Gquuuuuux is done and over with, and let’s just say that in the end it left me with a really bad taste in my mouth. I need a certain kind of build to act as a palette cleanser. Something familiar. Classic. Iconic. Something to take my mind off the show’s bad attempt at UC fanfiction:
The Master Grade 3.0 of Gramps. Yeah, that should fit the bill.
About the Model Kit
I actually just mentioned this kit very recently! But to re-iterate - this is the third Master Grade model made for the Grandaddy Gundam, hence the 3.0 moniker (and if I recall correctly, it is still the only mobile suit to get a 3.0 release).
Both this kit and the original Real Grade Gundam (released in 2010) were designed to look like the lifesize Gundam statue they erected in 2009 to celebrate the franchise’s 30th anniversary:
While there are of course going to be differences in their build and engineering, as far as I can tell the two models look strikingly similar; they even have the same accessories and gimmicks (including a working, fully transformable Core Fighter).
That being said, I am curious to see how it really differs from the Real Grade. Obviously this MG won’t be using a prebuilt inner fame, which in theory should lend to better articulation and sturdiness. But how else do they differ? Is there any noticeable difference in part or color separation? I can’t wait to find out.
About the Visual Design
I really wanted to like the Origin version of the Gundam, what with its boxy, simple, old school appearance. But try as I might, I wasn’t really feeling it. There are so many things that feel … off about it, including the shape of its head and its shoulders:
Meanwhile, I’ve always really loved the look of the Real Grade model. Sure, it’s a bit more modern looking (and much meaner looking) than it did back in 1979, but it scratches a particular itch for me. I can’t wait to see what it looks like at 1⁄100 scale.
Fun Stuff from the Manual
The manual has several pages of flavor text, and I wanted to share some of the more interesting bits.
First, there is a two page spread that’s all about the Gundam’s famed Magnetic Coating. Among many things we see are timelines of mobile suits which used the the technology, one of which starts with OG Gundam and leads us all the way to … the Asshimar?
It turns out that this is not as arbitrary as it may seem! According to the text, Magnetic Coating was particularly useful on transformable mobile suits, which never dawned on me before, but now that I think about it, it makes perfect sense. A compound that makes joints move more effortlessly would be hugely useful on a mobile suit that has to move its joints around a lot to change shape.
Act Zaku
I also learned from the manual that there was one Zeon MS that also used Magnetic Coating - the [Act Zaku](https://gundam.fandom.com/wiki/MS-11_Act_Zaku). I know this one has a lot of fans, and I guess this is just one more point in its favor.Glup Shitto Mosk Han
I also also found a tinty section of the manual dedicated to Mosk Han the inventor of Magnetic Coating. I'm pretty sure nobody thought about this guy at all in the time between when this manual was published in 2013, and when he made a brief cameo in GQuuuuuux
We also get a timeline of Master Grade RX78-2’s:
There’s a few on here I don’t recognize, including:
- The Version 1.5. If I understand the translation correctly, this was an attempt to take some of the technology used in the Perfect Grade Gundam and translate it to Master Grade size.
- The “One Year War” version. According to the Wiki, this was launched to promote a Playstation 2 game. It focuses on having improved articulation, and as such doesn’t include a Core Fighter. However, it makes up for this by including the Gundam Hammer.
Later on, there are some pages that call out some of the features on this kit.
I just want to say that I love how so many of the promotional photos for this model kit show it dual wielding its weapons. It reminds me of this meme:
Anyway, there are two things I found interesting on this page. The first is that the kit allows you to choose between the original joints, and the Magnetic Coating joints:
I think I may go with that option, simply because I don’t have any other models where it’s an option.
Second, the manual refers to the unit’s backpack as a Ransel, which admittedly is a word I’ve never heard before:
Thankfully it wasn’t too hard to research. Apparently “Ransel” is a Dutch term for a backpack, and since the Dutch once had strong ties to Japan, at some point it evolved into the Japanese term “Randoseru”, which nowadays is mostly used to refer the kinds of backpacks kids wear:
I guess the Gundam’s backpack does kind of look like that, so sure, that’s as good a word as any. But now I also want to see some artwork of the Gundam in a schoolboy’s uniform running to class with a piece of toast in his mouth.