The High Grade Universal Century (HGUC) RX-78GP03 Gundam Dendrobium is a 1/144 scale kit released in 2002.
- Classification: High Grade Universal Century
- Lineup no: 028
- Scale: HG 1/144
- Franchise: Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
Gunpla Information: Gundam Dendrobium
Enhanced version of HGUC-025 RX-78GP03 Gundam Dendrobium. Uses diecast metal frame parts. The longest (1m × 0.5m × 0.6m) and most expensive non-bundled HGUC kit to date.
Box Art
Release Info
Release Date: 2002 March
Price: 28,000 Yen
Color Guilde
Manual
Kit Features
The Stamen MS can dock with the Orchis by posing the MS on a lying down position, with the torso tilted up so that it faces forward, and inserting it on the slot in the center of the Orchis. A control handle can be accessed on the side of the Mega Beam Cannon.
The MS can be posed as though reaching for a weapon by unfolding the arms and opening the corresponding weapon container.
GP03S Gundam “Dendrobium Stamen
- Elbow joints can be bent up to 90 degrees.
- Elbow joints can be bent up to 90 degrees.
- Knee joints can be bent up to 70 degrees.
- Forearms can unfold to an extended gripping arm.
- Beam Rifle foregrip can swing left or right.
- Folding Bazooka and Shield are both collapsible.
Armed Base Orchis
- Large claw arms are poseable.
- Each claw arm houses a large beam saber handle. By opening the claw and attaching the provided beam effect part, the kit can be posed wielding the large beam sabers.
- Panels on the main body of the Orchis can be flipped up to reveal the weapon and missile pod containers. Said containers can be opened/closed using a spring mechanism.
- The Beam Rifle, standard Bazooka, Folding Bazooka, and Folding Shield can be stored inside each of the weapon containers. The Folding Bazooka and Shield must be collapsed into storage mode for this purpose.
Tips & Tricks
- The safety flag on the V-fin can be optionally trimmed off.
- For better results, some or most of the details are needed to be applied with Gundam Markers and/or Mr. Color paints.
Gundam Information: RX-78GP03 Gundam Dendrobium
The RX-78GP03 Gundam Dendrobium is the third unit of the Gundam Development Project, and the combination of the mobile suit unit – the RX-78GP03S Gundam “Stamen” – and the armed base “Orchis”. It was introduced in the OVA series Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory and also featured in Episode 4 of Gundam Evolve. It was initially piloted by Anaheim test pilot Defrah Kar, and later by Federation MS pilot Kou Uraki.
Technical Data
- Model number: RX-78GP03
- Code name: Gundam GP03 Dendrobium
- Unit type: Prototype space attack use mobile weapon
- Manufacturer: Anaheim Electronics
- Operator: Earth Federation Forces
- Accommodation: Unmanned, Controlled by docked RX-78GP03S Gundam GP03S Dendrobium Stamen
- Dimensions: Overall length 140.0 meters; unarmed length 73.0 meters; Overall height 38.5 meters; Overall width 62.0 meters
- Weight: Empty 226.4 metric tons; Max gross 453.1 metric tons
- Armor materials: Luna Titanium Alloy
- Powerplant: Minovsky type ultracompact fusion reactor, output rated at 38,900 kW
- Propulsion: Rocket thrusters: 2,265,000 kg total (6 x 377,500 kg)
- Equipment and design features: Sensors, Range unknown; I-field beam-deflecting barrier generator, externally mounted on main body
- Fixed armaments: mega beam cannon, mounted on main body; 2 x large claw, each mounts large beam saber; 2 x weapons container pod
- Optional weapons container pod armament: 3-tube large missile pod; 108-tube micro-missile pod; chain mine, rocket-guided; folding shield for Stamen; folding bazooka for Stamen; beam rifle w/jitte for Stamen
During its military reconstruction following the devastating One Year War, the Earth Federation Forces contracted a private company, Anaheim Electronics, to develop a series of new Gundam-model mobile suits to serve as conceptual testbeds for new and improved mobile suit technology. The third of these new prototypes to be produced by Anaheim was the RX-78GP03 GP03 Gundam, codenamed Dendrobium. The Dendrobium was composed of two units: the RX-78GP03S Gundam mobile suit itself, codenamed Stamen; and the large RX-78GP03 mobile weapon unit, codenamed Orchis. The Orchis was an unmanned unit, and required the Stamen – which itself had a pilot – to be docked with it for it to function. Since the GP03 Dendrobium was designed as a defense unit for space installations capable of taking on enemy mobile armor, the Orchis component was basically a large space-going vehicle, equipped with enough thrusters to make it a fast interception unit. Its primary heavy armament was a large mega beam cannon, mounted on its own movable arm for aiming, and it also had two large claws which incorporate large beam sabers capable of slicing up something as large as a battleship. The Orchis also mounted an external I-field barrier generator, giving the GP03 complete 360-degree protection from enemy beam weapons fire. For versatility, it also mounted two large weapons container pods, which could carry a variety of weapons from micro-missile launcher pods to battleship-sized demolition chain mines. Spare weapons containers could be loaded out ahead of time, and the Orchis could have empty pods changed out for new ones in a matter of minutes.
The Stamen was completed at Anaheim’s Von Braun City lunar factory and delivered to their La Vie en Rose dockship, where the Orchis component was also completed. The only thing left to make the GP03 field-ready was piloting and combat data. However, with the shutdown of the Gundam Development Project, EFF security officer Nakahha Nakato dismissed all of the Anaheim research staff except for systems engineer Lucette Audevie. With the threat of the Delaz Fleet and the impending colony drop crisis, Lucette strongly argued for the GP03’s completion, all to no avail. To face this desperate situation, Gundam pilot Kou Uraki and the crew of the assault carrier Albion hijacked the GP03 – with the assistance of Lucette (and at the cost of her life) – and quickly fielded the Dendrobium, proving to be a devastating foe to the Delaz Fleet escorting their hijacked colony falling towards Earth. The Orchis was heavily damaged by Anavel Gato’s AMX-002 Neue Ziel in battle, and further damaged when it was caught in the path of the EFF’s own Solar System II. However, both Kou and the Stamen survived.
General information
- Pilot(s): Kou Uraki, Defrah Kar
- First appearance: Mobile Suit Gundam 0083: Stardust Memory
- Original mechanical designer: Hajime Katoki
Armaments
Mega Beam Cannon
A battleship-grade mega-particle cannon is installed on the Orchis right side. It is handled and fired via a pivoted control trigger to be used by Stamen’s right arm and MS manipulator. The trigger provides better maneuverability and targeting adjustment of the gun. Its single beam shot is powerful enough to destroy Zeon’s Musai-class or Zanzibar-class cruisers, but is ineffective against mobile weapons with I-Field capability. The Mega Beam Cannon’s long and thick barrel can also be utilized as emergency charging weapon like a shot lance.
Large Claw Arm
The Orchis unit is equipped with two large claw arms on its underside in case of enemy units penetrating its I-Field. The claw arms can be used for grabbing enemy unit and causing massive damage with a combination of the claw arm’s strength and the momentum built up by the Dendrobium unit. For extra offensive power during close combat situation, each large claw arm is equipped with a large beam saber.
Large Beam Saber
The hilt of Large Beam Saber is stored inside the Orchis’ large claw arm. Like most MS-sized beam saber, it is a cylindrical device held by the claw arm’s pincer when deployed and is powered by an rechargeable energy capacitor. The enormous beam blade generated is capable of cutting through any metal that has not been treated with anti-beam coating, and can slice off the deck of Zeon’s Musai-class Late Production Type cruiser with ease.
108-tube Micro Missile Pod
Stored in the Gundam Dendrobium weapons containers, the Micro Missile Pod is a large container which can store 36 micro missiles on each of the three sides for a total of 108 round capacity. When deployed, it is launched towards the enemy targets, and it fires a rapid salvo of micro missiles to bombard cluster of enemies. The micro missiles are capable of destroying the lightly armored Zeon MS such as Zakus and Doms.
XBR-BOWA M-82A Beam Rifle
Stored in the Gundam Dendrobium weapons containers. This beam rifle looks identical to the one used by the RX-78GP01-Fb Gundam Full Burnern “Zephyranthes”, but its output has been improved. Can be used by the Stamen when it docked with the Orchis.
Folding Bazooka
Stored in the Gundam Dendrobium weapons container. It is specially designed for the Stamen, and is usable whether the suit is operating alone or docked with the Orchis. It features a collapsible barrel for storage inside the Orchis’ container, and retrievable via Stamen’s Folding Arms. Like the Hyper Bazooka used by other Federation’s mobile suits, the Folding Bazooka is technically a large projectile launcher which fires large-calibre rocket-propelled rounds to attack targets at long range. No mass-production MS’s armor is able to stop this weapon. While very powerful, the rockets has a slow rate of fire and is most often used to take out slow, heavily armored targets. The Folding bazooka is magazine-fed and capable of carrying 6 rounds per magazine plus 1 round in its chamber.
Official Images
Note: Images show a model completed by a professional builder. Actual product may differ.
reference
- http://dalong.net/
- https://gundam.fandom.com/
- https://www.gundamkitscollection.com/
- https://www.mahq.net/
- https://bandai-hobby.net/item/252/