RG RX-178 GUNDAM MK-II TITANS

Model: RX-178 GUNDAM MK-II TITANS

Grade: Real grade (RG)

Scale: 1/144

Release date: 2012

Price: 2500 Yen

Price for me: EUR 20,24 + free shipping

Source: AMAZON.DE

This post is not finished, that means that i work on this model just now and during my progress i post here my thoughts, peace.

NOTE 1 / 29.11.2015 / WAITING PHASE

Hi again, in these time I have some news, so I want to share this news with us xD Winter is comming a.k.a. christmas is comming a.k.a. I want to spare some money for gifts and I cant throw money for my hobby like in the past xD Beside that my lovely fiancee decide to give me a gift just like that just because she loves me xD She give me a choice to decide which kit i like, so i decide after short time to RX-178 MARK II TITANS. Why exactly this one, at first its Real Grade and after I build previous RG ZAKU II then I figured out how awersome this grade actually is. At second, I saw some reviews and videos with RG line and too many people sad that MARK II is one of the best or the best piece from Real Grade line. And why Titans version ? Just because i like this colours, design and this one looks like another BadAss xD Anyway, my fiancee made a order from Amazon.de, where this kit costs at this time 20,24 Eur with free shipping, only one issue is that approx shipping time is 10 - 30 days and we cant change shipping method xD So now i wait and wait and waiiit xD I hope than this kit comes more early than later xD I wish all of you nice weekend xD

NOTE 2 / 06.12.2015 / UNBOXING
Really big surprise to me, I never think that this gunpla package come to me that fast. High five to Toy shop Japan Hobbyone, this shop was able to send this RG sooo fast with free shipping. Seven work days also with border control it is an admirable time, thumbs up! Thanks to this Amazon shop i can now put my fingers to this Real Grade. Cant wait! But at first let me eat my schoko-pudding xD
I start with some box and runners view, at this time i make photos with my Nikon 1 J1, maybe I reach better results than before. Box came almost unbroken with perfect condition without scratches and any damages.

BOX VIEW 

Box from the front looks amazing, like all Real Grade kits front image includes big portrait on the left side, real 3D representation of actual look on the right side and of course title and some additional information about RG Line. Logo of the Real Grade and Bandai logo should not miss out xD Kit is from 2012, and I must say when i first box at first time i was surprised how dark blue colours actually is. I like the headphones aroud MK-II head too xD

The lower part of box contains some additional pictures with inner ball cockpit, inner frame advanced MS joint, some possibilities of leg movement, stickers, and armor details. On the right side we can see demonstration of completed kit with some option parts from manga. So, we can decide which look you prefer the most.

Top part of box includes model poses on the base stand and also on the ground from top and from the back. Fourth picture show us differences between classic and manga option parts. And on the rightmost we have some informations about plastic types and very suitable price, which is 2500 Yen.

Each both sides have same look, this sides contains big number of position in RG Line, logo, head and of course some additional information.

RUNNERS VIEW

Each picture will be showing what contains one every plastic bag. When we open box for first time runner A will shown us in full glory. Runner A contains deep red, black and clear green parts for head unit and front body unit. I must say that i really like  this shade of red. Another runner is typicall for Real Grade line and of course it is Advanced MS Joint, at this time number 5, with two types of plastic of two different shades. ABS with light grey and PP with dark grey. I must say that before I build my first RG Zaku II I was a little skeptical with this two types of plastic molded together, but now Iam really into this. RG, RG, RG !!!

Another bag contains one runner and sheet with stickers. Runner has two colours, Now I will give a name of this colour as Medium grey, something between light and dark grey xD. Another colour is yellow, but as with red colour, this is really nice shade of yellow. 148 stickers gave me a hard time for sure xD. Stickers contains white, red, some black stickers for head, gold, silver and green colour.

This bag is kinda special. Bag contains light blue runner D1, runner SB1 with saber effent from year 2006, a little too long but we shall see later. Bag also contains one thick blue rope and one black thin wire for better effects.

One medium grey ABS runner F with some inner frame parts i think, and one light blue D2 runner with outer armor parts. At this case when I mention light blue I mean light blue only for this kit. This colour is actually dark blue, but this kit also contains runners with more darker blue. So when I mention light blue i mention this colour xD.

This bag contains two runners, one E2 light grey runner with some inner frame parts and runner G2 with deep dark blue colour. Really tiny runner xD

The biggest bag in this kit also contains two runners. One dark blue G1 runner with outer armor and some bazooka parts xD And the biggest and also the last runner E1 with really light grey colour. Inner frame parts and weapon parts included xD

And of course we cant forgot to awersome Real Grade manual with colorfull pages and very simply showing. Front page has this beautyful illustration of Mark II head.

After a short view I noticed that this RG kit contains different flow than another kits. At first we must build whole inner frame and then we can add outer armor parts, kinda cool xD 16 pages with all informations which we will need.

I noticed one new think. One runner came with little deformation, but when i look closely i noticed that deformation is only at unnecessary plastic. I want to say that Bandai added little holes to runners around delicate parts and when come on some destruction, plastic around holes cracks and part escaped without any injury xD Thumbs up Bandai, great job!

BUILD

NOTE 3 / 07.12.2015 / WEAPONS BUILD

BEAM RIFLE

Lets build this beast, at this case i decide something different. I want to build weapons at first and then build gundam himself, just because i want to have weapons complete at first and then test them with figure xD At first i choose BEAM FIFLE, which contains with eight pieces, one big black dark grey part with two tiny pieces with the same colour. And another parts with two shades of grey. Its always nice to see weapon parts with different shades, weapons then look better and more realistic

Pieces came together very easy and final Beam Rifle looks really nice. I mean i expected something another, but this angular style exactly fits look of MK-II. Rifle also have some moving parts:

A. 180 degrees movement of second hand handle

B. retractable laser / lens, which in my case moves really easily, i can say self, later I must buy some Tamiya Extra Thin cement for better fixing.

C. removable magazine, nice feature and part under magazine look nice even when you detach magazine.

And this is just Beam Rifle after we put all three parts in a different position. Open lens look attractive. I must say that this design works for me. Lets assemble Hyper bazooka xD

NOTE 4 / 08.12.2015 / WEAPONS BUILD

HYPER BAZOOKA

Time to settle some Christmas gifts and everything around this awersome day. Really love this time of the year and I looking forward to it. I hope that I choose right gifts for peaple that I care and they will enjoy it xD Doday I have night shift, so between gifts choosing and work I have some little time for my Gunpla hobby. I decide to build this awersome Hyber Bazooka, so lets do this. Bazooka contains with 8 parts without missile magazine, which consisting with 2 same light grey parts. Bazooka itself has two dark grey parts and another parts are light and dark grey. We also have two missile magazines, one for bazooka and one for attaching to side of waist unit I think xD

Assembling is pretty straight forward, parts came together very easy and everything is stable. Color separation looks nice and overall design fits to the MK-II look. We can see little peg (B) in the missile magazine for attaching to waist armor. Bazooka handle (A) is moveable and is moving in the range cca 80 degrees. I marked letter C just because i like the shape of this part for putting on the shoulder xD

And just another picture of this destructive weapon. Must say that design fits together with design of beam rifle, everything is in cubic style, Picasooo xD

NOTE 5 / 20.12.2015 / WEAPONS / FRAME UNITS BUILD

After a while I can finally write something more about this awersome kit, I can say that this build is really fun for me and I enjoy every little piece of this. Everything about Christmas are ready, love this time of year so much. Now is last weekend before Christmas and I have whole day only for gunpla building, so exiting xD I made a order of some Tamiya panel line accent colors, gundam marker for shading and one action base, when stuffs come to me I write some insights xD But now lets build Mark II !

SHIELD

Shield consists with 11 parts, every part is I must say something like interesting. I mean, when you cut this parts from runners you already know that this shield will be cool. Two big blue parts, One medium black part, one little red tiny part for peephole, four light grey parts with different shapes and one most important part - Advanced MS joint Shield part with two colours, dark and medium grey.

Assembling is pretty straight forward, everything fits tight and overall look is nice. Shield can extends and we get bigger sized type for better protection. From all sides shield looks detailed and has many little lines for panel lining and some stickers.

From the inside shield looks much better with all additional details. At the top of inner part we have two backup magazines for beam rifle and one magazine in the lower part. Inner middle part part has Advanced MS joint part for mounting to the hand. This part have ball joint and some additional movement from side to side. With everything we have much more nice details, which give us better performance to overall look. My favourite part of this kit so far xD

ANKLE FRAME UNIT

This manual take us to another direction. At first we must assembly whole Inner frame unit with some additional parts and after that we can join some additional outer shiny parts xD I must say that i like a this path, it will be nice to see whole inner frame in all the beauty. For ankle unit we have only three parts. Two moveable  MS Joint parts and one little light grey part. First bigger part for lower ankle has too much movement that I am not able to describe, just everything move xD. Front part have two moveable joints and rear part contains with one ball joint. Second part is simply moveable piston.

After assembly and some rotation this Ankle unit looks amazing. Movement at every corner xD Even now foot looks a little bigger I think, which means this kit will probably have pretty good stability. I play with idea, that later I will paint pistons to gold and silver.

LEG FRAME UNIT

Leg frame unit contains with18 parts, primary at light and dark grey colour. The most important part is of course Advanced MS joint part molded together with two different shades of grey. Additional parts looks very nice, this parts have some very nice details and one part look like woodoo totem xD Another special aspect of this Unit is black cables and some hollow rope light blue cables tipe thing xD

At initial Phase we must insert black cables to blue hollow ropes. Black cables are for shaping and blue hollow ropes are for overall look. Together this things looks like on the next picture. We also must apply two gold rounded stickers for additional look.

After straight assembly foot look very nice, totally different from my previous builds. Everything is angular and fits together. Color separation works for me and its seen. As for the movement, all parts move slightly and without any problems. Pistons on lower ankle unit is the best seduction.

Now Iam a big fan of power cables xD This addition loks very stylish and effective. Color separation works fine and this feature adding some beaty xD

And in the end I added some picture of leg movement. Upper ball joint rotate 360° and move 180°. Double elbow is matter of course, additional parts move separatelly pretty fine. Lower pistons works very nice and dont avoiding ankle movement. Speaking about all moveable parts is wasteful, because this units are incredible and has too many moveable parts.

WAIST FRAME UNIT

Waist frame unit consists with only two MS Joint parts. This parts have two colours, dark and medium grey. Part on the left need some additional rotation and part on the right need only one little move. Now i dont understand why we moved this little tiny dark grey part on the right side, but Iam sure that later i understand that.

After connection two waist units and attachment two legs lower frame unit looks like this. Pretty awesome look, I like upper ball joint and pistons the most xD

ARM FRAME UNIT

Surprisingly arm unit consist of only three parts. One Advanced MS Joint part, one blue hand armor protector and one little tiny light grey part, which I forgot to add xD I cant sleep without this partttt xD

Actually, this step needs a lot of rotations and steps to looks like that xD Final arm frame unit look nice with lot of movement in every piece.

NOTE 6 / 15.01.2016 /  SUMMARY OF SEVERAL DAYS

After some time I finally find some time to update this post, at this time straight build of my MK-II is finally complete, cant wait to share my thoughts with you guys. Although that Iam sick now, I try my best to offer the best performance xD

BODY FRAME UNIT

Body frame unit contains with much more base parts than another frame parts of body. In the center we have inner frame itself with some pretty nice movement, which later give us tripple ball joint movement, which is extraordinary xD We also have two nice tiny clear-green parts for front lights and two red parts for inner ball-cockpit. Sad think is that we saw this pretty cockpit for the last time, beacuse later we cover it with armor parts and will be barely visible after we opened the cockpit doors xD

And now say goodbye to this lovely cockpit xD

Ladies and gentlemans inner frame in full glory itself xD Lots of great details, lots of movements, simply amazing! It is always a lot to discover on this MK-II Inner frame.

I made this picture only for comparison with my older straigt-build RG Zaku II. Seems that this model will be a little taller, we will see later xD

HEAD

I always looking forward to build heads xD Blue, red, clear green, yellow, and light grey - everything in one xD What to say about this head ? Everything fits together very well, yellow and red parts are the most visible and overall look is kinda savage xD I decide to apply only two tiny green stickers for eyes, I left section around eyes just clear. But wait, something is missing, ahhhh I know - lovely Vulcan pod. Stay tuned xD

VULCAN POD

Four parts more make a great difference! Some people dont like it, I personally love it! The vuplcan pod itself xD Before you guys start to build this pod, be careful with tiny antenna, it is very easy to destroy! Final look speaks for itself xD

COMPLETED INNER FRAME WITH HEAD

Just now came to me package with Bandai Action base 1, why not to try it right now xD By now gundam looks kinda tiny, but after some proteins a.k.a. armor parts we can see the difference xD

LEG ARMOR UNIT

Deffensive parts of leg unit begin with lower parts. Foot and heel parts fits together very nice and nothing fall off.  Tip of foot have really little mobility, but on the other side, everything else move great xD

Let us continue with another parts. Front and back armor of lower leg with two different shades of blue. I like the way that pistons are still visible, maybe later I paint them xD

Lets assemble moveable lower foot protector. After adding this part to leg I sad just wow! This part moves independently to another parts of foot thanks to ball joint at the back, great engineering was made here!

Inner side-lower armor contains with three parts and this tiny yellow part is outstanding and will make a huge difference. 

Three outer-lower armor parts and the last two parts will complete leg unit. Completed leg looks fantastic, everything fits great and moveable opportunities are great. Double joint knee, ball joint foot, moveable little grey back part, moveable front armor part with rear ball joint, front foot motion, cables and much more, thats MK-II foot xD.

In the end some retrospective xD All the parts for Leg Armor Unit at the same place xD

And now really in the end, comparision of inner frame leg and leg with outer leg armor unit. Such a difference xD Still cant decide which panel line colour I use, grey or black, hmm xD

WAIST ARMOR UNIT

Front Waist Armor unit contains with some black parts, blue and grey inner parts. After snapping together, waist unit looks great not only from front, but inner part have some great details too xD What is unusual, this parts dont pops out when we move with foots, thumbs up xD

Side Waist armor units contains only with two parts, blue and black. Hold position very well, and thanks to inner frame holder, this parts dont move only up and down, but front and back too xD

Little rectangle holes are for beam rifle or ammo holding, like this feature.

And finally Back Waist armor unit, same colours as with previous parts, and after assembling we get one solid moveable part. In the center we have holder for Hyper Bazooka. When we dont want to hold Bazooka, we can easily close this holder. I must say that this holder is much better and secure that with my previous build RG Zaku II.

Completed waist unit looks very nice and fits with overall design. This picture show us possibility for weapon or ammo pouch holding. Its always good to have more final possibilies.

Its Christmas time baby xD I dont know why, but MK II seems that he dont like this Christmass ball xD

Christmas chillin a.k.a. I feel so naked at the top xD Merry Christmas everyone!

CHEST ARMOR UNIT

Love this shade of yellow, this colour give this model completely another look. After assembling we get some pretty solid chest unit with moveable-opening cockpit. Back part of chest dont work for me, but later we attach backpack on the same place., so we cover this ungly back xD

SHOULDER ARMOR UNIT

Seven parts snapped together give us this beautyfull Shoulder Armor Unit. Shoulder is moveable with four axis direction. Little moveable grey part give us this opportunity, not the strongest connection, but its quite enough.

Some detailed look at shoulders itself, as with chest and foot unit here we have yellow part too, which i like quite a bit. I must say that in box we have opportunity to change look of shoulder and foot parts, but after changing it I have found that I hate it xD So, I let the original design been xD

ARM ARMOR UNIT

Sorry guys, but I forgot to made a photo of arm parts, cryyyy xD Anyway, shoulder is designed very well. Like the bulky design, double elbow joint with some sliding blue elbow part and hole for shield attachment. Arm is simply great as everything in this kit!

BACKPACK UNIT

Too many different parts in grey and black colour, only beam-saber handles are blue. Some trusters, beam-saber holders, beam-sabers itself, pipes, pfuuuuu xD Pipes assembly is same as with  foots.

Very nice backpack, design works for me very well! Beam-saber holders are moveable, pipes hold position very well, trusters are moveable a little and bacpack hold on back very well!

I added some pictures of MK-II with backpack together. Now I love the back side of this RG more!

SNAP BUILD FINISHED, PREVIEW PHOTOS

So, after snap-build I made some photos with nice white background, with all weapons and accestories xD This RG feels very solid, I mean nothing fall off and owerall look is fantastic! Now I know why some people say that this is the best Real Grade kit xD