| HGUC
1/144 RX78-GP03 Gundam "Dendrobium Orchis"
Series: High Grade Universal Century (HGUC) 1/144 Title: RX-78GP03 Gundam "Dendrobium Orchis" Release Date: 03/2002 Suggested Price: ¥ 28000 No. of Parts: 409 Orchis parts (including screws) + P.C.-119 polycap sprue and 158 Stamen parts + P.C.-123 + polycap sprue (that’s a lotta parts!) Plastic colors: light gray, dark green; 025 HGUC Gundam GP03S colors Gimmicks: limited edition Gundam Evolve 4 Region 2 DVD, 360mm hyper bazooka for GP03S, slick Japanese-language construction manual
Contributor: Jameson Leaser Date: January 4, 2004 This one’s gonna be a little different from my other HGUC reviews. Then again, this kit is a little different from the other HGUC releases.... I doubt I was the only one stunned when I heard Bandai was putting out a 1/144 scale version of this OVA monster. I knew the kit would be in the Perfect Grade size and price range, and was intrigued by the Gundam Evolve DVD, having seen the one featured in the Perfect Grade AEUG RX-178 Gundam Mk-II. I hoped this kit would address some of the limitations I found in the HGM 1/550th scale version of this armor.
This kit comes with it’s own Stamen model with a weapon / accessory loadout (excluding the core-fighter) exactly the same as the 025 HGUG GP03S kit. Replacing the Core Fighter is a 360mm Zeta Gundam-era hyper bazooka (found on Orchis sprue P). Unfortunately, this weapon is not only too small for accurate posing as-is (being designed to be stored in the Orchis’ weapon pods) , but the angle of the grip makes it almost impossible to use with the suit at all (unless you want to under-arm it, and even then it barely works). Cutting and gluing the handle about 60 degrees forward corrects most of the mounting problems, though it’s a pain in the butt. The 360mm hyper bazooka included with the Gundam Mk-II is a much better fit. FYI, the 360mm hyper bazooka appears in the anime in the 2nd opening credit sequence as well as in episode 11.
The scale and proportions are pleasing, though they are something of a compromise considering the “flexible” nature of the animated version. The colors are half correct - the’ve got the green-gray secondary color right, but the main body of the Orchis should match the Stamen’s white. The clever folding Stamen manipulator claws do not reach to both ends of the weapon pods (they reach just about halfway) and the Orchis weapon loadout reflects this. Only half of the weapon silos are functional, and their placement, although within reach of the HGUC Stamen manipulator arms, is not true to the anime. The I-Field generator’s louvres are not functional, instead, one flips a plate for the “closed” and “open” look, the blank hole in the anime and HGM release is replaced with a mechanically-detailed surface. The mega beam rifle is not poseable as it is in the anime, but the Stamen can reach and be made to hold the weapon’s trigger. The heavy Orchis manipulator claws are nicely done, their only flaw being a weak connection on the the arm cuff armor piece. It’s dense, rich surface detail should make washers and panel-liners happy...perhaps TOO happy! Finishing this kit takes a lot of patience, and painting is required to make it look like it should.
Overall, this kit is precisely what it says it is - a HGUC kit. Don’t let it’s large size and number of parts fool you. In no way is this kit in the Perfect or Master Grade leagues. It’s surface detail and appearance are pleasing, but I was hoping for more for my money. If you want a good-looking model of this mobile armor that is scaled to other Gundam 0083 kit releases and has optional resin parts designed to enhance it’s capabilities available, I’d suggest the HGM 1/550 Dendrobium, as I cannot recommend this kit for the general Gundam/mecha modeler. Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars <<back to Gundam |
