Zeta Gundam Model Kits

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Conclusion 2014-04-06

I’ve mentioned previously that the Gundam Mk. II is one of my top 3 favorites mobile suit designs. I’ve never been able to explain why in a quick and concise manner. Thankfully I no longer have to, because this test says it best - the suit’s proportions are wonderful. The individual components of the Mk. II are no different than those of the original RX78-2 Gundam, but the size and shape of each one is tweaked and improved upon. The end result is that the Mk. II removes the stiffness and boxiness inherent in even the best renditions of the RX78-2, while still remaining a simple, “pure” design, free of the ridiculous flourishes which tend to plague modern Gundam designs.

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Clearcoat 2014-02-02

This build was undertaken during a month of very rough weather, which is why, during an unusually warm Saturday in mid-January, I grabbed all of the Mk. II’s weapons - and its head - and took them outside to be clear coated.

This initial round of spraying led to so-so results. A slight breeze made application difficult, and some clumsiness on my part forced me to spray the shield multiple times just to get an even coat. It didn’t really work in the end: there’s a sort of “dark spot” where you can tell there was less paint applied. You can’t really notice it unless you examine it under just the right lighting, but this makes the second shield in the row which didn’t take well to being painted.

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Backpack 2014-01-28

Note - The weather really screwed up my schedule for the end of this build. As a result, the photos in this post were taken after I sprayed the backpack unit with clearcoat paint. Also, they were taken outside, so they look unusually sharp.

We come to the last part of the build - the Mk. II’s backpack. This piece is what most differentiates the Mk. II from its predecessor. The backpack is much bigger than Gundam’s small, boxy rocket booster, and adds a much needed sense of size and definition to the mobile suit.

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Torso 2014-01-24

Here’s a fun fact - the cockpit in the Gundam Mk. II gives its pilot a 360 degree view of the battlefield. Here’s another fun fact - according to the kit, this is achieved by making the cockpit a spherical chamber embedded within the suit’s chest. I never thought I’d learn about such a technical detail from building a model kit, but considering how many times I’ve praised it for its detail, I shouldn’t be surprised.

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Arms 2014-01-22

Like its parent, the Mk. II’s arms are short and blocky. They have a bit more detail to them, but perhaps the most important difference is that they are easier to assemble. OG Gundam’s arms contain a few pieces which are so small it can be difficult to determine which direction they’re supposed to face. Place them the wrong way, however, and it can be challenging to pry them apart and try again. The Mk. II sidesteps this issue; along with the shoulder armor, they may be the easiest section of the model.

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Shoulder Armor 2014-01-21

I haven’t had much time to work on the build, so this week all I could finish is the shoulder armor.

The shoulders are another section of the model which feature an alternate “Test Suit” configuration, in which you can change the appearance of the exhaust vent, as well as the top part of armor plating. The Test vent is a bit bigger and more cavernous than the standard one, and just like with the Test booster on legs, it looks better standalone than when it is attached to the rest of the model.

On the left is the Test suit setup,
While on the right is the standard look

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Legs and Waist 2014-01-18

I suppose it is fitting that I’m a Mets fan, because my performance while building the legs and torso was streaky as hell. On a good day, everything came together beautifully, while on the bad days it felt like couldn’t do anything right. Surprisingly, I was often better when I was feeling tired. Not sure how that works, but there you go.

The finished product.

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Body Overview 2014-01-17

The Real Grade line of model kits is unified by a common theme - to offer the detail and complexity of Master and Perfect Grade kits in a model the size of a High Grade. One way in which it achieves this is through its use of the “Advanced MS Joint” system. Each kit is built on top of a highly flexible, very pose-able internal frame. The individual pieces of the frame are incredibly complex; they can bend and twist on their own, right out of the box. All the builder has to do is snap them together (to be fair, it can get a little tricky, but on a whole most of the work is already done for you). Indeed, one of Bandai’s favorite promotional images for the line shows how you can build the entire frame on its own before attaching any armor or accessories.

Gunpla Chronicles 3 - Intermission 2014-01-13

I’ve been thinking about what to write next in regards to this build, and realized I could write a novel already. And I’m not even finished with the legs!

First things first - I have reason to believe that a key aspect of the build process is directly tied to a piece of trivia regarding the Gundam Mk. II. So as not to bog down the build discussion with such a matter, I’d like to cover it in this intermission. If you’re an engineer of some sort, or you simply don’t care about the internal workings of fictional robots, you will be OK if you skip this post.