Federal Forces FA-78
Gundam Full Armor
1/144th scale Bandai


Gundam Full Armor
The Gundam Full Armor type was a design that was never actually produced. It was designed to upgrade the protection and firepower of the original Gundam, with only a slight loss in maneuverability. In the end, the Gundam itself proved to be so effective that the upgrade seemed futile. The GFA itself was also seen as being too unmaneuverable compared to the Gundam, after it's magnetic joint upgrade. The GFA research ultimately produced an entirely redesigned mobile suit, the Heavy Gundam.
Gundam Full ArmorGundam Full Armor
Gundam Full ArmorGundam Full Armor

Once again, I decided to combine an HGUC with an MSV kit. The Gundam Full Armor is one of my favorite Gundam designs, both the original Ookawara version and Katoki's redesign. There are good resin kits to convert several of the RX-78 kits to the Katoki version, but not really one for the original. This conversion was considerably easier than my Guncannon II conversion, because the HGUC and MSV kits are actually very close, proportionally. The MSV has a massive head and is rather boxy in the chest, but it's otherwise quite nice. From first cut to decaling, this took around 22 days to finish.
  1. Head:
    1. Face altered to allow easy removal for painting
    2. MSV v-fin used
  2. Backpack:
    1. Thrusters and various details added with option parts
    2. Backpack narrowed
    3. Cannon rejointed, extended, and detailed with a 'gas system'
  3. Torso:
    1. Original vents removed, replaced with thin steel grating
    2. Body overall thickened with putty
    3. Shoulder rail armor, cockpit hatch, and thickened waist added with styrene
    4. Upper chest hatch and rib armor transplanted from MSV
  4. Arms:
    1. Detail added to shoulder pads with styrene and Zaku heavy user parts
    2. The entirety of the HGUC's polycap system was implanted in the arms, allowing the shield and beam rifle to be polycapped on for easy removal
    3. Double beam rifle's shield made thicker and rimmed with styrene
  5. Waist:
    1. Front skirt separated for mobility
    2. Crotch puttied and squared out, detailed with an minus mold and a bit of panel lining
    3. Rear skirt armor spring mounted for mobility
  6. Legs:
    1. The polycaps from the HGUC were transplanted into the knees and feet of the MSV, then the HGUC thighs were altered to fit together with the new lower legs
    2. Beam sabre holder added to the left calf