Diorama display that can easily reproduce famous scenes from "Mobile Suit Gundam" is now on sale! Interview on the development of the "Realistic Model Series Mobile Suit Gundam (for the 1/144 HG series) G-Structure".

A new lineup has been added to the Realistic Model Series, a display product series compatible with the 1/144 scale Gunpla brand "HG" series. The "Realistic Model Series Mobile Suit Gundam (for 1/144 HG series) G Structure," a diorama display that recreates famous scenes from the "Gundam" series, is now available for pre-order at Premium Bandai.

This product is a diorama display featuring famous scenes from the "Mobile Suit Gundam" anime series, and can be easily assembled even by modeling beginners. This new item is a must-have for Gunpla fans, who can bring back to life many famous scenes by simply placing an HG series kit (sold separately) on the display.

We asked Kazutami Yasuhiko of MegaHouse Corporation, the developer of the product, to tell us the story behind the development of this product and its appeal points.

The Diorama Display Gunpla Fans Have Been Looking For

─ First of all, please tell us how you came to release the "Realistic Model Series Mobile Suit Gundam (for the 1/144 HG series) G-Structure.

Yasuhiko: In the "Realistic Model Series," we had already released several large-size products called the Catapult Series, but with the Corona Disaster, the Gunpla market was getting really strong, and now we wanted to expand the display of Gunpla in a relatively small space and at a medium price range, Specifically, I was considering the possibility of a diorama.

Some people customize dioramas that they buy at 100 yen stores, but the Bandai Group had never commercialized a diorama item before, so we decided to give it a try. First, we started with the famous "Scattering at Jaburo" and "Last Shooter" from the first Gundam series. We also selected "Ruins of New Yark City" - "Ruins" is a very popular item in terms of versatility. They are very common products, though.

We are also discussing with BANDAI SPRITS, which is developing Gundam plastic models and "ROBOT Soul ver.ANIME," about how we can work together to promote this project. So, we are discussing with them.

Therefore, I believe that the group synergy of the various divisions' 1/144 scale products will be united in the "G Structure" series, which will lead to this product in a good way.

Realistic Model Series G-Structure [GS01] Scatters in Jaburo!

─ ─ I just noticed that each highlight scene from the "Mobile Suit Gundam" movie trilogy has been selected. Is this a coincidence?

Yasuhiko: This is a coincidence. We had many ideas for the scenes in space, on the ground, and at the base, and finally chose these three out of them. For example, Jaburo is a representative example of Gundam radio drama, and people have been using it as a subject since the first Gundam boom in the 1980s, so I made a sketch of it first because it fits the image of this product. For the ruins, we decided to use the city of New Yark as the subject, thinking it would be a good idea to display a city in the Gundam world. And the base is an image of A Baoa Ku.

We finally considered a city, a natural cave, a base, and other situations, and this was the result.

─ ─ After all, the popularity of the first Gundam is still exceptional. Would you start from there?

Yasuhiko: The generation of the First Gundam generation used to make holes in their Gundam models with soldering irons and so on. People were making ingenious models, such as a Jim that was pierced in the stomach by Char's Zugok. There were a lot of dioramas in magazines such as Comic Bonbon and Hobby Japan, and there was a kind of diorama boom at that time. It seems that people of that generation are still enjoying Gunpla today.

Naturally, plastic models have evolved over the long history of Gunpla, and we hope that our dioramas will evolve along with them.

Realistic Model Series Mobile Suit Gundam (for 1/144HG series) G Structure [GS02] Ruins of New Yark City

─ Until now, it has been the custom in the hobby industry to release dioramas in units of parts, such as buildings and forests, and then the user builds his or her own diorama based on those parts, isn't it? I think the release of this kind of diorama set will lower the hurdle.

Yasuhiko: That's right. Considering the time and effort required to build a diorama from scratch, it would be faster to buy a semi-finished kit from the beginning. And since you can make modifications in your own way from there, it has received quite a good reputation.

───How is the response, such as the number of reservations?

Yasuhiko: Thanks to you, we have received a good response and the product has been well received. We have received reservations for all three items in rather equal amounts. To be honest, at first I wondered how a display item with only a scene would be. But we are glad to hear that people are looking for this kind of product more than we expected.

Realistic Model Series G-Structure [GS03] Last Shooting (for 1/144 HG series)

The combination with the diorama is flexible!

──What material is used?

Yasuhiko: It will be made of the same PS material as the plastic model.

───The rocks and buildings in the cave are very realistic and the weathering is very well done.

Yasuhiko: This is just a prototype, so we will make minor shape corrections when we make the mold, but we want to deliver the product in as realistic a state as possible.

The product is pre-painted and has a good gradation. There are also detailed markings, but these are to be applied by the customer using the included mini-decals.

─ - Once you open the box, you can play with it right away without much trouble, as you would expect from MegaHouse.

Yasuhiko: We wanted to make a semi-finished kit so that even beginners can enjoy it, and for those who are skilled, it will inspire them to be more creative. If you are confident in your skills, we would like you to expand it in various ways.

Incidentally, the base has 3mm joint holes, so it can be extended by inserting effect parts into the holes, depending on your ingenuity.

As for the Jaburo, the water parts are curved to perfectly match the body line of the Zok. We have included such detailed gimmicks that make it fun to play with.

─ ─ This makes me very happy! So the size is the same as the HG 1/144 scale, as it is called "Realistic Model Series", isn't it?

Yasuhiko That is right. We consider this series to be a peripheral product of HG, so we have unified it in that scale this time as well. However, the "ROBOT Soul ver. ANIME" is also in the same scale, so it can be combined with that, and I think it would be interesting to combine it with other figures such as other monsters in addition to the "Gundam" figures. It would also be good to combine it with other figures such as other monsters, SF or robot characters from Western movies, etc. (laughs).

─ ─ What are the points of particular interest for "G-Structure"?

Yasuhiko: To be honest, since it is a diorama product, there is no right answer, but I would venture to say that it should be a product for adults, with as much detail as possible, so that it does not look like a toy and be thought of as "just like that. I wanted to create a product that could be easily enjoyed by everyone, from beginners to experts.

Another idea we had for this product was to provide a "place for sharing". I think it will be suitable not only for Gundam, but also for a variety of robots and characters, so I hope everyone will bring their own G-Structure and play with it.

─ Do you plan to make "G Structure" a series in the future?

Yasuhiko: Actually, we are currently planning the next product, and this time we would like to expand the subject matter to other "Gundam" works. There are so many different "Gundam" works, and they are set in different stages, but each generation has its own favorite works. I would love to hear all kinds of requests.

───What kind of works do you receive the most requests for now?

Yasuhiko: We receive a lot of requests for SEED series, which will celebrate its anniversary next year and is about to become popular both in Japan and overseas.

───MegaHouse has been offering various ways to enjoy plastic models through the "Realistic Model Series," and I think there are many people who are looking forward to seeing what you will do next.

Yasuhiko: As expected, the Bandai Group has various categories and roles, and we would like to develop them in cooperation and collaboration with each division, standing in the right place. I would like to use this series as an opportunity to further boost the Bandai Gundam market.

So, I like "Bandai Group" through these products. I would be happy if you think it is good that these products are released with this Corona Disaster.

G Structure [GS01] Scattering at Jaburo! Click here to pre-order!

Click here to reserve G Structure [GS02] Ruins of New Yark City

G Structure [GS03] The Last Shooter is available for reservation now.

Product Information

Realistic Model Series G-Structure [GS01] Scattering in Jaburo!

Delivery date: Scheduled to ship in April 2022

Price: 6,380 yen (tax included)

Painted semi-finished assembly kit

GS01 main body complete set

Exclusive mini marking decals (water transfer) included

Material

PS and others