RX-79[G]Ez-8 Gundam Ez8 is Shiro Amada's machine in Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team (1996, U.C. 0079). It is his RX-79[G] Gundam Ground Type rebuilt after the Apsaras II ambush nearly destroyed it, using whatever parts the field engineers could find. The name is short for "Extra-zero-8", the 08th MS Team's extra unit, and it is a ground-only machine.
What it does in the story
The rebuild is written as a field job driven by the combat data collected up to that point plus Shiro's own feedback, which is why the changes are practical rather than tidy. In the second half of the series it serves through the Southeast Asian campaign, and its two defining fights are against Norris Packard's Gouf Custom and, at the Zeon mountain stronghold, the Apsaras III.
What makes it different
-
The chest armour is made of Zaku parts.
Two Zaku II shoulder shields were welded together to form the new chest plating, which flips open for maintenance. In Battle in Three Dimensions it takes a direct hit from a Zaku II's 175 mm recoilless rifle and comes away with scratches.
-
The V-fin is gone.
Jungle combat was destroying the fin at a high rate, so a plain rod antenna on the right of the head replaced it. That makes the Ez8 the first protagonist Gundam with no V-shaped antenna at all.
-
The head and chest guns were reorganised.
The multi-launcher and the chest-mounted vulcan were deleted as unnecessary, a 12.7 mm vulcan went in under the chest armour instead, and a pair of 35 mm guns went on either side of the head. With Luna Titanium short, extra armour went onto the forehead and around the chin.
-
It keeps the Ground Type's colours.
The improved shield is a reinforced version of the Ground Type shield, and it was left in the Ground Type's colour scheme rather than repainted white to match the suit. Movable knee spikes were added to steady the suit when firing.
How big is it?
- Overall height: 18.0 m, with a gross weight of 71.7 t and a dry weight of 51.5 t, according to Bandai's official spec
- 1/144: roughly 12.5 cm, which covers the HGUC kit
- 1/100: roughly 18 cm, which covers the MG
Why buy from P-Rex Hobby
P-Rex Hobby is a Bandai Recommended Hobby Store with 20,000+ customers served and 1800+ five-star reviews. US orders ship duties prepaid with no import fees, and Route Package Protection is available at checkout.
Frequently asked questions
1. Is the Ez8 a different machine from the Gundam Ground Type?
It is a one-off rebuild of Shiro's Ground Type, not a production type. Basic performance is unchanged, with a small gain in mobility and communications.
2. Why does the Ez8 have no V-fin?
The fin kept breaking in jungle combat, so a rod antenna mounted on the right side of the head took its place. Extra armour went onto the forehead and chin to make up for the missing Luna Titanium.
3. Where does the name Ez8 come from?
It is short for Extra-zero-8, read as the 08th MS Team's extra unit. Reference material also notes that it appears to nod to the M4A3E8 "Easy Eight" Sherman.
4. Which kits are in this collection?
The 1/144 HG kit from 1998, the HGUC 1/144 from 2013, the MG 1/100 from 2000, and an SD Gundam G Generation release, alongside a Robot Spirits figure.
Background sources: RX-79［G］Ez-8 Gundam Ez8 — Gundam Wiki · 陸戦型ガンダム（ガンダムEz8）— 日本語版 Wikipedia
![Bandai RX-79[G]Ez-8 Gundam Ez-8 'Mobile Suit Gundam: The 08th MS Team', Bandai Gundam Universe (5.9 Inch approx) | 851365007544](http://www.prexhobby.com/cdn/shop/products/1_70417572-10b8-4b9a-908f-9549504a0b39.jpg?v=1675368690&width=720)
