stargazer@gunpla: RG RX78-2 vs Rg Char's Zaku II review (part 2)

After watching the original mobile suit gundam movie trilogy, i am now a fan of char aznable and everything pink. Part 2 of the review will focus on the RG Char's Zaku II. See part 1 here.

1. Intro:

Model: Char's Zaku II

Size: RG 1/144

Pilot: Char Aznable

Boxart:

This kit has the gunpla club sticker on. You can go to the site, register, and using the code provided in the box to get gunpla points. Many gunpla points= prize.

Sideshot:

Same style as the RG Rx78-2, since this is the second RG after all.

Manual:

Beautiful color splash page in the manual showing off the RG.

There was a promotion giving out free holographic postcard of the RG kit, if u bought an action base 3 with the kit. I did just that, only to find that i liked the normal non-holographic postcard better. Oh well, at least the action base 3 is good.

2. Parts

Head:

The pink eye can move when it is attached to the torso and you turn the head. Nothing more i can ask for in a 1/144 kit.

Torso:

Really good contrast of colors used. The piping is the same as those found on the head, and the bits for the pipes are one of the main highlights for this RG. Basically the idea is that u use the provided wire Bandai gave and go through the small bits directly when they are on the runner. Then you pull the wire with the bits off the runner at one go. Awesome effort by Bandai.

The thrusters can move individually too.

Arms:

Arm can bend so much as seen. Only problem is the small armour pieces seem to move quite a lot and i am not sure if that is supposed to happen. This makes the arms look fragile.

The side shield and the spiky shoulder shield can swing out. Though that gimmick does not seems to be too useful.

Decals are easy to apply and seem to stay on well.

Waist

Nothing particularly noteworthy, but the combination of pink and red is well thought out.

Legs:

The legs can move so much as seen. One thing about this kit is that the nub marks seem to be easier to clean off than the RG Rx78-2, especially so on the legs. So full props for the Zaku II's legs.

Weapons and accessories:

At first glance all 3 weapons look bland. But they are actually very well engineered and there are two shades of black and grey on the weapons.

The heathawk is made up of two parts, the blade portion can be detached to make it easy to paint it in the classic purple/yellow colour.

I painted the clear parts clear red. Looks pretty good to me.

Extra closed fists are included, although i have no idea why. The normal hands can close anyway.

3. Details and Articulation

All built up, lying on the holographic card which cannot be fitted well into action base 3.

Standing up with a heathawk.

There really is no HG kit comparable to this RG in terms of details and articulation. Details wise it has excellent contrast of red and pink, and the pipes on its head, torso and legs work and look fantastic.

There are also extra bits provided in case one pipe loses the bits.

A back shot. Looks fantastic, with the nice backpack that does not cause any back heavy issue unlike most CE kits. I did not apply the copper sticker strips as i find that those peel off easily.