Just like the first show back in 1979, the first mobile suit we're introduced to in gqwux is the Zaku (just 'Zaku', without the II).
Aesthetics:
The Zaku has been significantly redesigned, having gone from a scuba diver, to looking more like a fertility goddess with gigantic hips, due to the spherical propellant tanks. In the show the legs are close together, but on the model, they are quite far apart, giving it a bowlegged look.
Overall there are similarities, like the multiple greens and dark greys, with cabling and now even more of a human-like design, with boot feet instead of cowled stompers.
The red plastic on the promotional shots are absent and there are no stickers for the weapon cameras.
While most things have changed, the head is largely the same, the right shoulder has a (small) shield and the left shoulder is spiked.
No foils, the kit comes with a decal sheet of rubberized stickers, but since there are so many curves and round surfaces, they peel very easily.
Mechanics:
Despite the kit being made up of quite a lot of parts relative to an HG kit, the articulation is very limited, mostly due to the gigantic thighs.
For whatever reason, the arms and legs have a single bend, which is an odd regression in mechanical design.
The eye turns side to side with a small tab under the chin.
Equipment (NONE of it can be stored!):
1 Rifle - Now in a much stubbier design and a crooked iron sight
1 Bazooka
1 Heat Hawk
3 Hands - 2 holding and 1 left open palm hand
Conclusion:
Personally I'm not a fan of Ikuto Yamashita's designs. I think they're fun and interesting, but not necessarily something that belongs in the Gundam franchise.
I rarely give a lower score than 5, and that's usually because something isn't working, in this case the stickers. Having a lot of stickers is not unusual, but when they don't stick, when I can't even get the eye sticker to sit, then it's a useless sheet and the design relies on all of those white stripes to break up the green.
I collect RX-78-2 kits and Zaku II kits, I like variations, so this is something I like to get and while it's for the most part a very detailed and interesting build, mechanically it's not that fun to pose.
I can't get the 'fertility goddess' look out of my mind, it looks so goofy.
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