RGRebuild of Evangelion

Evangelion Unit-08α (Ville Custom)

Mari's Evangelion, refit for the Wunder and built around a joint system that twists through the spine instead of just the waist.

MechaGrade Score

3.9/5

Evangelion Unit-08 · non-scale · 2021

GradeRG

Scalenon-scale

Released2021

Runnersn/a

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The verdict

This kit depicts the Ville Custom refit of Unit-08 Alpha as it appears at the start of Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, and the engineering focus lines up with what that suit needs to sell as a design, real spine movement and arm-twisting joints that read as a living machine rather than a mecha with a waist swivel.

The oversized Super Long-Distance Rifle is the visual signature and it is included with its own grip accessory, which is a thoughtful touch for a weapon that size. It is a strong pick specifically for Mari's suit, less of a must-buy if that character or configuration is not what you are after.

Best for: RG Eva builders who specifically want Mari Makinami's Unit-08 Alpha in its Ville Custom, Evangelion 3.0 configuration

The full review

What it is

This is the Real Grade release of Evangelion Unit-08 Alpha in its Ville Custom configuration, the refit seen at the opening of Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo aboard the flying carrier Wunder. Like the rest of the RG Eva line, the frame is built around spine movement and arm-twisting joints rather than a simple waist swivel, chasing the natural, human-like posing the anime's character animation relies on. The signature Super Long-Distance Rifle is the headline accessory, sized to actually look oversized in hand, and it ships with its own dedicated grip part rather than forcing a standard hand to hold an awkward weapon.

The catch

This is a specific character and configuration pick rather than a general-purpose Eva kit, if Mari's suit or the Ville Custom refit is not what you are after, the appeal narrows fast. Like every RG Eva kit it is non-scale, built from the same thin, organic-styled frame parts, so joints reward a light hand rather than forceful posing, and the oversized rifle's size means it needs real shelf space or a stand to display without straining the arm joints holding it.

Who it's for

If Mari Makinami's Evangelion is the one you want on your Rebuild Evangelion shelf, or you specifically want the Ville Custom 3.0 refit rather than an earlier configuration, this kit delivers a well-engineered, character-accurate build. If you want a more general entry point into the RG Eva line, Unit-01 or Unit-00 make more sense as a first build before chasing a specific character variant like this one.

What works

Spine-movement and arm-twist joint system gives it the same natural, human-like posability as the rest of the RG Eva line
Oversized Super Long-Distance Rifle ships with its own dedicated grip part instead of forcing a generic hand to hold it
Faithfully captures a specific, recognizable configuration from Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo rather than a generic repaint

Worth knowing

A character and configuration-specific pick, less useful if you are not specifically after Mari's suit or the Ville Custom refit
The oversized rifle needs real display space and a light hand to pose without straining the arm joints
Non-scale, thin, organic-styled frame parts like the rest of the RG Eva line, so joints want careful handling

Sold? Grab it.

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The build story

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

The build carries over the RG Eva format, spine and shoulder joints doing the posing work instead of a simple hinge system, so if you have built another Eva kit in the line the assembly logic will feel familiar. The rifle assembly is the standout step, sized to actually feel oversized in the finished pose rather than a token accessory.

Seven interchangeable hands per side give real flexibility for gripping the rifle at different angles or posing open-handed, and the twin Progressive Knives and Pallet rifle carry over the same weapon-handling detail as the rest of the line. The dedicated rifle grip part is a small but genuinely useful engineering choice, most kits would have just reused a standard fist.

Lore & trivia

01Unit-08 Alpha in its Ville Custom configuration appears at the opening of Evangelion: 3.0 You Can (Not) Redo, deployed from the flying carrier Wunder.
02The suit is traditionally piloted by Mari Illustrious Makinami, a character introduced starting with Evangelion 2.0.
03The kit's Super Long-Distance Rifle ships with a dedicated grip accessory built specifically to hold the oversized weapon.