Kit Review

Straight build

RX-78 - straight build with no seals applied

Perfect Gundam - straight build with no seals applied

The universal size reference — compared to a cigarette pack

SD Perfect Gundam - As you probably know, you swap it into the Perfect Gundam by adding external armor over the RX-78 First G

As you probably know, you swap it into the Perfect Gundam by adding external armor over the RX-78 First Gundam's base body.

RX-78 front (with seals applied)

RX-78 rear (with seals applied)

Perfect Gundam front (with seals applied)

Perfect Gundam rear (with seals applied)

SD Perfect Gundam - There's a really generous selection of weapons for the RX-78. The weapon lineup feels almost like looking

There's a really generous selection of weapons for the RX-78.
The weapon lineup feels almost like looking at the MG v1.5 — seems like everything the First Gundam could ever need is in here.

SD Perfect Gundam - The Gundam Hammer, Beam Jabelin, and Bazooka are three weapons added on a new ¥100 runner when the kit wa

The Gundam Hammer, Beam Jabelin, and Bazooka are three weapons added on a new ¥100 runner when the kit was reprinted in '99.
I'm not sure about the others, but that Gundam Hammer's chain is an actual metal chain..!!!

SD Perfect Gundam - Surprisingly, the yellow duct section on the chest has color separation. You could almost call this the o

Surprisingly, the yellow duct section on the chest has color separation.
You could almost call this the origin of Bandai SD color separation.

SD Perfect Gundam - The Perfect Gundam armor also has color separation, and on top of that, some oddly specific parts on the

The Perfect Gundam armor also has color separation,
and on top of that, some oddly specific parts on the backpack are color separated too.

Action pose with standard weapons

Beam saber action pose

Bazooka and Beam Jabelin. (Though the javelin looks less like a throwing spear and more like just a club..;;)

SD Perfect Gundam - From the other side.. the insides of the bazooka and beam javelin show the classic hollow-back look, no s

From the other side.. the insides of the bazooka and beam javelin show the classic hollow-back look, no surprises there;

SD Perfect Gundam - The Gundam Hammer, complete with the luxury touch of a real metal chain.. though I have to wonder if it's

The Gundam Hammer, complete with the luxury touch of a real metal chain..
though I have to wonder if it's a bit much for this kit;

Perfect Gundam action pose

SD Perfect Gundam - You can fire missiles from the shoulder cannons via a spring mechanism, but they're so stiff they barely

You can fire missiles from the shoulder cannons via a spring mechanism, but they're so stiff they barely come out..
They're so stiff they barely come out -_-; Worst firing performance of any old-school SD!

Looks like they put a little extra effort into the Perfect Gundam backpack details..

Perfect Gundam Beam Jabelin action pose

Comparison with the MG v1.5 and HGUC. That bluish tint really jumps out at you;;

Comparison with the MG Perfect Gundam's base body. Just a comparison.. ^^;

Comparison with the MG Perfect Gundam.

A shot with the GG Series Johnny Ridden's Gelgoog and Zeong.

SD Perfect Gundam - Together with BB Senshi No. 20 Perfect Gundam. The Gundam Hammer, Beam Jabelin, and Bazooka were added fo

Together with BB Senshi No. 20 Perfect Gundam.
The Gundam Hammer, Beam Jabelin, and Bazooka were added for the G Generation release.

Wow, it took all the way until G Generation No. 13 for the First Gundam to get an SD release~
Since they followed BB Senshi's release order, that's just how it worked out — but the lineup is basically BB Senshi No. 20 Perfect Gundam with extra weapons (Gundam Hammer, Beam Jabelin, Bazooka) thrown in. Just like the BB Senshi version, this kit lets you add armor over the RX-78 base body to build the Perfect Gundam.

Personally, I think the overall proportions of the kit aren't too bad. It's got that SD feel to it, I'd say. The color separation is another story though.. The torso and feet are handled with seals to some extent, but the overall color combination is a bit iffy. Same goes for the Perfect Gundam — it's very much an old-school SD thing. Our standards have just gotten way too high these days. :-)

One standout point is that the weapons for the First Gundam are incredibly generous — almost MG v1.5 level. On top of the beam rifle, shield, and beam saber that were already included, the G Generation release added a bazooka, beam javelin, and Gundam Hammer, giving it a nearly full-option weapon set. And as you can see in the photos, the Gundam Hammer's chain is an actual metal chain..! It looks great, but it feels like maybe a bit overkill for this kit; And if you look closely at the chain, it's also a little... rough around the edges ^^; Still, for an SD kit, you can't really complain.

Another thing worth noting is that this is the first SD to use what you'd call a true polycap. Polycaps were actually used in GG Series kits No. 11 (Bound Doc) and No. 12 (ZZ) as well, but those just felt like the plastic joint parts had been swapped out for rubber — not much of a difference really. But the polycaps in this Perfect Gundam give you that genuine polycap feel — that slightly stiff yet smooth rubber friction. It's something you really have to feel in person, but there's definitely a noticeable difference compared to the earlier polycap SD kits.

That said, this kit has the worst missile-firing gimmick of any GG Senshi kit, which is kind of a core feature of the line;; The switch gets caught inside and barely fires, and even when it does, the missile doesn't fly very far. You have to trim and fiddle with things here and there just to get it to barely launch. On top of that, in true old-school fashion, there are quite a few step mismatches and mold flash lines throughout.

Since the SD RX-78 has been completely revamped into a much higher-quality BB Senshi release, there's really no reason to go with this GG Series version for the RX-78. And since the Perfect Gundam itself got its own separate BB Senshi kit too, the appeal is even less. Unless you just want to experience what the old-school SD RX-78 was like back in the day, or you're specifically after the metal chain and the generous weapon set that only this version has — I'd say go straight for the BB Senshi. ^^

SD Perfect Gundam | 1999.6 | ¥400

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.