Gundam Ground Type’s RG Evolution From First Test Production to Final Design, 14 Years Later
Fourteen years is a long time in GunPla, and the evolution of the RG Gundam Ground Type shows just how far Bandai's design and engineering have come.
RG 1/144 Gundam Ground Type (Test Pattern) - 2012
Looking back at the first test pattern image, the early RG Gundam Ground Type was clearly built around the design and engineering of the original RG RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 1.0. The similarities were not just cosmetic. The shoulder armor used a noticeably different separation and layered construction that closely resembled the first RG Gundam, while the leg armor also appeared to feature a similar sliding armor gimmick.
That early design reflected the engineering philosophy of Real Grade's first generation. The original RG RX-78-2 was packed with moving sections and layered armor, pushing Bandai's engineering in a new direction for 1/144 scale.
But 14 years later, the Gundam Ground Type has returned with a completely different approach.
The final design now follows the aesthetics of the RG RX-78-2 Gundam Ver. 2.0, showing how much both Bandai's design philosophy and engineering have evolved. The armor layout is cleaner and more refined, while the mechanical details feel more naturally incorporated into the mobile suit's overall construction.
The difference between the first test pattern and the final RG Gundam Ground Type is more than a redesign. It is almost a before-and-after look at 14 years of Real Grade development.
Back then, Bandai was still defining what the Real Grade series could do. Today, the RG Gundam Ground Type benefits from more than a decade of experimentation, refinement, and increasingly sophisticated 1/144 scale engineering.
From its early Ver. 1.0-inspired test pattern design to its final Ver. 2.0-inspired form, the RG Gundam Ground Type is a pretty amazing reminder of just how far Bandai has come in 14 years.
