Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

SD Gundam GP02A - After applying seals (1/4)

SD Gundam GP02A - After applying seals (2/4)

After applying seals

The elbow articulation you'd expect from a newer release.

SD Gundam GP02A - The massive vernier units on the sides of the shoulders move, and the gimmick where the inner center vernie

The massive vernier units on the sides of the shoulders in action.
The gimmick where the inner center verniers link up with the outer verniers is even reproduced!
Though the linked mechanism is a bit stiff.. it doesn't move all that smoothly.

The Atomic Bazooka articulation is just like the design specs.

The gimmick of securing the front of the Atomic Bazooka inside the shield is also reproduced.

SD Gundam GP02A - After attaching the Atomic Bazooka, you can extend the fixing pin secured at the back of the shoulder and r

After attaching the Atomic Bazooka,
you can extend the fixing pin secured at the back of the shoulder and rotate it forward.

There's even a thoughtful gimmick where the wrist bends downward to grip the Atomic Bazooka..

Atomic Bazooka mode complete!

SD Gundam GP02A - Shoulder verniers fully spread out. Though maybe because the verniers are heavy.. they do tend to droop dow

Shoulder verniers fully spread out
Though maybe because the verniers are heavy.. they do tend to droop downward over time.

SD Gundam GP02A - Atomic Bazooka firing pose (1/5)

SD Gundam GP02A - Atomic Bazooka firing pose (2/5)

SD Gundam GP02A - Atomic Bazooka firing pose (3/5)

Atomic Bazooka firing pose

The beam saber handle is stored in the side skirt..
but it's loose and keeps falling out T_T

Beam saber action

Together with the MG / HGUC GP02A.

The GP02A Physalis — the poster boy for chunky Gundams — has arrived as part of the new BB Senshi series. Maybe they got a boost of confidence from the quality of the previous SD First Gundam, because the GP02A also turned out to be a kit that exceeds expectations.

First off, true to the Physalis, it came out very chunky and thick for an SD — the height is similar to other kits, but the proportions are incredibly wide. The body itself is already bulky, and especially those vernier units on both shoulders are so puffed out that the total width ends up being about the same as two SD kits side by side. The box size is accordingly larger than other SD kits, and at ¥800 it's on the pricier side, but it definitely seems worth it..

The biggest selling point of the SD GP02A kit is that the reproduction of all the various gimmicks is nearly perfect. First, the Physalis's signature movable shoulder verniers are reproduced with a linked mechanism just like the MG. When you fold the outer verniers inward, the small inner verniers move along with them — it's a bit stiff and doesn't move smoothly, but the fact that it's been reproduced on an SD kit at all is pretty impressive ^^; You can also rotate the verniers and spread them out wide to the sides of the shoulders.. though the vernier cluster is a bit heavy, so they keep drooping downward, which is a bit of a shame..

The Atomic Bazooka gimmicks are also reproduced at nearly MG level — the function of storing the front section inside the shield, and the gimmick of rotating the rear unit at the back of the shoulder up and over to combine on top, are both well implemented. On top of that, a special wrist-bending gimmick has been added so the wrist tilts downward, letting it grip the Atomic Bazooka handle on top of the shoulder in a convincing way — nice little bonus!

The side skirt even reproduces the beam saber handle storage section the same way.. but the fit is loose so it keeps falling out, which is a downside. I dropped it while taking review photos and lost it.. then spent about a week looking for it. ㅡ,.ㅡ

The stiffness of the vernier linked mechanism and the looseness of the beam saber are a bit disappointing, and actually recreating the Atomic Bazooka firing scene is somewhat complicated and tricky in practice.. but when you look at the gimmick reproduction and the distinctive proportions, this is definitely a "masterpiece" among SD kits. Following the previous SD First Gundam, you can really feel a certain level of craftsmanship here too. Either way, if you're a fan of the Physalis and love the 0083 series, this is an SD kit worth highly recommending — no, it's a must-have. :-)

SD Gundam GP02A | 2000.1 | ¥800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.