Expo 2020 Dubai RX-78-2 (Granddaddy) Gundam Review

By Rose

The Mobile Suit Gundam franchise was granted the honor of representing Japan as one of their pavilion ambassadors for Expo 2020 Dubai (an event which began in 2021, you know why). And, as is customary for Gundam, you just can’t have that franchise show up for a major event without a bespoke Gunpla figure to match. Sold under the limited edition Premium Bandai line, this pre-order exclusive model kit is a recolor of the High Grade Granddaddy Gundam itself: Amuro Ray’s RX-78-2, the titular Mobile Suit from the 1979 series that started it all.

As a High Grade kit, this was a fairly simple build, only a few hours (or quicker if you rush) with minimal features. The biggest draw of this limited edition run is the unique color scheme seen above and the event-specific sticker set.

I had a few minor issues with the build: the crest on the forehead refused to snap in place, and needed to be secured with a small dab of Mr. Cement (glue would have worked too, but I didn’t have any glue, hence the slight damage seen above). There was also an issue snapping together a piece of the torso, but all in all it was a fairly straightforward build.

Some people don’t like excessive stickers on their Gunpla; I know I don’t. Those people will be absolutely livid at the sheer volume of color-correcting stickers on this kit. They add a nice accent, but are incredibly frustrating to apply.

Still, the full kit came together quite nicely and carries its own weight pretty well. The articulation is a bit questionable around the legs, though the center waist flap can be cut in half to allow each side to move individually with its respective leg. The kit comes with pretty standard accessories as well: two beam sabers, a rifle, and that iconic shield. 

This isn’t a kit you can buy from official sources anymore, but if you love the Granddaddy Gundam (or the color scheme and unique decals, which is what drew me to it in the first place) you can certainly find it on resale websites like with most Premium Bandai drops. If you’re familiar with the HG RX-78-2, however, this kit won’t surprise you.