Nu Gundam

The Rx-93 ν Gundam (Nu Gundam) is a Mobile Suit designed by Yutaka Izubuchi piloted by the main character, Amuro Ray, in the animated movie, "".

The ν Gundam was Amuro Ray's personal Mobile Suit during the 2nd Neo Zeon war against his archrival Char Aznable. Although it was only partially finished at the time of its deployment, it proved to be a formidable Gundam. Incorporating nihongo|Psyco Frame|サイコフレーム| technologies secretly provided to Anaheim Electronics by Char Aznable of Neo Zeon, the ν Gundam was able to use nihongo|Psycommu|サイコミュ| weapons, fin funnels, and channel the emotions and newtype energies of a suitable newtype pilot. Despite its name, the fin funnels equipped on ν Gundam are actually "bits" since they have built-in generators instead of Energy-capacitors like most funnels. While this made them much more expensive to construct, and allowed less modules for equipping than the standard, this had an enormous benefit by giving the fin funnels a tremendously long operational time. Circling the battlefield on their own, the fin funnels could be utilized in far more creative and strategic ways than standard funnels could. The actual beam of the fin funnels was also larger and stronger than usual since each had its own generator. The fin funnels also had the ability to generate a unique beam shield, known as Fin Funnel barrier, providing a defense against both beam and solid projectiles. Although these unique funnels proved incredibly effective and flexible in purpose, they were also much larger than the standard funnel which made them easier targets to shoot down if used too brashly. When combined with legendary ace pilot Amuro Ray's immense skill and experience, this powerful state of the art Mobile Suit was able to almost single handedly keep the Neo-Zeon's elite forces at bay, and its unique Psycommu system known as the psyco-frame was put to the test by Amuro for this harrowing battle.

Amuro used the ν Gundam in his final battle against Char Aznable where he defeated his enemy’s mobile suit MSN-04 Sazabi. After that he used his Gundam to stop the asteroid base Axis from falling on Earth. The psyco-frame system, incorporated in the mobile suit, caused a powerful phenomenon as a result of the wish of all people and drove Axis away from Earth. Both Amuro and Char vanished with the Gundam.

In the original novel "Beltorchika's Children" Amuro faced Char's MSN-04-2 Nightingale with the Hi-ν Gundam, the fully developed version of the ν. Although never seen on screen, this Mobile Suit is considered one of the most powerful Mobile Suits in the Universal Century's history and is quite popular, often seen in video game series' such as the famous "Super Robot Wars" series.

The word Nu is a Greek letter (ν) and resembles the English letter v and the design was by Yutaka Izubuchi. The ν Gundam is one of the most prolific and well known Gundam design in the metaverse's history. In fact, even now after more than a decade after the film's debut, the ν Gundam is often seen as a representative mecha for Gundam in general, being Amuro's ultimate MS. The ν Gundam is also one of the only Gundam type Mobile Suits to use funnel type ("cordlessly remote controlled beam firing") weapons in the Universal Century, with the others being the variants of ν Gundam, namely the mass production ν Gundam and the complete version of ν Gundam, the Hi-ν Gundam. There are, however, Psyco Gundam Mk-II with reflector bits and V2 Gundam with its Mega beam shield ultilizing bits that cannot attack but only forms protective shielding around a selected area that are not considered weapons.

Variations

FA-93HWS ν Gundam Heavy Weapons System Type

Anaheim Electronics's plan to improve ν Gundam by equipping it with removable chobam armor to increase its protection. ν Gundam's shield also replaced by a larger shield with built-in thrusters, to counter the Heavy Weapon System's increased mass. The additional heavy beam rifle also increased the overall firepower of ν Gundam. However, the Heavy Weapon System plan was never completed due to ν Gundam's rush deployment and eventual MIA status.

First appeared as part of Char's Counterattack Mobile Suit Variations original design series, design by Yutaka Izubuchi.

RX-93 ν Gundam Double Fin Funnel Type

This is basically the same as the RX-93 ν Gundam but with the large beam saber's recharge rack removed to carry six additional fin funnels. This configuration was never used in combat.

First appeared as part of Char's Counterattack Mobile Suit Variations original design series, design by Hitoshi Fukuchi.

RX-93-2 (RX-93-ν-2) Hi-ν Gundam

The completed version of ν Gundam that appeared in novel "Beltorchika's Children". Although the Hi-ν shared the same physical characteristics as the regular ν, it sported an exclusively white and light blue color scheme instead and featured more powerful boosters around its body. Its most obvious difference is its distinct back-mounted thrusters and revised Fin Funnel system. The basic backpack unit of the prototype ν is replaced with a dual long booster system, with a protruding long thruster unit between them. For added speed and maneuverability, the Hi-v could be equipped with two optional long propellant tanks. The Fin Funnels are attached to the top booster's in a downward fashion, three on each booster. This made the Hi-ν appear to have elegant wing-like protrusions from the back. Besides the obvious visual differences, Hi-ν Gundam also armed with the regular head vulcans and pair of beam sabers (which are stored in a special rack on the Gundam's left arm), a right forearm-mounted machine-gun, a unique beam rifle, an improved ν hyper bazooka and a hyper mega bazooka launcher. The latter was an improved model of mega bazooka launcher used by the MSN-00100 Hyaku Shiki during the Gryps Conflict. When in use, the hyper bazooka launcher would connect directly to the Ra Cailum's reactor and was powerful enough to destroy a fragment of the asteroid base Axis.

The Hi-v Gundam is one of the more popular variation-Mobile Suits among the fans, other than G-Generation titles, it also become a hidden unit in many Super Robot Wars series. Many Garage kits were produced in the years, before the unit has received a new design for its Master Grade model released in late February 2007. The most blatant difference between this and the oldest version its a more stream-lined design (much more akin to the original ν Gundam prototype), reduction in overall mass and revised backpack unit.

RX-94 Mass Production Type ν Gundam

Anaheim Electronics's mass production mobile suit intended to replace the RGM-89 Jegan. It is based on the ν Gundam but with some features, like the psycoframe, removed. The fin funnel backpack can be swapped with an incom backpack for use by normal pilot. However, its high performance came with high cost and the mass production was canceled and only a few was produced, where one appeared in the side story manga "REON". It featured a turquoise shade of blue and light blue color scheme. It also appeared in some of the Super Robot Wars series, most notable in Super Robot Wars Alpha 3 which the RX-94 was used by one of the main characters, "Cobray Gordon", for early stages, as well as in Super Robot Wars D where it is an playable unit in the game.

First appeared as part of Kunio Okawara's MS Collection, design by Kunio Okawara.

References

:Gundam Ace Magazine

External links

* [http://www.mahq.net mahq.net]
* [http://www.gundamofficial.com gundamofficial.com]