For my first review, I decided to take a look at the GBN Base Gundam. This is the 25 entry in Bandai’s Gundam Build Divers line, and in my humble opinion is one of the best the line has to offer. For more information on the Gundam Build Divers line, check out the anime itself on GundamInfo’s YouTube channel. For those too lazy to do so, the series is basically about a massively multiplayer online rpg where players pilot gunpla they’ve built in real life.

Yes, the model in focus for this review may be a peculiar choice if you’ve seen pre-release reactions on the internet and if you are to consider the show it came from. What made this a clear choice out of the hundreds of gunpla out there, however, is the GBN Base Gundam’s appeal to nostalgia and future potential.

This gunpla earns a grade of 4.25/5, find out why below:

MODEL BACKSTORY

STORY ORIGINS

The GBN Base Gundam is essentially an upgraded GBN Guard Frame. The upgrade itself was made by applying Gain Armor that resembles Amuro Ray’s RX 78-2, and providing the upgraded guard frame with abilities that emulate the Granddaddy Gundam. It is even depicted with the same sword, board, and rifle loadout that the RX 78-2 had. This suit in particular was created to be utilized by GBN Game Masters for maintaining order within the game world.

GUNPLA HISTORY

The model itself is not just an upgraded version of the GBN Guard Frame in the anime, but the model’s mold is also based on the Guard Frame’s real life gunpla counterpart. This model was released in January of 2019, whereas the GBN Guard Frame was released in 2018. Suggested standard retail price for the model is 1,440 yen.

OUT-OF-THE-BOX SNAP BUILD

Box contents are the instruction manual, 8 sprues including the polycap set and sprues for the beam saber effects, and a small sheet of color-correcting stickers.

The result of a snap build yields a gunpla with a love-it-or-hate-it aesthetics.

Color separation is more that acceptable for a gunpla of this grade, however the colors themselves are rather distracting with a combination of neon and pearl finish on the plastic. Personally, I’m not a fan of how Bandai treated the colors for this kit. This is nowhere close to the original line art, which means that the supposed throwback to the RX78-2’s looks is a far cry from accomplished as far as colors are concerned. What we all are forced to consider, however, is the possibility that Bandai wanted more than just a backstory and minor armor changes to set this apart from the gunpla design its based on. If that were true I still would personally have preferred other detail changes rather than the color. Oh well, we can’t have it all.

It is worth noting though that like most gunpla the hues of the finish change under certain light effects, and the photo below shows a more forgivable version of the GBN Base Gundam’s colors.

I would go as far to say that it is quite the eyesore, however the sculpt and proportions make this straight build bearable.

There is enough of a difference in the proportions and armor design to distinguish it from the RX78-2, however it maintains enough simplicity in its overall shape to say that it is indeed the Granddaddy Gundam reborn in the GBN world. Manipulators are M-sized, based on the size chart from option parts.

Seam lines are minimal, the biggest offenders being those on the forearms. I also did not put too much effort with cleaning nubs to provide everyone a preview of what they would be getting into if and when they decide to build this kit, but I was positively surprised at how minimal nubs showed even on the neon colored plastic. Although not necessarily related to the seam lines, the 3mm peg holes all over the Base Gundam’s body can be quite distracting. On a positive note, these open up opportunities for pre-made after market parts for customization. I see a lot of potential here, especially because of all the option parts we’ve been getting lately.

There are very few opportunities for panel lining, the head being the section that apparently misses lining details the most.

AESTHETICS: 3/5

The color really harmed this mobile kit’s aesthetics score. Sometimes less is more, and here there is just way too much. The proportions make for a great silhouette, which is this gunpla’s saving grace in terms of aesthetics. With just enough changes to identify itself, it still is quite the imposing gunpla due to its resemblance to the RX 78-2. If you paint your gunpla then you shouldn’t worry about the colors too much, however straight-builders will have to think twice if they mind color accuracy.

Articulation is one of this gunpla’s strong suits, owing to the superb articulation of suits this model was based on. Coupled with its amazing proportions, the GBN Base Gundam will look good in whatever pose you choose and it will hold that way.

It is fully capable of the splits, a respectable ab crunch (back and forth), head rotation and nod, double-jointed elbows and knees for posing options with the limbs, a respectable kick to the front, and rotating biceps for posing angles. Its main limitation is the kick towards the back, as the static rear skirt limits the movement of the legs to the rear.

I’ve seen a few reviews that contained complaints about a lose attachment in the Base Gundam’s torso, fortunately my model did not have the said issue. It seems to be a problem encountered depending on the model they purchased, or possibly how th unit was built.

Another great feature of this is suit is one it adapted from the GBN Guard Frame’s base model: the Gundam Leopard Da Vinci’s shoulder/chest extension. This is seen below, with some great opportunity for adding details within the said chest/shoulder pop. I have to say, on top of the additional articulation you get from this the details inlaid are an awesome bonus.

Below is a shot of the accessories that this model comes with. I swapped the original kit hands back in for everyone to get an accurate count of the parts they end up with after snapping everything together.

Instead of having just 1 rifle to wield, the Base Gundam came with a spare. The rifles seem to be molded after the RX 78-1’s rifle as opposed to following the mold for the RX 78-2, again possibly for distinction. The beam saber handles slot on to the backpack when unused, and the beam effects peg into the handles like we’ve all seen a thousand times before. The shield seems rather bare, when I picture how the RX 78-2’s shield looked. The underside of the shield is a different story though, with details begging to be highlighted.

Anything extra in the box is always welcome, with what we’re all paying for when purchasing all that plastic. In this box, these awesome pistols from the GBN Guard Frame are such an awesome plus.

The aforementioned pistols are referred to on the manual as rapid fire rifles, and the extenders are apparently for better accuracy, range, and firepower.

ARTICULATION: 5/5

The Base Gundam’s articulation are arguably one of the best that a Build Diver gunpla can offer. This kit can cover a wide range of poses, on its feet or aerial it doesn’t really matter. It will hold any pose you place it in, and the number of poses it allows are as much as the time you have to pick the best way to display it in.

BUILD STRENGTH: 5/5

The solid build that this kit ends up with really compliments the wide range of articulation. No parts come lose or fall off during posing, and the joints are tight enough to hold its weapons up. You can wiggle this thing while holding it by the shoulders, but you won’t feel any looseness of sorts.

ACCESSORIES : 4/5

This kit comes packing, and won’t leave you wanting out of the box. The lack of expressive, non-weapon-holding hands is something that most builders will miss and is something that I personally would have missed if I did not have option parts to compensate for that. Still taking points off for that though.

Overall, the GBN Base Gundam is a grat kit for beginners and veteran builders alike. For beginners, its a simple build and the colors would encourage painting practice. For veterans I assume that you are looking forward to building this for the purpose of customizing it. The Base Gundam has deep potential with its build and proportions, and would do well with a recolor and other awesome customization ideas.

The Base Gundam is Bandai’s attempt to reintroduce the Granddaddy Gundam RX 78-2 to a younger audience, making it more relevant in the current wave of over-the-top gunpla that have appeared in the market. They have done that for the most part, what with the awesome build that this kit ends up with. Gunpla, after all, is essentially the freedom to turn your kit into what you want, and let your creativity run wild.

I just hope the next Gain Armor variant they come up with will have a better color and texture finish, however I’m looking forward to it either way.

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