two.
The Ver. Ka's torso actually gives off a vibe similar to the NT-1.
One thing that stands out on the v1.5 is that the chest ducts can move individually.
The backpack differences. The Ver. Ka's is slightly smaller, and the verniers have increased to four.
The differences in the backpack's internal mechanical frame.
Leg frame differences. Both look similarly good in style, but
the v1.5's solid one-piece leg frame is still the all-time greatest.
The Ver. Ka's arms are much chunkier and look a bit tougher ^^;
With the Ver. Ka, the arms have an overall bulkier concept from the shoulders all the way down to the forearms.
Leg comparison.
The Ver. Ka has more complex detailing.
One thing that stands out on the Ver. Ka's knees is the use of mesh pipes.
Sole detail comparison.
Core block front view comparison. There's a dramatic difference here.
The Ver. Ka's core block boasts PG-level precision detail, and is a slightly improved version of the Guncannon's.
Core block rear view comparison.
Core fighter comparison. The Ver. Ka's core fighter is the complete version. It's also larger in size.
Core fighter underside comparison. Note the difference in the landing gear.
Comparison when folded into core block form.
The v1.5 comes with 4 pairs of hands, while the Ver. Ka only has two.. but the detail on the Ver. Ka hands is far more refined.
Both include hands specifically for action poses, so the rifle locks in really securely.
The beam rifle. The shapes are quite different from each other.
The bazooka. The Ver. Ka's bazooka has a more compact and intricate feel to it.
The shield. On the Ver. Ka, the cross is gone — it's a GM Kai-style shield.
The difference in molding on the inside of the shields.
The Ver. Ka's beam sabers have gotten thinner and longer.
Articulation comparison. Somehow they ended up in cute little poses.
The arms were greatly improved on the Ver. Ka, but the v1.5's leg articulation is still an art form!
The v1.5 has a special hatch-open feature. The Ver. Ka has nothing of the sort..
The eternal leading stars of the Gundam universe — the First Gundam brothers.
Since the First Gundam is the ultimate original protagonist mobile suit, it keeps getting re-released in all sorts of forms, but each one comes with its own distinct personality. The original First Gundam v1.5 made a fresh impression with its revolutionary leg frame and wide variety of weapons, and the Katoki version is a completely different kit from that. They share absolutely no molds — they're entirely separate kits. The Katoki version is a re-design done to the designer's own taste, and it shows off a pretty refined style.
If you're purely looking at objective quality, the Ver. Ka naturally comes out on top since it was released much later. There's really nothing to fault in areas like arm and leg articulation and joint strength. On the other hand, the v1.5 carries some inherent limitations of being an older kit — things like reusing the arms from the original 1.0, a somewhat flimsy waist, and joint strength that feels a little iffy in places.
That said, the v1.5 has its own powerful strengths and charm, and the Ver. Ka is likewise a kit with a unique personality. I often see people asking which of the two is better, but ultimately that's for you to decide. Both kits have their pros and cons. Well, if you just can't stop going back and forth, I'd say you're probably better off just grabbing both.. ^^;;