The Musha Gundam Mk-II (2010) is from an old SD show, where the RX-78-2 and Mk-II are samurai, originally sold as SD models. While the RX-78-2 is based on the 1.5 kit, the Mk-II Musha is based on the 2005 2.0, which is largely a modern model kit, albeit with ball-in-socket hips.
Aesthetics:
Featured in multiple dark blues, black, purple and lots of plated gold, the model kit completely overhauls the outside of the Mk-II, transforming it into a very well armed samurai.
All of the external plating as well as a lot of the internals, are completely replaced.
While there aren't color correcting stickers as such, it does have several placed on the head/horns and in every circle on the armor. The detail is also molded into the plastic, so you can simply paint them instead.
The kit comes with one foil sticker sheet, one decal sticker sheet and rub-on dry transfers with Japanese styled symbols and letters.
Mechanics:
It's functionally the same as the MG Mk-II 2.0, because it's the same kit. If anything, it has less functions, such as removing the cockpit hatch and the back hatch to hold a bazooka (not included), although it *might* open and I just can't do it.
The legs and arms have moving armor plating, with pistons in the feet and fairly good articulation. The hands are also the same, with opening and closing fingers with a (mostly useless) tab in the palm. There are two wrist-mounted mini-shields with extending punching spikes.
Equipment:
All weapons are stored on the model!
2 Beam Saber hilts, without any beams. You can fit standard MG beam effect parts in them
1 Japanese styled beam rifle, with the flip-up sight locked in place and a holster for the back pack
1 Naginata Spear, stored on the backpack
2 Katana swords, sheathed on the side skirts
Conclusion:
I like the Mk-II Gundam, in fact it's my favorite Gundam. I can't fault it for not being more modern, since it's a 15 year old kit, based on a 5 years older kit. It trades a couple of things for a lot of armor and extra weapons.
Most notably there is no shield and no bazooka. The rifle is much simpler, but instead you get two katana and a spear with chrome blades and the beam saber hilts are molded to look like katana grips.
It certainly looks impressive with all of the gold and it poses well enough with its weapons to look interesting on the shelf.
