The High Grade Universal Century (HGUC) RX-77-2 Guncannon is a 1/144 scale kit released in 1999.
- Classification: High Grade Universal Century
- Lineup no: 001
- Scale: HG 1/144
- Franchise: Mobile Suit Gundam 0079
Gunpla Information: Guncannon
HG 1/144 RX-77-2 Guncannon is the first High Grade Universal Century (HGUC) kit ever released. Includes Spray Missiles.
Box Art
Release Info
Release Date: May 21, 1999
Price: ¥800
Color Guilde
Manual
Kit Features
Articulation
- The head can rotate on a single ball-joint neck.
- The arms can Swing on a rod joint or Raise horizontally.
- The upper arms can rotate.
- Elbow joints can be bent up to 90 degrees.
- The manipulators can swing on a peg-and-socket joint.
- Though hindered by the panels, Guncannon’s waist can rotate 360 degrees/tilt back and forth if slightly lifted up.
- The front skirt armors can pivot to avoid interference with the frontward leg articulation.
- The hips are ball-jointed. The legs feature double-jointed knee parts.
- The ankles can swivel on a ball-and-socket joint, though the articulation is limited.
Weapons/Other Gimmicks
- The hand parts are swappable.
- The Beam Rifle can be wielded by only the right trigger finger hand.
- Can interchange into either Cannons or Spray Missiles.
- Cannons/Spray Missiles can pivot up and down.
Tips & Tricks
- For better results, some details are needed to be applied with Gundam Markers or Mr. Color paints.
- Topcoat (Mr. Hobby recommended) can be used to protect applied stickers and if any, marking decals and painted details.
If using matte/flat-finish top coat, it is advisable not to spray on the clear/translucent parts – can be done by masking or spraying top coat while the said parts are separated.
Gundam Information: RX-77-2 Guncannon
In UC 0078, Anaheim Electronics produced the RCX-76-02 Guncannon First Type for the Earth Federation Forces. An elite squadron was deployed to fight Zeon mobile suits at Mare Smythii on the lunar surface and performed poorly. Engineer Tem Ray argued that the Guncannon First Type was not what a mobile suit should be and persuaded the EFF to allow him to develop mobile suits in what became Operation V. The mid-range fire support RX-77-2 Guncannon was one of the results of Operation V and showed marked improvements over the First Type. The standard Guncannon utilized the Core Block System, which allowed the pilot to eject the cockpit and transform it into the FF-X7 Core Fighter to escape. In place of the First Type’s simple manipulators, the Guncannon’s human-style hands allowed it to use a beam rifle. The Guncannon’s main armament was a pair of shoulder-mounted 240mm cannons, which could be swapped out with spray missile launchers. It also featured a pair of head-mounted vulcan guns.
On September 18, UC 0079, the Guncannon was mobilized when Zeon ace pilot Char Aznable attacked the Side 7 colony where the Operation V mobile suits were secretly under development. A surviving Guncannon was loaded onto the assault carrier White Base, along with the RX-75-4 Guntank and RX-78-2 Gundam. Civilian-turned-pilot Kai Shiden used the Guncannon for the rest of the war until its destruction at the Battle of A Baoa Qu. In the later stages of the One Year War, the EFF fielded the RX-77D Guncannon Mass Production Type, along with variants like the RX-77-3 Guncannon Heavy Custom and RX-77-4 Guncannon II. At the same time, the EFF added Guncannon elements to the RGM-79 GM to create the RGC-80 GM Cannon. After the One Year War ended in UC 0080, the EFF also produced an amphibious version, the RX-77AQ Guncannon Aqua. In the post-war era, the Guncannon’s role was carried on by the newer RGC-83 GM Cannon II.
Technical Data
- Model number: RX-77-2
- Code name: Guncannon
- Unit type: Prototype artillery mobile suit
- Manufacturer: Earth Federation Forces
- Operator: Earth Federation Forces
- Accommodation: Pilot only, in standard cockpit in torso with Core Block System using FF-X7 Core Fighter
- Dimensions: Overall height 18.1 meters; head height 17.5 meters
- Weight: Empty 51.0 metric tons; max gross 70.0 metric tons
- Armor materials: Luna Titanium alloy
- Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 1,380 kW
- Propulsion: Rocket thrusters: 51,800 kg total (2 x 22,600 kg, 4 x 1,650 kg)
- Equipment and design features: sensors, range 6,000 meters
- Fixed armaments: 2 x 60mm vulcan gun, mounted in head; 2 x 240mm cannon, variable independent-fire, 20 round magazine each, mounted over shoulders
- Optional fixed armaments: 2 x spray missile launcher, mounted over shoulders in place of 240mm cannons
- Optional hand armaments: beam rifle, powered by rechargeable energy cap
General information
- Pilot(s): Kai Shiden, Hayato Kobayashi, Amuro Ray, Ryu Jose, Wesley Navarro, Kirk Wahlberg, Darryl Boyd
- First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam 0079
- Original mechanical designer: Kunio Okawara (Mobile Suit Gundam version)
Armaments
60mm Vulcan Gun
A pair of shell-firing armament built into the head. Low offensive power, only used to restrict enemy movement, and lay down a wall of suppressive fire due to their rapid-fire capability.
240mm Cannon
A pair of 240mm cannons are mounted on the shoulders for mid-range fire support. These low-recoil cannons are the Guncannon’s main weapon and can fire around 40 shots. As the cannons’ barrels are fitted with water cooled jackets, their firing rate are comparable to those of the Zaku Machine Gun.
Spray Missile Launcher
A pair of 12-round missile launchers mounted on both shoulders in place of the 240mm cannons. Designed for launching a barrage in close range, they are current in the prototype stage, and it is unclear if they have been used in actual combat.
XBR-M-79a Beam Rifle
Made and developed by the BOWA corporation specifically for the Guncannon. This particular beam rifle is classified as a XBR-L type despite its model number, and is specialized for sniping. Compared to the XBR-M type beam rifle used by the Gundam, it was harder to use but had higher accuracy and longer range. It was originally unusable due to issues with generator output, but this was resolved following modifications at Luna II. It is said to have a range of around 30km.
YHI YF-MG100 100mm Machine Gun
The standard armament for Federation’s mobile suit ground forces during the One Year War that was developed by Yashima Heavy Industries. It has an alternate model number: “NF·GMG-Type.37/100mm”. Equipped with a box magazine and folding stock, it has excellent rate of fire and is easy to wield. It utilized a smoothbore type barrel that lacked rifling and has to be replaced after firing 3000 rounds. The weapon could utilize three different types of ammunitions: HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank), APFSDS (Armor-Piercing Fin-Stabilized Discarding-Sabot), and HESH (High Explosive Squash Head), allowing combat units to select the appropriate type to meet operational needs.
Hand Grenade
A hand grenade is stored in a secured hatch on the lower part of each leg. Once the grenade is removed from storage, it is already armed. There is a five to seven-second fuse, allowing enough time for the Guncannon to throw the grenade safely away.
Official Images
RX-77-2 Gun Cannon It is the first HG that was launched with great success from the accumulation of experience from the production team that brought MG’s technology down to the HG level. It can be considered an excellent launch of the Gunpla HGUC 1/144 series.
References
