My very first MG- The RX-78GP03S “Stamen” designed by none other than Hajime Katoki. I chose this Gundam back then purely on its design. I loved the mechanical look and the color scheme. I had no idea which series it was from nor anything else about it. It looked good so I bought it. This was also the last model I bought before moving out of NYC. After eight years, I’m building it again to compare to the original.
Out of the Box
Depending on how you want to count it, there’s 11-13 runners and two obsolete bits for the ankles that does absolutely nothing. I shed tears of joy at the little amount of decals and stickers there are to apply.
Core Fighter
I guess you can consider this a b0nus. The core fighter never made it into production of the real GP03S from concept because the GP03S’ sole purpose is pilot Dendrobium (so Stamen IS the “core fighter”). In the event should a strong enemy destroyed the Dendrobium, the Stamen alone would have no chance anyway so it would retreat, making it redundant to have a core fighter. I actually prefer this core block on Stamen over the one it actually has.
Upper Body
The body and waist. If you have been building old HG 1/100 models then this is nothing new except maybe a fancier appearance. Quick and easy snap fit.
Shoulders…probably the plainest I’ve seen since the RX-78-2… oh wait, they’re from the same RX line-up >_>
The arms are impressive but nothing confusing. Just a little more work on snapping the many pieces. Love the manipulator arms! Three pairs of hands are included instead of the usual multi-purpose hands MG come with.
I really like this Gundam’s head design. It is pronounced and detailed. The face is that of a mugshot. V-fin is incredibly thin and fragile.
The real core block. Just a bunch of half pieces with polycaps in between. The white pods are where the beam sabers are stored.
Lower Body
The wonderful internal skeleton was the big “o0o! ahhh!” back then for MGs. Despite how it looks, it builds exactly like HG 1/100 legs. This is more for detail purposes than actually serving a model function. Like I said earlier, the screws do nothing to help support the model in any way; the ankles can support the Gundam perfectly without it.
Love the unique design of these fin thrusters.
Weapons
Folding Shield
Beam saber and beam rifle. The beam effect parts are your generic MGUC pink beams. Painted clear scope part with Tamiya Clear Red. Love that “anaheim electronics” decal.
Folding Bazooka.
Construction notes
As you can see from the photos, construction is pretty straightforward and simple. There’s not much I need to talk about. If you’ve built 1/100 Gundam X or Gundam Wing models then this model comes with no surprises. It is basically a little more of the same. All the joints rely on polycaps (PC parts) so the connection tends to soften up over time. Bandai wasn’t so courteous with hiding nub marks back then so you gotta take some effort into cleaning them off or they will stick out pretty bad.
The Stamen
You can swap between either core block system. Doesn’t look that much of a difference.
What can I say? This is a great looking model. I thought it looks awesome back then and I still think it’s beautiful now even compared to other models. Its proportions doesn’t offend anyone and I think it’s just right. It has a solid and flat stance to keep it planted on the surface.
This Stamen comes with so few decals and stickers that even applying all of them, it would still look “incomplete”…. so I only bothered with the main markings and skipped the minor ones ^^;.
Comparison: New vs. Old
See how a little panel lining and nub cleaning helps a lot? One of my main reason for building this Gundam again is that I want to see this comparison of my own modeling skills. I didn’t want to clean up the first model because I want to keep it as a reminder of how I was when I first started and this is how I am now. I wanted to do a lot more detailing with the second model but decided I wanted to use it to demonstrate how even the most minimum effort can make a huge difference in aesthetic appeal :D
RX-78GP03S Gundam “Stamen”
The Stamen is about the same height as the RX-78-2 so it is fairly average in size.
I’ll say it right now: Don’t expect this thing to do any sort of motion poses. It can’t. Its articulation is equal to or worse than that of GFF so that’s saying a lot. While it can’t perform even basic shooting poses, it does an excellent job of just standing there to look good. Action shots are limited because there’s only so much (little) that I can do with its lack of range of motion. The worst offender is that the waist barely turns and the legs can’t split too far apart for that dynamic look. Heck, I can’t even make it look like it’s drifting in space properly! Forget using action base with this model because none of the holders really do a secure job of holding Stamen in place.
The arms aren’t weapons but this is the coolest (and only?) gimmick this model has. Stamen uses it to pull Bazookas and stuff out of the GP03D.
Stamen can’t hold the Bazooka correctly and it tends to fall off with the slightest tilt. Luckily, it can still look good just holding it while standing there :)
Yea… I can’t do any more than that with the beam sabers. It looks good just holding it though! XD
Verdict
This is probably one of the easiest MGs anyone can pick up and go at it. You’re getting this MG solely for the Gundam, nothing else. Its looks is all it has going for it and is more than enough to make up for its complete lack of articulation. I usually rage about bad articulation but remember, this model came out almost a decade ago and wayyy before Bandai started emphasizing development on better articulations. This model would definitely make a great MG starter. One last time, it just looks so damn good just standing there xD. Now Bandai… how about that MG Dendrobium eh?
A's Toy Box
Akamage
American Salary Man
An Army of Zakus
Baby TheEnd's Gunpla and Toy Review
BD77's of Figure & Plamos
Beamknight87's Blog
Celestial Preventer
Chessboard Attic
DC23 Mech Arts
EM Creations
Eyeshield30's Blog
FigurativelyGunpla
Gaijin Gunpla
Gundam Australia Forum
Gundam Model Kit n Figures
Gundamgazette
Gunota.Info
Hobby Hovel
Lupes' Blog
Machenix Mechas
Memoirs of a Blur Sotong
My Gundam Harem
Plamo Addiction
Random Stuff from the East
Rock Lee's Lotus
Studio OZKai
Tonythem's Hobby Corner
April 1, 2009 at 5:14 AM
Nice review keep it up
April 1, 2009 at 5:51 AM
i like your review and btw should i get the gundam i mean you say it’s easy so should i get the gundam and how much is it and if i use the changable core fighter is there any thing ugly or not in the core fighter like will the beam saber be in the back of the core fighter
April 1, 2009 at 6:21 AM
This is why I like UC MS designs more than other timelines.It looks so simple but cool..
Btw, anybody got rick’trooper’rolled at the front page?
April 1, 2009 at 7:26 AM
It’s already known this Gundam is like RX-78-2, but I realised with the folding bazooka and the tail “boosters” thing, it reminds me of Cherudim’s gun and Dynames’ tail booster.
April 1, 2009 at 8:23 AM
GP03 is interesting, even in terms of colour scheme, as it’s still part of the RX-78 development, is the main protagonist’s suit, yet it looks refreshing and not as “common”, as my sister would have put it.
And an MG Dendrobium might probably take up your entire bed if one were to be made. How about a PG? XD
April 1, 2009 at 11:15 AM
Nice job on the rickroll. Looks great Z, but why’d you skip paneling the indents on the shoulders and front skirt armor?
It seems I’m unable to post comments at work.
April 1, 2009 at 12:04 PM
Oh Z i hate you with your rick rolling, just kidding
i was actually gonna get the GP03S a while ago but never did, that goodness, after reading this i didn’t want to anymore. Not that you reviewed it in a bad way, I just think that GFFs aren’t for me. Well the way this mg is anyway
April 1, 2009 at 12:19 PM
Even if I haven’t heard of this Gundam *Never watched any gundam show except 00 :P* This is looking sweet,although I love articulation more than looks sometimes,I may have to go for this one,have it as art on my desk ;) It looks wicked and comes with a good amount of accessories :) so I’ll try to save up and see if I can find it,that’s if I don’t twitch out and grab some 00 gundams ;)
April 1, 2009 at 3:18 PM
@Chris All the Gundams from 00 have similarities with units from different timelines
April 1, 2009 at 4:09 PM
Zeroxx7, thanks!
Infinite00riser, you lose the beam saber slots if you change to the core fighter. Forgot to mention that ^^;. This model can run about $30-40 so there are “better” models for the price. Like I said, you’re getting it for the Gundam so pick it up if you like its designs.
Mendagu, and not too flashy either ^^
Chris, but Stamen doesn’t have anything on its ass though xD
Q, “not as common” indeed. I think the GP03S looks pretty unique despite being in the same general design. A 1/60 Dendrobium… one can wish… don’t think I can visualize the size xD.
Acewhatever, I did do the panel lines on those parts but decided to rub it off because no matter how thin I make it, the lines doesn’t look good (it’s supposed to be painted in black). Actually, there are still faint light gray lines inside and that looks fine to me ^^
Hono, awesome… glad I saved someone some money for once xD.
Roy, oh yea…this model makes a great desk art. Have it on my desk right now ^^. It doesn’t eat up space.
April 1, 2009 at 5:33 PM
The Stamen looks very nice Z. Great work!
P.S.: very ingenious April Fools prank. I sure hope I’m not the only one who fell for it XD
April 1, 2009 at 6:55 PM
Hold on, let’s backtrack here. So you have two of these MG models? And the first one is ur first MG while this is the same thing only you built it in a better way and panel lined and deatiled it? And what’s rickrolling? (Sorry, ppl mite think I’m stupid for asking, but I really don’t know.) >.<
April 1, 2009 at 7:18 PM
“In the event should a strong enemy destroyed the Dendrobium, the Stamen alone would have no chance anyway so it would retreat, making it redundant to have a core fighter.”
good point.
I like this model. It reminds me of the mg rx-78-4 im working on. Quite simple in comparison to modern MG’s
“Despite how it looks, it builds exactly like HG 1/100 legs.”
i know exactly what you mean. More aethetics over function. I still think its funny that you’d go out and buy another kit that you’ve already built but I can kind of understand. my first mg was the mark 2 titans and i think id like to go back and try it again someday. but then again… im really a ‘refurbishing’ kind of guy. id probably just re-do the kit i have and say goodbye to the old memories.
anyways im sure this was a welcome break after the sinanju. i understand the feeling well.
April 1, 2009 at 9:03 PM
Looks great despite being a little too simple for my tastes, but I think it serves as a refreshment after all that work you put on Sinanju. MG Dendrobium? lol, that would be awesome.
April 1, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Z, you put a wrong link to this review from the home page.
It links to the dancing trooper in youtube instead…
April 1, 2009 at 11:09 PM
Neosonic, ever consider what date yesterday was?
(By the way, I noticed the URL in the main page myself and didn’t fall for it. :p Though I was caught off guard in another place I just started visiting a couple weeks ago. *shrug* Anyway, Let’s try this again, and in the right entry this time…)
My two cents, Z:
As far as the core fighter go, maybe the Stamen did have one installed, yet had to be replaced for a given reason. I could cite Gundam Evolve #4 again, but I think we’ve been through that. *shrug* Though I think Yoshiyuki Tomino could easily 1-up GE4 with a more-depressing story. :p Anyhow, I don’t see having a core fighter necessarily as being redundant, but rather as a secondary “Get out of death free!” card if the Stamen couldn’t survive pursuit or combat itself. If the core fighter was installed, the pilot would eject from it as he/she did the Stamen from the Orchis, and have a little better luck as an even smaller target running away faster than a poor ol’ RB-79 Ball. Think of it like one of those box or egg toys that has a smaller box/egg inside it, and another box/egg inside, and so on, but as a means of escaping.
About articulation and a couple other things… I was going to ask about comparing the two, but you noted something similar in your review of the GFF version, even though you seemed a little more optimistic about the MG’s articulation. And as to the verdict, I would take your word for it (especially after asking about the GFF and MG Wing), and I do agree that it does look pretty nice for being a little more utilitarian and simple rather than more gracious-looking (such as Wing or Sinanju).
Still, I can’t quite see your opinion as to Katoki’s redesign of the RX-78-2 Gundam. It may not have a blue/white color scheme as pleasing as GP03S’s, or be as utilitarian-but-rounded and graceful (and have large rear thrusters), but Katoki’s RX-78-2 is still a more modernized, streamlined version of Okawara’s original design that’s a little more pleasing, not unlike what Katoki has done for other designs. I even think it’s a little better looking than the OYW version (even though it does pose better, and I think the OYW version isn’t bad either), and your reasoning of getting the GP03S can fit well in this case too. And if you want a little more chubby-looking Gundam, why not have a look at the RX-78NT-1 Gundam “Alex”? But I guess it’s a matter of opinion and taste. *shrug* However, you have more experience with getting and building these models than I ever had currently, so I guess it wouldn’t be the best of ideas to exactly go toe-to-toe with your own opinions that are based on experience.
But I do have a question or two: Have you ever thought of one day getting the HGUC version of the GP03S? And as to your next project (I’m referring to a posted comment of yours in the “Panel Lines and Effort” WISP entry), by version 2.0, do you mean the more anime/Okawara-looking RX-78 MG that came out a year ago?
April 2, 2009 at 12:53 AM
Zro, don’t worry… you’re not the only one for sure xD.
Lelouch, yes I have two now. As for rickroll’d, just click here :)
Busterbeam, with the v-fin and various parts broken or missing, I thought it was only reasonable to replace than getting spare parts. I think you deserve a long vacation after your Sinanju as well ^^. Yours is just too impressive for me to describe with my vocabulary.
Beamknight, might be simple yet still sophisticated ^^
Neosonic, xDDD
Siroh32,trying to check MAHQ if they have anything in the profile but guess they are down right now. You have a good point there with escaping from Stamen in case it gets trashed as well from running. I actually like the “design” of the RX-78-2 Ver. Ka; it’s the “model” rendition of it I’m not fond of. It was way overly simplified for an MG and consequently, articulation unnecessarily suffers. the decals/stickers can take a lot more effort than snapping the whole model. The model felt like it was just selling on its design alone. I just think Katoki/Bandai could’ve done a better job on the “model” aspect. I actually did thought about the HGUC GP03D but lack of room got me to scrap that idea ^^;. My new post seems to have coincidentally answered your last question :)
April 2, 2009 at 4:05 AM
This is april 2nd here, and i still fall for your pranks :))
i’m very late indeed. Hahaha.
nice, very nice gunpla Z! Like i said before, i can sense your calm aura from looking at your shoots. :D
moreover, the layout change again to blue.
Tranquility…
April 3, 2009 at 8:08 PM
Hey, Z!
My stay here in the wonderful world of asia is about to end.
I have these models. Some influenced by reviews such as yours.
MG:
GP03S(your review)
GP01 FB
RX-77
Shin’s Zaku 2.0
Zeta A1(your review)
Wing Ver Ka
HGUC:
RX-79 Blue Destiny 3
Sazabi
Cold District GM
Powered GM
Gaplant Hrairoo!
And 4 action bases including a Char one and a Advance of Zeta decal sheet.
I just HAD to get that when I saw the sexy bunny decal in the middle. Oh, the places I’ll use that for….maybe my sunglasses or my professional gaming controller….
And frustratingly….still awaiting my Rx-78 OYW and 3 action bases.
April 3, 2009 at 8:14 PM
Oh, yeah. I forgot to say, I’m going to be doing youtube reviews and maybe photo galleries too.
Is there anything or any model in particular you or anybody else would like me to review/focus on?