The paint is dry, the pieces are ready. Let’s put the EZ8 together aaaaand -
I dunno guys. I really dig it. It really has that “dirty, in the field” look that’s 100% appropriate for a ground type mobile suit. And the panel lining on the head gives it a Real Grade level of detail.
The EZ8 is highly poseable. I was able to get it into a kneeling position very easily, more easily in fact than other of my other models. I won’t say that Bandai designed it that way on purpose, in order to facilitate replicating iconic scenes from 08th MS Team, but I’m not going to say they didn’t either. In general, I’m finding it all too easy to make the kit look cool. I don’t know what it is, but all I have to do is tweak the position of a couple limbs, and suddenly I have another action shot.
I wouldn’t go as far as saying that the EZ8 is more poseable than my Real Grade kits. But I wonder if maybe its simplicity is to its benefit. It doesn’t feel as delicate as some of my older kits. There’s a solidity and sturdiness to it, and it is very obvious how you can and cannot manipulate it; its limits are clear.
Furthermore, I have more experience under my belt. I’m a bit less afraid, and I know how far I can push the model.
Now for my complaints. My light touch with the panel lining on the legs means that some areas aren’t quite as well highlighted as I had hoped, but that’s the price I pay for using the wrong paint. I’ve also found that the ball joint for the right hand is not very stable. Sometimes it sags down a bit when holding a weapon.
I’m also not in love with the parachute pack. I like that it is very easy to attach to the mobile suit, and I also like that it isn’t terribly hard to keep the model upright while standing. I just don’t know if I like the look of it. It adds a bit too much bulk, at least for certain action poses.
This is such a strange turnaround. I was prepared to call this my worst build yet, and to be terribly disappointed in my stupid mistake. But this may be the most fun I’ve had with a kit after building it. I want to keep swapping weapons in and out and trying different goofy poses. But I think I’ll stop before I get too carried away and manage to actually break something.
Final Thoughts
- I wanted to experiment a little, so I took out my RG build of the RX78-2 Gundam to compare build structure and poseability. The Gundam’s arms are certainly more complicated, but they also feel much more fragile. Any time I move the arms, either the shield or the shoulder armor is ready to fly away. Furthermor, the arms can move in so many directions that it’s difficult sometimes to figure out how to manipulate it to look the way I want.
- I also tried to test whether the EZ8 can hold Gundam’s weapons. I’ve heard HGUC kits are compatible with RG weapons, but I’m not entirely sure that’s the case. The grips on both the beam rifle and hyper bazooka are a little too wide for the EZ8’s hands, which aren’t jointed like the Gundam’s. I was able to get it to hold the Bazooka, but in an unorthodox way that isn’t amenable to posing. But hey, it has Gundam’s seal of approval:
If you want to see some more photos, you can check out the full gallery here. Next up, I’ll start to build the Kampfer. It’s my first Zeon build since my very first build, so it’s going to feel like I’m coming full circle.