Series: High Grade Universal Century (HGUC) 1/144
Title: Operation V Set
Release Date: 2001
Suggested Price: ¥ 2600
No. of Parts: 100 + P.C.-123 + polycap sprue (Gundam) , 69 + P.C.-120 polycap sprue (Guncannon), 65 + P.C. 123 polycap sprue (Guntank)
Plastic colors: see below
Gimmicks: alternate color Gundam, Guncannon and Guntank, Operation V decal sheet

Introduction

Contributor: Jameson Leaser
Date: February 4, 2004

Originally released as a limited edition like 2000’s Extra Finish kits, this set collects the three “hero” kits from Mobile Suit Gundam in one convenient box.

RX-78-2 Gundam

The same kit as HGUC 021, molded in a slightly translucent white, light blue, red, a slightly translucent red, a darker yellow, and a dark greenish-gray with clear red beam saber blades. The Core Fighter is included.

RX-77-2 Guncannon

The same kit as HGUC 001, molded in dark red, a slightly translucent white, dark yellow, and dark greenish-gray. The spray missile launchers are included.

RX-75-4 Guntank

The same kit as HGUC 007, molded in medium blue, a slightly translucent white, red, dark yellow, dark greenish-gray, and a clear blue canopy. You can actually store the Guntank in this box without disassembling it (though you’ve gotta lie it on it’s side), if that counts.

Weapons and Accessories

Aside from the alternate colors, this set features a decal sheet permitting you to add "Operation V" markings to these kits, basically scaled-down Perfect Grade Gundam decals, though with decals of that type made for the Guncannon and Guntank, too. The "movie version" decals included with the HGUC 001 Guncannon are rendered in a slightly smaller scale here and do not appear on the decal placement chart included with the Operation V instruction booklet (suggesting these kits are are intended to be the "TV anime" version). The Operation V set instructions has a few HGUC diorama pics interlaced between the assembly instruction pages.

Conclusion

If you want to get all three kits at once and want all those little decals, too (and a few of them are really miniscule) or if you’re a fan of alternate color releases, then by all means, pick this set up. All three are good kits, and if you want "TV" and "Movie" versions of these suits, this is the way to go. However, it’s not a bargain (the yen price is the same as buying all three kits separately), and, since this became a standard release, it doesn’t have the "collector value" that the Extra Finish kits have.

Overall Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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