We previously featured two builds by morish (@O15RXnhQL8nvfYW), the Gunpla artist who won the GBWC 2023 Japan tournament and finished runner-up in 2025: the “GOUF Ignited Flight Custom” and the “Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX Haman Karn Custom Gyan.” Both showcased the kind of expert craftsmanship and meticulously developed lore that set a true master apart.
Now morish is back with another standout build. Using Bandai’s “HGUC 1/144 Gaplant” from Mobile Suit Zeta Gundam as the base, the artist created an original “Gaplant Mk-III.” New paintwork and upgraded parts give the machine a completely different presence while retaining its transformation into MA mode, earning plenty of praise online.
The ORX-005 Gaplant is a prototype transformable MA developed by the Earth Federation Forces. Designed for high-performance operations both within the atmosphere and in space, it was piloted on Earth by Cyber-Newtype Rosamia Badam. In space, ace pilot Yazan Gable used it to push the Argama’s mobile suit team to its limits.
For this custom build, morish imagined that the Gaplant had been rebuilt at a Neo Zeon military factory, becoming its newest and ultimate evolution: the AMX-019 Gaplant Mk-III. By attaching an auxiliary transformation unit, the machine can switch into MA mode.
The build uses the Pale Rider from Mobile Suit Gundam Side Story: Missing Link as its foundation, combined with parts including the Gaplant’s legs. The head comes from the Rebawoo, while the backpack incorporates elements from the Döven Wolf. Together, these upgrades sharpen its mobility and turn it into a machine built specifically for high-speed combat. A compact auxiliary thruster also comes standard on the rear waist.
Naturally, the build retains the Gaplant’s transformable MA mode. This configuration is designed primarily for hit-and-run attacks and close-range dogfighting in aerial combat.
During transformation, it attaches an auxiliary unit inspired by the BWS, or Back Weapon System, used by the Re-GZ, the mass-production prototype derived from the Zeta Gundam. A large cannon is mounted at the front of the unit. According to the custom lore, the equipment is removed in MS mode but can also be carried on the rear skirt armor.
Its primary weapons are the beam rifles mounted on the shield boosters. Moving their connection points to shoulder-mounted sub-arms gives the main arms a wider range of motion, while the design concept also improves the machine’s beam-saber performance in close combat. It can also equip a Geara Doga rifle.
morish also shared photos of the build before painting and waterslide decals were applied. The artist explained that the Gaplant has always been a personal favorite and that an official upgraded version had long been on the wish list. Since that never happened, this project became a chance to imagine what such a machine might look like, resulting in a new variant enhanced by Neo Zeon.
That concept carries through to the paint scheme and decal placement, which feature plenty of Neo Zeon elements and set the build apart from the original Titans design.
morish’s original lore gives this build all the fun of a full-on what-if design, backed by some seriously thoughtful customization. Anyone interested in seeing more should check out morish’s X account—it is a great source of inspiration for future Gunpla projects.
via： X@morish