Kimi The Builder

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My first and one of the best kit picks for 2020

Finally, after taking my sweet time with this HG kit, I managed to complete the HG Origins Gundam. 

Funnily enough, the reason why I was taking some time with this wasn’t due to any issues or problems that I encounter along the way, no. It was more to the fact that…

Well, it’s a reason that I will explain further in my final thoughts of it, this 2020 release, HG 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam (HG Gundam the Origins) kit.

Oh, but before we start with the review we do need to put some disclosure before we proceed. Since we have built one instance of this particular variant of gunpla before, it means that I have already written the lore section for this MS. So instead of writing another one, I will instead move on to the review for this kit.

But if you are interested to learn about the history of the MS, here is the link to the review that has the said lore here. 

Anyways, lets now move on to the review, shall we? 

The Review

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The one thing that I realized as I sat here staring at this completed kit, I realized that I have a very strange relationship with the HG Gundam the Origins lineup. Because even though I’m a huge fan of the HG Gundam the Origins gunpla designs, but somehow rather I never find myself as interested in getting them as I did with other HG Gunpla line ups.

Heck, I remember vividly that I was more interested in getting the HGAC Leo then I did the last piece of the HG Origins Zaku Half Cannon back when I was planning to review an HG kit.   

This is something that I find to be quite weird when I look back at it. But then again when I take the time to think about it, I feel that real reason on why I kept finding myself disinterested in getting any of the HG Origins kits, could be because the ones that I was most interested to get is locked behind the P-Bandai release. Which is unfortunately enough is either was too late for me to place the preorder on, or it wasn’t carried by any of the retailers that I frequent to. Not to mention, seeing how much some scalpers reselling some of the kits, does effectively kill off my interest in getting the P-Bandai HG Origins kits that I was interested in.  

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Fortunately enough, this HG Origins Grandpa does fall into that rare retail HG Origins kit category that I want, which is why I decided to go for this particular HG Origins kit in the first place.  

However, after completing it? I’m now quite glad that I have made that decision. 

Because the one that that I found out during the time I spent building it, that this HG Origins kit is probably one of the best HG offerings for 2020. 

You might be wondering, why do I decide to make that HUGE claim on the very first 2020 Gunpla kit that I worked on this year?

Well, my dear readers, there are quite a few good reasons why I decided to make that claim here. That is why I will take the time to explain my reasons/ arguments for my claim here for this particular HG Origins Grandpa kit. 

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First, let me start by talking about my overall building experience with the HG Origins kit. Because for an HG Grandpa kit, I was quite surprised to see that it comes with alot of parts. Well, when I say alot of parts, what I mean is that it comes with alot of SMALL parts. 

So as you can imagine, working on them is a bit tricky. There was alot of instances where while building this kit, I didn’t feel at all like I was working on HG kit parts. It felt more like I’m working on RG parts more than HG parts. Even some of the nubs/ sprues that I had to deal with on some of the parts of this HG Origins Grandpa, looked like the kind of nubs/sprues that I had to deal with on an RG kit. 

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But unlike the infamous RG Grandpa, this is a kit that I can say wholeheartedly that this HG Origins Grandpa kit had a lot more parts that are well designed individually when compared to its RG counterpart. Because from my own experience at least most of the HG Origins Gramps individual parts was alot sturdier assembled, and not to mention alot more reliable too. So that means even though working on it reminds me alot of the RG kit, but it has mostly none of the same problems that you may have with the RG Gramps kit. But even with that said, there are some parts here and there that had that familiar ‘RG Gramps’ problems too, but we get to that in a bit later in this review.

Anyways admittedly because much of the work process on the HG Origins Grandpa’s parts feel like I’m working on RG kit parts, that as well meant that the work that I put on this kit has been both quite challenging and fun for me. I like the fact that I had to take that extra step to ensure that the parts were working as intended which is something that I would admit isn’t something that I don’t normally do on an HG kit, not to mention too the level of satisfaction I get from the job well done. 

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But, that is not the only thing that I noticed here while I was working on the HG Origins Gramps. 

Even though much of the building process reminded me that I was working on an RG kit, but the process of putting all the HG Origins Gramps parts together felt more like I was working on the MG Origins Gramps. 

There were many occasions during the build where I went ‘Hey this feels familiar….’. 

But I’m not saying that this kit builds EXACTLY like the MG kit. Its that it just feels like most of the building process of the HG Origins Gramps to me is like Bandai just decided to simplify some of the MG building processes for this HG Origins kit.

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Which I admit is amazing to see.

But that is not the only thing that reminded me of the MG Origins, there is as well the matter of how similar to the HG Origins Granpa looked to its MG counterpart. Because there were many occasions where I stop and wondered if I’m staring at an MG kit while I was taking a long hard look at the HG Origins Gramps. 

I bet many of the lucky ones that have built the HG Origins Gramps as well think of the same thing too when you take the time to observe the kit. Well, yes obviously the scale of the kit might give it away, but if you were to put the picture of the kit side by side with full decals on, you will find it quite hard to tell the two off. 

Another thing that I was most impressed with this kit is when it comes down to its articulation. Because the HG Origins Grandpa has probably one of the best articulation systems that I’ve seen in any HG Gramps variant so far. Well, I can’t say it is as good as the G40’s humanlike articulation, but if you are talking about a much more realistic mecha-like articulation (I don’t know if that makes sense, if I were, to be honest, haha) this might be one of the most mecha realistic articulation that I’ve seen on an HG Grandpas that I have the hand in building so far. 

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Not to mention, even with all the weapons equipped on the kit I am quite impressed with the fact that it could hold itself well without a real need of support. What’s more impressive is the fact that it comes with two sets of trigger hand, for both left and right which does enable you to have your HG Origins gramps hold two sets of different handheld beam rifles that come with the HG Origins Gramps. 

Seeing that the kit as well comes with alot of parts to convert it into either the Early version or the Middle version it does make me wonder if I should get another HG Origins Gramps so I could have both the Early variant and the Middle Variant posed side by side. 

But despite my very positive experience with this HG Origins Grandpa, it is not to say that I have no issues with it. Because I do. 

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You may remember earlier I mentioned something about the HG Origins Grandpa having some ‘RG’-like problems. What I meant by that is, yes, even though the kit is mostly solid, there are a few sections on the kit, namely the joints at the HG Origins Gramps backpack that was tasked to hold both the cannon unit and the Beam Saber, as well as the joints holding the HG Origins Gramps head that, unfortunately enough is a bit flimsy.

It is honestly quite annoying when you have to consistently adjust and readjust the backpack attachments and the head unit together when every time you need to pose em. It’s something that I find to be quite hard for me to mention because these are the only weakest link of this overall great kit. But I know that I do have a responsibility to mention this to those coming into the kit to be more aware of these issues plaguing this HG Origins Grandpa kit. 

But admittedly I would say that these problems didn’t take away much from the overall experience of building this awesome kit. I still find myself having so much fun with this HG Origins Granpa that I didn’t mind it as much that I had to deal with some of the issues that I faced. I loved all the time I spent building it, decal-ing it, doing some panel lining work on it, posing it, taking the time to admire its good looks, and even having to deal with some of the issues that encounter here. 

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Because if I were, to be honest? It was one of those HG kits that I feel that would reward you well if you are willing to at least put down some time and love into building it. Because if you do you will end up with the best looking HG Origins kit in your collection, one you are proud to have as your main centerpieces right next to the other greats like the HG Moon and the RG Sazabi. 

Even if you decide not to do so, you’d still end up with something that looks alot better then most HG kits that you may have in your collection. 

As you can already tell this kit is one that manages to put a huge smile on my face and HELL yes I recommend everyone to go out and get it, regardless of which skill level you are at. Because you will find that this is a kit that is worth spending all your time and as well your hard-earned cash on. 

period. 

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With that marks the end of this long review of the HG 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam (HG Gundam the Origins). What do you think of both the kit and the review for this HG Origins kit? Do you share the same thoughts with us or do you think that this kit or the review could’ve been better? I would love to hear more about your thoughts on both of them so do feel free to write about your thoughts on the comments section below.

Before I move on, I would admit that towards the end of my time with the kit, I was starting to feel a bit empty. I was quite reluctant to end my time with building the HG Origins Gramps. But when I see the next kit that I have in hand, I was once again excited with the prospect of having my hands on an old long lost friend. 

The NG 1/144 Vayeate.

Anyways, we will be back again with more new gunpla related posts this coming Thursday! So do look forward to that!

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We hope by sharing our love and passion for gunplas here, it’ll inspire you to pick up the hobby or reignite your love for gunpla!

Anyways, we shall see all of you again next week, and we hope that you all have an awesome week and weekend ahead! Have an awesome Gunpla building time there as well and until next time!

Ciao!