The latest Gundam anime, "Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX," wrapped up its 12-episode, three-month run at the end of last month. Picking up where the original "Mobile Suit Gundam" left off, it snagged a ton of new fans and sent merchandise sales soaring.
The "Red Gundam," piloted by Char & Shuji Ito in the series, sparked major buzz among Gundam enthusiasts the moment its design was revealed. Recently, a skilled Japanese Gunpla [[OBJ_5405]] YouTuber [[/OBJ_5405]] posted a video showcasing their incredible custom build: transforming an "EG 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam" into the "Red Gundam" from "GQuuuuuuX." The video immediately went viral, with netizens showering praise like, "It looks incredibly natural!" and "So cool!"
The video was uploaded by the YouTube channel "Gunpla-do," which specializes in beginner-friendly customization tutorials. Unable to get their hands on an HG 1/144 Red Gundam kit, they decided to tackle the "EG 1/144 RX-78-2 Gundam" instead. Their method? A "semi-scratch build," meaning they used an existing kit as a base and integrated custom-made parts.
▼ Before diving in, they meticulously planned out all the modifications and decided on the starting points.
The customization kicked off with the head. The builder sharpened the horn-like antenna, enlarged the eyes, refined the cheek lines, and extended the chin. Adding details like vulcan cannons, air intakes, and intricate panel lines instantly transformed the head from its "familiar First Gundam look" into the distinct Red Gundam silhouette.
Beyond reshaping, the shoulders also received new panel lines, and even the weapon connection parts were handcrafted. The arms were slimmed down, with some sections custom-cut from plastic sheets. For the shins, putty was used to fill and reshape them, preventing the material from becoming too thin.
While waiting for the putty to dry, the builder also refined other leg parts, adding more intricate details. The torso was completely encased in epoxy putty, then shaped with a knife and file. Plastic sheets were added to create structural elements, and excess armor was removed. It was an incredibly intricate process.
The weaponry also saw some ingenious moves. Initially, the builder considered using a "Ball (RB-79 BALL)" as the remote "BIT" weapon, but making it detachable proved too complicated. So, they went with a brilliant alternative: a ping-pong ball! Magnets were then added to allow for easy attachment and removal.
After all the parts were modified, they were cleaned with neutral detergent and an ultrasonic cleaner, then primed. After filling any imperfections, another coat of primer was applied. Finally, it was time for painting – each part was meticulously colored with either a brush or airbrush, and even the Zeon emblem was hand-painted.
After a final matte coat, the custom "Red Gundam" was assembled and ready! The entire build took roughly 60 hours. It was the builder's first time attempting to transform one mobile suit model into another, making it more time-consuming than anticipated!
▼ Watch the full build video here:
This first-time EG mega-customization received widespread acclaim: "Never thought an EG kit could be transformed like this! Maybe even older Gunpla kits could be customized in the future!" "Absolutely no awkwardness, it's so cool!" "I'm obsessed with this creativity!" "Is this what they call a Newtype...?" "Using a ping-pong ball for the mod is pure genius!"
If you're feeling inspired to take on a similar challenge, the video description lists all the tools and materials used. Who knows, you might just build your own "Red Gundam" using an older First Gundam kit! His channel also features many other creative builds, offering plenty of inspiration for your next Gunpla project!