The 2001(!) Ground type GM from MS 08th, is a fairly simple and blocky screw-kit model with an impressive array of weapons.
Aesthetics:
I'm not going to lie, it's not a looker and the reason is mainly the neon-cheddar-high-visibility orange, which is not show-accurate, at least not for 08th (to my knowledge). The other thing is that while it does have some surface detailing for panel lining, it doesn't have that much detail overall.
Some of the panel seams are pretty bad and rather than looking like natural panel separation, is just a little too far apart - Can probably be glued together.
Besides that, it's not a bad looking kit and you can always paint it. Curiously the only color correction stickers are grey ones for the bottom of the shins, which are totally optional.
The kit comes with a foil sticker sheet, a small dry-transfer sheet, a decal sticker sheet with some pretty cool generic 'CAUTION' stickers and a convex round gem sticker for the sniper scope (long laser rifle).
Mechanics:
Well, it has a really nice double jointed arm bend (screwed together) and a 90 degree knee bend, which seems oddly limited.
The sides of the calves open to reveal beam saber hilts.
The cockpit has a large top hatch which opens - Sadly it looks kind of cheap and primitive even compared to the rest of the kit.
The kit is compatible with the other 08th kits and can use their backpacks, which can also carry some of the equipment.
Normally I cover hands in equipment, but just a quick notice - The kit has standard very old 'squeeze' hands without tabs, so anything they hold is a loose fit, however the long rifle has a separate holding hand which is much better.
Equipment:
This is where the kit shines.
7 hands - 1 tilted sniper hand, 2 holding hands, 2 open palms and 2 fists
1 Beam Rifle
1 Submachine gun with detachable magazine and 2 extra on the side skirts
1 Long Range Beam Rifle with detachable magazine
1 Canister Missile Launcher - Fold-out handle and 4 canisters (one is extra) with 2 missiles for each tube (total 8)
2 extra missiles with fins folded out for firing-launcher action poses
1 Shield with a 'punch' swivel
2 Beam Saber hilts
2 red Beam Saber Effect Parts
1 generic 1/100 pilot figure in civilian clothes, as well as a seated pilot
(no base adapter)
Alternative shoulder hard-points instead of fins
Conclusion:
It's an old kit, but it's pretty cool and a fun and charming build. The orange is pretty egregious, but it's simple to paint.
The arsenal of stuff that comes with it is pretty cool, with most of this stuff not really available in newer kits, so you have plenty of stuff to put on other kits (not all hands will be able to hold them).
For a 25 year old kit, this isn't bad. The RX-78-2 Ver.Ka is one year younger and a worse kit. Just saying.
