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Wing Gundam Zero

Kit Review

Straight build + Stickers + Panel lining

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Size comparison with a cigarette pack

Size comparison with a cigarette pack

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero (1/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero (2/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero (3/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero (4/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero (5/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero (6/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero (7/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Detail shots (1/5)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Detail shots (2/5)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Detail shots (3/5)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Detail shots (4/5)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Detail shots (5/5)

Detail shots

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - The shoulder moves in 3 stages.

The shoulder moves in 3 stages.

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - You can expose the verniers in various configurations like this. (1/2)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - You can expose the verniers in various configurations like this. (2/2)

You can expose the verniers in various configurations like this.

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - The Twin Buster Rifle can be combined and separated.

The Twin Buster Rifle can be combined and separated.

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - The tip of the shield can be extended in length.

The tip of the shield can be extended in length.

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - The inner detail is pretty bare though..

The inner detail is pretty bare though..

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - The waist and shoulder polycaps pop out way too easily, which makes posing a bit of a pain. ㅡ,.ㅡ

The waist and shoulder polycaps pop out way too easily, which makes posing a bit of a pain. ㅡ,.ㅡ

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Articulation is pretty good.

Articulation is pretty good.

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Wing articulation (1/2)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Wing articulation (2/2)

Wing articulation

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Twin Buster Rifle firing pose (1/4)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Twin Buster Rifle firing pose (2/4)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Twin Buster Rifle firing pose (3/4)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Twin Buster Rifle firing pose (4/4)

Twin Buster Rifle firing pose

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Wing Zero's signature dual-wielding firing pose (1/3)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Wing Zero's signature dual-wielding firing pose (2/3)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Wing Zero's signature dual-wielding firing pose (3/3)

Wing Zero's signature dual-wielding firing pose

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Beam saber pose (1/3)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Beam saber pose (2/3)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Beam saber pose (3/3)

Beam saber pose

Transfortation

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Rotate the head and lower body 180 degrees, then lower the shoulders. (1/2)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Rotate the head and lower body 180 degrees, then lower the shoulders. (2/2)

Rotate the head and lower body 180 degrees, then lower the shoulders.

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Remove the ankles and detach the verniers from the soles, then transfer the verniers onto the separat

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Remove the ankles and detach the verniers from the soles, then transfer the verniers onto the separat

Remove the ankles and detach the verniers from the soles,
then transfer the verniers onto the separate transformation parts.

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Next, spread the legs apart and fit the transformation foot parts on the inside.

Next, spread the legs apart and fit the transformation foot parts on the inside.

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Spread the wings out like this, then..

Spread the wings out like this, then..

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Fold in the handles of the shield and rifle, then combine them. (1/2)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Fold in the handles of the shield and rifle, then combine them. (2/2)

Fold in the handles of the shield and rifle, then combine them.

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Then plug it into the back and the transformation is done!

Then plug it into the back and the transformation is done!

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Underside view

Underside view

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Bird Mode from various angles (1/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Bird Mode from various angles (2/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Bird Mode from various angles (3/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Bird Mode from various angles (4/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Bird Mode from various angles (5/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Bird Mode from various angles (6/7)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Bird Mode from various angles (7/7)

Bird Mode from various angles

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - With the HGAC Wing Gundam.

With the HGAC Wing Gundam.

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - With the MG Wing Zero Proto.

With the MG Wing Zero Proto.

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Straight build (1/2)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero - Straight build (2/2)

Straight build

Following the Wing Gundam, Wing Gundam Zero has been steadily added to the HGAC lineup as well. The proportions are a bit chunkier compared to the Wing Gundam, and because of that it doesn't quite give off that HGUC-class look. That said, the color separation and stickers do give it better color accuracy than a standard HG.

The basic articulation is good and the joint strength is decent enough, but... the ball joints at the waist and shoulders tend to pop out way too easily, which gets pretty frustrating when you're trying to hold a pose. It's an issue that shows up occasionally with other non-UC HGUC-class kits using the same polycaps, but this one is noticeably worse. ㅡ,.ㅡ

Beyond that, the Twin Buster Rifle's combine-and-separate feature and the multi-angle wing deployment are both well done, and the shield's length-extension gimmick is nicely implemented too. The 3-stage articulation on the shoulder covers is especially well executed, letting you display the verniers at all sorts of different angles.

The transformation sequence into Bird Mode is faithfully reproduced in line with the source material, though the ankle section uses a parts-swap approach rather than a full transformation. It's a bit of a shame it's not fully transformable, but on the plus side the Bird Mode looks cleaner as a result, and the overall stability in Bird Mode is pretty solid.

Overall it comes close to the quality of the latest HGUC-class kits, but... the somewhat rough detail work and proportions, combined with the loose waist and shoulder joints, make this a kit that's a little less satisfying to handle. It doesn't quite feel like development was fully polished before release, which leaves me a bit wanting. Still, the fact that Wing Zero is now out in HGUC-class form is meaningful in itself, and for Wing Gundam fans this should definitely be a worthwhile kit. :-)

HGAC Wing Gundam Zero | 2014.3 | ¥1,800

AIThis page was translated by Claude Sonnet.