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Best Nu Gundam RG 2
May
1. The Legacy of the RX-93 Nu Gundam
Before cutting the plastic gates, it is essential to understand why the Nu Gundam commands such reverence. Debuting in the legendary 1988 animated film Mobile Suit Gundam: Char’s Counterattack, the Nu Gundam was designed by the Federation’s ace pilot, Amuro Ray, to settle his lifelong rivalry with Char Aznable and his MSN-04 Sazabi. Nu Gundam RG
As one of the most advanced Mobile Suits of the Universal Century (U.C.) timeline, the Nu Gundam famously integrated Psychoframe technology and the revolutionary Fin Funnels—remote-controlled weapon pods that created its iconic, asymmetrical silhouette. The image of the Nu Gundam, white armor gleaming against the dark void of space, has remained an immortal symbol of the mecha genre for over three decades.
2. A Design Revolution: Moving Beyond the “Early RG Syndrome”
To appreciate what makes the RG Nu Gundam a masterpiece, one must understand the history of the Real Grade line. Introduced in 2010, the 1/144 RG line promised “real-world mechanical detail” combined with a pre-molded inner skeleton known as the Advanced MS Joint system. While technologically mind-blowing, these pre-molded frames suffered from a major flaw over time: stress wear. Kits would become loose, floppy, and fragile—a phenomenon Western fans dubbed “Early RG Syndrome.”
With the RG Nu Gundam, Bandai executed a brilliant paradigm shift:
Ditching the Full Pre-Molded Frame: Bandai moved away from the one-piece inner skeleton. Instead, they adopted a multi-layered assembly process akin to a miniature Master Grade (MG, 1/100 scale). The Advanced MS Joint plastic is used sparingly, primarily confined to the mechanical joints within the Fin Funnels.
Imposing Scale and Presence: In Gundam lore, the Nu Gundam is a massive machine, standing at over 22 meters tall. Translated into 1/144 scale, the RG Nu Gundam stands at roughly 15 to 16 cm tall. This makes it significantly larger than standard 1/144 High Grade (HG) kits, matching the height of smaller Master Grade kits. It commands an immediate, dominant presence on any shelf.
Subtle Color Separation: Bandai didn’t just use plain white armor. The kit utilizes three distinct shades of white, off-white, and light gray, alongside deep navy blue and bright yellow accents. This multi-tonal color separation adds massive visual depth without requiring a single drop of paint.
3. The Unboxing and Building Experience
Cracking open the box reveals a collection of runners packed with crisp, razor-sharp molded details. What immediately stands out is the complete absence of massive foil sticker sheets for color correction; every vent, camera lens, and mechanical highlight is a separate piece of colored plastic.
The Inner Frame: Sturdy and Organic
Building the inner frame feels like constructing a real piece of military hardware. Because you assemble the skeleton piece-by-piece using dense, high-quality ABS and PS plastic, the joints feel incredibly tight and robust. There is a satisfying weight to the build that older RG kits completely lacked.
Armor Layering and Under-gating
The engineering of the outer armor armor is nothing short of sorcery. Bandai strategically placed under-gates (where the runner gate connects to the underside of the piece rather than the visible edge) on many prominent armor pieces. This drastically reduces visible nub marks, ensuring a clean, professional finish even for straight builders who don’t paint their kits.
4. Articulation and Mechanical Gimmicks
The phrase “action figure-like poseability” does not do justice to what the RG Nu Gundam can achieve. It features an array of interlocking armor plates that slide, extend, and retract as the joints bend.
The Torso and Crunch
Thanks to a multi-segmented spine, the chest can tilt forward into an extreme crunch, backward for flying poses, and twist laterally at the waist. When the torso bends, internal gold and silver pieces peek through the gaps, mimicking working hydraulic pistons.
The Legs: Masterful Displacements
The leg articulation is arguably the highlight of the entire build. When you bend the knee past $90^\circ$, the thigh armor splits and slides dynamically along the frame. The shin plates shift slightly to accommodate the calf thrusters, and the multi-segmented foot allows for rock-solid stability even when tilting the ankles outward for wide, aggressive ground stances.
Shoulder and Arm Mechanics
The shoulder armor is mounted independently from the arm, allowing the arms to lift straight up or swing forward horizontally across the chest. This wide range of motion is crucial for recreating the Nu Gundam’s iconic beam saber draw or its dynamic shield-wielding poses.
5. Armaments and Accessories
The RG Nu Gundam does not skip on its arsenal. It comes fully equipped with its complete cinematic loadout:
| Weapon / Accessory | Features & Mechanical Gimmicks |
| Beam Rifle | Cleanly molded with a separate gray color split on the barrel. It can be mounted onto the back waist armor when not in use. |
| Shield | Features full internal mechanical frame detailing underneath, individual missile pods, and a hidden beam cannon. It mounts securely to the forearm via a sliding clip. |
| Hyper Bazooka | Includes an extending barrel gimmick to replicate its ready-to-fire state. It can be latched onto the center of the backpack. |
| Custom Beam Sabers | Comes with two distinct sabers: a standard one stored in the left forearm with a deploying gimmick, and a heavy-duty dual-emitting saber stored on the backpack. |
The Fin Funnels: Engineering Triumph
The greatest worry for any Nu Gundam kit is the Fin Funnel system. In older MG and HG variations, the asymmetric weight of the six funnels mounted on the left side of the backpack would cause the kit to lean heavily, or the funnels themselves would unlock and cascade like a deck of cards.
The RG engineering completely solves this:
Rock-Solid Locking Mechanism: The funnels utilize a clever, secure sliding lock system that connects them into a rigid wing formation. They do not sag, rattle, or fall off under their own weight.
Fully Transformable: Each of the six funnels can be detached, bent into a stable “U” shape weapon mode, exposing the internal generators.
Perfect Balance: Despite the lopsided weight distribution, the kit’s superb ankle joints and solid heel design allow it to stand completely upright without a display base, even with all six funnels attached.
6. Realisti-Decals: The Finishing Touch
Bandai includes a generous sheet of Realistic Decals—high-quality, ultra-thin stickers that feature caution markings, metallic copper accents, and Amuro Ray’s iconic personal “Unicorn” emblem. When applied carefully, these decals mimic the look of dry transfers or water slides, making the 1/144 model look like a museum-grade replica.
7. Pros and Cons
While the kit is universally praised, an objective analysis requires looking at both its triumphs and its minor limitations.
Pros:
Sturdy Engineering: No fragile, flimsy joints; it is incredibly solid and built to last.
Zero Parts Fall-Out: Pieces stay exactly where they are supposed to, even during heavy handling.
Unrivaled Separation: Color accurate right out of the box with zero painting required.
Shelf Presence: Taller and bulkier than standard 1/144 kits, making it a standout center-piece.
Cons:
Action Base Not Included: To display the Fin Funnels deployed in mid-air flying actions, you will need to purchase a separate Action Base (such as Action Base 4 or 5) and specialized funnel effect clips.
Tiny Parts: Some head vulcan pieces and yellow chevron collar vents are incredibly small and can easily slip out of tweezers during assembly.
8. Final Verdict: A Must-Have Masterpiece
The RG 1/144 Nu Gundam is not just an incredible Gunpla kit; it is arguably one of the greatest scale plastic models ever engineered by human hands. It represents the perfect harmony between high-density structural detail and rugged, playable durability.
Whether you are a veteran modeler looking for a flawless, satisfying build, or a beginner looking to take your first step into the premium tier of the hobby, the RG Nu Gundam delivers an unmatched experience. Bandai took an absolute legend of the anime world and gave it the legendary model kit it rightfully deserved.
