Introduction by Metal Slime

This RX-78 Type were constructed total number of 8, at the head quarter of EFF in Jaburo, South America. The first batch was rolled out in July of 0079; Unit No. 1 (RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam) was partially painted with black over its silvery-gray armor. RX-78-2 was painted with white and some decorative red. After that they were loaded into a Pegasus class space cruiser “White Base” and shipped to the colony "Side-7" for testing in space. Some sources stated that unit-3 was also sent to Side-7 at the same time. During the test over there, unit-1 was re-painted into colorful demonstration scheme, basically white, with Red and Blue Accent. [Imagine RX-78-2, with Blue Goggle, White mouthpiece/ backpack, and Red upper chest with white collar]. While No.2 was painted with the scheme that last long through out the one-year war.

Not long after the testing in Side-7 was conducted, Zeon Military Intelligence has sent their troops for a search-and-destroy mission. Unit-1 was destroyed, while a 15 year-old civilian named Amuro Ray piloted unit-2 and managed to flee side-7 with White base. From that day, the main computer in RX-78-2 Core Block was fed with enormous fight/flight data along with the growth of New Type power within its pilot. This data was later transferred to other mass-produced MSs [RX-79G & RGM Series] that were being produced at Jaburo.

Unit-3 was later picked up and repaired. It was used as a test bed under the concern of Reflex and NT effect. EFF has also applied Magnet Coating Technology in order to increase its response speed that seems to be lacking in unit-2 by the growing demand of Amuro Ray's NT Capabilities.

Source: Insrtuction manual
1/144 MSV RX-78-1 (1983)
1/100 MG RX-78-3 (1996)
1/100 RX-78-2 (Ver. 1.5) (2000)

Katoki Version

RX-78 Ver Ka first debuted on page 3 of Bandai’s 1/144 RX-78 Gundam HG (Hi-Grade) instruction manual in 1990 (Gundam 10th Anniversary). The description was RX-78 "ACCESS FULL HATCH OPEN”. It is a stunning drawing by the renowned mecha designer, Hajime Katoki, illustrated Gundam with 77 hatches opened for maintenances. His signature on the left heel was “Ka”, which was needless to say, is where the version name came from. Throughout the past 10 years, there were many GKs for Gundam Ver. Ka, but the most impressive one is surely the B-Club 1/35 (Model by ZOKEI-MURA of Volks) resin kit with massive volume, and stand as high as 63 centimeters (about 25 inches).

(Source : HG 1/144 RX-78 Instruction Manual and HJ 3/95)

Model

The model is sculpted by Hiroaki Fukuda (whose excellent site is a prototype for this site), and is originally commissioned by Kotobukiya to sale at summer Wonfest '92 at 5,000 yen. All 150 copies of it were sold out within 15 minutes of gate opening, which was the record at the time. According to the man himself, upon asking to identify the kit, he said "if the back side of the shield looks rather plain and boring, then that must be mine". :D

Later on B-Club commercially release it with a new head (sculpted by Hiro & Studio Reckless) at the price of 6,800 yen. And recently, version 2.0 of the model is out. This time, the new version is now wholly sculpted by Hiroyuki Komatsubara (yup, he's that 'reckless' guy). It comes with a better joint structure/poseability overall, and some of his signature panel line ornaments. The price though, has sky rocketed to 14,800 yen.

I got this kit in 94 at a bargain deal, with the box all beaten up. Seems like someone bought it and returned for some reasons. Lucky me.

Some of the construction feel a little awkward at the time, but is something I came to be accustomed with later on with the recycle parts of this kit being used in the various GM GKs B-Club released. In this version, the posebility leave a lot to be desired as the old standard Kotobukiya set of joints can barely support the resin's weight. Particularly, the knee and ankle area are prone to falling down. I cured it with a simple drop of CA glue. Old technologies aside, the sculpt is excellent, and remains one of my favorite kit to date.