Mg Zeta Gundam 2.0 Waverider mode

After nearly six months of the completion of my Mg Zeta 2.0, i finally got around to try and transform it into its waverider. For anyone unfamiliar with the zeta gundam's waverider mode, it is basically the first gundam in the gundam series to transform. And it is by far the most complicated transformation and quite probably the best transformation into a space fighter aircraft known as the waverider. A quick glance at the manual i counted a total of 7 pages of instructions just for this wicked transformation. I took a couple of pictures in the process, to remind myself that i will never ever transform this model kit again.

The process took roughly 1hour and maybe 15minutes, and is painful for me and this poor fellow who got twisted in the most dangerous and mind-wrapping way ever in the world of gunpla. Arms fell off, side skirts flew off, legs got stuck midway in the transformation and frustration levels rose to unhealthy levels.

My Mkii can only stare in a mixture of horror and disbelief and relief that he is not transformable.

Anyway here is the resulting waverider mode of the zeta gundam. The beam rifle did not fit in very securely, maybe i sanded the connecting part too much when i cleaned the nubmark. I did not attach the giant hyper mega launcher to its underside because that did not seem too secure either, seeing that the hyper mega launcher is a huge weapon.

Here is the hyper mega launcher on top, which will definitely not sound nice if it falls and hits the table.

Conclusion: If for any reason anyone built this kit as his/her first master grade, i will advise to either not transform this kit immediately or proceed with many extra cares.

Now i understand why the newer transforming gundams have such simplified design...