Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Upper body front and back

Head

Legs

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - The backpack's color separation is all handled with stickers, but thankfully the sticker qual

The backpack's color separation is all handled with stickers,
but thankfully the sticker quality is good so there's not much of an odd look to them.

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - Just like the MG, you can rotate the mono-eye by turning a lever from underneath the head — t

Just like the MG, you can rotate the mono-eye by turning a lever from underneath the head —
though it only rotates a little, not a whole lot. (See photos)

Both the grunt-type and officer-type heads are included..

Both head antenna variants are included as well.

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - The included weapons are the standard Zaku II basic set as shown above. Though it's worth not

The included weapons are the standard Zaku II basic set as shown above.
Though it's worth noting the Giant Bazooka that was even included with the MG is missing here..

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - There's one unusual connector part I've never seen before — it's a piece that lets you store

There's one unusual connector part I've never seen before —
it's a piece that lets you store the bazooka, machine gun, and heat hawk all at once, as shown above.

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - It's a pretty nifty little item that lets you mount all three weapons onto the shield like th

It's a pretty nifty little item that lets you mount all three weapons onto the shield like this.

Also, just like the MG, the bazooka handle is articulated.

A total of 5 hands are included.

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - The articulation is honestly not as good as you'd expect. Probably unavoidable given the High

The articulation is honestly not as good as you'd expect.
Probably unavoidable given the High Mobility type's characteristically chunky legs..

The forward shoulder swing range is actually worse than the older HGUC Zaku II.

Action pose using the weapon rack.

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - Bazooka action (1/3)

Bazooka action

Heat hawk action

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - Machine gun aerial firing pose (1/4)

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - Machine gun aerial firing pose (2/4)

Machine gun aerial firing pose

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - Bazooka + heat hawk combo action (1/4)

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - Bazooka + heat hawk combo action (2/4)

Bazooka + heat hawk combo action

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars - Alongside the HGUC Zaku II mass production type. The quality has improved as much as the year

Alongside the HGUC Zaku II mass production type.
The quality has improved as much as the years between them, but the standard Zaku II still wins when it comes to articulation.

Alongside the HGUC Zaku I ~ Black Tristars.
The overall quality feel is about the same.

Alongside the MG Zaku II Ver.2 ~ Black Tristars.

Straight build

The HGUC High Mobility Zaku that kept teasing us like it was never actually going to come out has finally been released. It seemed like they held off on releasing it since it's an MSV variant, but after a long time since the HGUC Zaku II and Zaku I came out, it's finally here as a modern-quality HGUC. ^^ And the first release in this High Mobility Zaku variation lineup is the Black Tristars version.

First off, unlike the existing HGUC Zaku II and Zaku I, all the parts have been completely renewed, and I think the biggest highlight of this kit is getting to experience a brand-new HGUC Zaku. It's been redesigned to a level similar to the HGUC Zaku I, which was already a big step up in quality over the Zaku II — and in particular, the complex leg section unique to the High Mobility type feels really well reproduced. The upper body construction is also different from previous HGUC Zakus, which gives it a fresh feel, and the white parts on the legs are nicely color-separated, so the straight build looks really great color-wise. ^^

That said, the articulation actually feels like a step back compared to the older Zakus.. Sure, it's partly because of the High Mobility type's chunky legs, but the shoulder and elbow joints are on par with or even worse than before, which is a bit puzzling. Still, the colors, build feel, and overall look are so good that they do a decent job of making up for the weaker articulation.

The weapons include the standard Zaku loadout — machine gun, heat hawk, and bazooka — and uniquely, a special part is included that racks all three weapons together. It's a part I've never seen in a Gunpla before; it's a fun little item that clips onto the shield and lets you hang all the weapons off it. The one disappointment is that the Giant Bazooka, which was even included with the MG, is missing here. It really suits the High Mobility type too. ^^

On top of that, both the mass production and officer-type heads are included, and there's also a gimmick like the MG where you rotate the mono-eye from underneath the head — though the rotation range is narrower than expected, probably due to the tight space, and honestly the older rotation mechanism might have been a bit better.

Looking at the overall parts breakdown and the runner injection gates, you can tell that Johnny Ridden's and Shin Matsunaga's units were already being planned, and sure enough they're known to be coming out in quick succession. Anyway, the release of a completely new-tooled HGUC Zaku is something all the old-school fans should celebrate — but when you actually sit down and build it, it's hard to feel like it's a huge leap beyond the Zaku I level of quality, which was already better than the Zaku II. ^^; I think you just have to be happy that the High Mobility Zaku is finally out with a clean, fresh quality, and either way, it's a kit worth being grateful for just for delivering this level of satisfying build quality and finish. :-)

HGUC Zaku II ~ Black Tristars | 2013.2 | ¥1,600

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.