Kit Review

Straight build + Panel lining + Seals

Size comparison with a cigarette pack — Unicorn Mode and Destroy Mode

Unicorn Mode

Unicorn Mode detail shots

RG Unicorn Gundam - Armor removed. As you can see, it's practically MG-level. (1/2)

RG Unicorn Gundam - Armor removed. As you can see, it's practically MG-level. (2/2)

Outer armor removed.
As you can see, it's practically MG-level.

Inner frame shots.

RG Unicorn Gundam - Inner frame detail shots (1/4)

RG Unicorn Gundam - Inner frame detail shots (2/4)

Inner frame detail shots

The frame's articulation is perfect.

With just the frame, the shoulder joints can swing forward a full 90 degrees.

The skirt mounting plate rotates horizontally.

The hip joint shift gimmick is there as standard.

The frame articulation is on a whole different level compared to the MG...

Cockpit hatch opening is included as standard too.

Weapons lineup.

The beam rifle's magazine removal gimmick is also reproduced.
At least it's not as loose as the MG's.

RG Unicorn Gundam - The bazooka's extending barrel and magazine removal gimmicks are reproduced as well, though the magazine

The bazooka's extending barrel and magazine removal gimmicks are reproduced as well,
though the magazine fit is a little on the loose side.

You can also mount the beam rifle, bazooka, spare magazines, and more.

The forearm beam saber deployment is reproduced too.

Three hand types are included in total,
though articulated fingers didn't make the cut.

All weapons lock securely onto the palm pegs, so grip issues are completely taken care of.

The pilot figure is sculpted a bit on the chunky side..

The joint parts for connecting to an Action Base slide in and lock firmly into the crotch area.

The limbs fold up way better than the MG — no comparison.

With the armor on, the shoulders only come forward about this much.

The side-to-side waist bend is noticeably more limited than with just the frame.

Instead, there's a special gimmick where you pull the upper body up and then lean it forward, as shown.

RG Unicorn Gundam - This is made possible by a telescoping gimmick built into the upper body frame that extends and retracts

This is made possible by a telescoping gimmick built into the upper body frame that extends and retracts vertically —
it's pretty impressive that they managed to squeeze in an extra articulation gimmick like that when the interior is already packed full of transformation mechanics.

Great articulation means great poses.

RG Unicorn Gundam - Bazooka firing pose (1/3)

RG Unicorn Gundam - Bazooka firing pose (2/3)

RG Unicorn Gundam - Bazooka firing pose (3/3)

Bazooka shooting pose

Beam saber action pose

Transformation

To transform into Destroy Mode,
first detach the head and backpack to make the transformation easier.

RG Unicorn Gundam - Disassemble the head as shown and reassemble it. The face is sculpted with a distinct front and back, so

Disassemble the head as shown and reassemble it.
The face is sculpted with a distinct front and back, so you flip it 180 degrees and plug it back in.

RG Unicorn Gundam - Three types of head antennas are included: articulated, Destroy Mode-specific, and Unicorn Mode-specific.

Three types of head antennas are included: articulated, Destroy Mode-specific, and Unicorn Mode-specific.
The articulated antenna fits on nice and snug, so you don't really need to bother with the mode-specific ones.

The backpack transformation is the same as the MG.

RG Unicorn Gundam - The waist extension and stopper lock gimmick is identical to the MG's, but the RG holds together much mor

The waist extension and stopper lock gimmick is identical to the MG's,
but the RG holds together much more securely.

Spread the upper body sides apart, open the ducts, then open the parts on top of the shoulders.

RG Unicorn Gundam - The skirt transformation works the same as the MG, but the way the front skirt opens has been changed to

The skirt transformation works the same as the MG, but the way the front skirt opens has been changed to a slide mechanism.
It's much easier to transform than the MG, which requires you to lift it up like a hinge.

Open and expand the upper shoulder section.

RG Unicorn Gundam - The forearm transformation process is a bit different from the MG — you need to open the cover on the bac

The forearm transformation process is a bit different from the MG —
you need to open the cover on the back of the hand first, then expand the armor in order from step 1 to 2.
Due to how the internal gimmick is locked in place, if you don't follow that order it won't expand properly.

The thigh and ankle extension gimmicks work the same way as the MG.

RG Unicorn Gundam - If you pull the vernier cover on the back of the leg downward, the psycho-frame on the front of the knee

If you pull the vernier cover on the back of the leg downward,
the psycho-frame on the front of the knee automatically pops out.

RG Unicorn Gundam - The internal gimmick linkage works as shown above, and it moves much more smoothly and locks in place muc

The internal gimmick linkage works as shown above, and it moves much more smoothly and locks in place much better than the MG.

RG Unicorn Gundam - The foot transformation process itself is the same as the MG, but the gimmick for bending the front of th

The foot transformation process itself is the same as the MG,
but the gimmick for bending the front of the foot is oddly awkward, and I imagine a lot of people will find it frustrating. (You'll know what I mean once you try it.)
Seems like you just have to work it back and forth a few times until you get the feel for it.

The shield transformation is also completely identical to the MG.

RG Unicorn Gundam - One last thing — spreading the armor on the forearm also exposes the psycho-frame, but lore-wise this isn

One last thing — spreading the armor on the forearm also exposes the psycho-frame,
but lore-wise this isn't a gimmick used for Destroy Mode.
It's actually something that only opens in the PG's Unchained Mode, so it seems like it was just thrown in as a bonus on the RG. ^^:

RG Unicorn Gundam - Fully transformed into Destroy Mode (1/6)

RG Unicorn Gundam - Fully transformed into Destroy Mode (2/6)

RG Unicorn Gundam - Fully transformed into Destroy Mode (3/6)

RG Unicorn Gundam - Fully transformed into Destroy Mode (4/6)

Fully transformed into Destroy Mode

RG Unicorn Gundam - Destroy Mode detail shots (1/4)

RG Unicorn Gundam - Destroy Mode detail shots (2/4)

Destroy Mode detail shots

Action pose using the forearm beam saber mount

RG Unicorn Gundam - Aerial firing pose (1/3)

Aerial firing pose

RG Unicorn Gundam - Beam saber action poses (1/3)

Beam saber action pose

Alongside the HGUC Unicorn Gundam Unicorn Mode released in 2009.
It's really grown over those 8 years...

Alongside the HGUC Unicorn Gundam Destroy Mode.
The RG is ever so slightly bigger here too.

Comparison with the MG

Alongside the RG Sinanju.

Alongside the RG First Gundam.

RG Unicorn Gundam - Straight build shots in Unicorn/Destroy Mode (1/4)

RG Unicorn Gundam - Straight build shots in Unicorn/Destroy Mode (2/4)

Straight build shots in Unicorn/Destroy Mode

In the summer of 2017, Bandai released the RG Unicorn — what I'd call their magnum opus. This kit had been highly anticipated even before release, with a lot of curiosity around how the transformation gimmick (already complex in the MG) would be pulled off, and how they'd overcome the durability issues that plagued the MG. Well, once we finally got to crack it open, Bandai delivered results that exceeded all expectations. ^^

The RG lineup has generally matched or even surpassed MG-level gimmick recreation, but the RG Unicorn stands out as a crystallization of Bandai's engineering prowess that blows the MG Unicorn out of the water in just about every way. On top of that, a first-edition limited release with box art featuring Unicorn Mode was also put out — the contents are identical though. (Are they telling us to buy two...?)

Box art comparison: first-edition limited (left) vs. standard edition (right)

First off, the transformation gimmick I was most curious about has been perfectly recreated in a form very close to the MG. Aside from the forearms and feet, the overall transformation is easier and the parts lock in place much more securely. It's honestly amazing that a gimmick this precise has been pulled off in such a small kit.

Most importantly, the articulation and joint strength — the biggest weaknesses of the MG — have improved to an incomparable degree. The limbs fold up crisply as a matter of course, and no matter what pose you put it in, the joints are solid and hold everything in place beautifully. Honestly, the MG was such a shaky kit that even standing it upright was a struggle thanks to those flimsy ankles. On top of that, there's even an extension frame built in for waist articulation amid all that complex transformation gimmickry — it's just packed with features that send a tingle right to your fingertips.

In nailing both the perfect transformation gimmick and the articulation/joint strength that are the heart and soul of the Unicorn Gundam, this kit deserves every bit of praise it gets — though I do have a few minor gripes.

For one, as you can tell from the complex parts structure, assembly is a bit of a grind. I wouldn't call it difficult exactly, but you really have to pore over the manual and handle a lot of tiny parts, so the fatigue factor is higher than with other RG kits. (That said, the satisfying click of everything coming together is equally rewarding.)

There are also some spots where the joint strength is either too stiff or the balance feels a bit off. The shoulder rotation joint in particular is so tight that if you apply force in the wrong direction, you risk breaking the joint parts inside the shoulder. Having a mix of joints that are overly stiff and joints that are just right makes the overall feel of posing not quite as smooth as you'd hope. The end result is still satisfying in terms of holding poses firmly, but I do wish the joint strength balance had been tuned just a little more carefully.

Also, when transforming into Destroy Mode, the front foot section is a bit fiddly to transform and lock in place, which means the foot doesn't grip the ground well — making both standing poses and ground-level action poses a bit of a hassle. It's a relief, at least, that the action base joint parts slide in and lock securely into the crotch area, so aerial poses are easy enough to pull off.

On top of that, the skirts tend to pop off during posing, and while the frame articulation is excellent on its own, there are spots where putting the armor on significantly cuts into the range of motion. The shoulders and waist are prime examples — the gimmick where the skirt mounting plate rotates, and the internal gimmick that extends the waist to lean forward, are both impressive, but once the armor is on, they don't seem to do much in practice..

There are some minor disappointments here and there, but I think it's partly because the base quality is so outstanding that even small shortcomings stand out more. A kit packed this full of internal gimmicks without a hair's breadth of wasted space — as a mecha plastic model enthusiast, I just couldn't help but be absolutely blown away.

Bandai has always put a special amount of effort into the Unicorn Gundam, and the RG Unicorn lives up to that tradition as a top-tier kit, following in the footsteps of the PG. What I especially appreciate is how it perfectly addresses the shortcomings of the MG version — though given that the MG Unicorn came out nearly 10 years ago, there's been a lot of technological progress in the meantime.

Anyway, if you're someone who enjoys precise mechanical gimmicks, this is an absolute must-have — a kit that's more than worthy of being called a masterpiece that will go down in Gunpla history, one way or another. The fact that you can get a plastic model of this caliber for ¥3800... now that's Bandai magic. :-)

RG Unicorn Gundam | 2017. 8 | ¥4,100

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.