Gator’s Place

This kit is just kind of weird. It's an HGUC kit, but there's no polycaps... But I can't really say it feels "modern" either, because it has a separate stand adapter. I feels like a weird hodgepodge of engineering elements. And the design aesthetic is really, really weird.

The level of detail on this kit is kind of insane. So many panel lines. So many mechanical elements. It all feels very busy. Very complex.

We get a full sheet of the RG-style stickers that I hate - I won't be using them.

We can see that the insane level of detail continues here with the stickers... There's some detailing stickers for the feet, for example, that looks almost kind of like zimmerit? And then the monoeye sticker has kind of a tiny little three-lobed look to it?

It's just way too much. Especially trying to put stickers like this over so much molded surface detail.

Since I'm not using the stickers I painted the monoeye with my favorite metallic pink Gundam Marker. I didn't get the three-lobed look right, but I think it looks decent.

As for the accessories... We get the Zaku machinegun and heat hawk you'd expect - but they're in that weird, excessively-complicated RFV style just like everything else. We get a little three-tube missile pod we can mount on the leg. Then there's a couple regular holding hands, a trigger-finger for the right hand, and an open/expressive left hand.

The posability is decent, but not outstanding. It's got the same kind of mobility issues as most other Zaku II kits - specifically, those legs are too chonky for their own good. There's not a lot of good flex in the ankles. It's hard to get anything real dynamic going with those feet actually on the ground.

There's definitely some elements to the design that I like... I think it's neat how the shoulder shield has those guns embedded in it. And I like the two antennae/fins on the head. Some of the detailing looks good. And I appreciate that we've got a couple subtly-different shades of black/charcoal going on.

But there's also a lot I'm not liking. Like having a separate stand adapter. Or a separate connector to stow the heat hawk on the back skirt.

And, as I've said, this level of surface detail is almost offputting. It feels too complicated. Too busy.

And if I'm being completely honest... I don't love these colors either. This kind of mustard/tan color isn't doing it for me. I think I'd like it better in a normal Zaku II green... But I really don't want to pay $70+ for a P-Bandai two-pack. I kind of can't believe they didn't sell a normal RFV Zaku II at retail.

Such a weird, weird build. There's definitely elements I like... And a lot of elements that I don't like.