HGUniversal Century

RGC-80S GM Cannon (Space Assault Type)

A P-Bandai deep cut that moves better than a lot of kits twice its price.

MechaGrade Score

3.6/5

GM Cannon (Space Assault Type) · 1/144 · 2018

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2018

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

I came into this one expecting a reskin and walked away impressed by how much the joints actually do.

The GM Cannon Space Assault Type is a stripped-down, space-combat variant of the GM Cannon, and Bandai gave it ball-and-socket hips, a swinging waist, and ankles that tilt and swivel, which is more range than plenty of same-era HG kits bother with. It is not a showpiece and it will not wow anyone across the room, but it holds a pose with real confidence.

Best for: MSV/Origin completionists and HG builders who want surprisingly good articulation in an unglamorous, budget-friendly frame

The full review

What it is

This is the space-optimized cousin of the RGC-80 GM Cannon, built for the Federation's off-Earth forces with lighter leg armor (no need to counterbalance a big cannon in zero gravity) and the same vernier setup as the GM Sniper Custom bolted onto its backpack and legs. As a kit, it is a straightforward late-2010s HG in the peachy red and white GM Cannon scheme, and it builds fast. Where it earned my respect is the leg and hip engineering. The thighs swing forward and back on peg-and-socket joints, can rotate independently, and the skirt armor lifts out of the way so none of that range gets eaten by plastic collision. For an unglamorous MSV-adjacent release, that is a genuinely well thought out lower body.

The catch

The weapon loadout is thin. You get the 360mm rocket gun and a beam spray gun and that is basically it, no extra hands, no rifle to swap in, nothing to give the display shelf variety. The grip strength on the hands is on the weak side, so the bazooka can slip if you pose too aggressively. Neck and shoulder-cannon articulation lags behind the excellent hips and ankles, so the upper body reads a bit stiffer than the lower half promises. This was also a P-Bandai exclusive, so pricing and availability run higher than a standard retail HG and secondhand listings are your realistic path to it now.

Who it's for

If you are chasing Universal Century side material, the various GM Cannon and GM Sniper variants, or you just want proof that HG-era Bandai could put real engineering into a budget line without a flashy name attached, this kit rewards the search. It is also a decent pickup for anyone who wants a poseable 1/144 that will not fight you on hip or ankle bends. Skip it if you want a loaded weapons rack or a kit with strong out-of-box shelf presence, since the sparse accessories and softer hand grip mean this one is a poser's kit, not a diorama centerpiece.

What works

Ball-and-socket hips, swinging thighs, and tilt-and-swivel ankles give it more real leg articulation than most HGs its age
Lifting skirt armor and a pivoting rocket cannon mean the range of motion is not just theoretical, it is usable in real poses
Distinct MSV silhouette (lightened leg armor, GM Sniper-style verniers) that stands out next to a stock GM or GM Cannon

Worth knowing

Very thin weapon loadout, just the rocket gun and the beam spray gun, no spare hands or alternate rifle
Hand grip is on the weak side and can let go of the bazooka under heavier posing
Neck and shoulder-cannon articulation is noticeably behind the hips and ankles
P-Bandai exclusive, so price and availability are worse than a standard retail HG

Sold? Grab it.

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The build story

What the build is actually like, and the engineering worth knowing about.

This is a fast, uncomplicated HG build. Gate placement is typical for the line, nothing that needs heroic cleanup, and the peachy red and white molded plastic covers most of the color separation without leaning hard on stickers. Builders doing extra finishing (panel line scribing, seam work) report it takes the extra effort well, which tells you the base parts fit cleanly to begin with.

The standout engineering is entirely in the hips, thighs, and ankles: peg-and-socket thigh joints that swing and rotate independently, skirt armor that lifts to clear the leg swing, and ankles that both tilt and swivel on a ball joint. That lower-body kit gives it a pose range that punches above its HG price point, even though the upper body (neck, shoulder cannon, hand grip) and the bare-bones two-weapon loadout hold it back from being a complete package.

Lore & trivia

01The RGC-80S is an MSV-R (Mobile Suit Variation) redesign of the original RGC-80 GM Cannon, developed for the Earth Federation's off-Earth forces during the One Year War era.
02Its leg armor was intentionally lightened compared to the standard GM Cannon, since the extra plating existed to counterbalance the cannon's recoil on the ground, a non-issue in zero-gravity space combat.
03It shares its vernier thruster layout with the RGM-79SC GM Sniper Custom, bolted onto the backpack and legs for improved space mobility and attitude control.
04This HG was released in December 2018 as a Bandai Hobby Online Shop (P-Bandai) exclusive tied to the Mobile Suit Gundam: The Origin MSD (Mobile Suit Discovery) side material, and it was later reissued.