OLD Victory Gundam 1/60 V2 Gundam

Release 1993.10

Price ¥3,000

BANDAI BANDAI Japan product info

OLD 1/60 V2 Gundam - Box side view (1/3)

Box side view

Runners

Includes 1 system injection runner.

The transformation joints that need durability are provided in ABS material.

Seals

OLD 1/60 V2 Gundam - Parts diagram (1/6)

OLD 1/60 V2 Gundam - Parts diagram (2/6)

OLD 1/60 V2 Gundam - Parts diagram (3/6)

OLD 1/60 V2 Gundam - Parts diagram (4/6)

Parts diagram

Manual

Straight build + waterslide decals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

The neck joint area looks a bit bare ;;

Beam parts

Leg articulation is somewhat limited due to the transformation gimmick.

V-shaped booster movement

Action pose

To begin transformation, first lower the side shoulder sections downward.

OLD 1/60 V2 Gundam - Separate the center torso section and pull out the Core Fighter nose. This gimmick is quite a bit more i

Separate the center torso section and pull out the Core Fighter nose. This gimmick is quite a bit more intricate than you'd expect.

Slide the Core Fighter nose section forward and down.

Unfold the nose section, then

Tuck in the head and raise the cover on the back — Core Fighter transformation complete

V2 Core Fighter

Underside

Separate the lower body and waist section to form the Top Rim.

Rotate the front skirt up and fold the rear skirt forward.

Fold the arms as shown, then attach them to the body along with the beam rifle to complete the Top Rim.

For the lower body, extend the waist and open the hip joints out to the sides.

OLD 1/60 V2 Gundam - At this point, you can lock the angle by fitting the raised peg on the hip plate into the hole on the in

At this point, you can lock the angle by fitting the raised peg on the hip plate into the hole on the inner thigh.

Spread everything out and lock the angles as shown — Bottom Rim complete.

Top Rim, V2 Core Fighter, and Bottom Rim.

Top Fighter configuration

Bottom Fighter configuration

Top Fighter and Bottom Fighter — bottom view

Together with the 1/144 and 1/100 V2 Gundam.

Together with the 1/100 Top Fighter/Bottom Fighter.

Together with the 1/60 First Gundam.

V Gundam series group shot

This is the 1/60 V2 Gundam released as part of the old V series lineup. Back in the day, it was quite a sensation as a V2 Gundam that could fully transform without swapping any parts — and even looking at it now, over 20 years later, it still holds up as a pretty solid transforming kit.

First off, the large parts that come with a big-scale kit make for a fun build, and the color separation is done well enough that a straight build alone reproduces the full color scheme perfectly. The key transformation parts are provided in ABS material, so durability is taken care of too.

The transformation process is more intricate than you'd expect — especially the part where the Core Fighter nose separates from and reconnects to the torso, which is really well designed. You do need to follow the manual step by step, but that just goes to show how carefully it's all been put together.

On top of that, there are separate locking pins at the hip joints, and the joint strength throughout the whole body is solid with great stability overall, making the transformation genuinely fun to do. The only thing to watch out for is the arm connection points on the sides of the torso — they can be a bit wobbly when spread open. But at least in terms of stability after transformation, it actually seems to be better than the 1/100. ^^

As for articulation, the knee movement is pretty restricted due to the transformation gimmick, so posing isn't all that free. I guess back then it was just too much to ask for both good articulation and a solid transformation mechanism at the same time.

It may be an older kit, but the joints are sturdy, the transformation gimmick is well executed, and at just ¥3000 it's very affordable. If you're a fan of transforming kits, this is still well worth picking up even today. :-)
[ Updated at 2018.1.1]

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.