RX-121-1 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel Custom]

The RX-121-1 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel Custom] was an upgraded prototype close combat mobile suit developed by the Earth Federation Forces for the Titans Test Team.

The “R” in the model code meant it was a Federation model¹ and the “X” indicated that it was an experimental mobile suit. The “121” in the model code denoted that it was part of the TR-1 series developed in UC 0085, and the “1” suffix meant it was the first upgraded variant in the line.

History

After Wes Murphy’s RX-121 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel] was heavily damaged in combat with Zeon remnants, it was repaired and improved using an RGM-79Q GM Quel stationed at Confeito and spare Hazel parts stored aboard the Aswan. The repaired RX-121-1 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel Custom] reflected the combat data and development know how accumulated by the original Hazel.

The machine’s enhancement parts, which previously seemed like an afterthought, were better balanced with the other parts and the machine’s internal structure to make it a more complete mobile suit. As a result, its external appearance had a more unified feel, and its lighter weight and increased thruster output gave it roughly 10 percent greater acceleration.

A 360-degree panoramic monitor and linear seat system were installed in its cockpit on an experimental basis, and its operating system was also upgraded, so this machine’s operation was greatly advanced from the original Hazel.

The Hazel Custom was operated by the Titans Test Team, also known as the “Black Otter Team,” under the command of Wes Murphy. It served as the primary test machine for various enhancement parts and optional equipment that would later be incorporated into other TR series mobile suits.

Design

The Hazel Custom represented a significant evolution from the original RX-121 Gundam TR-1 Hazel. The Hazel Custom’s basic specs, including its generator and thruster performance, were similar to those of the GM Quel. However, the enhancement parts were better integrated into the overall design.

Its leg sections housed thermonuclear rocket engines with an output of 17,500 kg apiece, and its backpack was equipped with the same movable booster pod as the original Hazel. The thermonuclear reactor inside this pod served as both a supplemental generator and a hybrid jet/rocket engine, with an output of 390 kW and 18,000 kg, respectively.

The mobile suit featured a distinctive modular design philosophy that would influence later Titans mobile suit development. The Hazel Custom retained the support actuator units and enhancement parts of the original Hazel, and could carry all the same equipment.

Cockpit systems

One of the most significant improvements was the cockpit system. A 360-degree panoramic monitor and linear seat system were installed in its cockpit on an experimental basis, representing a major advance over the standard cockpit of the original Hazel.

Shield booster

The Hazel Custom’s most distinctive feature was its shield booster system. The Hazel’s most distinctive equipment is the shield booster, which contains propellant tanks and a single thruster with an output of 22,000 kg. This device is a further evolution of the sturm boosters used by earlier mobile suits, but unlike its ancestors the shield booster is retained as a shield after its propellant supply is exhausted, rather than being discarded when empty.

Weapon latches

A multi weapon latch could be plugged into its center skirt armor to support options like a sub arm unit or a flexible beam rifle unit, and another multipurpose latch was located above its cockpit hatch. This system allowed for rapid reconfiguration of equipment based on mission requirements.

Armament

Fixed armaments

Beam saber

The standard close combat armament for Earth Federation mobile suits, it is a small cylindrical device held in the mobile suit’s hands when operated and is powered by a rechargeable energy capacitor. The beam saber emits a blade of plasma contained by an I-field and is capable of cutting through any metal alloy. The RX-121 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel] stores one in the right side of the backpack.

Shield booster

Two Shield Boosters are attached to both arms of the Gundam TR-1 [Hazel], which contains propellant tanks and a single thruster with an output of 22,000 kg. The shield booster could function both as protective equipment and as a propulsion enhancement system.

Handheld armaments

XBR-M84a beam rifle

Gundam TR-1 [Hazel] can be equipped with a XBR-M84a Beam Rifle. The particle beam fired from a beam rifle can penetrate almost any armor that has not been treated with specific counter-measures. Unlike most beam weapons of the period, which draws power from a E-Cap; it is powered by a newly-developed replaceable E-Pac.

90mm machine gun

A portable, mobile suit-use 90mm rifle built based on the ‘system weapon’ structure, its effective range and accuracy is superior to the HWF GMG·MG79-90mm machine gun.

Optional equipment

Sub arm unit

This sub arm unit, one of the devices intended to connect to the multi weapon latch, contains secondary arms folded away inside what looks at first glance like extra skirt armor. These sub arms allow the Hazel to carry a beam rifle or other weapons even when both its main arms are obstructed by the attachment of shield boosters.

Forms and configurations

High Mobility Form

While the Hazel Custom’s High Mobility Form was identical to that of the original Hazel, it benefited from the improved thruster performance and better weight distribution.

Assault Form

its Assault Form was equipped with the same booster pod used by the RMS-117 Galbaldy β with High Mobility configuration, providing enhanced performance in combat situations.

Known pilots

• Wes Murphy - Primary pilot and commander of the Titans Test Team

Variants

The Hazel Custom served as the basis for several variants:

Sniper Unit

A variation of the Hazel Custom, this version features the long blade rifle used by the RX-121-1+FF-X29A Gundam TR-1 [Hazel-Rah]. Equipped with one shield booster, this version also features a monoeye visor in place of the standard dual eyes.

Icarus Unit equipped

The Hazel Custom could be equipped with the Flying Unit “Icarus” for atmospheric flight operations, representing one of the most advanced transformation systems of its era.

Behind the scenes

The story is by Bin Konno, the mechanical designs by Kenki Fujioka, and the character designs by Takuya Saito. Because team leader Wes Murphy is fond of rabbits, all the TR Series machines assigned to the Titans Test Team are given nicknames derived from Watership Down, a novel by Richard Adams which recounts the adventures of a group of rabbits, Hazel, Bigwig, Dandelion, and Fiver are the names of heroic rabbits, Kehaar is a friendly bird who helps them, and Woundwort is a rabbit general who becomes their adversary.

The original mechanical designer was Fujioka Kenki.

Appearances

• Advance of Zeta: The Flag of Titans (manga)
• Advance of Zeta: The Flag of Titans (novel)

See also

• RX-121 Gundam TR-1 Hazel
• RX-121-2 Gundam TR-1 Hazel II
• RX-121-2A Gundam TR-1 Advanced Hazel
• RX-124 Gundam TR-6 Woundwort
• Titans Test Team

External links

• RX-121-1 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel Custom] on the Gundam Wiki
• RX-121-1 Gundam TR-1 [Hazel Custom] on MAHQ

Footnotes

1. Federation in Japanese is renpou, hence the use of “R”. ↩