Introduction:

Since my first essay on a mobile suit (the Leo from Gundam Wing), I’ve gotten a few more Gunpla (of which are a second Leo, a Tickbalang, the Lightning and Duel Blitz Gundams from Seed, a Blue Zaku, Aerial, Sugai’s Gelgoog and a mobile suit that features in this essay) and now it’s time to recoup the costs spent getting them.

My solution to this sudden need for money is to deliver unto this apparent audience of mine: Content!

Welcome then, to my piece that shall take you through the most important parts of what I’m calling…

The RX Series

Chapter 1: The Core Of The Matter

First things first; I need to tell you about the unifying factor about the following mobile suits: Core Blocks!

Simple version is this: It’s a built-in escape pod that; when ejected from the Feddie mobile suit, transforms into a fighter jet with limited offense capabilities that allows the mobile suit pilot an escape. The reverse can be utilized too; with a Core Fighter being able to deploy into existing compatible mobile suits.

This compatibility is important when we get to our first in the timeline of the RX series…

Chapter 2: The Guntank

Following the inadequacies of the RTX-44; the RX-75-4 Guntank incorporates both the Core Block system as well as the Earth Federation’s early ethos for mobile suits: Legs are too complicated,put that shit on a tank!

The end result was the RX-75 quartet of Guntanks; of which the fate of the first one is unknown. The other three were taken aboard White Base, where two brave souls would pilot the only one operable. Those heroes were the civilians Ryu Jose and Hayato Kobayashi. Eventually; it was just Hayato piloting the Guntank. Mostly because they learnt the Guntank had redundant controls in both the Core Fighter and the “head”. But also because Ryu Jose had caught a bad case of exploding.

Of note; the Mass Production version of the RX-75 featured prominently in The 08th MS Team as munchies for Norris Packard as he contended with Ground Type versions of an upcoming mobile suit.

When the RX-75 was proven to be an inconvenient design, lacking in agility due to the Core Fighter removing the Guntank’s waist, the eggheads at the Feddie MS factories got to building…

Chapter 3: The Guncannon

No. I don’t know what the RX-76 would have been; we’re on that RX-77-2B shit now!

Mounting higher calibre cannons than the Guntank and the newfangled Feddie tech of legs, the RX-77-2B Guncannon is a lumbering brick that, deep within, lies a Core Fighter. The lack of mobility was by design however, as the Guncannon was meant to provide artillery support. Further proof of the intended long range use is the packaged rifle being classified as a sniper rifle in official materials. Needless to say; the rifle was also special in a different aspect: It was a compact warship-grade beam weapon.

For an idea on what that means; I highly recommend a review by the Red Wolf Squadron members Chubs and LeSean on its efficacy in disabling enemy mobile suits (and liquidizing belligerent Spacenoids).

The shoulder-mounted cannons are conventional however; utilizing 240mm howitzer shells intended for use against your typical Musai class warship.

As for what the RX-77-2B would provide artillery cover for… That would be the star of my essay… Its name? Gundam!

Chapter 4: You Thought It Was RX-78-2; BUT IT WAS I, RX-78-1!

Bet you didn’t expect me to pull this outta the lore, did ya!? The RX-78-1 was the close-quarters counterpart to the RX-77-2B. Armed with similar armament to its successor, the RX-78-2, this “Gundam”, as it was called internally, would be armed with a short range Beam Rifle and twin Beam Sabers. The RX-78-1’s fate was that, during the vaunted Side 7 Attack, it done got blown up. The surviving scraps were used as spare parts for the surviving second Gundam prototype…

Chapter 5: The Gundam

After the recon of Side 7 turned into a veritable blood bath; the RX-78-2 Gundam proceeded to singlehandedly disable both MS-06F Zaku II that were engaging in hostilities. Aside from the first Zaku being ground zero for a reactor detonation, the attack was won by the Feddies with minimal* casualties.

Later armed with a Hyper Bazooka; this prototype worked so well that, only a few months later, the RX-78-2 had wiped out legions of Zeon mobile suits, mass production and prototype alike! Notable kills include the Gouf, Gyan, Zeong and Amuro Ray’s dad.

The RX-78-2 would even prove basis for several successful Gundam’s, in-universe notable examples being the FA-78 Full Armour Gundam as flown by Io Fleming and the RX-78-2-7-11; a promo Gundam made in collab with known EFSF supplier 7Eleven; kinda like the Nuka Cola power armour in Fallout 4’s Nuka World DLC.

In Closing: What Goes Around, Comes Around…

With my essay on the RX Series complete; I feel I ought to address the Big Zam in the room: I teased, years ago now, that I’d do a Twitter Thread on the Red Zaku. Well, guess what! That’s my next essay after this one! For now; you’ll have to wait for it and enjoy my runthrough of the RX Series. Until next time!