HGUniversal Century

RX-79BD-2 Blue Destiny Unit 2 "EXAM"

The stolen prototype that turned a side story game into a cult favorite kit.

MechaGrade Score

3.7/5

Blue Destiny Unit 2 "EXAM" · 1/144 · 2017

GradeHG

Scale1/144

Released2017

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This is a genuinely satisfying weekend build that stretches the RX-79[G] Ground Type frame into something meaner looking, and it earns its spot in the HGUC line.

The dual backpack gimmick, letting you pull the space pack apart to reveal a ground-combat pack underneath, is the kind of small engineering flourish that makes an affordable kit feel considered. It is not flawless, a couple of joints need a light touch, but I came away from the build happy I picked it up.

Best for: 0080 and Blue Destiny fans who want the whole trio on the shelf without breaking the bank

The full review

What it is

The Blue Destiny Unit 2 is built on the same RX-79[G] Ground Type skeleton as its siblings, but Bandai redid the head into a proper Gundam-type face and gave it a backpack that actually does something. Pop the outer space-type cover off and there is a smaller ground-type pack nested inside, with a part swap for the exposed thrusters. It is a clever bit of design for a kit at this price point, and building it felt like Bandai actually thought about what makes this suit different from Unit 1 rather than just reskinning it. The white accent parts looked slightly off mid-build to me, then clicked into place once the model was fully assembled.

The catch

The arm armor connections are loose out of the box and pop off more easily than I would like during posing, so plan on a little glue or a shim if you intend to handle it a lot. The waist swivel joint and the grey chest connector piece can develop visible stress marks during assembly if you force them, sanding those mating surfaces down first solves it, but it is an extra step nobody warns you about on the box. The backpack-to-body connection for the pulled-out ground pack is fine but noticeably loose rather than a confident click. None of this is a dealbreaker at this price, but budget a little patience for the frame.

Who it's for

I would point this at anyone who already has or wants Blue Destiny Unit 1 and 3 and wants the set complete, or anyone curious about the 0080 side-story mobile suits who does not want to commit MG money to a niche pick. The color separation is strong enough that you can shelf this unpainted and still be happy, since molded color rather than stickers handles most of the job. If you want rock-solid, zero-fuss joints out of the bag, sand the recommended contact points first or expect a little slop in the waist and arms. Skip it if you need EXAM Unit 1 specifically for the story, this is the space-capable, more unstable second prototype.

The build story

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

The build moves fast since it shares the RX-79[G] Ground Type's basic frame and parts logic, so anyone who has built the earlier Ground Type kits will recognize the joint layout immediately. Gate placement is standard HGUC fare, nothing that demands special tools, though I would sand the waist swivel joint and the circular latch on the grey chest piece before final assembly rather than after, since forcing that connection is what causes the stress marks builders report.

Articulation is the strong point here, the frame carries over the Ground Type's wide range of motion, and the suit holds a rifle stance or a two-handed sword pose without fighting you. The EXAM head sculpt and the backpack part-swap are the standout engineering touches, giving you an actual transformation gimmick instead of a static accessory, and for the price the total accessory count (rifle, machine gun, shield, twin sabers) is generous.

Lore & trivia

01Blue Destiny Unit 2 originates from the 1994 PC/PS1 game Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: The Blue Destiny, not the animated 0080 series, though it was later folded into 0080-adjacent side-story material.
02The suit was developed by Professor Chlust Moses to continue testing the unstable EXAM combat-boost system after Unit 1, and unlike Unit 1 its EXAM system has no built-in shutoff limit, making it more dangerous to its own pilot.
03Unit 2 was hijacked by the Zeon officer Nimbus Schterzen, who killed Moses during the theft, which is why the kit includes optional shoulder armor parts for both the Federation blue and Nimbus's red Zeon markings.
04This HGUC release reuses the RX-79[G] Ground Type kit's frame engineering but adds a Gundam-type head and a nested dual backpack so the same suit can be built for space or ground deployment.