I built a grunt, then another grunt, then a grunt from Gundam Unicorn. Let’s keep the streak going with another grunt from Unicorn.
This is the ECOAS-type Jegan. I’ve written before - at great length - about how much I dislike the Jegan, and this is probably the only version of it you’re going to convince me to build, so let’s get to it before I change my mind.
About the Mobile Suit
Here is what the Wiki has to say:
The RGM-89De Jegan [ECOAS Type] is a special version of the RGM-89D Jegan D Type used by the Earth Federation's special task group ECOAS, and are deployed in ECOAS missions that are expected to involve direct combat with mobile suits. It has a special visor and extra chest armor for increased survivability.
The ECOAS Type features the same armaments as the normal Jegan, consisting of a beam saber, a beam rifle, a three slot hand grenade rack, and a shield that has two two-tube missile launchers built in. It could also be outfitted with a bazooka for increased firepower and custom units with different weaponry also exist.
Like a lot of the mobile suits in Gundam Unicorn, in terms of pure purpose and function, the ECOAS Jegan isn’t strictly necessary - its job could easily have been given to a customized version of the Jesta or something.
Having said that, I’m glad it exists, because it finally makes the Jegan palatable to me.
Who are ECOAS?
For those of you too lazy to click on the link I put in earlier, here's what the Wiki has to say about ECOAS:Fun fact - "ECOAS" stands for "Earth, Colony, Asteroid", meaning the unit can fight anytime and anywhere in the Earthsphere.The Earth Federation Space Force Special Operations Group "ECOAS" is a unit in charge of detection and cleanup of remnants of the Neo Zeon forces, and other operations that cannot be completed by regular military units.
ECOAS is authorized to engage in a wide range of activities, from military to police affairs, and is even empowered to conduct public security investigations, albeit on a limited basis.
ECOAS has a relatively short history, having been established immediately after the "Second Neo Zeon War" of U.C. 0093. A similar mission is carried out by the Federation Forces' independent task force, the Londo Bell Corps, but while the Londo Bell is a space fleet that can act independently without orders from the General Staff, the ECOAS is a small unit that operates under orders from the General Staff and others.
In other words, it is a unit that places more emphasis on quick response and small-scale operations than the Londo Bell, and it gathers information in all areas, conducts urban warfare, and even assassinations and abductions.
I've seen a lot of folks who really don't like ECOAS, on account of some of their actions being ... questionable (for the lack of a better word). I've always just considered them to be a Black Ops unit who do the dirty work no one else wants to. That doesn't make them angels, of course, but I don't see them as being any worse than the Sleeves in terms of killin' and crimin'
But again, I haven't watched Unicorn in so long that I may be misremembering things.
About the Visual Design
There are a few things the ECOAS Jegan does to make it (in my opinion) the best Jegan out there.
- It is based on the Jegan D Type, which does a lot to modernize, improve, and overall tighten up the basic Jegan design.
- It ditches the awful Aquafresh color scheme for something something much darker and more militaristic. You don’t see many mobile suits rocking the brown/tan combo, and when you look at this thing you begin to wonder why. It’s great here.
- I like the extra armor in the chest, and the fact that the cockpit isn’t separately colored.
- It’s got a cool, GM Sniper II-esque visor, which always looks cool But in terms of simple visual design, I think this is the best looking Jegan of them all.
It finally - finally - makes the Jegan cool.
Now that doesn’t mean it’s one of my favorite grunt suits or anything. It’s just now at a place where I can appreciate it.
Weapons and Stuff
Of course the ECOAS Jegan has all the same basic armaments as the regular Jegan, including:
- A Beam Saber
- Grenades stored on its left skirt
- Missiles built into its shield
- The Jegan Beam Rifle - you know, the same one they gave the Gustav Karl. The same one I just got done trash talking
But in addition to all of that, it also gets a pretty nice bazooka, one that has an extra clip built right into it (because if there’s one thing that Call of Duty games have taught me, it’s that cool guys always slap an extra mag somewhere on their weapon)
Finally, we see the ECOAS Jegan using a combat knife in Unicorn. Sadly though, it doesn’t come in this kit.
Appearances
It’s been a while since I watched Unicorn, so I forgot exactly where and when the ECOAS Jegan appeared. I think I found most of them, but damn if I remember the exact context of some of these scenes.
I believe they first show up in Episode 3, in which they escort and defend the Unicorn Gundam as it conducts an operation. We see one firing its bazooka:
And during the operation, they hitch a ride on the backs of some ReZels:
I can’t remember if it’s in the same episode, or a later one, but there’s a scene where one of them is manning a Mega Bazooka Launcher:
This is also where we first see it use its special visor, GM Sniper II-style:
We see more ECOAS Jegan action in the final episode of the OVA. First, they mount a defense of the Nahel Argama, with Conroy showing up again with what looks to be a Beam Pistol (which, like the knife, does not come with this kit)
Feddie pilots in Unicorn don’t tend to survive these kind of close combat scenarios, but Conroy is a tough cookie.
Further still in the episode, a squad launches to conduct another operation, which is where we finally get to see him use the F’ing knife!
We also learn that underneath all the extra chest armor, the standard red Jegan cockpit is still there:
Pound for pound, among all the Feddie grunt suits in Unicorn, I think only the Jestas manage to fare better than the ECOAS Jegans. In fact, the only reason any of the latter get killed is because they get ambushed by the Neo Zeong, which has the ridiculous ability to hack enemy mobile suits and make them attack each other.
About the Model
This is another Unicorn kit, so I have high expectations for its quality. But it’s also my first time building a Jegan, so I have no idea how it might (or might not) differ from any other Feddie grunt.
About the Build
I have some ECOAS waterslide decals, and this may be the only time I get a chance to use them (though maybe I’ll save a couple in case I ever get the High Grade Loto ).
Additional Notes
As usual, I tried running the translator on all the flavor text in the manual. One interesting thing I noted is in the blurb about ECOAS. It’s possible that the translation is off, but there seems to be something in there about ECOAS in relation to a “Man Hunter” unit.
I have no idea if this simply means they hunt specific targets, or if it means they are associated with the literal Man Hunters that we see in Hathaway’s Flash rounding up immigrants for deportation.
If that’s the case, then I can see why fans don’t like them too much.
There is also a blurb in there about how the Earth Federation was in relative peacetime during the events of Unicorn, and that this explains why they were still fielding Jegans and even older GMs due to budget constraints.
I guess that makes sense? Kinda? I mean, technically they did have new units, like the Gustav Karl, the ReZel, the Jesta, and the Delta Plus.
Now to be fair, none of those mobile suits were manufactured in great numbers, but the point remains that they were still making new stuff. But it does seem like they were trying to reuse older models for their mainline forces, which, fair enough.
Why So Soon?
If you’re wondering why I’m getting to this build so quickly after the last one, it’s because I actually worked on this on and off throughout the middle of May. All I needed to do was put the finishing touches on it this weekend.