Maybe this will clear things up HGUC Char's Zaku II Mold (2002 version) Garma's Zaku II Standard Zaku II Gunpla Starter Set Ground Attack Set HGUC Zaku II F2 Mold Zaku II F2 E.F.F. version Super Custom Zaku F2000 HGUC High Mobility Black Tri-Stars Zaku II Mold High Mobility Shin Matsunaga's Zaku II High Mobility Johnny Ridden's Zaku II Zaku Amazing I know nothing about the Thunderbolt Zakus or if they go anywhere on the above lists, so if someone who does know can tell me, go ahead.
The Thunderbolt Zakus are an entirely new mold. I'm not sure whether the Psycho Zaku uses the High Mobility Zaku base, but the standard Thunderbolt Zaku II is definitely all-new. Also, this is my first post on this thread. Yay, Gundams!
+1 The RG is a really great figure. Lots of amazing detail, incredible posing, and a pretty fun build. If you are just looking for HGs, the F2000 is great and different don't expect a lot of posing options though. High Moblility is pretty cool, Shin Matsunaga is one of my favorites, reminds me of a Stormtrooper but lacks articulation due to the added parts.
+2 for the Real Grade Zaku II. The only thing holding me back from recommending it to him now is that he's only built one model so far, so the RG build might be a little intimidating still. Especially since I'm not sure he has a pair of side cutters/nippers yet.
New version of the original PG Unicorn poster So good. Need a full image in a static pose to get a good sense of the proportions, but the posability seems there. Love the little mechanical detail they added. Not too much to ruin the clean all white Unicorn mode, but just enough to feel a bit more premium. Cannot wait to get my hands on this guy. Also excited to see how the lighting kit works.
I say just buy all of them. You'll eventually find one you like. But what you really need is a Mobile Suit to make your own, that one Mobile Suit you love so much it defines you as a Gundam fan. Like for me, it's the Gundam Physalis.
Question: has anybody built the Thunderbolt Zaku I, the Advanced Hazel (the one with the sub-arms), or the AGE-1 Razor? Thinking about picking them up in the next order (especially the latter since it's HLJ exclusive wear) and I'd like to know what people here might think about them.
Advanced Hazel. Same as the regular only in blue. Has all of the same parts as the first one. It's fun to mix and match it with the first kit too. The Forehead sensor though tends to fall off on mine. Sub Arms are nice. hyper articulated. I hate the high heels though.
I've considered the RG Zaku but I'm a little concerned with the stability. I've built a few Real Grades and they've been... okay stability-wise, but they've all been more recent ones. The Zaku's the second one in the line (right?) and I've heard that the early Real Grades fall apart if you so much as look at them.
As far as real grade, they're a bit out of my price range, considering I could get 2 to 3 high grades for the price of a real grade. And yeah, i'm using some ancient wire cutters to cut my sprues (Am I spelling that wrong? Google chrome keeps trying to correct it), so i'm not sure how well they'd hold up for a model kit with higher standards. On the other hand, finally a second model! This time only about 3ish hours taken, I finished the original series rx-78-2 gundam from the two pack. It was waaaaaay easier to build than the zaku, and a ton more fun too. I think I was probably too harsh on the zaku, saying that it sucked, i'm mostly upset about the crappy hands, and something is weird about the elbow posing, both of which seem to be fixed on the newer sets, from what I've seen in reviews. For finding a model that defines my gunpla identity, i'm not sure. I am a big fan of the 'mass produced' looking models, like the assorted gm's and the guncannon mass production type. Maybe i'll discover my inner model builder down that path.
Have never had any stability problems with the RG Zaku. The only things that like to fall apart are the articulated hands and side skirts. The bazooka doesn't stay firmly in place on the back skirt, but once you got him in a good pose, it shouldn't go anywhere. I still love messing around with him and I might buy another one just because.
Nothing wrong with liking Mass Production types. They are some peoples favorites. Just build whatever you think looks cool. Don't worry about all that stuff about finding your identity, it'll come with time and experience.
...no. Can we drop this already? I think we're overwhelming him, guys. This "gunpla identity" thing that somehow just got made up is clearly throwing him for a loop and complicating the matter when it doesn't need to be as complex as pidgeonholing him into trying to find an "identity" when he's only built two freakin' models! Seriously, let's try to let him explore this hobby more at his own pace.
I don't seem to recall that being your call to make. Besides I think I remember him saying he watched some of the animes, so he should already know what he needs to.
Guys, I'm planning to buy the MG Nu Gundam ver KA and MG Sazabi ver KA. But are there any bootlegs of those two kits? Any way I can distinguish them? I don't want to be sucked into buying KOs. I really need help on this. If the RG had started before MG, I would have gotten into it. The size and the details, colour separation are so good. I might crack when they release the Gouf because I want a 1/144 version of it to go beside my Zeonography figures.
Don't know for certain if those two have been faked out yet, but If you see what you're buying the easiest way to know what's fake is if you look at the box. It has to have the right information: side-of-the-box descriptions, "Official Product" marks, series name, and series stamp (that white square on the face of the box with a Gundam head). "Master Grade" S-Gundam. This is how I learned to be careful of Ebay Knock Offs: Notice the absent Bandai brand label the xerox border on the reprinted manual Hideous plastic quality (see how I didn't take it out of the bags) More hideous plastic quality, you can see the curdled edges and hanging skin. --and now for something NEW that is not fake! but gives you an idea what I was talking about: ...Astray box art is always so sexy!
