HGUniversal Century

RX-78-2 Gundam Ver.HotSix

The original Gundam, built on Bandai's sharpest HG frame yet, dressed up for a special-edition run.

MechaGrade Score

3.9/5

RX-78-2 Gundam · 1/144 · 2019

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2019

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is the Revive-generation HG RX-78-2 in a special colorway, and the engineering underneath is genuinely excellent for the price and size.

I like it because it does not feel like a budget kit even though it clearly is one. The frame moves the way the original 1979 design always deserved to move, and that alone makes this worth having on a shelf next to the fancier grades.

Best for: Gundam completionists and Universal Century fans who want the definitive small-scale RX-78-2 in a distinct paint scheme

The full review

What it is

This kit is built on the same runners as the acclaimed HGUC Revive RX-78-2, just finished in the Ver.HotSix color scheme, so what you get in the box is a compact 1/144 Gundam with a head that finally turns a full 360 degrees and looks upward, a torso that does not lock you out of a good pose, and double-jointed elbows and knees that hold their angle. Snapping it together took me an evening without rushing, and I kept stopping to wiggle a joint just to feel how far it would go. For a kit this size and this price, that is a genuinely satisfying build, not just an acceptable one.

The catch

The part count is modest, around 140 pieces across five runners, so detail is implied more than it is deep-cut, and there is a lone sticker for the crotch V that some builders skip entirely and just paint. The waist and hip joints, while much better than older RX-78-2 kits, can still loosen slightly after repeated re-posing, which matters if you plan to display it mid-action rather than standing still. As a special-edition colorway, this is not a kit you buy for boundary-pushing engineering, it is the familiar Revive frame in different clothes, so if you already own another Revive-based RX-78-2 the novelty here is cosmetic.

Who it's for

Grab this if you want a small, satisfying build of the original Gundam that actually poses well, or if you collect RX-78-2 variants and want this specific colorway on the shelf. It is also a solid pick for someone newer to the hobby who wants a kit that rewards careful gate cleanup without punishing a first attempt. Skip it if you already have a standard Revive HG RX-78-2 and are not chasing the color variant specifically, or if you want MG-level frame complexity, this kit will not scratch that itch.

The build story

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

Gate placement across the five runners is forgiving, nubs sit on flat or hidden surfaces so cleanup with a side cutter and a bit of sanding leaves barely a mark. Parts fit with a firm, confident click rather than the loose wobble older RX-78-2 kits were known for, and nothing needed glue or extra force to seat.

The engineering standout is the shoulder and head assembly, a hinged ball joint setup that lets the head tilt up and rotate a full circle, something the classic HG kit could never do. Combined with double-jointed elbows and knees, the suit can hit genuine dynamic poses, not just the stiff standing salute older grades were stuck with. The beam rifle, twin beam sabers, and hyper bazooka round out a loadout that punches above this kit's size and price.

Lore & trivia

01The RX-78-2 Gundam debuted in Mobile Suit Gundam in 1979 and its silhouette became the template the entire Gunpla hobby is built around.
02The Revive-generation HG mold this kit is based on was the most articulated small-scale RX-78-2 Bandai had released up to that point, thanks to a redesigned shoulder and head joint.
03Bandai has reissued the Revive RX-78-2 mold in numerous special colorways and anniversary editions over the years, a common practice for the hobby's flagship suit.