MGAfter Colony

OZ-13MS Gundam Epyon (Cross Contrast Colors/Clear White)

The same great EW-ver Epyon frame, dressed up as a relic carved from ice and gold.

MechaGrade Score

4.0/5

Gundam Epyon (Cross Contrast Colors/Clear White) · 1/100 · 2023

GradeMG

Scale1/100

Released2023

Runnersn/a

Check price on Amazon

Affiliate link. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

The verdict

This is the MG Epyon EW mold at its most striking, and I think the color story earns the premium.

Clear white armor over gold joints and heat rod reads like something excavated from a shrine, not molded in a Bandai factory. The suit underneath is the same well-regarded EW-version Epyon, so you get real engineering along with the finish. Where it loses points is the same place every P-Bandai exclusive loses points: the decal sheet.

Best for: Wing Gundam fans and MG collectors who want the definitive Epyon frame in a display-piece finish they will not see molded any other way

The full review

What it is

This is the P-Bandai Cross Contrast Colors release of the MG Epyon EW ver, built on the same frame Bandai refined for the standard Endless Waltz version rather than the older, stiffer original MG. Clear white parts make up the body armor, gold molded plastic covers the frame, joints, and heat rod, and mirror silver decals trace symmetrical engraving lines across the chest and shield. Finished, it genuinely looks like a different kit from the standard release. I went in expecting a simple recolor and came out impressed that the clear plastic and gold actually change how the sculpt reads, the dragon-mode silhouette especially benefits from the shift away from flat black and white.

The catch

The heat rod's segmented links and the shoulder joints still carry over the EW frame's known soft spots, the peg tolerances are tight enough that rough handling on the shoulder rotation can stress the joint, and the small ankle fins are prone to popping off during posing or transformation. As a China-exclusive P-Bandai item the decal sheet is the weakest part of the package, some of the mirror silver decals look a little flat compared to how good the molded gold looks next to them, and you will pay a real premium over the standard-color MG Epyon for what is fundamentally a colorway. Clear parts also show fingerprints and scuffing more readily than solid plastic, so gloves during the build are worth it.

Who it's for

Buy this if you already love the EW-version Epyon sculpt and want a display centerpiece rather than a second beater kit, the transformation gimmick and heat rod articulation are worth building even once, so getting them in a finish this distinctive is a genuine upgrade over doing it in white and blue again. Skip it if you have not built an Epyon before and are on a budget, the standard MG Epyon EW gives you the identical engineering for less money, and the Cross Contrast treatment only pays off once you already know you want the suit on your shelf permanently.

The build story

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

The build itself is the familiar EW Epyon experience, moderate part count for an MG, clean gate placement on most runners, and assembly that goes together without surprises once you are past the frame subassemblies. The clear white armor shows sanding marks and nub stress whiteness more than solid plastic would, so I took extra care trimming gates on those runners and avoided excess handling until the shield and armor panels were fully assembled.

The heat rod is the standout feature, each segment rides on its own poly cap so the whole thing droops and poses naturally instead of flopping or locking straight, and the beam sword's telescoping length gimmick still works well for switching between a compact blade and the full extended reach version. Transformation into mobile armor mode is satisfying and doesn't feel like an afterthought bolted onto the humanoid mode, the frame was clearly designed around both forms from the start.

Lore & trivia

01Gundam Epyon was designed by Treize Khushrenada using data drawn from the Tallgeese and the five Wing Gundams, built as a dueling machine with only short-range weapons because Treize valued honorable close combat over long-range firepower.
02The Epyon System is a modified version of Wing Gundam Zero's ZERO System, but instead of the panoramic cockpit display Wing Zero uses, the pilot wears a data helmet to interface with it.
03In mobile armor mode Epyon transforms into a shape modeled on a mythological dragon, with its claws doubling as landing gear since its main weapons become inaccessible in that form.
04This Cross Contrast Colors edition was a Gundam Base and P-Bandai China exclusive, first sold in 2023 and again through Hyper Plastic Model Fest 2024, pairing clear white molded armor with gold frame parts and mirror silver decals to evoke a sacred, engraved look.