This massive LEGO Gundam RX-78-2 is built from thousands of pieces and can potentially launch its own franchise.
In the world of Mecha anime, there is no greater name than Gundam. The series has given us some of the greatest mechs and mech battles in history. Its storied past needs little introduction. There are many classic rivalries in Gundam, but none as famous, or as central to what you might call the “main story” as the frenemy-ship of Amuro Ray and Char Aznable. While this rivalry finally came to a head in the movie Char’s Counterattack, it began at the start of the original Gundam.
Their rivalry, and indeed the Gundam story, begins with Amuro Ray taking control of the RX-78-2 Gundam. At the time, the one and only Gundam. It’s still the most iconic suit to carry that name. Indeed, it is likely the most iconic mecha suit of all time. It is the suit that Amuro pilots throughout the original Gundam series, and its shadow looms large over anime and sci-fi.
Massive LEGO Gundam RX-78-2
Get in the mood to enjoy this build with the classic CCA soundtrack song!
Now seeing a model of the Gundam isn’t all that rare. Gunpla is a thing, and there are a ton of models. See a big model isn’t even all that rare, though less common. However, what you won’t normally see is a Big RX-78 made of LEGO (though can see a big Nu-Gundam- here.) Builder Henry Pinto has managed to give us a very cool LEGO version of the RX-78.
The MOC is a towering recreation of the RX-78 and really captures the likeness of the Gundam. The build stands at about 3 feet tall (or around 35 inches). It’s made up of over 10,000 pieces and weighs around 10 pounds (or Cosmic Pounds if you want to make it sound more sci-fi. Yes, it’s Space Battleship Yamato that liked putting “cosmic” on everything, not really Gundam, but I think it works. Get off my cosmic back). It took Henry around 5 months to build the Gundam.
You can see all this hard work paid off in the details on this build, which managed to capture not just the Gundam, but its slightly blockly build that later models don’t have. This build is also very possible, allowing you to recrate some of the classic anime moves. To help with that it comes with a nice stand and has a cool working cockpit.
Minifig pilot for scale….
Get a Closer Look At This Big LEGO Gundam
Here are a few more pretty cool pics of the Gundam MOC that show off how posable it is. The fact that you can manipulate it like an action figure makes it all the more impressive. It can also house a minifig pilot in its chest.
Get Your Own LEGO Mech
Now, sadly LEGO doesn’t officially sell Gundam sets (yet – get on that, LEGO!), but they do actually have a number of pretty cool mechs you can get if you want to start a collection. Most of them come from the Ninjago theme and have some cool designs. These are a great way to get started building LEGO mechs and maybe experiment building something of your own.
The Fire Knight Mech is a pretty cool looking one – and there are others in the line, all the better to battle with!
- 996 pieces
- 2 minifigs
- 10.2 in. (26 cm) tall when posed on the display stand with its spear
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Abe is that rare thing, an Austin local born and raised here. Though he keeps on moving around, DC, Japan, ETC., he always seems to find his way back eventually. Abe has decades of experience with a wide range of tabletop and RPG games, from historicals, to Star Wars to D&D and 40K. He has been contributing to BOLS since almost the start, back when he worked at and then owned a local gaming store. He used to be big into the competitive Warhammer tournament scene but age has mellowed him and he now appreciates a good casual match. He currently covers Warhammer: The Old World, as well as all things Star Wars, with occasional dabbling in other topics. Abe mourned over loss of WFB for its entire hiatus, but has been reborn like a gaming phoenix with Warhammer: The Old World.
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