XXXG-01SR2 Gundam Sandrock Custom

Template:Infobox/Mobile Weapon Ver.2 The XXXG-01SR2 Gundam Sandrock Kai (aka Sandrock Kai or Gundam Zero-Four), is the upgraded version of XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock in Mobile Suit Gundam Wing and in New Mobile Report Gundam Wing: Endless Waltz. It is piloted by Quatre Raberba Winner.

Technology & Combat Characteristics

TV Version

An upgrade over the original Sandrock to make it capable of combat in space. Extra verniers were added to the shoulder armor, back skirt, backpack, and legs to increase mobility. As the added backpack vernier took the place of the mounting point for the shield, the suit can no longer use its Cross Crusher. However, the Sandrock Kai did gain a beam machine gun to improve its mid-range combat capabilities.

EW Version

Besides the cosmetic changes made to the EW redesign, the Sandrock Kai was able to use an optional diffusing cloak, which can take a few beam shots before disintegrating. Further more, most of Sandrock Kai's ranged weapons, such as the homing missiles and the beam machine gun, were omitted, and the size of the heat shotels increased dramatically, giving the Gundam a much heavier emphasis on close combat.

Armaments

• Vulcan Gun

These head mounted shell firing weapons have a high-rate of fire, but have little power and are generally ineffective against mobile suits; however, the vulcan gun can damage lightly armored areas such as the sensors. These weapons are ideal for shooting down small, fast moving, lightly armored targets such as missiles or small vehicles.

• Heat Shotel

These heat-radiating curved blades are the Gundam Sandrock Kai's main weapons, and with them this mighty mobile suit can cut an enemy in half with each hand simultaneously. They can also be used as throwing weapons. When not in use, they are stored on the backpack. In the Katoki version, the blades are larger and the heat shotels can be connected at their pommels to form a double-bladed weapon.

• Homing Missile

Equipped on the shoulders, the two missiles can reliably seek and destroy the enemy under any conditions. This weapon is omitted from the Katoki version.

• Shield

A shield with anti beam coating. It is modeled after the head of a snake, with the two claws representing the fangs, and the shield flashers (designed to release a blinding light to confuse enemies), disguised as the "eyes". It is unknown if the Katoki version had a shield as it was not shown in the OVA. Interestingly, a shield is included in the 1/144 model kit which is released after the 1/100 kit. This shield is quite different from the original and does not resemble a snake's head. Instead, the shield had an emblem that resembles a caduceus with a single snake.

• Beam Machine Gun

A handheld beam weapon used for mid-range combat. While its shots are weaker than those of standard beam rifles, its rate of fire is much greater.

Special Equipment & Features

• Diffusing Cloak

Featured only on the Katoki version, it is a piece of material with anti-beam coating that is able to take a few beam shots before disintegrating.

• ZERO System

The Wing Zero's Zero System was installed on the Sandrock Kai temporarily. Heero had ordered it so that Quatre can lead the other Gundams while he duel with Zechs. To activate the system, Quatre has to key in the code 'ZERO'. After using the system successfully, Quatre removed it when they return to Peacemillion as he felt he can fight without it.

• Self-Destruct System

The Gundam Sandrock Kai was built to self-destruct should the pilot choose to. A remote detonator is placed within the cockpit and if a dire situation arrives, the pilot can destroy the Mobile Suit. The system was designed to overload its power systems and has enough explosive power to destroy several city blocks. It's a last option tactic if the pilot is incapable of protecting the Mobile Suit, while not allowing it to fall into enemy hands. It also can be used as one large explosive device to eradicate large targets.

History

Although pilot Quatre Raberba Winner had activated the self-destruct system on his Gundam Sandrock during his escape into space, the ensuing explosion had rendered the mobile suit useless - but its gundanium alloy body was still more or less intact. The Sandrock's remains were confiscated by OZ, but later would be retrieved by members of his Maganac Corps allies and taken to their underground base in the Middle East, where it would be rebuilt and fully restored. After Quatre's return to Earth, he returned to the Maganacs to pilot his Gundam once again. But the military and political strife plaguing the Earth Sphere in AC 195 would reach a decisive conclusion in space, and Quatre returned to space with his Sandrock to join the battle. Aboard the independent battleship Peacemillion, Gundam supporter Howard would upgrade the mobile suit, giving it minor improvements for space combat.

Though the changes made to the Gundam Sandrock Kai were cosmetically minor, they would give the mobile suit the edge it needed to use its abilities against the space-bound forces of White Fang's Virgo II mobile dolls and the mobile suits of the World Nation military. The addition of several vernier thrusters made the Sandrock stable to operate in a zero-gee environment. Also, over Quatre's protests, Gundam pilot Heero Yuy also temporarily outfitted the Sandrock with a component of the XXXG-00W0 Wing Gundam Zero's infamous Zero System, allowing Quatre to coordinate the Peacemillion's mobile suit forces in an assault against White Fang's mobile dolls. The Zero System was removed by Quatre afterwards.

Two years later, Quatre and the other three Gundam pilots, save for Wufei, decided to send their Gundams into the sun through the mobile asteroid Vulkanus. However, in AC 197 the Barton Foundation upsurped the pacifist Earth Sphere Unified Nation and abducted its leader, Representative Relena Darlian. To combat this new threat, Quatre, after dispatching Wing Zero to Heero, redirected the course of Vulkanus so that it would not collide with the sun. Later, Quatre, Trowa, and Duo retrieved their respective Gundams from the asteroid and traveled to Earth to assist Zechs Marquise and Lucrezia Noin who were fighting an army of Serpent mobile suits in Brussels, Belgium. After the Marimeia Conflict was over, Sandrock was self-detonated alongside Deathscythe and Heavyarms.

Picture Gallery

Sandrock Kai CG rendered

Sand Rock Custom Gundam War Card

SD XXXG-01SR2 Gundam Sandrock Kai (EW) as it appears in SD Gundam G Generation Wars

Gundam Sandrock Custom (EW Ver.) (Gundam Perfect File)

Sandrock Kai (Gundam Perfect File)

Gunpla

HG 1/144 - XXXG-01SR2 Gundam Sandrock Kai Custom (EW)

Action Figures

Mobile Suit in Action (MSiA / MIA) "XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock / Kai" (Hong Kong release; 2000): package front view.

MSiA / MIA "XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock / Kai" (Japanese release; 2000): package front view.

MSiA / MIA "XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock / Kai" (North American original release; 2000): package front view.

MSiA / MIA "XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock / Kai" (North American renewal version; 2001): package front view.

MSiA / MIA "XXXG-01SR2 Gundam Sandrock Custom" (Hong Kong release; 2001): package front view.

MSiA / MIA "XXXG-01SR2 Gundam Sandrock Custom" (Japanese release; 2001): package front view.

MSiA / MIA "XXXG-01SR2 Gundam Sandrock Custom" (North American release; 2000): package front view.

Notes and Trivia

• Sandrock Kai appears in Gundam Vs Gundam Next Plus as an unplayable unit and assist for Deathscythe Hell and is the only Gundam out of the five main ones to not be playable. Unlike most Gundams, it has a very low GP count but very poor armor in contrast to its original depiction as being the most heavily armored Gundam in the Wing series. Oddly, unlike the other unplayable units that can be accessed via cheat device, Sandrock does not have a portrait in the results section whereas the others use a silhouette of Zeta Gundam with a number representing their value digit. It was included solely for a mission where the player has to fight against all five of the Gundams.

References

http://www.gundamgallery.com/data/media/76/Gundam%20Wing%20-%20MS%20Encyclopedia%20-054.jpg http://www.gundamgallery.com/data/media/76/Gundam%20Wing%20-%20MS%20Encyclopedia%20-056.jpg http://www.gundamgallery.com/data/media/76/Gundam%20Wing%20-%20MS%20Encyclopedia%20-057.jpg

External links

• XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock Kai (TV Version) on MAHQ.net
• XXXG-01SR Gundam Sandrock (OVA Version) on MAHQ.net