Let’s take a closer look at the Engage Zero and see how it holds up in the photo booth.
Visual Design
This design really grew on me over the course of the build. And then I read some interesting commentary about the design on Reddit, and my appreciation grew even more.
Consider, for example, how the two black vents on the side of its head mirror the vents on its hips. Or consider how the width of the head pairs well with the width of the ankles. Or how from certain angles the face looks incredibly sad and melancholic (which perfectly fits the sad gaze of its pilot). None of these are my own original observations, but I think they’re great nonetheless. The Engage Zero really does have some very interesting examples of symmetry, and a lot of personality.
Another thought - are all the Engage Zero’s curves meant to make it look more feminine, or to make it look more Zeonic?
Those flared ankles, the narrow waist, the wider hips. Those little panels coming off of the shoulder armor. All of it together reminds me a little bit of the Sazabi, at least in terms of inspiration if not their literal shape. Or maybe the Gerbera Tetra.
Whatever the case, I’m now realizing that if you painted the Engage Zero in a different color scheme, there’s not much beyond the Crotch-V that would be reminiscent of a Universal Century-style Gundam. Not even the head is “normal” by traditional standards.
Considering the Engage Zero’s origin as a mobile suit designed primarily by ex-Zeon engineers, this is arguably quite fitting. But it still feels like a revelation. Part of me dislikes Sunrise’s insistence on cramming more and more secret Gundam prototypes into the hidden margins of the UC, but if they’re going to insist on doing it, I see no reason not to spice things up by introducing more unconventional designs like this one.
Articulation
I didn’t fully test the articulation, mainly because it became apparent right off the bat that it was serviceable, but not outstanding. The elbow and knee joints don’t flex as far as you might expect, given how not-bulky the limbs are. And the torso is as rigid as it looks.
But like I said, it’s serviceable. It gets the job done for basic action poses, and that’s all I was looking to get out of it.
Broken V-Fin
You can probably tell in some of the photos, but the right V-Fin is glued on. It actually snapped off twice during construction, and I’m very lucky that I was able to find and recover it both times.
I didn’t want to have it happen a third time, so I felt forced to be very conservative in how I posed the model. That’s also the reason why there are fewer photos than usual. I didn’t want to tempt fate by messing around with it too much.
The Included Stand
You’ll notice that none of these photos use the stand that’s included with the model. There’s two reasons for that:
First, I realized at the very last minute that I assembled it incorrectly. See how it looks in this photo?
Yeah, that’s backwards. The control arm is supposed to be facing in the opposite direction, so that the weight of the model is supported by the legs of the base. This explains why the model kept trying to tip over.
But even after I fixed it, I still decided not to use it for photos and posing. That’s because the control arm can only be configured in a limited number of angles, and I soon found that those angles weren’t very conducive to action poses. In the end, it was easier to use a dedicated Action Base.
Action Poses
Here then are some action poses.
I feel like it’s a natural fit for middair action poses, though I’m not entirely sure why.
Gimmicks
There’s only two things I’d label as gimmicks here. The first is the massive booster pack:
I still think it looks too big, though I also still think the colors are fantastic.
Next, there’s the skirt armor, which can open up and flare outward to reveal some extra thrusters:
I don’t like this at all. It’s like it’s literally lifting up its skirt to reveal what’s beneath, and in this case what’s beneath is the ugly internal systems of joints and framing that are typically hidden from view. It’s not a flattering look.
“Girly” Poses
Sorry, but I had to at least try a few “girly” poses with this design.
For better or worse, they didn’t really come out well.
Part of the reason is that the articulation isn’t quite good enough, but the other reason calls back to something I said in the intro. Female-coded mobile suits are still weapons of war, and they look more natural in combat poses than anything else.
I guess the lesson learned here is that while I still think the Engage Zero has a strongly feminine look, it’s anything but girly. This is a warrior woman through and through.
Anyway, here’s the last two shots.
Conclusion
I really wasn’t feeling much affection for this model kit. Perhaps that’s why the whole process - from the build, to the photos, to the blog posts - spanned across three months. But now that it’s all said and done, I think this is one of my favorite kits of the year so far.
Indeed, prior to writing this, I put it up on the shelf, and it already stands out among the sea of other Gundams. I’ve gone from semi-regretting this purchase to being thankful I managed to grab one in time. It’s such a funky, unique design with loads of personality, and a fantastic addition to the lineup.