LM RB-79K Ball Type K

LM RB-79K Ball Type K joined Bandai’s Limited Model line in August 1996, delivering the Shark Mouth refit from The 08th MS Team as an inexpensive, snap-fit companion to the contemporary HG kits.

Overview

Packaged in monochrome LM branding, the kit presented the RB-79K’s doubled 180 mm cannon and unique head sensor detailing in 1/144 scale while retaining the series’ simplified runner layout. It filled a gap in Bandai’s catalogue long before the HGUC Ball family arrived, making it the earliest plastic representation of the Type K support pod.

Features

• Dedicated double 180 mm cannon assembly that plugs into the dorsal socket, matching the on-screen loadout.
• Rotating mono-eye printed on the head module that can be accented with paint thanks to the moulded bezel detail.
• Ball-and-socket shoulder mounts for the manipulator arms, allowing limited posing despite the single-piece limb design.

Build experience

The Limited Model tooling prioritises quick assembly: each hemisphere locks together with minimal inner detail, and the arms slide into sockets without polycaps. Surface finishing and seam removal do most of the heavy lifting for presentation. Builders aiming for articulation can modify the one-piece arms by segmenting the elbow and wrist joints, while the thin cannon barrels benefit from careful cleanup to avoid stress whitening.

Kit content

• RB-79K Ball Type K body shell
• Double 180 mm cannon assembly
• Manipulator arm pair with moulded claws

Colour guide

Awaiting official manual. Bandai did not publish a digital instruction sheet for the LM era; use the line art on the box and animation stills as colour references until higher-resolution scans surface.

Comparisons

Compared with the later HGUC RB-79 Ball Twin Set, the LM tooling is sparse—no internal frame, polycaps, or multiple cannon options—but it remains the only plastic kit that ships with the Type K’s distinctive double cannon out of the box. Displaying it alongside the HGUC RB-79K Ball & RB-79 Ball set highlights the evolution from 1990s limited kits to modern HG engineering.

Official assets

Coming soon. Once the vintage instruction leaflet is digitised, we’ll embed the key panels here for reference.

Build showcase

Share Type K customs in the Discord #gunpla-showcase channel so we can spotlight the sharpest Shark Mouth paintwork.

Release notes

Launching in August 1996 for ¥700, the kit was distributed through Bandai’s Limited Model programme and has since been discontinued. Stock now largely circulates through second-hand shops and event reissues, so monitor /gunpla-releases for any surprise LM revival announcements.

Retailer availability

This vintage LM kit is currently out of production; no official retailers are tracked.