A complete deep-dive into Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
HJ MECHANICS－Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
Released in 1989 as the franchise's very first OVA, War in the Pocket broke new ground by presenting a grounded, soldier's-eye view of the One Year War. HJ Mechanics 26 honors that legacy by showcasing exactly how to recreate the OVA's gritty realism. Rather than just straight builds, this volume is packed with advanced techniques from Japan's finest modelers—from elaborate LED mono-eye illuminations and vintage 1989 kit revivals to massive, multi-kit dioramas depicting the Arctic Base raid and the Libot Colony skirmish. Whether you are looking to master kitbashing, perfect your weathering, or scratch-build realistic environments, this issue provides a masterclass in the art of Gunpla.
The War in the Pocket. The Kits. The Craft
This special volume of HJ Mechanics shines a spotlight on the beloved 1989 OVA series Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket—a story set against the backdrop of colonial Christmas, told not through the eyes of heroes, but through soldiers and the machines they piloted. Featuring the full roster of mobile suits that defined the series—from the RX-78NT-1 Gundam "Alex" to the fearsome MS-18E Kämpfer, the late-war Zaku II FZ, and the Cyclops Team's amphibious units—this issue brings together some of Japan's finest builders to take each kit to the next level through meticulous modification, dynamic dioramas, and deep technical commentary.
Whether you're revisiting these kits for the first time since the HGUC releases, or diving in as a new fan of the series, this issue offers something rare: the full package of technical depth, creative inspiration, and love for the source material.
Table of Contents
・Special Feature: Mobile Suit Gundam 0080: War in the Pocket
・Development landscapes of rival factions in the final days of the One Year War
・RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1 Alex (by Hiroshi Imizu)
・MS-18E Kämpfer (by NAOKI)
・MS-06FZ Zaku II FZ (by Kei☆TADANO)
・RGM-79D GM Cold Districts Type (by Yoshitaka CHOTOKU)
・RGM-79GS GM Command Space (by Yoshitaka CHOTOKU)
・RGM-79G GM Command Colony Type (by POOH KUMAGAI)
・RGM-79SP GM Sniper II (by nishi)
・RX-78NT-1 Gundam NT-1 Alex (by kaine (firstAge))
・MS-18E Kämpfer (by Shinichiro SAWATAKE)
・Across the River and Through the Trees, Arctic base (by Katsunari KAKUTA)
・MS-06FZ ZAKU II FZ (by Tadanobu KUNIYA)
・MSM-07E Z’Gok E (by KOJIMA DAITAICHO)
・MSM-03C Hy-Gog (by MATSUO-JO (firstAge))
・MS-09R-2 Rick Dom II (by DOOVA)
・MS-14JG Gelgoog J (by KOBOPANDA)
・RGM-79D GM Cold Districts Type (by GAA (firstAge))
・RGM-79GS GM Command Space (by GAA (firstAge))
・RGM-79G GM Command Colony Type (by ORANGE-EBISU)
・RGM-79SP GM Sniper II (by ken16w)
・Sniper (diorama by Katsuhiro MUKASA)
・RX-77D Guncannon Mass Product Type (Shinichiro SAWATAKE)
・MS-18E Kämpfer (by MOCHIKOMI TARO)
・RH-35E Dranen E (by Manabu KIMURA)
SERIES
・Teppei Hayashi's HOW TO BUILD GUNDAM — Vol. 14: Fraw Bow & Personal Jet
・Nobuyuki Sakurai's Weekend Build — Vol. 26: HG L-Gaim Mk-II
・Give Me a Real Midnight Snack — Vol. 26: Lamb Chops (by Tadahiro SATO)
