Gunpla Build - Workshop Version Kit

Over the decades, Bandai has released many, many, many model kits of the Grandaddy Gundam. Some are big, some are small. Some are detailed, some are not. And some are even given out for free, like the subject of today’s build, the RX78-2 Gundam Workshop Kit Version.

First released in 2016, the “Workshop Kit Ver.” is an intentionally simple and inexpensive model that Bandai gives out for free at special events (including, but certainly not limited to, the Gundam Base Mobile Tour). And I’m here to report on what the kit is like.

About the Kit

Again, this kit was first released in 2016. According to my research, the only thing that’s changed about it since then is the packaging. It used to come in a horizontal (and monochrome) box:

Since then they’ve switched to a vertically oriented box that’s more in line with the look of their SD Gundam and Entry Grade products.

Speaking of which, it’s important to note that because the kit is from 2016, it actually predates the modern Entry Grade line, which came out in 2020. That means that this is not simply a repackaged Entry Grade, but something else entirely.

The Instructions

This is such a simple kit that there aren’t enough build steps to fill up even a small, pamphlet sized instruction manual. So Bandai uses the rest of the free space to teach you - the potential new fan/new builder - about Gundam and Gunpla:

They did something similar with the instructions for the Entry Grade Gundam, but this takes the idea a little further, going so far as to tell Japanese builders on what TV channels to watch Gundam:

In other words, even more so than an Entry Grade, this workshop kit is designed for people who are absolute newbies, not just to Gunpla, but to the franchise itself.

(I also want to point out that the entire manual is in full color, which is a very good way to help out newbies)

The Build

Since I had to build the kit at the event, I don’t have a photo of the runners, but as always there’s a photo in the manual:

We have two small runners, and two stickers, and that’s it. Remember, though, that this is a free kit!

As for the build process, it certainly is simple, but you can screw it up. These three parts in particular are extremely difficult to separate once they’re assembled, so if you put them on the wrong way you’re going to have a rough time (ask me how I know):

The other thing I’ll point out is that it’s really hard to apply the eye sticker without any sort of extra tools. I screwed it up a little bit, though I did my best to adjust it when I got home.

The Model

Okay, here is the complete model:

It’s … not bad? It’s simple, yes, but that’s clearly Gramps. The only thing about it that looks off is the head (mainly due to that awful eye sticker). Everything else is spot on, especially the torso.

Let’s put it another way - Bandai has released paid toys and models (albeit inexpensive ones) that look worse than this kit. Case in point - Bandai tried to make an earlier version of the Entry Grade line in 2011, to much worse results:

That being said, since this is such a simple kit, it does cut a lot of corners, and is thus extremely limited in a lot of ways. Let’s break them down:

• Right off the bat, one of the first things you'll notice is that only the front of the skirt armor is color accurate. Look around at the back, and you'll find a complete absence of yellow:

  This is a very common cost cutting tactic, one that I've seen plenty of times before, so I'm neither surprised nor disappointed.

• The beam sabers cannot be removed. They're purely decorative.
• There is no shield, which I can live with.
• The beam rifle is hollow on one side, so it only looks complete from certain angles.
• If you look closely, you'll notice that some of the parts don't fit super tightly, leaving small gaps in the seam lines. I've tried pushing the parts together, but it doesn't seem to be helping much.
• None of the skirt armor moves, which largely locks the legs in place. You've got about twenty degrees of forward and backward movement, and that's it.
• The nature of the joints means that it also has little to no articulation at the shoulder

Now for some positives:

• In general, it really does nail the look. The colors are accurate, and none of the proportions feel off.
• The front head camera is color accurate without using a sticker, which is something not even every High Grade manages to do.
• The backpack is very nicely detailed.
• So are the bottoms of the feet.
• There's a hole between the legs for fitting it onto an Action Base, which is a clever way of enticing a new builder to try buying some accessories.

About the Joints

Rather than using polycaps, or a partial inner frame, or a C-Clip joint, this Workshop kit uses this single part:

Which plugs directly into a hollow space in the leg:

It’s simple, but it does get the job done. Sure the range isn’t fantastic - on the elbows and knees you’re looking at 90 degrees of range at best - but it still allows for some movement.

Posing

Because the articulation is so limited, particularly in the legs, this model can’t do much in the way of poses. This is the only thing I really tried:

But if you want to see someone else attempt at least a handful of additional poses, check out this Japanese blog I found.

Some Comparisons

Here’s the model next to the High Grade Revive Gundam:

This is actually a favorable comparison. If I bothered to panel line and paint it, I think the Workshop kit would wind up looking pretty close to the Revive. But at the end of the day, the Revive has a much better looking head, so it’s always going to win in a comparison.

Now here it is next to the Entry Grade:

This is another favorable comparison. The Workshop kit isn’t off by that much, especially when you consider it’s free.

Here it is next to the Real Grade model:

This is an entirely unfair comparison in regards to detail and quality; regardless, I still like comparing different interpretations of the Grandaddy to see how they differ.

Lastly, here it is next to the 7-11 Gundam, which is basically a High Grade-ified version of the Real Grade:

Like the Real Grade, the 7-11 kit has so much surface detail that this too is a bad comparison. I will note, however, that it has a nasty seamline running down its leg, which the Workshop kit doesn’t have, so that’s at least one area in which our freebie is superior.

Will this Get People into the Hobby?

This is the million dollar question. This is a very nice kit for a freebie, but is it good enough to entice newcomers to buy more models?

I’m leaning towards “yes”, but only due to the context in which it is deployed. In isolation, the kit is limited enough that a newcomer might get the wrong impression about what Gunpla are capable of.

But that’s the thing - this kit is not given out in isolation. It is part of special events where they presumably have other, better kits on display and/or for purchase. That makes it clear to a newcomer that the Workshop kit is just an initial taste of what is possible, while planting the idea in their head that they can “move up” and do even more. In that case, I do think it is - or at least can be - effective at its job.

Other Thoughts

This kit is literally a case of “the first one is free”. The irony that this is the sales approach commonly attributed to drug dealers - combined with the fact that Gunpla is often called “Plastic Crack” - is not lost on me.

Also, I’ve seen some folks online who claim that this kit is - or will be - valuable on the secondary market on account of the fact that it’s not for sale. I find that hard to believe. I could maybe see it if the kit had special markings or a special color scheme, but as it is, it’s not really that special. Most people would be unable to pick it out in a lineup, so I just don’t see it being worth much money.