Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Detail shots

Comes with a large Hyper Long Rifle and beam saber.

The Hyper Long Rifle plugs into the forearm to lock in place, so it holds on nice and solid.

Quite a few leftover parts remain.

Articulation is decent enough for a transforming unit.

The feet are pointy but barely move, which actually means ground contact isn't too bad.

The wrist joint doesn't hold well and keeps popping off — probably best to just glue it in place.

HGBF ZZ II - The center HM Cannon in the middle of the backpack can be flipped 180 degrees and reattached for a forward-attac

The center HM Cannon in the middle of the backpack can be flipped 180 degrees and reattached for a forward-attack configuration.

Aerial action pose

HGBF ZZ II - You can also attach beam parts to the tip of the Hyper Long Rifle. (1/3)

You can also attach beam parts to the tip of the Hyper Long Rifle.

HGBF ZZ II - Double beam saber action (1/3)

Double beam saber action

The transformation method is identical to the existing HGUC Z II.

It works by swapping parts between the MS inner frame (left) and the Waverider inner frame (right).

Transformed into Waverider mode

Underside

HGBF ZZ II - Waverider viewed from various angles on a stand (1/6)

HGBF ZZ II - Waverider viewed from various angles on a stand (2/6)

HGBF ZZ II - Waverider viewed from various angles on a stand (3/6)

HGBF ZZ II - Waverider viewed from various angles on a stand (4/6)

Waverider viewed from various angles on a stand

HGBF ZZ II - Comparison with the HGUC Z II. As you can see, it's significantly taller and the armaments feel more complex and

Comparison with the HGUC Z II.
As you can see, it's significantly taller and the armaments feel more complex and refined.

Comparison with the HGUC Z II Waverider.
Also bigger and flashier, as expected.

Together with the Build Fighters HG Lightning Z Gundam.

Together with the Build Fighters HG Gundam Tryon 3, which was based on the HGUC ZZ Gundam.

The Build Fighters lineup had gone quiet after the HG Super Fumina in November 2015, but with the start of the third anime series <Build Fighters Try Island Wars>, the HG ZZ II has arrived.
The HGUC line had previously released the Z II as a side-story unit, and now that it's come out as a Build Fighters kit with an MSV-like vibe, the ZZ II feels like it's been given a more free-spirited design.

Comparing it to the HGUC Z II, as you can see in the comparison shots above, it's grown massively in size right off the bat. With its elongated limbs and all the extra armaments, it ends up being nearly 1/100 scale in size. The overall design concept is the same, but the detailed design is a completely different machine — the exterior, from its size down to its outer armor, feels like a total upgrade across the board. The detail work in particular has become more three-dimensional and the molding more refined, giving it a much sleeker, sharper look — it really feels like a complete transformation. ^^

The transformation gimmick follows the same style as the HGUC Z II, with separate inner frames provided for both MS mode and Waverider mode — you detach the limbs and main armor pieces and move them over to the other frame. It's far from a full transformation based on articulation gimmicks, but thanks to that approach, the stability and proportions in transformed mode are solid. Either way, it's the same style of transformation, but the end result is also bigger and flashier than the HGUC Z II.

A few downsides worth pointing out: the wrist attachment method is pretty flimsy, and unless you glue it down, the entire wrist part keeps popping off constantly. The knee joint strength also seems to have been poorly calibrated — when bending and straightening the knee, the polycap tension is off-balance, causing the knee to pop out quite often. On the other hand, while you might worry about the large Hyper Long Rifle staying in place, it's actually held on firmly thanks to a pin that plugs into the forearm, which is a relief.

All in all, this kit fits the concept of taking an existing MS and adding free-spirited imagination to produce a cutting-edge MSV kit really well — and honestly, in terms of style, it's a much cooler and flashier kit than the HGUC Z II. There are some spots like the wrists where the fit leaves something to be desired, but overall the joint strength and stability are solid enough that there's not much to complain about. Since this kit is all about winning you over with its modern style rather than mechanical authenticity, if you like the look of it, I'd say go ahead and grab it without hesitation. :-)

HGBF ZZ II | 2016.8 | ¥2,600

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.