Gundam

Gunpla Build - High Grade Mercuone Gundam (Final) 2024-02-19

Because there’s no new Core Gundam to build, and because the Mercury Armor looks so much like the Earth Armor, and because the airframe for the Support Mecha is the same one we used before, there’s not a whole lot of new ground to cover for this build. I should be able to get this whole thing done in a single post.

But first, here are the runners, first for the armor kit:

And then for the accessory kit:

Gunpla Build - High Grade Mercuone Gundam 2024-02-18

Well, I decided the order in which I’m going to build all those Planet Armors. Or at the very least I’ve figured out the next one. Since I already built the Earthree Gundam, the easiest build to do next would be the Mercuone Gundam. All I have to do is build the Mercury Armor and attach it to the Core Gundam. So let’s do it!

More Planet Armors 2024-02-17

If you read my primer on the Core Gundam and its Planet Armors, then you will know that getting a full collection of Core Gundams and Planet Armors is a tall order. This is due to the fact that not all kits are created equal. Some come with a Core Gundam, and some don’t. Some come with all the weapons and accessories, while for others you’ll need to buy a separate accessory pack. And on top of all that, the different kits aren’t always reprinted at the same time. Maybe you find the armor you’re looking for, but not its corresponding weapons pack (or vice versa).

The point is that if you want a full set of Planet Armor, it’s going to take a bit of effort. Or in my case, luck.

Shortly after writing that primer, I found an online hobby shop selling a couple of the Planet Armors. Then I discovered that my local hobby shop sold their corresponding accessory packs (as well as another set of matching armor & accessories). I realized the opportunity in front of me, so I got while the getting was good:

In less than a month, I’ve been able to go from having zero Planet Armors, to having six out of eight of them.

Gunpla Build - High Grade Earthree Gundam (Earth Armor Build) 2024-02-04

Now that we’ve taken a look at Core Gundam, it is time to look at the Earthree Armor in its “Support Mecha” mode.

It’s kind of a “blink and you’ll miss it” detail, but the Support Mecha is not just a bunch of armor parts stapled together. It actually has an airframe … with a bunch of armor parts stapled onto it: