RX-78NT-1 Gundam 'Alex'

Late during the One Year War, the Earth Federation forces realized that they had a major problem with its prototype RX-78-2 Gundam close combat mobile suit: its pilot. Gundam pilot Amuro Ray was an emerging Newtype, and his abilities to predict enemy movements and respond with lightning-fast reflexes was simply pushing the Gundam beyond its design limits. To correct this problem, the Federation set out to develop a new Gundam prototype (code-named "Alex") capable of taking advantage of a Newtype's quick-reacting abilities. However, word of this top-secret project reached the Principality of Zeon, and Zeon initiated Operation Rubicon and dispatched its Cyclops Team special forces unit to stop the Federation from completing and deploying the new Gundam. A surprise attack by the Cyclops failed to stop the Federation from shipping the incomplete Alex parts from its Arctic base to Side 6's Libot Colony, where it was soon completed and began test trials at the hands of Federation test pilot Christina Mackenzie. The Cyclops discovered the Alex's new location and were dispatched to capture or destroy it before it could be fielded. On 24 December UC 0079, Cyclops Team pilot Bernard Wiseman managed to severely damage the Alex (at the cost of his own life) in an attempt to save Side 6 from being nuked by Zeon in a last act of desparation. At that point, the war was coming to an end, and the Alex development project was soon dropped.

The RX-78NT-1 Gundam "Alex" was a big step above its already-well-performing (but hopelessly overworked) RX-78-2 predecessor. In addition to the standard head vulcan guns, beam sabers and a beam rifle, the Alex mounted a 90mm Gatling gun in each forearm, giving the mobile suit heavy close-range firepower to back up its beam rifle. The Alex also replaced the costly and complicated "Core Block System" of the original Gundam with an experimental new type of cockpit. Incorporating a 360-degree "panoramic monitor" screen around the pilot, all of the Alex's controls were incorporated into panels mounted on the pilot's "linear seat." This configuration gave the pilot an almost unlimited field of vision, thus allowing for easier target acquisition and faster response time. Another feature adding to the Alex's maneuverability was the "magnetic coating" applied to the suit's joints and motors, reducing friction and wear to almost nothing and making the Alex extremely responsive to pilot input.

edit: concept credit to illsteir.

modified off my initial model of Rx-79 [link]