MGAfter Colony

OZ-13MS Gundam Epyon [Cross Contact Color/Clear White]

The same brilliant Epyon mold, dressed in ghost white and gold like it just walked out of Treize's private collection.

MechaGrade Score

4.0/5

Gundam Epyon [Cross Contact Color/Clear White] · 1/100 · 2023

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2023

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

I think this is the best-looking release of the MG Epyon that Bandai has put out, and it is built on a mold that was already excellent.

The clear white and gold Cross Contrast Color scheme turns a suit usually rendered in deep purple and gunmetal into something that reads almost regal on a shelf. It is not a new engineering pass, it is a P-Bandai recolor, so you are paying a premium for looks rather than new gimmicks. If you already own a standard Epyon EW, this is a display piece, not an upgrade.

Best for: Endless Waltz fans and MG Epyon owners who want the definitive display colorway of a mold they already love

The full review

What it is

This is the 2023 Premium Bandai exclusive recolor of the 2011 MG OZ-13MS Gundam Epyon EW, molded in a pearlescent clear white with gold accents instead of the usual dark palette. Underneath the new plastic it is the same kit that has been a fan favorite for over a decade: full inner frame, removable armor, a transforming beam sword, an articulated heat rod whip, and the mobile armor transformation into the dragon-like flight mode. Building it feels familiar if you have done the original, but seeing that frame come together in white and gold instead of purple genuinely changes how the finished suit reads on a shelf. It looks like a ceremonial version of the war machine it actually is.

The catch

The clear white plastic shows nub and gate marks more readily than darker colors, so cleanup takes real patience if you want a clean finish, and several builders note this kit in particular needs more sanding attention than average. It is also a China-exclusive P-Bandai release, which means the included decals for this version have been called out as a weak point, not up to the standard of the color scheme itself. Knee bend on the EW version tops out around 90 degrees, less than the 180 you get on elbows, and P-Bandai pricing plus import costs put this well above a standard MG.

Who it's for

This is for the collector who already appreciates the Epyon mold and wants it in a colorway that actually shows off the sculpt rather than hides it in shadow, or the completionist chasing the definitive shelf version of this suit. If you have never built an Epyon before and just want the character in your collection, the standard EW release gets you the same engineering for far less money and hassle. Skip this one if you are hunting bargains, hate sanding clear plastic, or only care about screen-accurate colors, since this scheme never appeared in the show.

What works

Clear white and gold color scheme makes the sculpt's detail lines pop in a way the standard purple release never did
Full inner frame with removable armor and a working mobile armor transformation carried over intact from the acclaimed original mold
Heat rod whip has poly caps in every section, giving it real posability instead of just flopping in place

Worth knowing

Clear white plastic shows nub and gate marks more than standard colors, demanding extra sanding time
Exclusive decals included with this China P-Bandai release are considered a step down from the color scheme itself
P-Bandai pricing and import availability make it a real premium over the standard MG Epyon EW for the same underlying kit

Sold? Grab it.

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The build story

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

Assembly follows the well-worn 2011 MG Epyon EW path: inner frame first, then snap the armor panels over it, and the fit is confident throughout with none of the looseness that plagues some older MG kits. The catch with this particular release is the plastic itself. Clear white shows every nub scar and flow line, so plan on spending more time at the nipper and sanding stick stage than you would on a kit molded in a darker color if you want the finish to look as sharp as the color scheme promises.

Where this kit still earns its reputation is the engineering. The transformation from mobile suit to the dragon-like flight mode works cleanly without feeling like a compromise on either form, the beam sword's blade folds and extends through the hilt for storage, and the wing binders swing out wide enough to give the suit real presence in flight pose. Elbows bend a full 180 degrees and the heat rod's poly-capped segments let you whip it into dynamic combat poses rather than leaving it stiff at the shoulder mount.

Lore & trivia

01The Epyon was built by Treize Khushrenada using data gathered from the Gundams and the OZ-00MS Tallgeese, and in line with his philosophy of chivalrous combat it deliberately omits long-range weapons in favor of melee.
02Treize installed a modified version of Wing Zero's Zero System into Epyon, called the Epyon System, which fed the pilot combat data through a data helmet rather than Wing Zero's panoramic cockpit display.
03In the story, Heero Yuy and Zechs Merquise fought Wing Zero against Epyon to a stalemate and then swapped machines, with Zechs piloting Epyon for the remainder of the series.
04The original MG OZ-13MS Gundam Epyon EW mold this kit reuses first released in June 2011, and this clear white and gold Cross Contrast Color version arrived as a Premium Bandai China exclusive in December 2023.