Here we are - the last Planet Armor left to build. I wouldn’t go so far as to say I saved the best for last, but this should be a pretty good one to end on:
Spoiler Preface!!!
This post contains some spoilers from late in Build Divers Re:RISE. You may want to skip it if you haven’t watched the show.
About the Mobile Suit
Here is what the Gundam Wiki has to say about the Veetwo Gundam:
The Veetwo Gundam is the heavy weapons variant of the Core Gundam when docked with the Venus Armor. The firearms added to the backpack have excellent accuracy due to the enhanced sensors on the head unit. It is capable of hovering and has extremely high mobility during ground combat.The Veetwo Gundam also has high defensive abilities due to its additional armor and is capable of support roles, sniping, and ground combat at the same time, making it extraordinarily effective in both individual and cooperative battles.
To my eye, the Veetwo is very obviously an homage to Gundam Leopard from After War Gundam X:
Same color scheme, same focus on heavy weapons, and even the same ability to hover along the ground. As a big Gundam X fan, this homage makes me very happy.
Weapons
Here is the full inventory of all the Veetwo’s guns:
- Missile launchers on its arms
- A handheld “Big Beam Bazooka” that uses the Core Spray Gun as a base
- A shoulder mounted missile launcher
- A missile launcher in each leg
- A big beam cannon on its left shoulder
It’s a stupid amount of weaponry (in a good way); like Marsfour does with swords, Veetwo takes the firepower and pushes it to its limit.
Appearances
The Veetwo has a few appearances across the show, including in one of the very last episodes.
It first shows up in Episode 5, where it honestly doesn’t have much of a great showing. It gets tossed around by a giant enemy mecha, at least until it gets some help from its allies:
At that point it’s able to unload and help take the foe down:
It shows up again in limited fashion in Episode 7. This is where we are introduced to the idea of a “Limited Core Change”, in which Hiroto wears one Planet Armor but uses the weapon pack from another. In this case, he attaches the VeeTwo’s backpack to the Earthree Gundam:
It then shows up again in Episode 23, for the final showdown against the Seltsam and other assorted enemies. It starts off with a good showing, keeping targets at bay and putting a lot of pressure on them:
It even tries to fight the Seltsam at close range, and despite being at a disadvantage, it manages to get some hits in:
But after losing an arm, Hiroto does a limited change to equipe the Saturnix’s drill:
And later, in one of the show’s best, most cathartic moments, the armor participates in the greatest Core Change of all time:
About the G-3 Color Scheme
Just like the Marsfour kit came with a Core Gundam in a special Real Type color scheme, the Veetwo comes with a Core Gundam in a special G-3 color scheme.
This of course is a reference to the G-3 Gundam, which has a simple, muted, grey color palette:
And unlike the Real Type Core Gundam, the G-3 version actually shows up in Build Divers Re:RISE. In fact, as we learn in flashbacks, it is actually the Core Gundam’s original color scheme:
Yes, this is the color it had when Hiroto logged into GBN on its very first day (and suffered a massive engine failure):
Which in turn led to the greatest meet-cute in all of Gundam:
And it remained this color as Hiroto developed most of the Planet Armors. We see it with Mercury:
Venus (while also using Saturn’s Drill):
Earth:
Mars:
Jupiter (though it’s shown from so far away you can barely make it out):
And Uranus:
In other words, this isn’t just an alternate color scheme, but an important piece of Re:RISE lore.
About the Build
The kit is all assembled, and has been since December. I just haven’t done and detailing or color correction. Veetwo requires a bit more work than some of its siblings, and I just wasn’t in the mood for it during the holidays. But now I’m going to sit down and knock it out. See you then.