Unbox the vintage Gundam RX77-2 Guncannon:
The RX-77-2 Guncannon, the stalwart mid-range support mobile suit of the Earth Federation from the original Mobile Suit Gundam series, has been a mainstay of Bandai’s model kit lineup since the very beginning. The journey of the Guncannon through the ages of Gunpla is a fascinating one, with vintage kits offering a direct, unvarnished connection to the hobby’s origins that stands in stark contrast to the sophisticated engineering of modern releases.
The story of the Guncannon model kit begins in 1981, the same year the anime first aired, with the release of the very first 1/144 scale kit. This kit, often referred to as an “old kit” (or kyuu kit in Japanese), is a time capsule of early model-making. It features a simple, blocky design with very limited articulation; the head can barely rotate, the elbows and knees can only manage a bend of about 20 degrees, and the legs have minimal forward and backward movement. Building it requires model cement, as it is not a snap-fit kit, and its parts are molded in a single color, demanding a full paint job to look like the on-screen version. The package is delightfully sparse, including the Guncannon itself, its beam rifle, the two signature shoulder cannons, and a small sheet of marking stickers. For many veteran modelers, this kit, with its price of around 300 yen, is a source of immense nostalgia, representing the dawn of the Gunpla phenomenon. A companion 1/100 scale “No Grade” kit was also released in March 1981. Like its smaller sibling, it required glue and paint, offering a larger canvas for those who wanted a more substantial display piece.
A significant leap forward came in 1999 with the launch of the High Grade Universal Century (HGUC) line. The very first kit to bear this prestigious new label was the 1/144 scale RX-77-2 Guncannon, marking a new era for the franchise. This kit was a revelation compared to its 1981 predecessor. While still simple by today’s standards, it introduced vastly improved articulation, including a ball-jointed neck, elbows that could bend up to 90 degrees, and double-jointed knees. It was a snap-fit kit, requiring no glue, and featured better color separation, making it much more accessible straight out of the box. The kit also came with a new, optional weapon: a pair of spray missile launchers to swap with the standard cannons. Even with its age, some reviewers note that it holds up well, though its articulation and overall build quality are not quite on par with the most modern HG kits.
