Kit Review

Straight build

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Upper body

Head

Back section

Legs and GN Holster Bits

Body only

HG Gundam Zabanya - The GN Holster Bits come in sets of 5, but in this kit they're split into 3 pieces — 1, 2, and 2. The con

The GN Holster Bits come in sets of 5,
but in this kit they're split into 3 pieces — 1, 2, and 2.
The connection is solid enough that they could've just been made as 5 separate individual pieces, so I'm not really sure why they went this route.

HG Gundam Zabanya - The GN Rifle Bit II can be configured in several different forms — the front section separates in two sta

The GN Rifle Bit II can be configured in several different forms — the front section separates in two stages.
The extended form is called the GN Rifle Bit II, and the shortened form is called the GN Pistol Bit.

Fold in the grip and scope, then remove the front section
to convert it into bit mode..

In bit mode, it can be stored at the end of the GN Holster Bit.

Articulation

HG Gundam Zabanya - The support arm that holds the GN Holster Bit can be locked in 3 positions. To handle the weight, a locki

The support arm that holds the GN Holster Bit can be locked in 3 positions.
To handle the weight, a locking pin fits into a gear mechanism to keep it firmly in place.

The GN Holster Bits can also be folded and unfolded horizontally like that.

The opening and closing of the GN Missile Pods on the chest and knees is also reproduced.

HG Gundam Zabanya - GN Missile Pod open! (1/4)

HG Gundam Zabanya - GN Missile Pod open! (2/4)

GN Missile Pod open!

HG Gundam Zabanya - Jumping action! (1/4)

HG Gundam Zabanya - Jumping action! (2/4)

Jumping action!

HG Gundam Zabanya - GN Rifle Bit II double shot! (1/4)

HG Gundam Zabanya - GN Rifle Bit II double shot! (2/4)

GN Rifle Bit II double shot!

HG Gundam Zabanya - Firing to both sides pose (1/4)

HG Gundam Zabanya - Firing to both sides pose (2/4)

Firing to both sides pose

HG Gundam Zabanya - GN Pistol Bit double shot (1/4)

HG Gundam Zabanya - GN Pistol Bit double shot (2/4)

GN Pistol Bit double shot

HG Gundam Zabanya - One clear parts piece is included for displaying the bit weapons, but you'll need to borrow the bit weapo

One clear parts piece is included for displaying the bit weapons,
but you'll need to borrow the bit weapon stand from the Gundam Cherudim to actually use it.

HG Gundam Zabanya - You can mount 2 GN Holster Bits this way, but the center of gravity is off so it doesn't stand up straigh

You can mount 2 GN Holster Bits this way, but..
the center of gravity is off so it doesn't stand up straight -.-;
You pretty much have to prop something up in front to get it to stand properly.

HG Gundam Zabanya - Kneeling firing pose (1/4)

HG Gundam Zabanya - Kneeling firing pose (2/4)

Kneeling firing pose

HG Gundam Zabanya - Even if you try to support the rifle with a hand.. there's no open hand included, so you just have to pro

Even if you try to support the rifle with a hand.. there's no open hand included,
so you just have to prop it up with a fist. (Lame...)

HG Gundam Zabanya - Because of the GN Holster Bits, it's actually hard to get the knees all the way down to the floor. They e

Because of the GN Holster Bits, it's actually hard to get the knees all the way down to the floor.
They end up floating like that.. but the articulation itself is more than enough to pull off the pose properly.

Together with its predecessor, Gundam Cherudim.

Together with 00 Qan[T].

Maybe because they're both new releases, but the designs are pretty sharp~

Right before the theatrical release, Gundam Zabanya followed the Qan[T] with an HG release. It's essentially the successor to Gundam Cherudim, but if you look closely at every detail, it's actually a completely different design and style from the Cherudim. You might call it the "wallpaper Gundam" (?)

The most striking feature of this unit — something anyone can spot at a glance — is the massive bit weapons, the GN Holster Bits. There are 5 on each side for a total of 10, spread out wide on both sides. Fortunately, the center of gravity is well-balanced and the joints are fairly sturdy, so standing it on a flat surface isn't much of a problem.

What's a bit odd, though, is that the 10 GN Holster Bits don't separate individually — they come apart in groups of 2, 2, and 1. So you end up with 4 pairs of 2 stuck together. Looking at the runners carefully, there really doesn't seem to be any reason they had to do it that way. There's plenty of space on the runners to split them into individual parts, and the connection points are solid enough that linking all 5 together wouldn't be a problem at all. It's not like it was a cost-cutting measure — I just get the feeling they intentionally kept it a bit simplified since it's HG grade. After all, the eventual 1/100 release needs to have something to set itself apart.

The first thing you'll probably wonder about when you see this kit is how well that "folding screen" on the back holds up — but the good news is it's actually very stable, so no need to worry too much. The mounting section does rotate, but it locks into a gear-tooth structure at a specific angle (see the review photos), so it's not a problem at all. It might look a bit sketchy at first glance, but the engineering is solid enough that it holds up just fine. The one downside is that the range of motion on the mount isn't all that wide, so it can feel a little in the way when you're trying to get action poses going.

As you'd expect from a modern HG kit, the body has excellent overall articulation and joint strength, so if you make good use of a stand, you can pull off all kinds of dynamic poses without much trouble. The ability to combine barrel lengths into two different rifle configurations is well executed, and the GN Holster Bits storage function works great too.

Overall this is a really satisfying kit. Despite a design that could easily have had durability or articulation issues, Bandai pulled it off nicely — and that's what I appreciate most. Those big, imposing GN Holster Bits give it an incredible sense of presence! If the design appeals to you, this is a quality kit well worth building without any hesitation. :-)

HG Gundam Zabanya | 2010. 8 | ¥1,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.