by Mark Sleppy

Based on the Japanese animated Sci-Fi series and movie, MOBILE SUIT GUNDUM, sometime in the future humanity will colonize space. The mobile suit will be developed for large scale space construction. These giant machines will allow a single person to handle large pieces of construction material with ease. They will be powered by fusion reactors and will be controlled bio-interactively.

Because of continued advances in war fighting technology, counter measures will reduce sensing to visible light only. This will force combat to be carried out at relatively close and congested range (~ 6000 m). In addition, combat engagements will regularly cross arena boundaries (i.e. space to atmosphere to ground.) requiring a high degree of system flexibility and adaptability. The future heroic pilot will need to easily interact with his machine while integrating visual, spatial, and actuational feedback in this demanding combat environment. The humanoid shape will best facilitate this by providing the most familiar pilot-machine interface. The machine will effectively become an extension of the pilot's own body. Building upon the technology of the space construction mobile suit, the close-combat mobile suit will be developed to meet these and other future requirements.

The kit started out as the Perfect Grade 1/60 scale RX-78-02 GUNDAM manufactured by Bandai Co., Ltd. of Japan. I have chosen to model the RX-78-03 prototype, as distinguished by its two tone gray combat paint scheme, in an active combat condition. For display, I have removed the left side lower arm, lower leg and waist armor to show some of the interior details. ALL the exterior armor pieces are removable. The model has 65 movable joints (including 3 in each finger) and has 30 opening hatches. A total of 50 hydraulic pistons in the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips, knees, ankles, and feet are movable. The eyes are lit with an LED powered by a watch battery in a special compartment in the head.

Model Data:

• Height 31cm. (12.2 in)
• Parts Count 626 + custom parts
• Construction time Estimated at over 150 hours.

Custom Detailing:

• Added numerous brass HO scale locomotive detail pieces to model interior hardware.
• Added over 14 feet of wire for hydraulic lines, fuel lines, wiring, etc. Aluminum fittings on hydraulics.
• Created battle damage on the exterior as would be caused by beam weapons (saber, rifle, etc.).
• Replaced the thick press on decals provided with the kit with various aircraft decals.
• Included oil and hydraulic fluid leaks and puddles.
• Washed and weathered exterior and interior. Paint wear on exterior.
• Crashed vehicle is from a Revell Robotech Defender Vexar kit with added cockpit mid internal detail.
• Small pilot figure is a pewter Star Wars Imperial Navy Trooper that has been slightly modified.
• The mud on base and lower legs was made with dry-wall spackle painted with red earth acrylic paint.
• The 1/60 scale boulder and trees are from the back yard.

Image: Left side

Image: Rear side

Image: Right side

Image: Shield damage

Image: Left leg detailing

Image: Waist detail