The RCX-76-02 Guncannon First Type is a mass-produced mobile suit featured in the Mobile Suit Gundam. It was developed from the RCX-76-01A Guncannon Mobility Test Type and RCX-76-01B Guncannon Firepower Test Type. It was used by the Iron Cavalry Squadron, which functioned as a squadron made up of four teams, each consisting of three machines.

The RCX-76-02 Guncannon First Type is developed from the Guntank Early type. The Guntank Early Type placed little emphasis on mobility, and its main mission was long-range bombardment with its large-calibre cannons. However, the Guncannon First Type was intended for infantry-style operation; therefore it has more versatile armament as well as better mobility.

Thus it was designed so that its equipment could be changed depending on the mission and the team organization. The Guncannon First Type had an armament platform on its shoulders, and was equipped with medium to long-range firearms. The kit comes with its three-fingered manipulators which can hold a rifle and shield, but were not outfitted with close combat weapons as at that time of development the Earth Federation Space Force did not foresee need melee combat between mobile suits.

The lack of foresight meant that the RCX-76-02 Guncannon’s specifications thus lacked versatility on a battlefield when compared to Zeon’s mobile suits, which were created with an emphasis on multi-role. This disadvantage is famously presented in the first encounter between the RCX-76-02 Guncannon and the Zeon’s Zaku 1 piloted by the Black Tri-Stars and Char, and the infamous Bugu piloted by Ramba Ral.

But if they had deployed my “Iron Patriot” it would have probably change the tide of war.

The High Grade RCX-76-02 Guncannon First Type [Iron Cavalry Squadron] is a Bandai 1/144 scale kit released in mid-Nov 2016. It is relatively new kit and the kits from origin storyline are usually produced using new moulding; but this kit still uses polycaps, but it has a lot more articulation to allow more dynamic posing when compared to the older HG versions.

The retail price for this kit is about ¥1,980 which is a lot cheaper than the Origin RX-78-2 at ¥2,300 and for context the Origin Zaku 2 kit cost about ¥1,620; but this Origin RCX-76-02 Guncannon is one of the few version of the Origin Guncannon kit and to my humble opinion is considered one of the best HG versions of the Guncannon if you compared to the Revive version of the original HG RX-77-2.

The Origin Guncannon does not have as much surface details as the Origin RX-78-2 Gundam, and it also has less parts separation. Saying that, paint masking is pretty straight forward as most of the parts have edges defined with panel lines.

My Guncannon was heavily inspired by Ironman Iron Patriot hence the play of name from Iron Cavalry to Iron Patriot Custom. I have also taken inspiration from the RX-77AQ Guncannon Aqua from Thunderbolt series where the Guncannon was fitted with missiles pods to the backpack instead of cannons.

To be honest, I was two mind of doing metallic colours but I pushed through because I wanted the “Iron” finish. I admit that half way through the project, I almost repainted the whole kit into flat red, white and blue livery but I endured and after putting it together, I just simply adore the colour scheme. The sticker decals kind of make the Guncannon looked like a Daytona Racing Car, but that was exactly what I was hoping for to bring out the essence of the “American” feeling of an “Iron Patriot!”

This kit is my submission to Gundam Builder Master Championship 2021 Beginner Category held in Indonesia on 8th August 2021. Check them out and support me as well!