RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam

Technology & Combat Characteristics

The RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam is the third MS produced under the Project V, developed at the Jaburo military headquarters on Earth. The starting point of the RX-78 series of mobile suits, the Prototype Gundam was designed differently from the original Project V mobile suits models in that it did not place its emphasis on raw firepower like the RX-75-4 Guntank and RX-77-2 Guncannon. Instead, the RX-78-1 placed emphasis on fast, close quarters combat, much like the Principality of Zeon's MS-06 Zaku II.

In addition to thorough weight reduction, cooling units are installed on the waist and knees to withstand battles in outer space, and a heat-resistant field system is also provided for entry into the atmosphere. It was also the first to feature several new technologies, including the energy cap-based beam rifle (making the Gundam the first mobile suit to pack the firepower of a battleship), beam sabers and beam javelins for close combat. Like its predecessors, the Prototype Gundam also featured the Core Block System. Compared to the RX-78-2 Gundam, its ankle armor is equipped with multiple slit-like attitude control verniers, its knee armor is shorter, and the shape of its wrists are different.

Armaments

• 60mm Vulcan Gun

Mounted in the head, these shell firing weapons have high rate of fire but little power and can't damage the thick armor of a mobile suit, though they can damage lightly armored areas such as the sensors. They are ideal for shooting down small, lightly armored targets such as missiles, attack vehicles, etc.

• Beam Saber

The Gundam was the first mobile suit to ever use a beam weapon made for melee combat. The beam saber is a small device held in the mobile suit's hands when operated and is powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. It can cut through most armor not treated with anti-beam coating. The Gundam has two beam sabers stored in the backpack. One can be used as a reserve weapon, or both can be used simultaneously in a twin sword fashion. The beam saber can also transform into the beam javelin.

• Beam Javelin

The beam javelin is an alternate form of the beam saber, with an extended handle and a three-pronged beam at the end. The long reach of the weapon gives the RX-78-1 an advantage in close quarters combat. It was also used as a throwing weapon.

• XBR-M79-04G Beam Rifle

A shotgun-style beam rifle. Initial plans was for it to be integrated into the forearms of the Gundam at the time of use, but the concept was dropped. The right side armor is equipped with a slide-out holster to store this rifle.

• Hyper Bazooka

A general purpose fire support rocket launcher platform for Mobile Suits. With considerable destructive power owing to the explosive yield in each warhead, the weapon was primarily used to destroy less-maneuverable battlefield targets such as warships, satellites, land battleships, bunkers, and buildings.

• 120mm Machine Gun

A standard weapon for Zaku type mobile suits. It is a shell firing gun that does not require energy to be used, however its effectiveness against heavy armor is very limited. This model used a 100-round drum magazine. The Gundam would use the machine gun during a mock battle and it was loaded with paint ball ammunition.

• Shield

Hand-carried, forearm-mounted or stored on the Gundam's backpack, the shield is a simple defense used to block most physical and beam attacks. Weighing 10 tons, its armor structure is a simplified version of that on the Gundam's body and is designed for the diffusion and absorption of impact rather than robustness. The outermost layer is a triple honeycomb structure using luna titanium alloy-based material.

• Gundam Hammer

Essentially a large spiked ball attached to a chain, it serve as a ranged melee weapon. The gundam hammer could either be thrown or swung around the mobile suit itself to damage the enemy units.

Special Equipment & Features

• Core Block System

The prototype mobile suits produced by the Earth Federation Forces' Operation V, are equipped with a central block which houses the mobile suit's cockpit, control systems and main power source. This core block can eject in case of emergency and unfold into a small Core Fighter.

• Hardpoints

An attachment point for weapons, shields, spare ammunition, or optional mission-specific equipment. Hardpoints can also be used to store carried weapons when a mobile suit needs its manipulators free for other purposes.

• Heatproof Field

A system which pumps out air to counter the friction heat of atmospheric entry. The mobile suit's internal cooling systems must also be engaged to deal with the heat that penetrates the air field.

History

The RX-78-1 was tested in conjunction with the FF-X5 Prototype Core Fighter on Earth before being shipped to Side 7, where it underwent further testing. Its Core Fighter was also refitted into the FF-X7 Core Fighter. When it first rolled out, its face, wrists, and waist were different compared to the RX-78-2 Gundam, though after several modifications, they became nearly identical.

There was no record of it after its testing in Side 7. According to one account, it was destroyed during the Zeon attack. The truth remains unknown.

Gallery

Prototype Gundam: MSV illustration by Kunio Okawara

Prototype Gundam (Rollout Type 1): MSV illustration by Kunio Okawara

Beam Rifle

The "standard equipment unit" from MSV

Rollout version

Prototype Gundam as featured in Gundam Conquest mobile phone game

Prototype Gundam: artwork by Naochika Morishita

RX-78 Prototype Gundam roll-out units: from Gundam Historica

Prototype Gundam and pilot Farrell Iha as featured in Mobile Suit Gundam: Spirits of Zeon arcade game

Prototype Gundam as featured in Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation

Prototype Gundam as featured in Gihren's Greed

Prototype Gundams and Big Tray land battleships (background) as seen on Gihren's Greed:The Manace of Axis V

As seen on the game Gundam Diorama Front 3rd.

As seen in Gundam Battle Operation 2

Fan Art

Prototype Gundam CG art

Gunpla

1/144 Original RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam (1983): box art

1/100 MG RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam (P-Bandai exclusive; 2014): box art

1/144 RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam model conversion based on 1/144 HGUC "RX-78-2 Gundam (Ver. G30th): modeled by Kei Nakamura"

1/144 RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam model conversion based on 1/144 HGUC "RX-78-2 Gundam (Ver. G30th)

1/144 RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam model conversion based on 1/144 HGUC "RX-78-2 Gundam (Ver. G30th)

Model example of "Gundam initial development type" from "How to Build Gundam"

Action Figures

Mobile Suit in Action (MSiA / MIA) "RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam" (2004): package front view.

Robot Damashii "RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam" (Tamashii Web exclusive; 2011): package front view

Robot Damashii "RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam Ver. A.N.I.M.E." (2017): package front view

Gundam Fix Figuration (GFF) #0015 "FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam / RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam" figure set (2003): package front view

GFF #0015 "FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam / RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam" figure set (2003): package rear view

GFF #0015 "FA-78-2 Heavy Gundam" figure (2003): product sample (left) with parts converible to RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam figure (right)

Notes and Trivia

• The Prototype Gundam was originally the semi-final draft of the Gundam's design by Kunio Okawara, which notably had a different face design without vents. This design first appeared in the book "How To Build Gundam", as a model example for "Gundam initial development type". For Mobile Suit Variations, Okawara redrew the design, making it identical to the Gundam aside from the color, though the semi-final draft version still appeared as "standard equipment unit".
  • In MSV-R, the semi-final draft version was said to be the rollout version of the Prototype Gundam.
• In Gundam Battle Royale, the Prototype Gundam doesn't have a Beam Javelin or a Beam Saber. It instead uses the Gundam Hammer for melee combat. This setup carries over until Gundam Assault Survive.
• In Mobile Suit Gundam: Bonds of the Battlefield, in-game text regarding the Protoype Gundam describes it as "being lightly armored with emphasis on close-combat". As such it carries a Gundam Hammer in place of Beam Rifle but also comes equipped with Beam Sabers (and later, the Beam Javelin) as a secondary melee weapon. Moreover, the Gundam Hammer has an added effect of temporarily disabling visual sensors like the Gouf's Heat Rod and the Dom's scattering beam gun.
• In Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle Operation, the Prototype Gundam is classified as a Close-Combat unit, and as such carries all the advantages and disadvantages of said type. It still has a beam rifle but does not carry a shield and its main (and only) close-combat weapon is the Beam Javelin.

Reference

Prototype Gundam: information and specifications (from Gundam Perfect File)

Prototype Gundam: design and features (Gundam Perfect File)

Prototype Gundam: information (from MSV-R)

Prototype Gundam: design and specification (from MSV-R)

External Links

• RX-78-1 Prototype Gundam on MAHQ.net