MSiA RGM-79 GM + RB-79 Ball


General and Technical Data

Series: Mobile Suit in Action!! (MSiA)
Title: RGM-79 GM + RB-79 Ball
Release Date: 2000
Suggested Price: ¥ 1200
No. of Parts: 1 GM figure + 1 Ball figure + 6 parts
Plastic colors: red, white, green, yellow, olive gray, gunmetal
Gimmicks: beam spray gun, beam saber, bullpup machine gun, hand (3), bonus Ball figure
 
Introduction

Contributor: Wagner
Date: December 6, 2006

I'm fond of tracking down and reviewing older MSiA. Which is why I'm
reviewing the version 1 of the GM, which comes with the most adorable cannon fodder, the Ball. The GM is one of the first fodder suits introduced in the Mobile Suit Gundam series. It was built from data on the V Project, based on the Gundam's data (or the Experimental unit, depends on which storyline you follow). We know how the second version stacks up, but let's take a trip down nostalgia lane and see how well the first version stands.

Head


The head is mounted on a ball joint, and has unrestricted movement
horizontally, and full movement vertically. This one is the Japanese
release, so all the panel lines are done in black and the barrels for the
head vulcans are painted black. The visor and rectangle on the "mohawk" are painted in a semi bright green. The rest of the head is done in white.

Torso


The torso, get this, can go horizontally 360 degrees, since it's
construction is based on the version 1 Gundam, so the Torso is mounted on a peg. The skirt armor is one piece, and has a storage peg for a hyper
bazooka, even though this figure does not come with one. The chest isn't
molded in red. It's been PAINTED in red. The yellow vents on the chest have gotten a yellow paint as well. The "Collar" is white with some black panel lines. The chest is panel lined in black with a black rectangle on the
cockpit hatch. Unlike the Version 1 Gundam, this is a hard suit to
disconnect at the waist. The backpack is molded in white, and features a
removable saber handle for when you make saber poses. The saber handle plugs into a hole on the top of the backpack via a peg.

Arms


These arms seem to be based on the Version 1 Gundam. There are slight
problems with the small shoulder joints. The arms occasionally fall out at
the shoulder if you pose it wrong. Though this isn't a big problem. The arm
has the version 1 90 degree forward movement, but if you force it a little,
the arm can also move 90 degrees backwards (OUCH). The hands are in an olive gray and are in the standard Version 1 peg in hole system. Unlike the rest of the figure, the hands are not panel lined.

Legs


Based yet again on the Version 1 Gundam, the feet seem to be slightly
bigger, and the soles are given the same red paint. Upper leg articulation
is limited due to the version 1 design, but it's workable. The knees have 90
degrees of forward movement, and the feet are attached by a ball joint that
plugs into the ankle. The legs are molded in white and have panel lines
galore.

Weapons and Accessories

Hands- This figure came with one trigger hand for the right hand, and a set
of open hands. Fist hands are already on the figure.

Beam spray gun- The GM's standard beam weapon. It's molded in a gunmetal color, but it seems to be a bit chubby in scale. A bit short, too.

Bullpup machine gun- Another one of the GM's common weapons. This gun doesn't fit as well as it should in the trigger hand. It seems to be a
little over-scaled.

Shield- Unlike the torso, this is molded in red with a white outline, a white visor, and the yellow cross. It too is panel lined to the max. It has a handle, and a peg that looks like it plugs into an arm hole, but there's no hole in this figure's arm.

Beam saber- This saber is one piece, which is a handle and translucent pink blade. The blade is thick, and the white handle has three panel lined rings on it.

RB-79 Ball- This MSiA release came with an extra figure, the Ball (must
be to make up for the lack of gimmicks the GM comes with, due to its fodder status) The Ball comes in three pieces: a body, and two arms, which connect on large ball joints. The arms move 90 degrees either way, can be rotated via the ball joints, and the claws can open and close and can be separately posed. The 180mm cannon can swivel 360 degrees horizontally and has about 30 degrees of up and down movement. It's painted in the baby blue color with red paint for around the eye and a turquoise paint for the "eye," the verniers on the bottom and the "back" are painted red. This is also panel lined all over.

Conclusion

Sadly, this was the Version 1 release, and it does have room for improvement, after having read the Version 2 review. Still, this is a nice
looking figure with some working poseability. Solid and stable. The addition of a Ball unit is a plus; two figures for one price. If you can't find a Version 2 GM, pick this one up.

Good points- Painted torso and soles, panel lines, bonus figure, removable
handle.

Bad points- Limited poseability, slightly over-scaled weapons, useless pegs and holes.

Overall Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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